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Victoria  College 


FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 

L.    E.    HORNING,  B.A.,  Ph.D. 
(1858-1925) 

PROFESSOR  01   TEUTONIC 
PHILOLOGY 

VICTORIA  COLLEGE 


Slang  and  Colloquial  English 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 


AMERICANISMS,  OLD  AND  NEW.     1  voL 
SLANG    AND    ITS    ANALOGUES.       By  John   S. 

Farmer   and   W.   E.  Henley,  with   the   revised 

Vol.  L     7  vols. 
MUSA     PEDESTBIS,     Slang    Songs    and    Canting 

Rhymes  (1636-1896).     1  voL 
MERRY  SONGS  AND  BALLADS.     5  vols. 
CHOICE  OF  VALENTINES,  a  hitherto  unpublished 

MS.  of  Thomas  Nash.     1  voL 
A  SATYRICALL  DIALOGUE.      By  William  God- 

dard.     1  voL 
DICTIONARY    OF    THE    CANTING    CREW,  a 

photo-facsimile  of  the  oldest  Slang  Dictionary 

extant     1  vol. 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  WORD-BOOK.     1  voL 
REGIMENTAL    RECORDS    OF    THE    BRITISH 

ARMY.     1  voL 


A  Dictionary  of  Slang 
and  Colloquial  English 

Abridged  from  the  seven-volume  work,  entitled 

Slang  and  its  Analogues 


BY   JOHN    S.    FARMER 
AND    W.    E.    HENLEY 


LONDON 

George  Routledge  &  Sons,  Limited 

New  York:    E.  P.  Button   &   Co. 
1905 


<3 


A    LIST 


OF 


AND    OTHER    WORKS    TO    WHICH    REFERENCE    AND 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT    IS    MADE 


%*  The  figures  in  brackets,  thus  [1585],  which  occur  in  the  text  may  be  taken 
as  indicating,  in  most  cases,  the  date  of  the  earliest  illustrative  quotation 
given  in  the  larger  work,  '  Slang  and  its  Analogues. ' 


1440.  GALFRIDUS  GRAMMATICUS 

1530.  PALSGRAVE,  JOHN 

1552.  HULOET,  RICHARD 

1553.  WITHALS,  JOHN    . 
1567.  HARMAN,  THOMAS 


1570.  LEVINS  (or  LEVENS),  PETER 
1575.  AWDELEY,  JOHN  . 


Promptorium  Parvulorum  sive 
clericorum.  The  first  English- 
Latin  Dictionary. 

L'Esclarcissement  de  la  Langue 
Francaise. 

Abecedarium  Anglico-Latinum  pro 
Tyrunculis 

A  Little  Dictionarie  for  Children 
(Latin  and  English). 

Caveat  or  Warening  for  Common 
Cursetors  vulgarly  called  Vaga- 
bones.  The  earliest  Glossary  of 
the  language  of  "  the  Canting 
Crew." 

Manipulus  Vocabulorum. 

Vacabondes,  the  Fraternatye  of,  as 
well  as  of  ruflyng  Vacabones,  as 
of  beggerly,  of  Women  as  of 
Men,  of  Gyrles  as  of  Boyes,  with 
their  proper  Names  and  Qualities, 
with  a  Description  of  the  Crafty 
Company  of  Cousoners  and 
Shifters,  also  the  XXV.  Orders 
of  Knaves;  otherwyse  called  a 
Quartern  of  Knaves,  confirmed 
by  Cocke  LorelL 


A  List  of  Dictionarie*  and  Other  Work*. 


1686.  WITHALS.  JOHN    . 

1593.  HOLLYBAND,  CLAUDIUS 
1595.  FLORIO,  JOHN 


1599.  MINSHEU,  JOHN    . 

1611.  COTOBAVE,  HANDLE 

1616.  B[ULLOKAB],  J[OHN]     . 

1617.  MINSHEU,  JOHN    . 


1656.  BLOUNT,  THOMAS  . 
1658.  PHILLIPS,  EDWABD 

1660.  HOWKLL,  JAMES   . 

1674.  HEAD,  RICHABD   . 
1677.  MIEOE,  GUY  . 

c.  1696.  E.  B.,  GENT     . 

1719.  SMITH,  CAPT. 
1721.  BAILEY,  NATHAN  . 


1724.  SMITH,  CAPT. 
1737.  BAILEY,  NATHAN 


1754.  ANON 


1769.  FALCONER,  WILLIAM 


A  Shorte  Dictionarie  in  Latine  and 
English. 

Dictionarie,  French  and  English. 

A  Worlde  of  Wordes ;  a  most  copi- 
ous Dictionarie  of  the  Italian 
and  English  Tongues. 

Dictionarie  in  Spanish  and  English 
(Percivale's  ed.). 

Dictionarie  de  la  langue  franc  aise. 

English  Expositor  of  Hard  Words. 

Guide  into  the  Tongues,  English, 
British  or  Welsh,  Low  Dutch, 
High  Dutch,  French,  Italian, 
Spanish  Portuguese,  Latin,Greek, 
and  Hebrew. 

Glofisographia,  or  Dictionary  inter- 
preting the  hard  words  now  used 
in  our  refined  English  language. 

The  New  World  of  English  Words, 
or  a  General  Dictionary  contain- 
ing the  interpretations  of  such 
hard  words  as  are  derived  from 
other  languages  (Florio's  Dic- 
tionary revised). 

Lexicon  Tetraglotton,  an  English- 
French  -  Italian  -  Spanish  Dic- 
tionary. 

Canting  Academy,  with  Compleat 
Canting  Glossary. 

A  New  Dictionary,  French  and 
English,  with  another,  English 
and  French. 

A  New  Dictionary  of  the  Terms, 
Ancient  and  Modern,  of  the  Cant- 
ing Crew  in  its  several  Tribes 
(the  earliest  Slang  Dictionary, 
per  se). 

Lives  of  Highwaymen,  containing 
Canting  Glossary. 

An  Universal,  Etymological  English 
Dictionary,  comprehending  the 
Derivation  of  the  Generality  of 
Words  in  the  English  Tongue, 
either  Ancient  or  Modern. 

Thieves'  Dictionary. 

Etymological  English  Dictionary. 
A  Collection  of  Ancient  and 
Modern  Cant  Words  appears  as 
appendix  to  VoL  ii. 

The  Scoundrel's  Dictionary;  or, 
An  Explanation  of  the  Cant- 
words  used  by  Thieves,  House- 
breakers, Street  -  robbers,  and 
Pick-pockete  about  Town. 

A  Marine  Dictionary. 


A  List  of  Dictionaries  and  Other  Works. 


1785.  GROSE,  FRANCIS   . 

1786.  TOOKE,  JOHN  HORNE 
1790.  PORTER,  JOHN 


1803. 


1808.  JAMIESON,  JOHN  . 


1812.  VAUX,  J.  H. . 
1812.  ANON    . 

1822.  NARES,  ROBERT    . 


1823.  BEE,  GEORGE 


1829.  GRIMSHAW,  WILLIAM    . 

1841.  DANA,  R.  H.,  JTJN. 
1846.  HALLIWELL,  JAMES  0. . 

1848.  BARTLETT,  JOHN  R. 

- 
1848.  ANON    «        *  » 


1857.  DUCANGE  ANGLICUS 


1859.  A  LONDON  ANTIQUARY  (JOHN 
CAMDEN  HOTTEN) 


1859.  [Edited  by  JOHN    CAMDEN 
HOTTEN]  . 


A  Dictionary  of  the  Vulgar  Tongue. 

Diversions  of  Purley. 

Dictionary  of  all  the  Cant  and  Flash 
Languages. 

Gradus  ad  Cantabrigiam,  or  a  Dic- 
tionary of  the  Terms  Academical 
and  Colloquial,  or  Cant,  which 
are  used  at  the  University. 

An  Etymological  Dictionary  of  the 
Scottish  Language.  2vols.,with 
supplement,  2  vols. 

Flash  Dictionary. 

Bang-up  Dictionary,  or  the  Lounger 
and  Sportsman's  Vade-mecum. 

A  Glossary  of  Words  and  Phrases, 
etc.,  in  the  Works  of  English 
Authors,  particularly  Shake- 
speare and  his  Contemporaries. 
(New  ed.,  with  considerable 
additions  by  J.  O.  Halh'well  and 
Thomas  Wright,  1876). 

A  Dictionary  of  the  Turf,  the  Ring, 
The  Chase,  the  Pit,  of  Bon  Ton 
and  the  Varieties  of  Life,  forming 
the  completest  Lexicon  Bala- 
tronicum  ever  offered  to  the 
Sporting  World. 

The  Ladies'  Lexicon  and  Parlour 
Companion. 

Dictionary  of  Sea  Terms. 

A  Dictionary  of  Archaic  and  Pro- 
vincial Words.  2  vols. 

Dictionary  of  American  Words  and 
Phrases  (ed.  of  1877). 

Sinks  of  London  laid  open ;  a 
Pocket  Companion  for  the  Un- 
initiated, to  which  is  added  a 
modern  Flash  Dictionary,  con- 
taining all  the  Cant  Words,  Slang 
Terms,  and  Flash  Phrases  now 
in  Vogue,  with  a  list  of  the 
Sixty  Orders  of  Prime  Coves. 

The  Vulgar  Tongue.  Two  Glossaries 
of  Slang  and  Flash  Words  and 
Phrases. 

A  Dictionary  of  Modern  Slang, 
Cant,  and  Vulgar  Words  after- 
wards entitled  The  Slang  Dic- 
tionary, Etymological,  Historical, 
and  Anecdotal  (latest  ed.,  1885). 

Liber  Vagatorum:  Der  Betler 
Orden,  4to.  Translated  into 
English,  with  Notes,  by  John 
Camden  Hotten,  as  the  Book  of 
Vagabonds  and  Beggars,  with  a 


Til 


A  List  of  Dictionaries  and  Other  Worla. 


1879-82.  SKBAT,  RBV.  W.  W. 

1880.  BREWER,  REV.  E.  COBHAM  . 

1881.  KWONO  KI  CHIIT   . 

1881.  DAVTES,  REV.  T.  L.  O. . 
1881.  PASCOB,  CHARLES 


1884-1904.  MUBBAY,  JAMES  A.  H. 
(withHENBY  BRADLEY 
and  A.  CRAIOIE) 


1886.  YULE,  COL.  H.,  &  BTTBNELL, 
ARTHUR  C. 


1886.  OLIPHANT,  W.  KINOTON 

1887.  BARRKRE,  ALBERT 

1888.  FARMER,  JOHN  S. . 

1889.  BARRERE,  A.,  and  LELAND 

CHARLES  GODFREY    . 
1900.  FARMER,  JOHN  S. 


vocabulary  of  their  Language 
(Rotwdeche  Sprach) ;  edited,  with 
preface,  by  Martin  Luther,  in 
the  year  1528. 

Etymological  Dictionary  of  the 
English  Language,  arranged  on 
an  Historical  Basis. 

Reader's  Handbook  of  Allusions, 
References,  Plots,  and  Stories. 

A  Dictionary  of  English  Phrases, 
with  Illustrative  Sentences. 

A  Supplementary  English  Glossary. 

Every  -  day  Life  in  our  Public 
Schools.  (Contains  a  Glossary 
of  Public  School  Slang.) 

A  New  English  Dictionary  on 
Historical  Principles,  Founded 
mainly  on  the  Materials  collected 
by  the  Philological  Society.  In 
Progress. 

Hobson-Jobson,  being  a  Glossary 
of  Anglo-Indian  Colloquial  Words 
and  Phrases,  Etymological,  His- 
torical, Geographical,  and  Dis- 
cursive. 

The  New  English. 

Argot  and  Slang. 

Americanisms,  Old  and  New. 

Slang,  Jargon,  and  Cant. 

The  Public  School  Word  Book. 


Till 


Slang  and  Colloquial  English 


A.  A  per  se.  The  best ;  first-class ; 
Al  (q.v.) :  see  Tip-top.  The  usage 
became  popular  and  was  extended  to 
other  vocables.  As  subs.,  a  paragon 
(1470).  Al.  (1)  Prime;  first-class, 
of  the  best.  The  character  A  denotes 
New  Ships,  of  Ships  Renewed  or  Re- 
stored. The  Stores  of  Vessels  are  de- 
noted by  the  figures  1  and  2  ;  1  signi- 
fying that  the  Vessel  is  well  and  suffi- 
ciently found  (Key,  Lloyd's  Register). 
Also  First-class,  letter  A  ;  Al  copper- 
bottomed  ;  and  Al  and  no  mistake  : 
Fr.  marque  cl  V A  (money  coined  in 
Paris  was  formerly  stamped  with  an  A). 
Cf.  A  per  se  (1369).  (2)  Sometimes 
(erroneously)  No.  1.  Atitlefor  the  com- 
mander of  900  men  in  the  army  of  the 
Irish  Republican  Brotherhood  :  obso- 
lete Fenian.  Not  knowing  great  A  (ora 

K\    irnvn    n    7)«7/'*.//W  tr>r  n    hnHloJ™-0\ 


The  late  Mr.  W.  E.  Henley,  who  died  in 
July,  i go 3,  is  not  responsible  for  any  errors 
in  this  volume  abridged  in  1904-5  from 
Slang  and  its  Analogues,  in  seven  volumes, 
edited  by  him  and  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Farmer 
jointly. 


Haron,  a  mountaineer.]  (2)  The 
leader  of  a  gang  of  thieves ;  always 
with  '  the  '  as  a  prefix.  (3)  A  leader 
o  the  church  (1607). 

A.  B.  An  A  [ble]-b[odied]  seaman. 

Abba.  A  term  of  contempt :  gen- 
eric. As  subs.,  a  non-unionist:  as  adj., 
vile,  silly. 

Aback.  To  take  aback,  to  surprise, 
check  :  suddenly  and  forcibly.  [Orig. 
nautical :  in  which  sense  (0.  E.  D.) 
dating  from  1754.] 

Abacter  (or  Abactor).  Stealera 
of  Cattle  or  Beasts,  by  Herds,  or  great 
numbers ;  and  were  distinguished 
from  Fures  (Blount). 

Abaddon.  A  thief  turned  informer  ; 
a  snitcher  (q.v.).  [Obviously  a  Jew 
fence's  punning  reference  to  Abaddon, 
the  angel  of  the  bottomless  pit  ;  Rev. 
i-r  n  i 

lannaad). 
ana)  thief. 
:ewer :  A 
ma  lad.] 

pi.,  spec. 

tten  Row. 

abstract ; 


.  A  bawd; 
'q.v.) :  cf. 
X5.  (1770.) 
bbey  to  a 
o  able  to 
ak  it  of  an 
xpressions 
jpence ;  to 
make  of  a 
D  thwite  a 
rick ;  His 
*>  a  nut- 
-sister. 


A  List  of  Dictionaries  and  Other  Works. 


1879-82.  SKKAT,  REV.  W.  W. 

1880.  BREWER,  REV.  E.  COBHAM   . 

1881.  KWONO  KI  Cmu   . 

1881.  DAVIES,  REV.  T.  L.  0. . 

1881.  PASCOB,  CHARLES 


1884-1904.  MURRAY,  JAMBS  A.  H. 
(with  HENBY  BRADLEY 
and  A.  CRAIOIE) 


1886.  YULE,  COL.  H.,  &  BUBNELL, 
ARTHUR  C. 


1886.  OLIPHANT,  W.  KINQTON 

1887.  BARRERE,  ALBERT 

1888.  FARMER,  JOHN  S. . 

1889.  BARRERE,  A.,  and  LELAND, 

CHARLES  GODFREY    . 
1900.  FARMER,  JOHN  S. 


vocabulary  of  their  Language 
(Rotwdsche  Sprach) ;  edited,  with 
preface,  by  Martin  Luther,  in 
the  year  1528. 

Etymological  Dictionary  of  the 
English  Language,  arranged  on 
an  Historical  Basis. 

Reader's  Handbook  of  Allusions, 
References,  Plots,  and  Stories. 

A  Dictionary  of  English  Phrases, 
with  Illustrative  Sentences. 

A  Supplementary  English  Glossary. 

Every  -  day  Life  in  our  Public 
Schools.  (Contains  a  Glossary 
of  Public  School  Slang.) 

A  New  English  Dictionary  on 
Historical  Principles,  Founded 
mainly  on  the  Materials  collected 
by  the  Philological  Society.  In 
Progress. 

Hobson-Jobson,  being  a  Glossary 
of  Anglo-Indian  Colloquial  Words 
and  Phrases,  Etymological,  His- 
torical, Geographical,  and  Dis- 
cursive. 

The  New  English. 

Argot  and  Slang. 

Americanisms,  Old  and  New. 

Slang,  Jargon,  and  Cant. 

The  Public  School  Word  Book. 


Till 


Slang  and  Colloquial  English 


A.  A  per  se.  The  best ;  first-class ; 
Al  (q.v.) :  see  Tip- top.  The  usage 
became  popular  and  was  extended  to 
other  vocables.  As  subs.,  a  paragon 
(1470).  Al.  (1)  Prime;  first-class, 
of  the  best.  The  character  A  denotes 
New  Ships,  of  Ships  Renewed  or  Re- 
stored. The  Stores  of  Vessels  are  de- 
noted by  the  figures  1  and  2  ;  1  signi- 
fying that  the  Vessel  is  well  and  suffi- 
ciently found  (Key,  Lloyd's  Register). 
Also  First-class,  letter  A  ;  Al  copper- 
bottomed  ;  and  Al  and  no  mistake : 
Fr.  marque  cl  VA  (money  coined  in 
Pariswas  formerly  stamped  with  an  A). 
Cf.  A  per  se  (1369).  (2)  Sometimes 
(erroneously)  No.  1.  Atitlefor  the  com- 
mander of  900  men  in  the  army  of  the 
Irish  Republican  Brotherhood  :  obso- 
lete Fenian.  Not  knowing  great  A  (ora 
B)  from  a  bull's-foot  (or  a  battledore), 
ignorant,  illiterate :  see  B.  What 
with  A,  and  what  with  B :  see  What. 
To  get  one's  A  (Harrow),  to  pass  a 
certain  standard  in  the  gymnasium: 
the  next  step  is  to  the  Gymnasium 
Eight.  To  get  A  (Felsted  School),  to 
be  (practically)  free  of  all  restriction  as 
to  bounds :  nominally  the  other  bounds 
were,  B,  the  ordinary  limit,  the  roads 
about  a  mile  from  the  school ;  C, 
punishment  bounds,  confinement  to  the 
cricket  field  and  playground  ;  and  D, 
confinement  to  the  old  school-house 
playground,  one  of  the  commonest 
forms  of  punishment  till  1876,  when 
the  present  school-house  was  opened  : 
C  and  D  were  also  known  respectively 
as  Mongrel  and  Quod. 

Aaron  (1)  A  cadger  (q.v.)  ;  a 
beggar  mountain-guide.  [Gesenius  : 
prob.  Heb.  Aaron  is  a  derivative  of 


Haron,  a  mountaineer.]  (2)  The 
leader  of  a  gang  of  thieves  ;  always 
with  '  the  '  as  a  prefix.  (3)  A  leader 
o  the  church  (1607). 

A.  B.  An  A  [ble]-b[odied]  seaman. 

Abba.  A  term  of  contempt :  gen- 
eric. As  subs.,  a  non-unionist :  as  adj., 
vile,  silly. 

Aback.  To  take  aback,  to  surprise, 
check  :  suddenly  and  forcibly.  [Orig. 
nautical :  in  which  sense  (0.  E.  D.) 
dating  from  1754.] 

Abacter  (or  Abactor).  Stealera 
of  Cattle  or  Beasts,  by  Herds,  or  great 
numbers ;  and  were  distinguished 
from  Fures  (Blount). 

Abaddon.  A  thief  turned  informer  ; 
a  snitcher  (q.v.).  [Obviously  a  Jew 
fence's  punning  reference  to  Abaddon, 
the  angel  of  the  bottomless  pit  ;  Rev. 
ix.  11.] 

Abandannad  (or   Abandannaad). 

( 1)  A  handkerchief  (or  bandanna)  thief. 
Hence  (2)  a  petty  thief.     [Brewer  :    A 
contraction  (sic)  of  a  bandanna  lad.] 

Abandoned    Habit.     In  pi.,  spec. 

the  riding  demi-monde  in  Rotten  Row. 

Abber  (Harrow).     (1)  An  abstract; 

(2)  an  absit  (q.v.). 

Abbess  (or  Lady  Abbess).  A  bawd; 
a  stewardess  of  the  stews  (q.v.) :  cf. 
Abbot;  Nun;  Sacristan;  etc.  (1770.) 

Abbey.  To  bring  an  abbey  to  a 
grange,  to  squander :  also  able  to 
buy  an  abbey  (Say  :  we  speak  it  of  an 
unthrift).  Among  kindred  expressions 
are  :  To  bring  a  noble  to  ninepence  ;  to 
make  of  a  lance  a  thorn  ;  to  make  of  a 
pair  of  breeches  a  purse ;  to  thwite  a 
mill  -  post  to  a  pudding  -  prick  ;  Hia 
wind-mill  is  dwindled  into  a  nut- 
cracker ;  from  abbess  to  lay-sister. 


Abbey-laird. 


Abroad. 


Abbey-laird.  An  insolvent  debtor : 
•pec.  one  sheltered  in  the  sanctuary  of 
Holyrood  Abbey.  (1709.) 

Abbey  -  lubber  (or  loon).  An 
idler,  vagabond :  orig.  (prior  to  the 
Reformation)  a  lazy  monk  or  hanger-on 
to  a  religious  house.  Hence  abbey- 
lubber-like,  lazy,  thriftless,  ne'er-do- 
well  :  see  Lubber.  (1509.) 

Abbot.  A  bawd's  man :  ponce 
(q.v.) :  see  Abbess.  Whence  Abbot  on 
the  cross  (or  croziered  abbot),  the  bully 
(q.v.)  of  a  brothel.  Abbot  (or  Lord)  of 
Misrule,  the  leader  of  the  Christmas 
revels.  Also  (Scots)  Abbot  of  unreason, 
and  FT.  AbbtdeLiease  (Abbot  of  Joy). 
(1591.) 

Abbotts'  Priory.  The  King's 
Bench  Prison :  Abbotfs  Park,  the  rules 
thereof  (Grose,  1823,  Bee).  [Sir  Charles 
.  Abbott,  afterwards  Lord  Tenterden, 
was  Lord  C.-J.  of  the  King's  Bench, 
1818.] 

ABC  (The).  1.  The  A  B  C 
(Alphabetical)  Railway  Guide.  2. 
(London).  An  establishment  of  the 
ASrated  Bread  Company:  orig.  bakers, 
now  refreshment  caterers.  Hence 
ABC  girl,  a  waitress  therein.  3. 
(Christ's),  Ale,  .Bread,  and  Cheese  on 
going  home  night.  4.  Generic  for 
beginnings :  thus,  like  (or  as  easy  as) 
ABC,  facile,  as  simple  as  learning 
the  alphabet ;  down  to  the  A  BC,  down 
to  first  principles,  or  the  simplest  rudi- 
ments. (1595.) 

Abear.  To  endure,  suffer.  [O.E.D.: 
A  word  of  honourable  antiquity ; 
widely  diffused  in  the  dialects ;  in 
London  reckoned  as  a  vulgarism. 
(885  with  a  gap  to  c.  1836)]. 

Aberdeen  Cutlet  A  dried  had- 
dock :  cf.  Billingsgate  pheasant. 

Abigail.  A  waiting-woman,  lady's 
maid.  [Abigail,  a  waiting  gentlewoman 
in  The  Scornful  Lady  (1616)  by  Beau- 
mont and  Fletcher :  also  see  1  Sam. 
xxv.  24-31.]  Hence  Abigailthip 
(Grose).  Cf.  Andrew,  Acre*,  etc. 
(1663.) 

Abingdon-law.  Summary  punish- 
ment :  cf.  Stafford-law  ;  Lydford-law  ; 
Scarborough- warning,  etc.  [In  1645, 
lord  Essex  and  Waller  held  Abingdon, 
in  Berks,  against  Charles  I.  The  town 
was  unsuccessfully  attacked  by  Sir 
Stephen  Hawkins  in  1644,  and  by 
prince  Rupert  in  1645.  On  theae  occa- 
sions the  defenders  put  every  Irish 
prisoner  to  death  without  trial] 


Ablewhackets  (or  Abelwhackets). 
A  popular  sea  game  with  cards, 
wherein  the  loser  is  beaten  over  the 
palms  of  the  hands  with  a  handkerchief 
tightly  twisted  like  a  rope.  Very  popu- 
lar with  horny-fisted  sailors  (Smyth). 

Aboard.  A  gamester's  term  for 
getting  even  in  score. 

About    See  East,  Right,  Size. 

Above.  See  Bend,  Par,  Hooka, 
Huckleberry,  Persimmon. 

Abracadabra.  (1)  A  cabalistic 
word,  formerly  used  as  a  charm.  Hence 
(2),  any  word-charm,  verbal  jingle, 
gibberish,  nonsense,  or  extravagancy. 

Abraham.  1.  A  cheap  clothier's, 
slop  (q.v.),  or  hand-me-down  shop 
(q.v.).  Hence  Abraham  work,  ill-paid 
work,  sweated  labour  (see  Abraham- 
man).  2.  Auburn :  formerly  written 
abern  and  abron  :  also  Abram  and 
Abraham-coloured.  (1592.)  3.  See 
Abraham- man. 

Abraham  Grains.  A  publican 
brewing  his  own  beer. 

Abraham-man  (Abram,  Abram- 
man  or  Abram-cove).  A  sturdy 
beggar  (1567):  also  Bedlam  beggar 
(q.v.)  and  Tom  of  Bedlam.  These 
sturdy  beggars  roamed  the  country, 
begging  and  stealing,  down  to  the 
period  of  the  Civil  Wars.]  Hence 
To  sham  (or  do)  Abram  (or  to  Abraham 
sham),  to  feign  madness,  sham  sick 
(nautical).  Also  Abram,  naked,  mad, 
shamming  sick ;  Abraham-work,  shams 
of  all  kinds,  false  pretences :  whence  to 
go  on  the  Abraham  suit,  to  resort  to 
trick  or  artifice.  The  mad  Tom  of 
King  Lear  is  an  Abram-man :  see 
Edgar's  description,  iii.  4.] 

Abraham  Newl and.  A  bank  note. 
[Abraham  Newland  was  chief  cashier 
to  the  Bank  of  England,  from  1778  to 
1807.]  Hence  To  sham  Abraham,  to 
forge  bank  paper. 

Abraham's  Balm.  Hanging:  see 
Ladder. 

Abraham's  -  bosom.  Dead  and 
gone  to  heaven :  cf.  Luke  xvi.  22. 

Abraham's  eye.  A  magic  charm, 
the  application  of  which  was  supposed 
to  deprive  a  thief,  who  refused  to  con- 
fess his  crime,  of  eyesight. 

Abraham's  Willing.  A  shilling: 
see  Rhino. 

Abroad.  1.  Wide  of  the  mark,  out 
of  one's  reckoning,  perplexed.  To 
come  abroad  (Winchester),  to  return  to 
school  work  after  sickness ;  to  be  on 


2 


Abroaded. 


Ace. 


the  sick  list  is  to  be  continent  (q.v.). 
Also  to  be  furked  abroad,  to  be  sent  back 
to  school  after  going  continent:  an 
implication  of  shamming. 

Abroaded.  A  noble  defaulter  on 
the  continent  to  avoid  creditors  was 
said  to  be  abroaded  ;  also  police  slang 
for  convicts  sent  to  a  colonial  or  penal 
settlement,  but  likewise  applied  by 
thieves  to  imprisonment  merely. 

Abs  (Winchester).  (1)  Absent: 
placed  against  the  name  of  a  boy  when 
absent  from  school.  Also  (2)  to  take 
away.  Formerly,  circa  1840,  to  abs  a 
tolly  (candle),  meant  to  put  itout;  now, 
to  take  it  away,  whether  lighted  or 
unlighted  :  the  modern  notion  (q.v.) 
for  putting  it  out  being  to  dump  it. 
(3)  To  get  (or  put)  away  ;  generally  in 
the  imperative  :  e.g.  abs  !  Hence, 
to  abs  quickly,  to  stir  one's  stumps 
(q.v.),  or  to  put  things  away  with 
speed.  To  have  one's  wind  absed,  to 
get  a  breather  (q.v.). 

Abscotchalater.  One  in  hiding 
from  the  police  :  cf.  Absquatulate. 

Absence  (Eton).  Names  -  calling. 
(1856.) 

Absent.  Absent  without  leave,  of 
one  who  has  broken  prison,  or  ab- 
sconded. 

Absentee.     A  convici. 

Absent-minded  Beggar.  Tommy 
Atkins  (q.v. ) :  popularised  by  Kipling's 
verses  in  aid  of  the  wives  and  children 
of  soldiers  serving  in  South  Africa  dur- 
ing the  Boer  War. 

Absit.  Every  undergraduate  wish- 
ing to  leave  Cambridge  for  a  whole  day, 
not  including  a  night,  must  obtain  an 
absit  from  his  tutor.  Permission  to  go 
away  for  a  longer  period  ...  is  called 
an  exeat. 

Abskize  (or  Abschize).  To  de- 
camp :  see  Bunk.  [Said  to  be  of 
Western  origin,  circa  1833.] 

Absquatulate  (or  Absquotilate). 
To  decamp,  skedaddle  (q.v.) :  see 
Bunk.  (1833.) 

Academy.  (1)  A  gang  of  thieves  ; 
(2)  a  rendezvous  for  thieves,  harlots,  or 
gamesters;  and  (3)  a  prison.  Hence 
Academician,  (1)  a  thief,  and  (2)  a 
harlot.  Also  buzzing  academy,  a  train- 
ing school  for  pickpockets  ;  canting- 
academy,  ( 1 )  a  common  lodging-house, 
dossing-ken  (q.v.),  or  house  of  call  for 
beggars,  and  (2)  a  likely  house  for 
working  (q.v.) ;  floating  academy,  the 
hulks;  character  academy,  a  resort  of 


servants  without  characters,  which  are 
there  concocted ;  and  gammoning- 
academy,  a  reformatory  (B.  E.,  Grose, 
Bee,  Matsell.) 

Accident.  ( 1 )  Seduction  ;  and  (2) 
a  bastard  :  see  By-blow. 

Accommodate.  1.  To  equip,  supply, 
provide.  [ Jonson,  Discoveries :  one  of 
the  perfumed  terms  of  the  time, 
Halliwell :  the  indefinite  use  is  well 
ridiculed  by  Bardolph's  vain  attempt  to 
define  it  (2  H.  IV.,  iii.  2.  77) :  cf.  to 
accommodate  with  a  loan,  or  with  cash 
for  a  cheque.]  (1597.)  2.  To  part  a  bet, 
or  to  let  a  person  go  halves  (that  is  to 
accommodate  him)  in  a  bet  that  is  likely 
to  come  off  successful.  It  is  also,  in  an 
ironical  manner,  to  believe  a  person 
when  you  are  well  assured  he  is  uttering 
a  lie,  by  observing  you  believe  what  he 
is  saying,  merely  to  accommodate  him 
(Grose). 

Accompany.     To  cohabit.     (1500.) 

Account.  To  cast  up  accounts 
(one's  gorge,  or  reckoning).  1.  To 
vomit,  cat  (or  shoot  the  cat)  (q.v.): 
orig.  to  cast,  thence  by  punning  exten- 
sion (Ray,  Grose) :  also  to  audit  one's 
accounts  at  the  Court  of  Neptune 
(1484).  2.  To  turn  King's  evidence. 
To  go  on  the  account,  to  join  a  fili- 
bustering or  buccaneering  expedition, 
turn  pirate.  [Ogttvie:  probably  from 
the  parties  sharing,  as  in  a  commercial 
venture.]  (1812.)  To  account  for,  to 
kill,  literally  to  be  answerable  for 
bringing  down  one's  share  of  the  shoot- 
ing ;  make  away  with.  (1846.)  To 
give  a  good  account  of,  to  be  successful, 
do  one's  duty  by :  e.g.  The  stable  gave 
a  good  account  of  their  trainer. 
(1684.) 

Accoutrement.  In  pi.,  fine 
rigging  (now)  for  Men  or  Women, 
(formerly)  only  Trappings  for  Horses. 
Well  accoutred,  gentilly  dress'd 
(B.  E.).  [A  recognised  usage  from  the 
middle  of  the  16th  century.] 

Accumulative.  A  sort  of  jour- 
nalistic sparring  match,  codicil  (q.v.). 

Accumulator.  A  backer,  success- 
ful with  one  horse,carrying  forward  the 
stakes  to  another  event. 

Ace.  The  smallest  standard  of 
value :  also  ambs-ace :  see  Rap,  Straw, 
etc.  Hence  To  bate  an  ace,  to  make  a 
slight  reduction :  also  bate  me  an  ace, 
quoth  Bolton,  a  derisive  retort ;  with- 
in an  ace  (or  amb's-ace),  nearly,  within 
a  shade  :  see  Ames  Ace.  (1528.) 


Ace  of  Spades. 


Admired. 


Ace  of  Spades.  1.  A  widow.  2. 
A  black-haired  woman. 

Ack  (Christ's).  No  !  refusal  of  a 
request,  e.g.  Lend  me  your  book. 
Ack! 

Ackman  (Ackpirate  or  Ackruff). 
A  fresh-water  thief  or  pirate.  [Cf. 
dialectic  Acker,  flood-tide,  a  bore,  and 
Ark.] 

Acknowledge.  To  aclcntndedge  the 
torn,  to  confess,  make  an  admission : 
as  to  an  accusation,  failure,  etc. 
(1846.) 

Acock-horse  (or  Acock).  (1) 
Triumphant;  also  (2)  defiantly. 
(1611.) 

Acorn.  Horse  foaled  of  an  acorn, 
the  gallows  :  see  Ladder  and  Nubbing- 
cheat  (Grose).  (1694.) 

''Acquisitive.  Plunder,  booty, 
pickings. 

Acreocracy.  The  landed  interest : 
cf.  Snobocracy,  Squattocracy,  Mob- 
ocracy,  Cottonocracy,  Slavocracy,  etc. 

Acres.  A  coward  :  see  The  Rivals, 
v.  13.  (1775.) 

Acrobat.     A  glass  [i.e.  tumbler]. 

Across.  Across  lots,  (1)  by  the 
shortest  way  ;  (2)  completely.  (1848. ) 

Acteon.  A  cuckold,  also  as  verb  : 
whence  Acieon's  badge,  the  stigma 
of  cuckoldom  (B.  E.,  Grose,  Bee). 
(1596.) 

Acting  Dicky.  1.  A  temporary 
appointment  which  may,  or  may  not, 
be  confirmed  by  the  Admiralty ;  an 
acting-order.  2.  A  man  acting  in  the 
name  of  an  enrolled  solicitor. 

Active  Citizen.  A  louse :  see 
Chates  (Grose  and  Bee). 

Act  of  Parliament  Small  beer, 
five  pints  of  which,  by  an  act  of  Parlia- 
ment, a  landlord  was  formerly  obliged 
to  give  gratis  to  each  soldier  billeted 
upon  him. 

Actual.  Money ;  generic  :  see 
Rhino:  also  the  actual.  (1856.) 

Ad  (or  Adver).  An  advertisement. 
(1854.) 

Adam.  1.  A  bailiff  (Comedy  of 
Errors,  iv.  3).  2.  A  master  man,  fore- 
man :  see  Adam's  Ale  and  Adam  Tiler. 

Adamed.     Married. 

Adam's- ale  (-wine,  or  Adam). 
Water.  (1643.)  English  synonyms, 
aqua  pura ;  aqua  pompaginis ;  fish 
broth ;  pure  element. 

Adam's-apple.  The  thyroid  car- 
tilage :  also  Adam's- morsel.  (1586.) 

Adam's -arms.    A  spade;   cf.  old 


saw :  When  Adam  delved  and  Eve 
span,  Who  was  then  the  gentleman  ? 
Hence  Adam's  profession,  spade  work 
(i.e.  gardening).  (1602.) 

Adam  Tiler  (or  Adam).  An 
accomplice.  (1696.) 

Add.  To  add  to  the  list,  to  geld, 
add  to  the  list  of  geldings  in  train- 
ing- 
Addition.  Colouring  matter,  or 
cosmetics  used  for  the  face.  ( 1 704. ) 

Addition,  Division,  and  Silence  1 
A  Philadelphia  catch  phrase  :  properly 
multiplication,  division,  and  silence  \  a 
reply  given  by  William  (Boss)  Tweed 
when  asked  the  proper  qualification  for 
a  ring  or  trust  (1872.) 

Addle.  To  addle  the  shoon,  to  roll 
on  the  back  from  side  to  side :  of 
horses.  [In  the  South  a  horse  is  then 
said  to  earn  a  gallon  of  oats.] 

Addle-egg.  Addle  egg  and  Idle 
head,  anything  worthless,  an  abortion. 
(1589.) 

Addle- brain  (-cove, -head,  or 
-pate).  A  stupid  bungler,  dullard, 
one  full  of  Whimsies  and  Projects,  and 
as  empty  of  Wit  (B.  E.  and  Grose). 
Hence  addle-brained,  etc.  (1 580. ) 

Addle-plot  A  marplot,  spoil-sport, 
Martin-mar-all  (B.  E.  and  Grose). 

Adjective- Jerker.  A  writer  for 
the  press  ;  ink-slinger  (q.v.). 

Adjutant's  Gig.  The  barrack 
roller :  usually  drawn  by  men  under 
punishment 

Admiral.  Admiral  of  the  Blue,  a 
tapster  :  from  the  colour  of  his  apron 
(Grose).  (1731.)  Admiral  of  the 
Narrow  Seas,  a  man  vomiting  into  the 
lap  of  his  neighbour  or  vis-b-vis  (Grose). 
Admiral  of  the  Red,  a  sot :  see  Lushing- 
ton.  Admiral  of  the  Red,  White,  and 
Blue,  a  beadle,  hall-porter,  or  similar 
functionary  when  sporting  the  livery 
of  office.  Admiral  of  the  White,  a 
white-faced  person,  coward,  woman  in 
a  faint  Yalow  Admiral,  a  rear- 
admiral  retired  without  service  afloat 
after  promotion.  [Admirals  of  the  red, 
the  white,  or  the  blue,  were  grades  in 
naval  rank  prior  to  1864,  according  to 
the  colour  of  the  ensign  displayed  :  all 
admirals  now  fly  the  white  ensign,  and 
they  rank  as  Admiral  of  the  Fleet, 
Admiral,  Vice-Admiral,  and  Rear- 
Admiral.]  To  tap  the  Admiral,  (1)  to 
suck  the  monkey  :  see  quots. ;  Germ. 
Den  Affen  saugcn.  Also  (2)  to  drink 
on  the  sly.  (1834.) 


Admiral's  Regiment. 


Aggravator. 


Admiral's  Regiment  (The).  The 
Royal  Marines  ;  also  nicknamed  The 
Little  Grenadiers,  The  Jollies,  and 
The  Globe  Rangers. 

Adonis.  1.  A  dandy,  exquisite. 
Hence,  to  ad-onize,  to  dandify,  dress 
to  kill :  of  men  only.  (1611.)  2.  A 
wig.  (1760.) 

Adrift.  Loose — I'll  turn  ye  adrift, 
a  Tar  phrase ;  I'll  prevent  ye  doing  me 
any  harm  (B.  E.);  also  (Orose)  adrift, 
discharged.  Hence,  astray,  puzzled, 
distracted.  (1690.) 

Adsum  (Charterhouse).  A  response 
in  answer  to  a  summons  or  names- 
calling.  (1821.) 

Adullamites.  1.  A  nickname  for 
seceding  Liberals  who  in  1866  voted 
Tory  because  dissatisfied  with  a  Liberal 
measure  for  the  extension  of  the  Fran- 
chise. [See  1  Sam.  xxii.  1.]  The 
political  party  in  question  were 
also  known  collectively  as  The 
Cave.  Hence  (2)  Adullamy,  ratting 
(q.v.). 

Advantage.  1.  A  thirteenth: 
added  to  a  dozen  of  anything ;  (2) 
something  in  addition :  also  vantage. 
See  Baker's  dozen  and  Lagniappe. 
(1641.)  To  play  upon  advantage,  to 
cheat.  (1592.) 

^Egrotat  (/Eger).  1.  An  excuse 
for  absence  on  account  of  sickness  ;  (2) 
a  medical  or  other  certificate  of  indis- 
position (Grose).  [Mgritude,  sickness; 
Mgroiat,  an  invalid.  (1532).]  Hence 
reading-cegrotant,  leave  taken  to  read 
for  a  degree  ;  oeger-room  (Felsted),  the 
sick  room.  Lat.  he  is  sick.] — Oradus 
ad  Cantab.,  1803. 

Affidavit-man.  A  false  witness, 
said  to  attend  Westminster  Hall,  and 
other  courts  of  justice,  ready  to  swear 
anything  for  hire  (Orose). 

Afflicke.     A  thief.     (1610.) 

Afflicted.  Drunk :  see  Screwed 
(Say). 

Afflictions.  Mourning  goods : 
e.g.  Afflictions  are  quiet,  there  is  little 
demand  for  mourning.  Mitigated 
afflictions,  half  mourning. 

Affygraphy.  To  an  affygraphy, 
to  a  nicety,  a  T.  In  an  affygraphy, 
in  a  moment,  directly. 

Afloat.  Drunk:  see  Screwed:  also 
with  back  teeth  well  afloat. 

Afraid.  Among  colloquial  and 
proverbial  sayings  are :  He  that's 
afraid  of  grass  must  not  piss  in  a 
meadow  (Ital.  Chi  ha  paura  d"ogni 


urtica  non  pisci  in  herba,  He  that's 
afraid  of  every  nettle  must  not  piss  in 
the  grass) ;  He  that's  afraid  of  leaves 
must  not  come  in  a  wood  (French,  Qui 
a  peur  des  feuittes  ne  doit  pas  oiler  au 
bois  :  Ital.,  Nbn  entri  tra  rocca  e  fuso 
chi  non  vuol  esser  filato) ;  He  that's 
afraid  of  the  wagging  of  feathers  must 
keep  from  among  wild  fowl ;  He 
that's  afraid  of  wounds  must  not  come 
near  a  battle ;  He's  never  likely  to 
have  a  good  thing  cheap  that's  afraid  to 
ask  the  price ;  Afraid  of  far  enough 
(fearful  of  what  is  not  likely  to  happen) 
Afraid  of  him  that  died  last  year 
(fearful  of  a  shadow) ;  Afraid  of  the 
hatchet  lest  the  helve  strike  him ; 
Afraid  of  his  shadow ;  More  afraid 
than  hurt. 

After.  A  long  way  after,  of  a 
sketch,  cartoon,  or  burlesque  of  aclassic 
picture,  book,  etc. 

After -clap.  (1)  Anything  unex- 
pected (spec,  disagreeable),  after  the 
conclusion  of  a  matter.  Hence  (2)  a 
demand  made  over  and  above  a 
stipulated  price,  or  for  an  amount 
already  paid  (Orose).  (14th  century.) 

After  -  dinner  Man  (or  After- 
noon's -  man).  A  man  who  drinks 
long  into  the  afternoon :  it  was  the 
custom,  formerly,  to  dine  in  the  halls 
of  our  Inns  of  Court  about  noon,  and 
those  who  returned  after  dinner  to  work 
must  have  been  much  devoted  to 
business,  or  obliged  to  work  at  unusual 
hours  by  an  excess  of  it.  (1614.) 

Afternoon-buyer.  One  who  buys 
not  until  after  the  market  dinner, 
thereby  hoping  to  buy  cheaper. 

Afternoon  -  farmer.  A  laggard  ; 
spec,  a  farmer  late  in  preparing  his 
land,  in  sowing  or  harvesting  his  crops; 
hence  one  who  loses  his  opportunities. 

Afternoon-tea  (Roy.  High  Sch., 
Edin.).  Detention  after  three  o'clock. 

After  Twelve.     See  Twelve. 

Against.  Against  the  grain 
(collar,  or  hair),  contrary  to  inclination, 
unpleasant,  unwillingly  done  (Grose). 
(1589.)  To  run  against,  to  meet  by 
accident :  e.g.  I  ran  against  him  the 
other  day  in  Brighton. 

Agaze.  Astonished,  open  -  eyed 
(Hatsell.)  (1400.) 

-agger  (Charterhouse).  As  in  Com- 
binaggers,  &  combination  suit :  esp. 
football  attire. 

Aggravator  ( Aggerawator,  or 
Haggerawator).  A  lock  of  hair 


Agitator. 


Air. 


brought  down  from  the  forehead,  well 
greased,  and  twisted  in  a  spiral  on  the 
temple,  either  toward  the  ear,  or  con- 
versely toward  the  outer  corner  of  the 
eye.  Usually  in  pi.,  once  an  aid  to 
beauty :  now  rare.  English  synonyms : 
bell-ropes ;  beau-catchers  ;  cobbler's- 
knots ;  cowlicks  ;  lore-locks  ;  Newgate 
knockers  ;  number  sixes  ;  spit-curls. 
(1836.) 

Agitator.  1.  In  Eng.  Hist.,  an 
agent,  one  who  acts  for  others ;  a  name 
given  to  the  agents  or  delegates  of  the 
private  soldiers  in  the  Parliamentary 
Army,  1647-9  ;  in  which  use  it  varied 
with"  Adjutator  (O.  E.  D.).  J.  A.  H. 
Murray.  Careful  investigation  satisfies 
me  that  Agitator  was  the  actual  title, 
and  Adjutator  originally  only  a  bad 
spelling  of  soldiers  familiar  with 
Adjutants  and  the  Adjutors  of  1641.] 
2.  A  bell-rope,  or  knocker.  To  agitate 
the,  communicator,  to  ring  the  bell. 

Agogare.  Be  quick  !  a  warning 
signal  (New  York  Slang  Dictionary). 

Agony.  To  pile  up  (or  on)  the 
agony,  to  exaggerate,  use  the  tallest 
terms  in  lieu  of  the  simplest,  cry  Hell! 
when  all  you  mean  is  Goodness 
gracious ! :  as  a  newspaper  when 
writing  up  murder,  divorce,  and  other 
sensations.  Also  to  agonize.  Hence 
Agony-piler,  a  player  in  sensational 
parts:  see  Agony-column.  (1857.) 

Agony-column.  A  special  column 
in  newspapers  devoted  to  harrowing 
advertisements  of  missing  friends  and 
private  business :  orig.  the  second 
column  of  the  Times.  (1870.) 

Agree.  To  agree  like  pickpockets 
in  a  fair,  to  agree  not  at  all.  Other 
similes  of  the  kind  are,  To  agree  like 
bells,  they  want  nothing  but  hang- 
ing ;  and  To  agree  like  cats  and 
dogs  (or  like  harp  and  harrow). 

Agricultural-  implement  A 
spade  ;  call  a  spade  a  spade  and  not 
an  agricultural  implement,  a  direct 
call  to  very  plain  speech. 

Aground  (Grose).  Stuck  fast ; 
stopped;  at  a  loss;  ruined;  like  a  boat 
or  vessel  aground.  [This  accepted 
figurative  use  of  the  nautical  phrase  was 
rare  prior  to  the  nineteenth  century.] 

Algiers  (The).  The  1st  battalion 
of  The  Royal  Irish  Fusiliers,  late  The 
87th  Foot  [At  Barrosa  they  captured 
the  Eagle  of  the  8th  French  Light 
Infantry,  a  fact  now  commemorated  in 
one  of  the  distinctive  badges  of  the 


regiment,  viz.  An  Eagle  with  the 
figure  8  below.] 

Aim.  (B.  E.)  Endeavour  or 
Design  ...  he  has  missed  his  Aim 
or  end.* 

Ain't  (Hain't  or  An't).  That  is, 
are  not,  am  not,  is  not,  have  not, 
[0.  E.  D.,  in  the  popular  dialect  of 
London,  Cockney  speech  in  Dickens, 
etc.]  See  A'nt*  (1701.) 

Air.  Castles  in  the  air  (the  tines, 
in  Spain,  etc.),  generic  for  (1)  the 
impossible,  (2)  imagination,  and  (3) 
hope :  see  infra.  To  build  castle*, 

(1)  to     attempt     the     impossible; 

(2)  to  dream  of  visionary   project*, 
indulge  in  idle  dreams ;  and  (3)  to  be 
sanguine  of  success.     Hence  in  the  air, 
(1)    uncertain,     in    doubt,    and    (2) 
anticipated     (in     men's     minds)     a* 
likely ;  air-built,  chimerical ;  air-castle, 
the    land    of    dreams    and    fancies; 
air-monger,    a    dreamer :    see    Spain. 
Analogous  phrases  [avowedly  generic, 
and  inserted  in  this  place  because  as 
convenient  as  any  other :  the  senses, 
too,  must  obviously  sometimes  over- 
lap].    1.    (the   impossible),    to  square 
the  circle,  wash  a  blackamore  white, 
skin  a  flint,  make  a  silk  purse  out  of  a 
sow's  ear,  make  bricks  without  straw, 
weave  a  rope  of  sand,  ex  tract  sunbeams 
from  cucumbers,  set  the  Thames  on 
fire,  milk  a  he-goat  into  a  sieve,  catch 
a   weasel   asleep,    be   in    two   places 
at   once,   plough   the   air,   wash   the 
Ethiopian,  measure  a  twig,  demand  a 
tribute  of  the  dead,  teach  a  pig  to  play 
on  a  flute,  catch  the  wind  in  a  net, 
change  a  fly  into  an  elephant,  take  the 
spring  from  the  year,  put  a  rope  in 
the  eye  of  a  needle,  draw  water  with 
a    sieve,    number    the   waves ;     also 
(French)  prendre  la  lune  avec  Us  dents  ; 
rompre  Farguille  auge  nou.  2.  ( imagina- 
tion), to  have  maggots,  or  whimseys  ; 
to  see  an  air-drawn  dagger,  the  flying 
Dutchman,  the  great  sea-serpent,  the 
man  in  the  moon  ;  to  dream  of  Utopia, 
Atlantis,  the  happy  valley,  the  isles  of 
the  West,  the  millennium,  of  fairyland, 
the  land  of  Prester  John,  the  kingdom 
of  Micomicon ;    to  set  one's  wits  to 
work,  strain  (or  crack)  one's  invention, 
rack  (ransack,  or  cudgel)  one's  brains. 
3.  (hope),  to  seek  the  pot  of  gold  (Fr. 
pot  au  lait),  dream  of  Alnaachar,  live 
in   a   fool's   paradise ;  see   a   bit   of 
blue  sky,  the  silver  lining  in  the  cloud, 
the  bottom  of  Pandora's  box,  catch  at 


6 


Air-and-exercise. 


AU. 


a  straw,  hope  against  hope,  reckon 
one's  chickens  before  they  are  hatched. 
Air  of  a  face  or  Picture  (B.  E.,  1696), 
the  Configuration  and  Consent  of  Parts 
in  each.  For  this  1 8th  century  quots. 
are  given  in  0.  E.  Z>.]  To  air  one's 
vocabulary,  to  talk  for  phrasing's  sake, 
flash  the  gab  (q.v.).  [One  of  the  wite 
of  the  time  of  George  IV.,  asked 
what  was  going  on  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  answered  that  Lord  Castle- 
reagh  was  airing  his  vocabulary.]  To 
air  one's  heels,  to  loiter,  hang  about : 
see  Cool  and  Heels. 

Air-and-exercise.  (1)  A  whipping 
at  the  cart's  tail ;  shoving  the  tumbler 
(q.v.).  Also  (2)  the  revolving  pillory  ; 
and  (3),  penal  servitude  (in  America, 
a  short  term  of  imprisonment)  (Grose). 

Airing.     See  Out. 

Air-line.     See  Bee-line. 

Airy  (B.  E.),  Light,  brisk,  pleasant. 
.  .  .  He  is  an  Airy  Fellow. 

Ajax  (or  Jakes).  A  privy ;  a  Jakes 
(q.v.):  Sir  John  Harrington,  in  1596, 
published  his  celebrated  tract,  called 
The  metamorphosis  of  Ajax,  by 
which  he  meant  the  improvement  of 
a  jakes,  or  necessary,  by  forming  it 
into  what  we  now  call  a  water-closet, 
of  which  Sir  John  was  clearly  the 
inventor.  Also  a  rm  of  abuse 
(1551.) 

Akerman's  Hotel.  Newgate 
prison.  [The  governor's  name  was 
Akerman,  c.  1787.] 

Akeybo  (Hotten).  A  slang  phrase 
used  in  the  following  manner: — He 
beats  akeybo, and  akeybobeat  the  devil. 

A-la-Mort.     See  Amort. 

Albany  Beef.  The  flesh  of  the 
sturgeon.  [Some  parts  of  the  fish  have 
a  resemblance,  in  colour,  and  taste,  to 
beef  :  caught  in  large  numbers  as  far 
up  the  Hudson  River  as  Albany.] 

Albertopolis.  The  Kensington 
Gore  district :  out  of  compliment  to 
the  late  Prince  Consort,  who  was  closely 
identified  with  the  Albert  Hall  and  the 
Exhibition  buildings  of  1862. 

Albonized.     Whitened  [L,  albus], 

Alderman.  1.  A  half -crown,  2s. 
6d.  :  see  Rhino.  2.  A  long  clay  pipe  ; 
a  churchwarden  (q.v.).  3.  A  roasted 
turkey  garnished  with  sausages ;  the 
latter  are  supposed  to  represent  the 
gold  chain  worn  by  these  magistrates. 
4.  A  jemmy  (q.v.) :  sometimes  alder- 
man jemmy :  a  weightier  tool  is  the 
Lord  Mayor  (q.v.).  5.  (Felsted).  A 


qualified  swimmer.  [The  Alders,  a 
deep  pool  in  the  Chelmer :  see 
Farmer,  Public  School  Word  Book.'] 
Blood  and  guts  alderman  :  see  Blood 
and  guts. 

Alderman  Lushington.  Alder- 
man Lushington  is  concerned  (or  he  has 
been  voting  for  the  Alderman),  drunk. 

Alderman's  Pace.  A  leisurely 
walking,  slow  gate  (Cotgrave). 

Aldgate.  Draught  on  the  pump  at 
Aldgate,  a  worthless  bill  of  exchange 
(Grose). 

Ale.  (1)  A  merry-making;  and 
occasion  for  drinking.  There  were 
bride-ales,  church-ales,  clerk-ales,  give- 
ales,  lamb-ales,  leet-ales,  Midsummer- 
ales,  Scot-ales,  Whitsun-ales,  and 
several  more.  (2)  An  ale-house.  Hence 
alecie  (or  alecy),  drunkenness ;  ale- 
blown  (ale-washed  or  alecied),  drunk  ; 
ale-draper  (whence  ale-drapery),  an 
inn-keeper  (Grose :  of.  ale-yard) ;  ale- 
spinner,  a  brewer  ;  ale-knight  (ale-stake, 
or  ale-toast),  a  tippler,  pot-companion ; 
ale-post,  a  maypole  (Grose);  ale-passion, 
a  headache ;  ale-pock,  an  ulcered  grog- 
blossom  (q.v.) ;  ale-crummed,  grogshot 
in  the  face ;  ale-swilling,  tippling,  etc. 
(1362).  (3)  In  pi.,  Messrs  S.  Allsopp 
and  Sons  Limited  Shares.  See  Adam's 
Ale. 

Alexander.  1.  To  hang.  [Rogers : 
From  the  harsh  and  merciless  manner 
in  which  Sir  Jerome  Alexander,  an  Irish 
judge  (1660-1674)  and  founder  of  the 
Alexander  Library  at  Trinity  College, 
Dublin,  carried  out  the  duties  of  his 
office.]  2.  To  extol  as  an  Alexander 
the  Great.  (1700.) 

Alexandra  Limp.  An  affected 
lameness ;  cf .  Grecian  bend  and  Roman 
fall. 

Alfred  David.  An  affidavit :  also 
affidavy,  davy,  and  (occasionally)  after- 
davy. 

Algerine.  (1)  A  manager-baiter, 
espec.  when  the  ghost  (q.v.)  will  not 
walk  (q.v.).  Also  (2)  a  petty  borrower. 

Alive.  Alive  occurs  as  an  intensive 
and  expletive  :  e.g.  alive  and  kicking, 
very  sprightly,  all  there  (q.v.) ;  also  all 
alive  ;  man  (heart,  or  sakes)  alive  !  (an 
emphatic  address) ;  to  look  alive,  to 
make  haste ;  all  alive,  slovenly  made 
(of  garments). 

All.  In  pi.,  belongings  :  spec,  tools : 
also  awls :  see  Bens.  Hence  to  pack 
up  one's  alls  ;  ( 1 )  to  begone,  to  desist ; 
(2)  see  All-nations.  The  five  aMn,  & 


Attacompain. 


All-standing. 


country  sign,  representing  five  human 
figures,  each  having  a  motto  under  him 
— the  first  is  a  king  in  his  regalia  ;  his 
motto,  1  govern  all :  tho  second,  a 
bishop  in  pontificals  ;  motto,  I  pray  for 
all :  third,  a  lawyer  in  his  gown ;  motto, 
I  plead  for  all :  fourth,  a  soldier  in  his 
regimentals,  fully  accoutred ;  motto,  I 
fight  for  all :  fifth,  a  poor  countryman 
with  his  scythe  and  rake  ;  motto,  I  pay 
for  all  (Grose).  At  all !  The  cry  of 
a  gamester  full  of  cash  and  spirit,  mean- 
ing that  he  will  play  for  any  sums  the 
company  may  choose  to  risk  against 
him  (HaUiwell).  Alfa  quiet  on  the, 
Potomac,  a  period  of  rest,  enjoyment, 
peace.  [The  phrase  dates  from  the 
Civil.  War;  its  frequent  repetition  in  the 
bulletins  of  the  War  Secretary  made  it 
ridiculous  to  the  public.]  Phrases  and 
colloquialisms.  All  about  in  one's  head, 
light-headed ;  all  about  it,  the  whole  of 
the  matter ;  all-around,  thorough,  all 
round  (q.v.) ;  all  at  sea,  uncertain, 
vague ;  all  face,  naked ;  on  all  fours, 
fairly,  equally,  exactly ;  all  holiday  at 
Peckham,  hungry,  done  for ;  all  in 
(Stock  Exchange),  slow,  fiat  (q.v.) :  of 
a  market  when  there  is  a  disposition  to 
sell ;  whence,  all  out,  improving  ;  all 
over,  thoroughly,  entirely,  exactly  ;  all 
round  my  hat,  queer,  all-overish  (q.v.) : 
That's  all  round  my  hat,  Bosh  !  spicy 
as  all  round  my  hat,  sensational ;  all 
serene,  all's  well,  O.K.  You  know 
what  I'm  after  ;  all  up  with,  finished, 
done  for ;  all  T.H.,  of  the  best,  very 
good  indeed  (tailors'),  all  there  (q.v.). 
See  also  Alive  ;  All-nations  ;  Along ; 
Beat ;  Betty  Martin  ;  Blue  ;  Bandy  ; 
Caboose ;  Cheek ;  Dickey ;  Fly ; 
Gammon  ;  Gay  ;  Go ;  Heap ;  Hollow ; 
Hough  ;  Jaw  ;  Lombard-street ;  Mops- 
and- brooms  ;  Mouth  ;  Out ;  Pieces  ; 
Sheep ;  Shop ;  Shoot ;  Skittles ;  Smash  ; 
Smoke;  There;  Up;  Way;  Way- 
down. 

Allacompain.  Rain:  also  alacom- 
pain,  alicumpane,  elecampain :  cf. 
France  and  Spain. 

All-  (or  I'm-)  afloat.     A  coat. 

All- bones.  A  thin  bony  person. 
(1602.) 

Alleviator.  A  drink,  refreshment : 
see  Go. 

Alley  (Ally  or  Alay).  A  superior 
kind  of  marble.  [Alabaster,  of  which 
they  are  sometimes  made.]  Also  Ally- 
tor  (or  taw) :  cf.  stoney  (q.v.)  blood- 
alley,  and  commoney  (q.v.).  (1720.) 


The  Alley,  Change  Alley :  cf.  House, 
Lane,  Street,  etc.  (1720.) 

All  -  fired.  A  general  intensive  : 
e.g.  oil-fired  (violent)  abuse  ;  an  all- 
fired  (tremendous)  noise  ;  an  all-fired 
(very  great)  hurry,  etc.  Also  as  adv. 
unusually,  excessively. 

All-get-out  That  beats  all-get-out, 
a  retort  to  any  extravagant  story  of 
assertion. 

All-harbour-light     All  right 

Allicholly.  Melancholy,  solemn- 
cholly  (q.v.).  (1595.) 

All  Nations.  1.  The  tap-droppings 
of  spirts  and  malt  liquors :  also  alls,  or 
all  sorts  (Grose).  2.  A  parti-coloured 
or  patched  garment ;  a  Joseph's  coat 

All-night- man.  A  body-snatcher ; 
a  resurrectionist  (q.v.). 

Allot  To  allot  upon,  to  count  upon, 
reckon  (q.v.),  calculate  (q.v.).  (1816.) 

All-out  A  bumper,  carouse.  Hence 
to  drink  all  out,  to  drain  a  bumper. 
(1530.) 

All-overish.  An  indefinite  feeling 
of  apprehension  or  satisfaction.  Also 
to  feel  all  over  alike,  and  touch  nowhere, 
to  feel  confusedly  happy.  Also  as  subs. 
(1841.) 

All-over-pattern.  A  term  used 
to  denote  a  design  in  which  the  whole 
of  a  field  is  covered  with  ornament  in 
contradistinction  to  such  as  have  units 
only  at  intervals,  leaving  spaces  of  the 
ground  between  them. 

Allow  (Harrow).  A  boy's  weekly 
allo  wance.  Also,  to  admit,  declare,  in- 
tend, think.  (1580.) 

All-round  (Amer.  All-around). 
Generally  capable,  adaptable,  or  in- 
clusive ;  affecting  all  alike  :  e.g.  an  all- 
round  (average)  rent ;  an  all-round 
( thorough )  scamp;  an  all-round  cricketer, 
one  good  alike  at  batting,  bowling,  and 
fielding.  Hence  all-rounder. 

All-rounder.  1.  A  shirt  collar; 
spec,  one  the  same  height  all  round  the 
neck,  meeting  in  front,  or  (as  in  clerical 
collars)  at  the  back.  (1857.)  2.  See 
All-round. 

Allslops.  Allsopp  and  Sons'  ale. 
[At  one  time  their  brew,  formerly 
of  the  finest  quality,  had  greatly  de- 
teriorated.] 

All-sorts.     See  All-nations. 

Allspice.     A  grocer. 

All-standing.  Fully  dressed: 
hence  to  turn  in  all  standing,  to  go  to 
bed  in  one's  clothes.  Also  brought  up 
all-standing,  taken  unawares. 


8 


Alma  Mater. 


Ambidexter. 


Alma  Mater.  Originally  (and  pro- 
perly) one' s University;  now  applied  to 
any  place  of  training  ;  school,  college, 
or  University.  (1701.) 

Alman-comb.  The  four  fingers  and 
the  thumb :  see  Welsh-comb. 

Almighty.  An  intensive  :  mighty, 
great,  exceedingly.  (1824.) 

Almighty-  gold  (-money,  or 
[American]  -dollar).  The  power  or 
worship  of  money ;  Mammon.  (1616.) 

Almond -for- a- parrot.  A  trifle 
to  amuse  a  silly  person.  (1529.) 

Aloft.  To  go  aloft,  to  die:  see  Hop 
the  twig.  (1692.)  To  come  aloft,  to 
vault,  play  tricks:  as  a  tumbler.  ( 1624. ) 

Along  of.  On  account  of,  owing 
to,  pertaining  to,  about :  also  (for- 
merly) along  on.  [The  0.  E.  D.  traces 
the  phrase  back  to  Anglo-Saxon  times.] 

Along-shore  (or  Longshore)  Boy 
(or  Man).  A  landsman  (Orose). 

Aloud.  An  intensive  :  e.g.  to  talk 
aloud,  to  rave  ;  to  think  aloud,  to  talk ; 
to  walk  aloud,  to  run  ;  to  stink  aloud, 
to  overpower. 

Alphabet.  Through  the  alphabet, 
completely,  first  to  last. 

Alsatia.  1.  Whitefriars :  a  dis- 
trictadjoining  the  Temple, between  the 
Thames  and  Fleet  Street.  [Formerly 
thesiteof  a  Carmelite  convent  (founded 
1241)  and  possessing  certain  privileges 
of  sanctuary.  These  were  confirmed  by 
a  charter  of  James  I.  in  1608,  where- 
after the  district  speedily  became  a 
haunt  of  rascality  in  general,  a  Latin- 
ised form  of  Alsace  having  been  jocu- 
larly conferred  on  it  as  a  debateable 
land.  Abuses,  outrage,  and  riot  led  to 
the  abolition  of  its  right  of  sanctuary 
in  1697.  Also  Alsatia  the  higher. 
Whence  Alsatia  the  lower,  the  liberties 
of  the  Mint  in  Southwark ;  Alsatian,  a 
rogue,  debtor,  or  debauchee ;  a  resident 
in  Alsatia  :  also,  roguish,  debauched ; 
Alsatia  phrase,  a  canting  term  (B.  E. 
and  Grose).  [See  Fortunes  of  Nigel, 
chaps,  xvi.  and  xvii.].  (1688).  2. 
Hence  any  rendezvous  or  asylum  for 
loose  characters  or  criminals,  where  im- 
munity from  arrest  is  tolerably  certain; 
a  disreputable  locality  :  the  term  has 
sometimes  been  applied  (venomously) 
to  the  Stock  Exchange.  Alsatian,  an 
adventurer;  a  Bohemian.  (1834.) 

Alt.  In  alt,  in  the  clouds  ;  high- 
flying ;  dignified.  \Altissimo,  a  musical 
termT]  Cf.  Altitude.  (1748.) 

Altemal  (or  Altumal).    Altogether. 


(1696.)  Also  as  intj.,  cut  it  short, 
stow  it  (q.v.),  stash  it  (q.v.). 
\p.  E.  D. :  Lat.  altum,  the  deep,  i.e. 
the  sea  and  AL.  Dutch  altermal.] 

Alter.  To  alter  the  Jeff's  click,  to 
make  up  a  garment  without  regard 
to  the  cutter's  chalkings  or  instruc- 
tions. 

Altham.    A  wife :    Old  Cant. 

Altitude.  In  one's  altitudes,  gen- 
eric for  high-mindedness.  (1 )  In  lofty 
mood  ;  (2)  in  high  spirits ;  (3)  hoity- 
toity  ;  and  (4)  drunk  (B.  E.  and  Grose) ; 
see  Screwed.  (1616.) 

Altocad.  A  paid  member  of  the 
choir  who  takes  alto  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). 

Altogether.  A  whole ;  a  tout-en- 
semble. (1677.)  The  altogether,  nudity ; 
in  the  altogether  nude :  popularised 
byDu  Maurier' s  novel  and  play,  Trilby. 

Alybbeg.     See  Lybbege. 

Alycompaine.     See  Allacompam. 

Amazon.  1.  A  masculine  woman ; 
a  vigaro.  Also  (the  adjectival  pro- 
ceded  the  figurative  substantive  usage) 
Amazonian,  manlike,  bold,  quarrel- 
some. (1595.)  2.  The  Queen:  chess. 
(1656.) 

Ambassador.  A  trick  to  duck 
some  ignorant  fellow,  or  landsman,  fre- 
quently played  on  board  ship  in  the 
warm  latitudes.  It  is  thus  managed  :  a 
large  tub  is  filled  with  water,  and  two 
stools  placed  on  each  side  of  it.  Over 
the  whole  is  thrown  a  tarpaulin,  or  old 
sail,  which  is  kept  tight  by  two  persons 
seated  on  the  stools,  who  are  to  repre- 
sent the  king  and  queen  of  a  foreign 
country.  The  person  intended  to  be 
ducked  plays  the  ambassador,  and  after 
repeating  a  ridiculous  speech  dictated 
to  him,  is  led  in  great  form  up  to  the 
throne,  and  seated  between  the  king 
and  queen,  who  rise  suddenly  as  soon 
as  he  is  seated,  and  the  unfortunate 
ambassador  is  of  course  deluged  in  the 
tub  (Grose). 

Ambassador  of  Commerce.  A 
commercial  traveller  ;  bagman  (q.v.). 

Ambes-ace.     See  Ames-ace. 

Ambia.  Chewed-tobacco  juice:  also 
the  intensely  strong  nicotine,  or  thick 
brown  substance  which  forms  in  pipes. 
I  have  always  supposed  that  it  is 
merely  a  Southern  variation  of  amber 
which  exactly  represents  its  colour. 
(Bartlett). 

Ambidexter  (or  Ambodexter).  (1) 
A  venal  juror  or  lawyer,  one  taking  a 


9 


Ambree. 


AngeT8  OH. 


fee  from  both  sides.  Hence  (2)  a 
(1  on  Me  -  dealer,  vicar  of  Bray  (q.v.). 
Aluo,  deceitful,  tricky.  (1532.) 

Ambree.  Mary  Ambree,  generic 
for  a  woman  of  strength  and  spirit 

[Jfowl 

Ambrol.  Ambrol,  among  the  Tan 
for  Admiral  (B.  E.). 

Ambush.  Fraudulent  weights  and 
measured.  [A  punning  allusion  :  to  lie 
in  wait — Le.  lying  weight.] 

Amen.  To  finish  a  matter  (as  amen 
does  a  prayer),  approve,  ratify.  To  say 
Yet  and  Amen,  to  agree  to  everything 
(Grose) ;  amener,  a  general  conformist. 
(1812.) 

Arhen-bawler  (-curler  or  -snorter). 
A  parish  clerk ;  also  (military)  amen- 
wallah:  see  Black-coat  (<?ra*e).  (1704.) 

Amerace.  Near  at  hand,  within 
call 

American  Shoulders.  A  particu- 
lar cut  in  the  shoulders  of  a  coat : 
they  are  padded  and  shaped  to  give  the 
wearer  a  broad  and  burly  appearance. 

American  Tweezers.  An  instru- 
ment to  unlock  a  door  from  the  outside, 
nippers  (q.v.). 

Ames-ace  (Ambs-ace,  Ambes-ace, 
etc. ).  ( 1 )  Orig.  and  lit.  the  throw  of  two 
aoee,  the  lowest  cast  at  dice.  Hence 
(2)  misfortune,  bad  luck,  nothing. 
Within  ames-ace,  nearly,  very  near 
(Grose):  see  Ace.  (1297.) 

Aminadab.  A  quaker :  in  contempt 
(Grose).  (1700.) 

Ammuni  tion.  1 .  Originally  applied 
to  every  requisite  for  soldiers'  use,  as 
ammunition  bread,  shoes,  hat,  etc.  : 
now  only  of  powder,  shot,  shell,  and 
the  like.  Whence  colloquialisms  such 
as  ammunition  face,  a  warlike  face ; 
ammunition  wife,  a  soldier's  trull 
(Grose) ;  ammunition  leg,  a  wooden  leg, 
etc.  (1658.)  2.  Bum-fodder  (q.v.). 
Mouth-ammunition,  food :  cf.  Belly- 
timber.  (1694.) 

Amoret  (or  Amorette).  (1)  Ori- 
ginally a  sweetheart :  spec.  (2)  a  mis- 
tress. [O.  E.  D.  :  Eng.  Amoret  having 
become  obsolete,  the  word  has  recently 
been  re-adopted  from  the  French  ;  see 
sense  4.]  Whence  (3)  the  concomitants 
of  love :  e.  g.  a  love-knot,  a  love-  sonnet, 
love- books,  and  (in  pi.)  love-tricks, 
dalliances  (Cotyrave).  (1400.)  (4) 
Amourette,  a  love-affair,  an  intrigue. 
(1865.) 

Ampersand.  1.  The  posteriors. 
2.  The  sign  & ;  ampersand.  Vari- 


ants :  And  -  pussy  -  and  ;  Ann  Passy 
Ann  ;  anpasty  ;  andpaasy  ;  anparse  ; 
apersie  (a.v.) ;  per-se  ;  ampassy  ;  am- 
passy-ana  ;  ampene-and ;  ampus-and ; 
am  pussy  and  ;  ampazad  ;  amsiam  ; 
ampus  -  end  ;  apperse  -  and  ;  empersi- 
and  amperzed ;  and  zumzy-zan. 

Amputate.  To  be  off,  to  cut 
(q.v.)  and  run,  also  to  amputate  one's 
mahogany  (or  timber) :  see  Bunk  and 
Timber-merchant. 

Amuse.  To  cheat,  beguile,  deceive. 
O.  E.  D.  .  .  .  Not  in  regular  use, 
before  1600.  .  .  .  the  usual  sense  in 
17th  and  18th  centuries] :  spec.  (B.  E. 
and  Grose),  to  throw  dust  in  one's 
eyes  by  diverting  one,  to  fling  dust  or 
snuff  in  the  eyes  of  the  person  intended 
to  be  robbed  ;  also  to  invent  some 
plausible  tale  to  delude  shop-keepers 
and  others,  thereby  to  put  them  off 
their  guard.  Whence  amuser,  a  cheat 
a  snuff  -  throwing  thief ;  one  that 
deceives  (Ash  and  Grose).  (1480.) 

Anabaptist.  A  thief  caught  in  the 
act  and  disciplined  at  the  pump  or  in 
the  horse-pond  (Grose). 

Anchor.  To  sit  down.  To  let  go 
an  anchor  to  the  windward  of  the  law, 
to  keep  within  the  letter  of  the  law. 

Ancient.     See  Antient. 

Ancient  Mariner.  A  rowing  don : 
row  as  in  bough  (Oxf.  Univ.). 

Andrew.  1.  A  broadsword  ;  also 
Andrew  Ferrara:  cf.  Gladstone.  [Cosmo, 
Andrea,  and  Gianantonio  Ferara,  three 
Italian  cutlers  of  Belluno  in  Venetia.] 
(1618.)  2.  A  body-servant,  valet :  cf. 
Abigail  (1618.)  3.  A  ship,  whether 
trading  or  man-of-war  :  also  Andrew 
Millar,  and  (Grose)  Andrew  Miller's 
lugger.  Among  Australian  smugglers,  a 
revenue  cutter.  (1591.)  See  Merry- 
Andrew. 

Angel.  A  child  riding  on  the 
shoulders  :  also  Flying-angeL  Angd 
on  horseback,  oysters  rolled  in  bacon, 
and  served  on  crisp  toast,  very  hot. 

Angel  Altogether.     A  toper. 

Angelic  (or  Angelica).  A  young 
unmarried  woman.  (1821.) 

Angeliferous.  Angelic,  super- 
excellent.  (1837.) 

Angel's-food.    Strong  ale.     (1597.) 

Angel's  Footstool.  An  imaginary 
square  sail,  topping  the  sky-scraper 
(q.v.),  the  moon-sail  (q.v.),  and  the 
cloud-cleaner  (q.v.). 

Angel's  Gear.     Female  attire. 

Angel's  Oil.    A  bribe  :    also  oil  of 


10 


Angel's  Suit. 


Anser. 


angels.  [Angel,  a  gold  coin,  value 
6s.  8d.,  first  struck  by  Ed.  IV.  in 
1465.] 

Angel's  Suit.  A  combination 
garment  for  men :  the  trousers  were 
buttoned  to  coat  and  waistcoat  made 
in  one. 

Angel's  Whisper.  The  call  to 
defaulter's  drill :  usually  extra  fatigue 
duty. 

Angle.  To  get  by  stratagem,  fish 
(q.v.) ;  and  (in  an  absolute  sense,  see 
Angler)  to  cheat,  steal.  As  subs.,  (1)  a 
lure  or  wile ;  (2)  a  victim  :  hence  a 
simpleton,  one  easily  imposed  on  ;  and 
(3)  a  cunning  or  specious  fellow,  an 
adventurer.  To  angle  one  on,  to  lure. 
(1535.)  To  angle  for  farthings,  to  beg 
out  of  a  prison-window,  with  a  cap, 
or  box,  let  down  at  the  end  of  a  long 
string.  To  angle  with  a  silver  hook,  ( 1 ) 
to  bribe,  and  (2)  buy  one's  catch  in  the 
market. 

Angler.  '  Angglers  be  peryllous  and 
most  wicked  Knaues  . .  .  they  custom- 
ably  carry  with  them  a  staffe  of  v.  or  vi. 
foote  long,  in  which  within  one  ynch  of 
the  tope  thereof,  ys  a  lytle  hole  ...  in 
which  they  putte  an  yron  hoke,  and 
with  the  same  they  wyll  plucke  vnto 
them  quickly  anything  that  they  may 
reche  ther  with '  (Harmon).  To  angle, 
to  steal;  Angling-cove,  a  fence  (q.v.) 
(B.  E.  and  Grose). 

Anglomaniacs.  A  club  in  Boston ; 
its  members  are  opposed  to  everything 
British. 

Angry  Boy.  See  Boy  and  Roaring- 
Boy. 

Angular  Party.  A  gathering  of  an 
odd  number  of  people ;  three,  seven, 
thirteen,  etc. 

Animal.  1.  A  term  of  contempt ; 
a  fool — he  is  a  mere  Animal,  he  is  a 
very  silly  Fellow  (B.  E.,  c.  1696).  2. 
A  new  cadet  at  the  United  States 
Military  Academy,  West  Point ;  cf. 
Snooker.  See  Whole. 

Animule.  A  mule.  A  portmant- 
eau-word (q.v.):  i.e.  animal-mule.] 

Ankle.  To  sprain  one's  ankle,  to  be 
got  with  child  (Grose) :  Fr.,  avoir  mal 
aux  genoux. 

Ankle-beater.  A  boy-drover : 
they  tended  their  animals  with  long 
wattles,  and  beat  them  on  the  legs  to 
avoid  spoiling  or  bruising  the  flesh  : 
also  penny-boys  (q.v.),  because  they 
received  one  penny  per  head  as  re- 
muneration. 


Ankle -spring  Warehouse.  The 
stocks.  (1780.) 

Ananias.  A  liar.  Hence  Ananias- 
brand,  an  imposture ;  Ananias-club,  an 
imaginary  company  of  liars  ;  to  play 
Ananias  and  Sapphira,  to  keep  back 
part  of  the  swag  (q.v.). 

Anna  Maria.     A  fire. 

Anne.  See  Bacon,Sight,  and  Thumb. 

Annex.     To  steal,   convey  (q.v.). 

Anno  Domini  Ship.  An  old- 
fashioned  whaler  (Century). 

Annual.  A  holiday  taken  once  in 
twelve  months :  cf.  annual,  a  mass 
said,  rent  paid,  or  a  book  issued  yearly. 

Anodyne.  Death :  also  to  kill. 
Anodyne  necklace  (or  collar),  a  halter 
(Grose) :  see  Horse  -  collar,  Ladder, 
and  Nubbing-cheat.  (1636.) 

Anoint.  1.  To  flatter,  butter  (q.v.). 
(1400.)  2.  To  bribe,  grease  the  palm 
(q.v.);  creesh  the  loof.  (1584.)  3. 
To  beat,  thrash  soundly  ;  also,  anoint 
with  the  sap  of  a  hazel  rod  (North) : 
cf.  strap-oil.  Whence  anointed,  well 
drubbed  (see  next  entry).  (1500.) 

Anointed.  Pre-eminent  in  rascality. 
But  in  a  French  MS.  ...  is  an 
account  of  a  man  who  had  received  a 
thorough  and  severe  beating:  Quianoit 
este  si  bien  oignt.  The  English  Version 
[Early  English  Text  Society]  translates 
this :  '  Which  so  well  was  anoynted 
indeed.  From  this  it  is  clear  that  to 
anoint  a  man  was  to  give  him  a  sound 
drubbing,  and  that  the  word  was  so  used 
in  the  fifteenth  century.  Thus,  an 
anointed  rogue  means  either  one  who 
has  been  well  thrashed  or  who  has 
deserved  to  be '  (Skeat ). 

Anonyma.  A  fashionable  whore 
(c.  1  SCO- 60). 

Another.  You're  another,  a  tu 
quoque  :  i.e.  another  liar,  fool,  thief — 
any  imaginable  term  of  abuse :  see 
Nail.  (1534.) 

Anotherguess  (Anothergets, 
Anothergaines,  Anothergates, 
Anotherguise,  Anotherkins). 
That  is,  another  sort,  kind,  manner, 
fashion,  etc.  [0.  E.  D.  :  A  phonetic  re- 
duction from  anothergete  ((or  another- 
gates).]  Hence  anotherguess  sort  of 
man  (woman,  etc.),  one  up  to  snuff 
(q.v.).  1580.) 

Another  Place.  The  House  of 
Commons  (Lord  Granville). 

Anser.  Anser  is  Latin  for  Goose 
(Brandy,  Candle,  Fish,  etc.).  A  pun- 
ning catch  or  retort.  (1612.) 


11 


Anshum-scranchum. 


A-pigga-back. 


Anshum-scranchum.  A  scramble: 
e.g.  when  provision  is  scanty,  and  each 
one  is  almost  obliged  to  scramble  for 
what  he  can  get,  it  is  said  to  bearuhum- 
tcranchum  work  (HalliweU). 

An't  (Aint).  A  contraction  for  are 
not ;  am  not ;  is  not ;  has  not ;  have 
not  (han't) :  chiefly  Cockney ;  cf. 
shan't,  won't,  can't :  see  Ain't  Also, 
and  may  it  (1612.) 

Ant.  In  an  anfs  foot,  in  a  short  time. 

Antagonize.  To  oppose  a  ball, 
bill,  measure,  etc.  [Properly,  only  of 
contention  or  opposition  between 
forces  or  things  of  the  same  kind.] 

Antarctic.  To  go  to  the  opposite 
extreme:  cf.  lord,  tree,  etc.  (1647.) 

Amechamber.  (B.  E.,  e.  1696.) 
Forerooms  for  receiving  of  Visite,  as 
the  back  and  Drawing-rooms  arc  for 
Lodgings,  anciently  called  Dining- 
rooms.  [Not  in  use  in  this  sense  until 
18th  century,  the  earliest  reference  in 
O.  E.  D.  being  1767 :  the  orig.  meaning, 
the  room  admitting  to  the  royal  bed- 
chamber.] 

An  tern.     See  Autem. 

Anthony.  ( 1 )  To  knock  Anthony,  to 
walk  knock-kneed,  cuff  Jonas  (q.v.). 
Hence  Anthony  Cuffin,  a  knock-kneed 
man.  Also  (2)  to  keep  warm  by  beat- 
ing one's  sides  :  see  Beating  the  Booby 
(Grose).  Anthony  (or  Tantony  pig), 
see  Saint  and  Tantony.  St.  Anthony's 
fire,  Erysipelas :  from  the  tradition 
that  those  who  sought  the  intercession 
of  St  Anthony  recovered  from  the 
pestilential  erysipelas  called  the  sacred 
fire  which  proved  extremely  fatal  in 
1089  (Brewer). 

Antidote.  A  very  homely 
Woman  (B.  E.). 

Antient.  At  sea,  for  Ensign  or 
Flag  (B.  E.)  [0.  E.  D.:  a  corrup- 
tion of  Ensign,  confounded  with 
ancien.]  Cf.  Ancient  Pistol,  Othello's 
Ancient  (i.e.  standard  bearers). 

Antimony.  Type.  [Antimony  is  a 
constituent  part] 

Antrums.     See  Tantrum. 

Anvil.  On  the  anvil,  in  prepara- 
tion, in  hand,  on  the  stocks  (the 
usual  modern  equivalent)  [an  iron] 
in  the  fire.  Hence  to  anvil,  fashion, 
prepare.  (1607). 

Anvil-beater  (-thresher, 
-whacker,  etc.).  A  smith.  (1677.) 

Any.  Any  other  man,  a  call  to 
order :  addressed  to  a  prosy  or  a  dis- 
cursive speaker,  or  when  from  lack  of 


continuity  in  thought  the  same  idea  is 
repeated  in  synonymous  terms.  I'm 
not  taking  any,  a  more  or  less  sarcastic 
refusal,  Not  for  Joe. 

Anybody.  An  ordinary  individual : 
in  depreciation ;  cf.  Nobody,  Some- 
body, etc.  (1826.) 

Anyhow.  All  anyhow,  carelessly  ; 
at  random.  Anyhow  you  can  fix  it,  a 
form  of  acquiescence :  e.g.  I  don't 
know  if  you'll  succeed,  but  anyhow 
you  can  fix  it 

Any-racket.     A  penny-faggot 

Anything.  Like  (or  as)  anything, 
an  indefinite  but  comprehensive 
standard  of  measurement  or  value, 
like  one  o'clock  (old  boots,  winking, 
hell,  etc.).  (1542.) 

Anythingarian.  An  indifferentist, 
Jack-of-both-sides.  Hence  anything- 
arianism,  the  creed  of  All  things  to  all 
men.  (1704.) 

Anywhere.  Anywhere  down  there ! 
A  workroom  catch  -  phrase  on  any- 
thing falling  to  the  floor. 

Apart  Apart,  severally,  asunder 
(B.  E.,  e.  1696).  [Except  for  an  an- 
ticipation by  Langland  not  in  use  till 
long  after  B.  E.'s  time.] 

Apartments.  1.  Apartments  to 
let,  empty-headed,  foolish,  crazy  :  see 
Balmy.  2.  Said  of  a  widow,  also  of  a 
woman  given  to  prostitution  (Ray  and 
Or  ose.) 

Ape.  1.  An  antic,  gull.  Hence 
God's  ape,  a  natural  fool ;  to  play  the 
ape,  (1)  to  mimic  ;  and  (2)  to  play  the 
fool ;  to  put  an  ape  into  one's  hood  (cap, 
or  hand),  to  befool,  dupe  :  also  to  make 
one  his  ape.  As  adj.  (or  apish),  foolish : 
hence  ape-drunk,  maudlin  ;  ape-u-are, 
counterfeit  ware.  (1230.)  2.  An 
endearment  (Malone) :  cf.  monkey. 
( 1595. )  3.  In  pL,  Atlantic  and  North- 
western First  Mortgage  Bonds.  To 
lead  apes  in  hell,  to  die  unmarried  :  of 
both  sexes.  Hence  ape-leader,  an  old 
maid,  or  bachelor  (Grose).  (1579.)  To 
say  an  ape's  paternoster,  to  chatter  with 
cold.  Fr.,  dire  des  pate-nitres  de  singe. 
(1611.)  Phrases.  The  ape  claspeth  her 
young  so  long  that  at  last  she  killeth 
them  ;  An  ape  is  an  ape,  a  varlet's  a 
varlet,  Though  they  be  clad  in  silk  or 
scarlet ;  The  higher  the  ape  goes,  the 
more  he  shows  his  tail. 

A-per-se.    See  A. 

Aphrodisian-dame.     A  courtesan. 

A-pigga-back  (or  A-pisty-poll). 
See  Angel  and  Pick-a-back. 


12 


Apostles. 


April. 


Apostles  (Twelve  Apostles). 
Formerly  when  the  Poll,  or  ordinary 
B.A.  degree  list,  was  arranged  in  order 
of  merit,  the  last  twelve  were  nick- 
named The  Twelve  Apostles  ;  also  The 
Chosen  Twelve,  and  the  last,  St.  Poll  or 
St.  Paul — a  punning  allusion  to  1  Cor. 
xv.  9,  For  I  am  the  least  of  the 
Apostles,  that  am  not  meet  to  be  called 
an  Apostle.  The  list  is  now  arranged 
alphabetically  and  in  classes.  At 
Columbia  College,  D.C.,  the  last 
twelve  on  the  B.A.  list  actually  receive 
the  personal  names  of  the  Apostles. 
(1785.)  To  manoeuvre  the  apostles,  to 
borrow  of  one  to  pay  another,  to  rob 
Peter  to  pay  Paul  (Grose). 

Apostle's  Grove.  St.  John's 
Wood ;  also  the  Grove  of  the  Evan- 
gelist. 

Apothecary.  Formerly  a  term  of 
contempt :  prior  to  1617  the  business 
of  grocer  and  chemist  was  combined, 
and  it  was  not  till  1815  that  the  status 
of  an  apothecary,  as  a  medical  practi- 
tioner, was  legally  held  by  licence  and 
examination  of  the  Apothecaries  Com- 
pany. Hence  To  talk  like  an  apothe- 
cary, to  talk  nonsense,  use  (Grose) 
hard  or  gallipot  words :  from  the  as- 
sumed gravity  and  affectation  of  know- 
ledge generally  put  on  by  the  gentlemen 
of  this  profession,  who  are  commonly 
as  superficial  in  their  learning  as  they 
are  pedantic  hi  their  language.  Also 
Apothecaries' -Latin,  gibberish,  dog- 
(katchen-,  or  raw-)  Latin  (q.v.); 
Apothecaries'  bitt,  a  long  undetailed 
account :  cf.  Bawdy-house  reckoning. 
Likewise  proverbial  sayings :  A  broken 
apothecary,  a  new  doctor ;  Apothe- 
caries would  not  give  pills  in  sugar 
unless  they  were  bitter. 

Appii  (The)  (Durham  University). 
The  Three  Tuns  :  a  celebrated  Durham 
Inn.  [A  mis-reading  of  Actsxxviii.  15.] 

Apple.  In  pi.,  a  woman's  paps : 
also  Apple-dumpling-shop  (Grose),  the 
bosom.  (1638.)  Phrases  and  proverbial 
expressions  :  One  rotten  apple  decays 
a  bushel ;  To  take  an  eye  for  an 
apple ;  As  like  as  an  apple  is  like 
an  oyster ;  There's  small  choice  in 
rotten  apples ;  Won  with  an  apple, 
lost  with  a  nut ;  How  we  apples 
swim  (What  a  good  time  we're 
having ;  a  reference  to  the  fable  of 
a  posse  of  horse-droppings  floating 
down  the  river  with  a  company  of 
apples).  (1340.)  See  Adam's  Apple. 


Apple-cart.  The  human  body  :  cf. 
Beer-barrel.  To  upset  one's  apple-cart, 
to  floor  a  man,  to  thwart  (Grose).  Also, 
to  upset  the  old  woman's  apple-cart ; 
to  upset  the  apple-cart  and  spill  the 
gooseberries  (or  peaches). 

Apple-pie  Bed.  A  bed  made 
apple-pie  fashion,  like  what  is  called 
a  turnover  apple-pie,  where  the  sheets 
are  so  doubled  as  to  prevent  any  one 
from  getting  at  his  length  between 
them :  a  common  trick  played  by 
frolicsome  country  lasses  on  their 
sweethearts,  male  relations,  or  visitors 
(Grose).  Fr.,  lit  en  portefeuille. 

Apple-pie  Day  (Winchester).  The 
day  on  which  Six-and-six  (q.v.)  was 
played.  It  was  the  Thursday  after  the 
first  Tuesday  in  December.  So  called 
because  hot  apple-pies  were  served  on 
gomers  (q.v.)  in  College  for  dinner. 

Apple-pie  Order.  The  perfection 
of  neatness  and  exactness.  (1813). 

Apples-and-pears.  A  flight  of  stairs. 

Apple  Squire.  (1)  A  harlot's  con- 
venience. Hence  (2)  a  kept-gallant 
(see  Squire,  Bully,  and  Fancy-man) ; 
(3)  a  wittol  (q.v.) ;  and  (4)  a  pimp 
(q.v.).  Also  Pippin-squire,  Squire  of 
the  body,  Apple-John,  Apple-monger, 
Apron-man,  and  Apron-squire.  Apple- 
wife,  bawd.  Occasionally  Apron-squire, 
groomsman.  ( 1 500. ) 

Approach.  To  know  carnally. 
Hence  approachable,  wanton. 

April.  This  month  the  poetical 
type  of  verdure  (see  Green)  and  in- 
constancy is  frequently  found  in  con- 
temptuous combination.  Thus  April- 
fool  (or  Scots  April-gowk),  cuckoo : 
Fr.,  poisson  d'Avril),  one  who  is  sent 
on  a  sleeveless  errand  (for  strap -oil, 
pigeon's  milk,  the  squad  umbrella, 
the  diary  of  Eve's  grandmother,  etc.), 
or  who  is  the  victim  of  asinine  sport  on 
April-Fools'  (or  All  Fools')  Day  (1st 
April).  This  has  given  rise  to  the  sar- 
castic April-day,  a  wedding-day  ;  and 
April-gentleman,  a  newly-married  hus- 
band. Also  April-fish,  a  pimp  (Fr., 
maquereau) ;  April-squire,  a  new-made 
or  upstart  squire.  ( 1592. )  To  smell  of 
April  and  May,  a  simile  of  youth  and 
courtship.  (1596.)  Also  proverbial  say- 
ings :  A  windy  March  and  a  rainy 
April  make  a  beautiful  May ;  April 
showers  bring  forth  May  flowers ; 
When  April  blows  his  horn  it's  good 
for  hay  and  corn  ;  April  cling  good  for 
nothing ;  April — borrows  three  days 


13 


Apron. 


Ariftippus. 


of  March,  and  they  are  ill ;  A  cold 
April  the  barn  will  fill ;  An  April 
flood  carries  away  the  frog  and  her 
brood  ;  April  and  May  are  the  keys 
of  the  year. 

Apron.  1.  A  woman  :  generic  ;  cf. 
Muslin ;  Petticoat ;  Placket,  etc.  Hence 
tied  to  one's  apron  strings  (or  apron- 
led),  ( 1 )  under  petticoat  -  rule,  hen- 
pecked ;  and  (2)  in  close  attendance  ; 
apron  •  hold  (or  apron  -  string  hold,  or 
tenure),  a  life-interest  in  a  wife's  estate 
(Orose) ;  apron  -  squire  (see  Apple- 
squire)  ;  apron  -  husband,  a  domestic 
meddler ;  apron-up,  pregnant,  lumpy 
(q.vA  Also  (proverbial) :  Wise  as 
her  mother's  apron-strings,  dependent 
on  a  mother's  bidding.  (1542.)  2. 
Generic  for  one  wearing  an  apron : 
e.g.  a  shopkeeper,  a  waiter,  a  workman : 
also  apron-man,  apron-rogue,  aproneer. 
[Spec,  the  Parliamentary  party  (many 
of  whom  were  of  humble  origin) 
during  the  Civil  War :  by  Cavaliers 
in  contempt.]  Hence  (3),  a  cleric  of 
rank,  a  bishop  or  dean  (also  Apron- 
and-Gaiters).  As  verb,  to  cover  with 
(or  as  with)  an  apron  ;  and  aproned, 
of  the  working-class,  mechanic.  Hence 
checkered-apron,  a  barber ;  blue-apron 
(q.v.);  green-apron,  a  lay-preacher; 
white-apron,  a  prostitute.  (1592.) 

Apron-washings.     Porter. 

Aqua.  Water  :  also  Aqua-pompa- 
ginis  (Orose,  Dog-Latin).  Hence,  in 
jocose  combination,  aquapote,  aqua- 
bib  (Bailey,  1731),  and  aquatic,  a 
water-drinker;  aqua -bob,  an  icicle. 
(1704.) 

Aquadiente.     Brandy.     (1835.) 

Aquatics.  (Eton).  1.  The  wet-bob 
(q.v.)  cricket- team ;  and  (2)  the  playing 
field  used  by  them  :  see  Sixpenny. 

A  qua- vitas.  Formerly  an  alchemic 
term,  but  long  popularly  generic  for 
ardent  spirits  ;  brandy,  whisky,  etc. 
[L.  water  of  life.  Cf.  French  eau-de- 
vie,  and  Irish  usquebaugh.}  Hence 
aqua-vitae  man,  (1)  a  quack,  and  (2)  a 
dram-seller.  (1542.) 

Arab.  (1)  A  young  street  vagrant: 
also  street  arab  and  city  arab.  Whence 
(2)  an  outcast  (1848.) 

Arabian-bird.  Anything  unique. 
[Properly  the  phoenix.]  Also  Arabian 
nights,  the  fabulous,  the  marvellous. 
(1605.) 

Arcadian  -  nightingale  (or  bird), 
An  ass:  see  Nightingale.  (1694.) 

Arch.     1.  Properly  chief,  pre-emi- 


nent :  hence,  ( 1 )  clever,  crafty,  roguish 
(B.  E.) ;  and  (2)  extreme,  out-and-out 
(q.v.).  [0.  E.  D.  :  In  modern  use 
chiefly  prefixed  intensively  to  words  of 
bad  or  odious  sense.]  Thus,  arch- 
botcher,  a  clumsy  patch-worker  ;  arch- 
fool  (or  dolt),  an  out-and-out  duffer ; 
arch-knave,  a  rascal  of  parts  ;  arch-cove 
(or  rogue),  spec,  the  ringleader  of  a  band 
of  gipsies  or  thieves :  whence  arch- 
dell  (or  doxy),  the  same  in  rank  among 
the  female  canters  of  gipsies  (Orose) ; 
arch-whore,  a  bilking  harlot  (B.  E.), 
etc.  Also,  sharp,  Keen,  splenetic : 
usually  with  at  or  upon.  (1551.)  2. 
Saucy,  waggish.  Thus  arch-  (witty) 
fellow  (B.  IS.);  arch-  (pleasant)  wag 
(B.  E.) ;  arch  duke,  a  comical  or 
eccentric  fellow  (Orose).  (1662.)  See 
Ark. 

Archdeacon.  (Oxford).  Merton 
strong  ale. 

Archwif e.  A  masterful  woman  ;  a 
virago.  (1383.) 

Ard.     Hot  (Orose),  ardent 

Ardelio.  A  busybody,  meddler. 
(1598.) 

Area-sneak  (or  slum).  A  petty 
thief :  spec,  one  working  houses  by 
means  of  an  area-gate  (Grose) :  see 
Sneak,  Slum,  and  Thief.  ( 1865. ) 

Arg.     To  argue,  grumble  :  cf.  Argle. 

Argal.  Therefore,  ergo  :  of  which  it 
is  a  corruption.  As  subs.,  a  clumsy 
argument  See  Argle.  (1602.) 

Argent.  Money  :  generic  :  spec, 
silver  money  (Bailey) :  see  Gent 
Hence  argentocracy,  the  power  of 
money;  Mammon  (q.v.).  (1500.) 

Argle.  To  argue  disputation/sly, 
haggle,  bandy  words;  also  angle- bargle, 
argol-bargol,  or  argie-bargie.  Whence 
argol-bargolous,  quarrelsome :  cf.  Arg. 
(1589.) 

Argot.  The  jargon,  slang,  or 
peculiar  phraseology  of  a  class,  orig. 
that  of  thieves  and  rogues.  See  Slang 
and  Cant  Whence  argotic,  slangy. 
(1611.) 

Argue.  To  argue  out  of  (away,  a 
dog's  tail  off,  etc.),  to  get  rid  of  by 
argument:  see  Talk  (1713.) 

Argufy.  (1)  To  argue,  worry, 
wrangle.  Whence  (2)  to  signify,  prove 
of  consequence,  follow  as  a  result  of 
argument  Argufitr,  a  contentious 
talker.  See  Arg  and  Argle.  (1751.) 

Aristippus.  1.  Canary  wine.  (1627.) 
2.  'A  Diet -drink,  or  Decoction  of 
Sarsa  China,  etc.  Sold  at  certain 


14 


Ark. 


Article. 


Coffee-houses,  and  drank  as  T  '  (B.  E. 
and  Grose). 

Ark  (or  Arch).  (1)  A  boat;  a 
wherry :  e.g.  Let  us  take  an  Ark  and 
winns,  let  us  take  a  sculler  (B.  E.  and 
Grose).  Hence  arkman,  a  waterman. 
Also  (2),  in  Western  America,  a  flat- 
bottomed  market-produce  boat  (Bart- 
lett) :  rarely  seen  since  the  introduction 
of  steam.  3.  A  barrack-room  chest : 
a  lingering  use  of  an  old  dialect 
word. 

Arkansas- toothpick.  A  large 
sheath  knife  :  orig.  a  bowie-knife  (q.v.) 
(1854.) 

Ark-floater.  An  actor  well  ad- 
vanced in  years. 

Arm.  Colloquialisms  are :  To  make 
a  long  arm,  to  exert  oneself  ;  as  long  as 
one's  arm,  very  long  ;  to  work  at  arm's 
length,  to  do  awkwardly ;  one-  under 
the  arm  (tailor's),  an  extra  job  ;  in  the 
arms  of  Murphy  (or  Morpheus),  asleep : 
see  Murphy. 

Armful.  A  heap,  a  large  quantity ; 
spec,  an  endearment :  of  a  bouncing 
baby,  a  big  cuddlesome  wench,  etc. 
(1579.) 

Armine.  A  wretched  person,  a 
beggar.  (1605.) 

Armour.  In  armour,  pot-valiant; 
primed  (q.v.).  ;  full  of  Dutch  courage 
(q.v.) :  see  Screwed  (B.  E.  and  Grose). 

Armpits.  To  work  under  the  arm- 
pits, to  escape  the  halter  by  the  skin  of 
one's  teeth,  to  practise  only  such  kinds 
of  depredation  as  will  amount,  upon 
conviction,  to  whatever  the  law  calls 
single,  or  petty,  larceny  ;  the  extent  of 
punishment  for  which  is  transportation 
for  seven  years.  [On  the  passing  of 
Sir  Samuel  Romilly's  Act,  capital 
punishment  was  abolished  for  highway 
robberies  under  40s.  in  value.] 

Arm- pro  p.  A  crutch  ;  a  wooden- 
leg  (q.v.). 

Arms-and-legs.  Small  beer  :  be- 
cause there  is  no  body  in  it  (Grose). 

Arm  -  slasher  (or  stabber).  A 
gallant  who  bled  his  arm  to  toast  his 
mistress ;  hence  to  dagger  (or  stab) 
arms  to  toast  a  lady-love.  (1611.) 

Armstrong.  See  Captain  Arm- 
strong. 

Arrah.  An  expletive,  with  no 
special  meaning  (Grose) ;  an  expletive 
expressing  emotion  or  excitement,com- 
mon  in  Anglo-Irish  speech  (0.  E.  D.). 
[Farquhar,  who  first  used  the  term 
(1705)  was  of  Irish  birth.] 


Array.  (1)  To  thrash,  to  dress 
down  (q.v.);  (2)  to  afflict,  punish  (q.v.) ; 
and  (3)  defile.  Hence  as  subs.,  a  drub- 
bing, pickle  (q.v.),  plight,  a  pretty 
state  of  affairs.  (1388.) 

Arrow  (or  Arra).  A  corruption  of 
e'er  a,  or  ever  a.  (1750.) 

"Arry.  That  is  Harry:  a  popular 
embodiment  of  the  vulgar,  rollicking, 
yet  on  the  whole  good-tempered  rough 
of  the  metropolis.  Whence  'Arriet, 
'Arry's  young  woman.  [Popularised 
by  Milliken  in  a  series  of  ballads  in 
Punch.]  'Arryish,  vulgarly  jovial. 
(1874.) 

Arst.     Asked. 

Arter.     After. 

Artesian.  A  Gippsland  (Victoria) 
brew  of  beer :  manufactured  with  water 
obtained  from  an  artesian  well  at  Sale 
— hence  artesian  (generic),  colonial 
beer  :  see  Cascade. 

Artful  Dodger.  1.  A  lodger.  2. 
An  expert  thief :  also  a  fellow  who 
dares  not  sleep  twice  in  the  same  place 
for  fear  of  arrest.  [The  Artful  Dodger, 
a  character  in  Dickens'  Oliver  Twiet.\ 

Arthur.  King  (or  Prince')  Arthur. 
A  sailor's  game.  When  near  the  line, 
or  in  a  hot  latitude,  a  man  who  is  to 
represent  King  Arthur,  is  ridiculously 
dressed,  having  a  large  wig  made  out 
of  oakum,  or  some  old  swabs.  He  is 
seated  on  the  side,  or  over  a  large  vessel 
of  water,  and  every  person  in  turn  is 
ceremoniously  introduced  to  him,  and 
has  to  pour  a  bucket  of  water  over  him. 
crying  out,  Hail,  King  Arthur  !  If 
during  the  ceremony  the  person  intro- 
duced laughs  or  smiles  (to  which  hia 
majesty  endeavours  to  excite  him  by 
all  sorts  of  ridiculous  gesticulations),  he 
changes  places  with,  and  then  becomes 
King  Arthur,  till  relieved  by  some 
brother  tar  who  has  as  little  command 
over  his  muscles  as  himself  (Grose) :  cf. 
Ambassador. 

Artichoke.  1.  A  term  of  contempt. 
(1600.)  2.  A  hanging :  also  hearty 
choak  (Grose) ;  whence  to  have  an  arti- 
choke and  caper  sauce  for  breakfast,  to 


Article.  1.  A  woman  :  e.g.  a  prime 
article  (Grose),  a  handsome  girl,  a  hell 
of  a  goer  (Lex.  Bal.).  2.  A  mildly 
contemptuous  or  sarcastic  address : 
usually  with  such  adjectives  as  pretty, 
nice,  etc.  Thus,  You're  a  pretty 
article,  You're  a  beauty  (q.v.) ; 
What  sort  of  an  article  do  you  think 


16 


Artide  of  Virtue. 


Atomy. 


you  arc  T  What's  your  name  when  out 
for  a  walk?  Also  (HaUiweU)  of  a 
wretched  animal.  3.  In  pi.,  a  suit  of 
clothes  (Grose). 

Article  of  Virtue.  A  virgin.  [A 
play  upon  virtue,  and  virtu.] 

Artilleryman.  A  drunkard :  cf. 
canon,  drunk,  and  see  Lushington. 

Artist  An  adroit  rogue,  skilful 
gamester.— N.  Y.  8.  D. 

As.     See  Make. 

Asia  Minor.  The  Kensington  and 
Bayswater  district  [Many  Anglo- 
Indians  reside  in  this  locality.  The 
nickname  is  double-barrelled,  for  the 
district  is  also  the  headquarters  of  the 
Greek  community  in  the  metropolis.] 
Cf.  New  Jerusalem,  Black  Hole,  etc. 

Asinego.  (1)  A  little  ass;  hence 
(2)  a  fool,  donkey  (q.v.),  duffer  (q.v.). 
(1606.) 

Ask.  To  proclaim  in  church :  as  a 
marriage  ;  literally  to  ask  for  (or  the) 
banns  thereto.  Formerly  also  of  stray 
cattle,  etc.  [0.  E.  D. :  The  recognised 
expression  is  now  to  publish  the 
banns ;  but  ask  is  the  historical 
word.]  Whence  asking,  an  announce- 
ment in  church  of  intended  marriage 
(1461).  Ask  another,  a  jesting  or  con- 
temptuous retort  to  a  question  that 
one  cannot,  will  not,  or  ought  not,  to 
answer  :  also  Ask  bogy  (q.v.). 

Askew.  A  cup:  see  Skew  (Barman, 
1567). 

Aspasia.  A  harlot  The  name  of 
one  of  the  celebrated  courtesans  of 
Athens,  called  Heterae  (iraipai),  many 
of  whom  were  highly  accomplished  and 
were  faithful  to  one  lover.  .  .  .  Repre- 
sentative of  a  fascinating  courtesan, 
and  more  rarely,  of  an  accomplished 
woman. 

Aspen-leaf.     The  tongue.     (1532.) 

Ass.  Generic  for  stupidity,  clumsi- 
ness, and  ignorance.  Hence  ( 1 )  a  fool : 
see  Buffle.  [0.  E.  D. :  now  disused  in 
polite  literature  and  speech.]  Also  ass- 
head  :  whence  assheaded,  stupid  ;  and 
assheadedness,  folly.  To  make  an  ass  of, 
to  stultify  ;  to  make  an  ass  of  oneself,  to 
play  the  fool ;  Your  ass-ship  (a  mock 
title  :  cf.  lordship).  Also  Proverbs  and 
proverbial  sayings :  When  a  fool  is 
made  a  bishop  then  a  horned  ass  is  born 
therein  ( 1 400) :  Perhaps  thy  ass  can  tell 
thee  what  thou  knowest  not  (Nash) ; 
To  wrangle  for  an  ass's  shadow 
(Thijnne) ;  Go  sell  an  ass  (Topseli :  a 
charge  of  blockishness  to  a  dull  scholar). 


Angry  as  an  an  with  a  squib  in  his 
breech  (Cotgrave) ;  Honey  is  not  for 
an  ass's  mouth  (Shdton) ;  An  ass 
laden  with  gold  will  go  lightly  uphill 
(Shdton) ;  Asses  have  ears  as  well  as 
pitchers  (Middleton) ;  He  will  act  the 
ass's  part  to  get  some  bran  ( Urquhart) ; 
An  ass  in  a  lion's  skin  (Addison) ; 
An  unlettered  king  is  a  crowned  ass 
(Freeman) ;  to  plough  with  ox  and  ass, 
to  use  incongruous  means  ;  The  ass 
waggeth  his  ears  (Cooper,  1563 :  '  a 
proverbe  applied  to  theim,  whiche, 
although  they  lacke  learnynge,  yet  will 
they  babble  and  make  a  countenance, 
as  if  they  knew  somewhat').  2.  A 
compositor :  used  by  pressmen :  the 
tit- for- tat  is  pig  (q.v.) :  also  donkey  : 
Fr.,  mulet. 

Assassin.  A  breast  knot,  or  similar 
decoration  worn  in  front  [Cen- 
tury :  with  allusion  to  its  killing 
effect] 

Assayes  (The).  The  2nd  battalion 
(late  74th)  Highland  Light  Infantry : 
for  distinction  at  Assaye,  when  every 
officer  present  save  one,  was  killed  or 
wounded,  and  the  battalion  was  re- 
duced to  a  mere  wreck  (Farmer,  MH. 
Forces  of  Ot.  and  Greater  Britain). 

Asses'  Bridge  (The).  The  fifth  pro- 
position in  the  First  Book  of  Euclid's 
Elements ;  the  pons  asinorum.  ( 1 780. ) 

Assig.  An  assignation  (B.  E.  and 
Grose). 

Assmanship  (or  Asswomanship). 
The  art  of  donkey-riding:  on  the  model 
of  horsemanship.  (1800.) 

Aste.  Money  :  generic  :  see  Rhino 
(Nares).  (1612.) 

Astronomer.  A  horse  with  a  high 
carriage  of  the  head ;  a  star-gazer 
(q.v.). 

At  See  All ;  Breeches ;  Hand  ; 
Have  ;  Pickpurse  ;  Rest ;  That ;  You. 

Athanasian  Wench.  A  forward 
girl ;  Quicunque  vult  (q.v.) :  see  Tart 

Athens.  The  Modern  Athens.  (1) 
Edinburgh ;  and  (2)  Boston,  Mass, 
(also  The  Athens  of  America). 

Atlantic  -  ranger.  A  herring,  a 
sea-rover  (q.v.) :  see  Glasgow  magis- 
trate. 

Atkins.     See  Tommy  Atkins. 

Atomy.  1.  An  anatomy,  specimen, 
skeleton  ;  also  otamy :  whence  (2)  a 
very  lean  person,  walking  skeleton 
(1598).  2.  A  diminutive  person,  pigmy 
(1591).  3.  An  empty-headed  indi- 
vidual 


16 


Atrocity. 


Avast  I 


Atrocity.  Anybody  or  anything 
grievously  below  the  ordinary  stand- 
ard or  out  of  the  common  :  e.g.  a  bad 
blunder,  a  flagrant  violator  of  good 
taste,  a  very  weak  pun,  etc.  Hence 
atrocious,  shockingly  bad,  execrable, 
and  as  adv.  excessively.  (1831.) 

Attack.  A  commencement  of  opera- 
tions ;  as  (jocularly)  upon  dinner,  a 
problem,  correspondence,  etc.  Also  as 
verb.  (1812.) 

Attempt.  To  approach  a  woman ; 
to  attack  the  chastity.  Hence  at- 
tempter,  attemptable,  and  other  deriva- 
tives. (1593.) 

Attic.  The  head,  brain,  upper 
storey  (q.v.) 

Attic-salt  (style  or  wit).  Well- 
turned  phrases  spiced  with  refined  and 
delicate  humour.  (1633.) 

Attleborough.  Pinchbeck,  Brum- 
magem (q.v.).  [Attleborough  is  cele- 
brated for  its  manufacture  of  trashy 
jewelry.] 

Attorney.  1.  A  knave,  swindler ; 
an  ancient  (and  still  general)  reproach. 
Whence  attorneydom  and  attorneyism 
(in  contempt  or  abuse).  (1732.)  2.  A 
drumstick  of  goose,  or  turkey,  grilled 
and  devilled  :  cf.  Devil.  (1828.) 

Attorney- General's  Devil.  See 
Devil. 

Auctioneer.  To  tip  (or  give)  the 
auctioneer,  to  knock  a  man  down ; 
Tom  Sayers'  right  hand  was  nick- 
named the  auctioneer. 

Audit-ale  (or  Audit).  A  special 
brew  of  ale :  orig.  for  use  on  audit  days. 
Univ.  (1823.) 

Audley.     See  John  Audley. 

Aufe.     See  Oaf. 

Auger.     A  prosy  talker,  bore  (q.v.). 

Aught.  A  common  illiteracy  for 
naught,  the  cyper  0. 

Auld  Hornie.  The  Devil :  see 
Blackspy. 

Auld  Reekie.  The  Old  Town, 
Edinburgh;  i.e.  Old  Smoky.  (1826.) 

Auly  Auly.  (Win.  Coll.:  obsolete). 
A  game  played  in  Grass  Court  on 
Saturday  afternoons  after  chapel.  An 
indiarubber  ball  was  thrown  one  to 
another,  and  everybody  was  obliged  to 
join  in.  The  game,  though  in  vogue 
in  1830,  was  not  played  as  late  as 
1845. 

Aumbes-ace.     See  Ames-ace. 

Aunt.  1.  A  bawd  ;  a  harlot  (B.  E. 
and  Grose) :  hence  (old  sayings)  My 
aunt  will  feed  me,  She  is  one  of  my 


aunts  that  made  my  uncle  go  a-begging 
(or  that  my  uncle  never  got  any  good 
of).  (1604.)  2.  An  endearment  or 
familiar  address  ;  also  aunty  :  spec.  (1) 
in  nursery  talk,  a  female  friend  of  the 
family  ;  and  (2)  a  matronly  woman : 
hence  aunthood  :  cf.  Uncle.  (1592.) 
3.  (Oxford  and  Cambridge  :  obsolete.) 
The  sister  university.  (1655.)  Phrases. 
If  my  aunt  had  been  my  uncle  what 
would  have  happened  then  ?  (a  retort 
on  inconsequent  talk) ;  to  go  and  see 
one's  aunt,  to  go  to  the  W.C.  (see  Mrs. 
Jones). 

Aunt  Sally.  A  game  common  to 
race-courses  and  fairs  ;  a  wooden  head 
is  mounted  on  a  pole  to  form  a  target ; 
in  the  mouth  is  placed  a  clay  pipe, 
which  the  player,  standing  at  twenty 
or  thirty  yards,  tries  to  smash. 

Au  Reservoir  I     Au  revoir. 

Aurum  Potabile.  That  is,  Drink- 
able gold  ;  '  a  medicine  made  of  the 
body  of  gold  itself,  totally  reduced, 
without  corrosive,  into  a  blood -red, 
gummie,  or  honylike  substance '  (Phil- 
lips) ;  also,  some  rich  Cordial  Liquor, 
with  pieces  of  leaf  gold  in  it  (Kersey). 

Australian  Flag.  A  rucked  -  up 
shirt-tail. 

Australian  Grip.  A  hearty  hand- 
shake. 

Autem  (Autum,  Autom,  or  An- 
tem).  A  church  (Harman,  B.  E., 
Grose).  As  adj.,  married ;  also  in 
numerous  combinations,  thus  :  autem- 
bawler  (-cackler,  -jet  or  -prickear),  a 
parson :  spec,  of  Dissenters ;  autem- 
cackle  tub,  (1)  a  dissenting  meeting- 
house, (2)  a  pulpit ;  autum-cove,  a 
married  man  ;  autum-dipper  (or  -diver), 
(1)  a  Baptist,  (2)  a  thief  working 
churches  or  conventicles,  and  (3)  an 
overseer  or  guardian  of  the  poor; 
autum-goggler,  a  pretended  French 
prophet  (Grose) ;  autum-mort,  a  mar- 
ried woman,  also  the  Twenty-fourth 
Order  of  the  Canting  Tribe,  Travelling, 
Begging  (and  often  Stealing)  about  the 
Country  with  one  Child  hi  Arms,  an- 
other on  Back,and  (sometimes)  leading 
a  third  in  the  Hand  ;  autum-quaver,  a 
Quaker  ;  autum-quaver  tub,  a  Quaker's 
meeting-house. 

Author-baiting.  Calling  a  play- 
wright before  the  curtain  to  subject 
him  to  annoyance — yelling,  hooting, 
bellowing,  etc. 

Avastl  Hold!  Stop!  Stay! 
(1681.) 


17 


Avering. 


Avering  subs.  (old).  Begging  on 
the  shallow  (q.v.)  dodge.  (1695.) 

Avoirdupois.     Excess  of  flesh,  fat. 

Avoirdupois- lay.  Stealing  brass 
weights  of!  the  counters  of  shops 
(Grose). 

Avuncular.  Humorously  employed 
in  various  combinations :  e.g.  avun- 
cular relation,  a  pawnbroker  ;  an  uncle 
(q.v.);  avuncular  life,  pawn  broking  ; 
also  avuncular,  of  or  pertaining  to  an 
uncle ;  to  avunculize,  to  act  as  an 
uncle.  (1662.) 

Awake.  On  the  alert,  vigilant, 
fully  appreciative  :  see  Fly.  (1785.) 

Away.  Away  (forthwith,  con- 
tinuously) occurs  in  several  colloquial- 
isms, mostly  imperative.  Thus  :  Fire 
away.  Commence  immediately ;  Say 
away,  Spit  it  out ;  Peg  away,  Keep 
going ;  Right  away,  at  once :  Away 
the  mare,  Adieu  to  care,  Begone  ;  Far- 
and-away,  altogether ;  Who  can  hold 
that  will  away  1  Who  can  bind  an  un- 
willing tongue  ?  To  mistake  away,  to 
pilfer  and  pretend  mistake;  Away  back, 
(1)  long  ago,  and  (2)  see  Way-back. 

Awful.  Monstrous :  hence  a  generic 
intensive  —  great,  long,  exceedingly 
good,  bad,  pretty,  etc.  Thus  an  aw- 


ful  (very  unpleasant)  lime  ;  awful  (side- 
splitting) fun  ;  awfully  (uncommonly) 
jolly,  etc.  Also  penny-awful,  a  blood- 
curdling tale :  cf.  Dreadful  shocker, 
Blood-and-guts  story,  etc.  As  adv., 
exceedingly,  extremely.  (1816.) 

Awkward.    Pregnant,  lumpy  (q.v.). 

Awkward-squad.    Recruits  at  drill. 

Awls.     See  Alls. 

Ax.  This  archaic  form  of  ask,  once 
and  long  literary,  survives  dialectically 
[O.  E.  D. :  Ax,  down  to  nearly  1600, 
was  the  regular  literary  form  :  it  was 
supplanted  in  standard  English  by  ask, 
originally  the  northern  form.]  Also  ax- 
my-eye,  a  cute  fellow,  a  knowing  blade. 
(1380.)  Phrases:  To  have  an  ax  to 
grind,  to  have  personal  interests  to 
serve ;  to  put  the  ax  in  the  helve,  to 
solve  a  doubt,  unriddle  a  puzzle ;  to 
send  the  ax  after  the  helve  (or  the  helve 
after  the  hatchet),  to  despair ;  to  hang  up 
one's  ax,  to  desist  from  fruitless  labour, 
abandon  a  useless  project ;  to  open  a 
door  with  an  ax  (said  of  barren  or  un- 
profitable labour). 

Axe  wad  die.  To  wallow.  Hence 
axewaddler  (a  term  of  contempt). 

Ayrshires.  Glasgow  and  South- 
western Railway  Stock. 


B.  1.  The  title  of  a  captain  in  the 
army  of  the  Irish  Republican  Brother- 
hood (H.  J.  Byron).  2.  (Harrow).  A 
standard  in  Gymnasium  the  next 
below  A  (q.v.).  3.  (Felsted).  See  A. 
Not  to  know  B  from  a  bull's  foot  (a 
battledore,  a  broomstick,  or  any  allitera- 
tive jingle),  to  be  illiterate  or  ignorant, 
unable  to  distinguish  which  is  which  : 
also  affirmatively :  see  A,  Battledore, 
Chalk,  etc.  (1401.)  B  Flat  (or  B),  a 
bed  bug,  Norfolk  Howard  (q.v.):  cf. 
F  sharp.  (1853.) 

Ba.  To  kiss  :  also  as  subs.  :  cf. 
Buss.  [0.  E.  D. :  probably  a  nursery 
or  jocular  word ;  Century,  perhaps 
the  humorous  imitation  of  a  smack.] 
(1383.) 

Baa.  A  bleat ;  also  as  verb  ;  of  a 
sheep.  Hence  baaling,  a  lambkin : 
also  baa-lamb  ;  baaing,  noisy  silliness, 
and  as  adj.  (1500.) 

Bab.  The  first  word  children  use, 
as  with  us  dad  or  daddie  or  bab  (F lorio): 
Also  babba. 


Babber-lipped.     See  Blabber-lips. 

Babble.  Confused  unintelligible 
talk  such  as  was  used  at  the  building  of 
the  tower  of  Babel  (B.  E.  and  Grose). 
Babbler,  a  great  talker  (B.  E.). 
[O.  E.  D.  :  Common  to  several  lan- 
guages :  in  none  can  its  history  be 
carried  far  back  ;  as  yet  it  is  known  as 

early  in  English  as  anywhere  else 

No  direct  connection  with  Babel  can  be 
traced  ;  though  association  with  that 
may  have  affected  the  senses.] 

Babbler.  1.  A  hound  giving  too 
much  tongue.  (1732.)  2.  See  Babble. 

Babe.  1.  The  last  elected  member 
of  the  House  of  Commons :  cf.  father 
of  the  House,  the  oldest  representative. 
2.  The  youngest  member  of  a  class  at 
the  United  States  Military  College, 
West  Point.  3.  An  auction  shark  (q.v. ) ; 
a  knock-out  (q.v.)  man  :  for  a  con- 
sideration these  agree  not  to  oppose  the 
bidding  of  larger  dealers,  who  thus 
keep  down  the  price  of  lota.  4.  (Ameri- 
can). A  Baltimore  rowdy  :  also  blood 


18 


Babe  in  the  Wood. 


Back. 


tub    (q.v.),    plug-ugly    (q.v.) :      see 
Baby. 

Babe  in  the  Wood.  1.  A  culprit 
in  the  stocks  or  pillory  (Grose).  2.  In 
pi.,  dice. 

Baboo  (or  Babu).  In  Bengal,  and 
elsewhere,  among  Anglo-Indians,  it  is 
often  used  with  a  slight  savour  of  dis- 
paragement as  characterising  a  super- 
ficially cultivated,  but  too  often  effemi- 
nate Bengali ;  and  from  the  extensive 
employment  of  the  class  to  which  the 
term  was  applied  as  a  title  in  the  capa- 
city of  clerks,  in  English  offices  the 
word  has  come  often  to  signify  a  native 
clerk  who  writes  English  (Yule). 
Hence  baboo -English,  superfine;  grand- 
iloquent English  such  as  is  written  by 
a  baboo  ;  also  baboodom  and  babooism. 
(1866.) 

Baboon.  A  term  of  abuse :  see  Ape. 
Whence  baboonery  ;  baboonish  ;  and  ba- 
boonize,  to  monkey  (q.v.).  (1380.) 

Baby  (or  Babe).  1.  A  childish  per- 
son :  e.g.  a  great  baby,  a  mere  baby, 
etc.  Hence,  to  smell  of  the  baby,  to  be 
infantine  or  childish  (in  character  or 
ability) :  cf.  Baby-act.  Also,  to  act  (or 
treat)  childishly;  babyhood  (babydom 
or  babyism),  childishness ;  baby-bunt- 
ing, an  endearment.  (1596.)  2.  In  pi., 
pictures  in  books.  [0.  E.  D.:  perh.  orig. 
the  ornamental  tail- pieces  and  borders 
with  Cupids  and  grotesque  figures  in- 
terworked.]  (1605.)  3.  The  minute  re- 
flection of  one  gazing  into  another's  eye. 
Hence  to  look  babies  (or  a  boy)  in  the 
eyes,  to  look  amorously ;  to  cast  sheep' s- 
eyes  (q.v.).  (1586.)  4.  A  doll,  puppet, 
a  child's  plaything :  also  baby-clouts, 
a  rag  -  doll :  see  Bartholomew  -  baby. 
(1530.)  As  adj.,  small;  tiny;  e.g.  a 
baby-glass,  baby-engine,  etc.  (1859.) 
To  kiss  the  baby,  to  take  a  drink ;  to 
smile  (q.v.). 

Baby  Act.  The  legal  defence  of  in- 
fancy :  hence  to  plead  the  baby  act,  (1) 
to  plead  minority  as  avoiding  a  con- 
tract ;  and  (2)  to  excuse  oneself  on  the 
ground  of  inexperience. 

Baby-farmer.  A  professional  adop- 
ter of  infants,  minder  (q.v.) :  spec,  in 
an  evil  sense  :  once  the  money  is  paid, 
the  children  are  frequently  gradually 
done  to  death.  Whence  Baby-farming. 

Baby-herder.     A  nurse. 

Babylon.  Generic  for  luxury  and 
magnificence.  Hence  (1)  the  papal 
power  (formerly  identified  with  the 
mystical  Babylon  of  the  Apocalypse) ; 


(2)  any  large  city  :  spec.  London  (also 
Modern  Babylon).  Babylonian,  (1)  a 
papist ;  and  (2)  an  astrologer  (Chaldea 
was  the  ancient  seat  of  the  craft) ; 
babylonish,  popish.  (1564.) 

Babylonitish.  (Winchester).  A 
dressing  gown.  [That  is  Babylonitish 
garment.] 

Baby's-pap.     A  cap. 

Baby  Wee-wees.  Buenos  Ayres 
Water  Works  shares. 

Bacca.  Tobacco:  Fr.,  perlot  (from 
perle).  Also  Bacco,  Baccy,  Backer, 
and  Backey.  (1833.) 

Bacca- pipes.  Whiskers  curled  in 
ringlets  :  obsolete  :  see  Mutton-chops. 

Baccare  (or  Bakkare),  Go  back  ! 
Give  place !  Away!  (1473.) 

Bacchus.  1.  Wine,  intoxicating 
liquor.  Whence  son  of  Bacchus,  a 
tippler :  see  Lushington ;  and  Bacchi 
plenus,  drunk :  see  Screwed.  [In- 
numerable derivatives  and  combina- 
tions have  been  and  are  still  in  more  or 
less  regular  and  literary  use.]  (1496.) 
2.  (Eton.)  Verses  written  (c.  1561)  on 
Shrove  Tuesday  in  honour  or  dispraise 
of  Bacchus — because  poets  were  con- 
sidered the  clients  of  Bacchus.  .  .  . 
This  custom  was  continued  almost  into 
modern  days,  and  though  the  subject 
was  changed,  the  copy  of  verses  was 
still  called  a  Bacchus. 

Bach  (or  Batch).  To  live  as  a 
bachelor. 

Bachelor.  Then  the  town  butt  is  a 
bachelor,  the  retort  incredulous  on  a 
woman's  chastity  (Bay). 

Bachelor's  Baby.  A  bastard:  see 
Bye-blow  and  Bachelor's- wife.  ( 1672. ) 

Bachelor's  Buttons.  To  wear 
bachelor's  buttons,  to  be  a  bachelor. 
[Orey.  Country  fellows  carried  the 
flowers  of  this  plant  in  their  pockets,  to 
know  whether  they  should  succeed 
with  their  sweethearts,  and  they  j  udged 
of  their  good  or  bad  success  by  their 
growing  or  not  growing  there.] 

Bachelor's-fare.  Bread  and 
cheese  and  kisses.  (1738.) 

Bachelor's- wif  e .  (1)  An  ideal  wife; 
and  (2)  a  harlot :  whence  bachelor's 
baby,  a  bastard.  (1562.) 

Back.  1.  To  espouse,  advocate,  or 
support,  a  matter,  by  money,  influence, 
authority,  etc. :  commonly,  to  back  up. 
Hence  (2),  in  racing,  to  wager,  or  bet  in 
support  of  one's  opinion,  judgment,  or 
fancy ;  to  back  the  field,  to  bet  against  all 
horses  save  one,  usually  the  favourite ; 


19 


Back-and-belly. 


Backing  On. 


backed,  betted  on;  backer,  (1)  a  sup- 
porter, back  -  friend  (q.v.),  and  (2) 
a  layer  of  odds  :  cf.  bookie  ;  backing, 
support.  (1548.)  3.  To  endorse,  counter- 
sign :  e.g.  to  back  a  cheque  ;  also  to 
back  a  bill,  to  become  responsible  for 
payment :  cf.  to  foot  an  account ; 
backed,  endorsed,  accepted :  for- 
merly to  direct  or  address  a  letter : 
prior  to  the  general  use  of  envelopes, 
the  address  was  written  on  the  back  of 
the  folded  sheet  (1768) :  to  be  backed, 
to  be  carried  for  dead.  Phrases  and 
colloquialisms :  To  give  one  the  back, 
to  ignore ;  behind  one's  back,  out  of 
sight,  hearing,  or  knowledge ;  to  give 
back,  to  turn  tail ;  to  turn  one's  (or  the) 
back  on,  (1)  to  go,  (2)  abandon,  and  (3) 
snub  ;  back  ana  side  (back  and  belly,  or 
back  and  edge),  all  over,  completely, 
through  thick  and  thin ;  to  take  the  back 
on  oneself,  to  run  away ;  with  back  to 
the  wall,  hard  -  pressed,  struggling 
against  odds ;  to  have  by  the  back,  to 
seize,  lay  hold  of ;  to  break  the  back, 
(1)  to  overburden,  (2)  all  but  finish  (a 
task) ;  to  ride  on  one's  back,  to  deceive  ; 
to  get  the  back  of,  (I)  to  take  in  the  rear, 
and  (2)  have  at  an  advantage  ;  on  one's 
back,  (1)  floored  (q.v.),  (2)  at  the  end 
of  one's  resources,  (3)  sick  or  indis- 
posed ;  to  have  (put,  get,  or  set)  one's 
back  up,  ( 1)  to  resist,  rouse,  and  (2)  get 
(or  be)  angry  (B.  E.  and  Grose) :  whence, 
don't  get  your  back  up  \  Keep  calm  1 
or  Your  back's  up,  a  jeer  at  an  angry 
hunchbacked  man  ;  to  back  out,  to  re- 
tire cautiously,  escape  from  a  dilemma; 
to  give  (or  make)  a  back,  (1)  to  lend  a 
hand,  and  (2)  bend  the  body,  as  at  leap- 
frog ;  to  back  down,  ( 1 )  to  yield  or 
retire  from  a  matter,  and  (2)  eat  one's 
words :  hence  a  back-down  (or  square 
back  down),  (1)  utter  collapse,  and  (2)  a 
severe  rebuff  ;  to  be  on  a  man's  back,  to 
chide,  be  severe  upon ;  to  see  the  back  of, 
to  get  rid  of.  Also  His  back  is  broad 
enough  to  bear  jests  (Kay) ;  What 
is  got  over  the  devil's  back  is  spent 
under  his  belly.  To  back  up  (Win- 
chester), to  call  out :  e.g.  Why  didn't 
you  back  up?  I  would  have  come  and 
helped  you.  In  College,  times  are 
backed  up  by  Junior  in  Chambers : 
such  as  Three  quarters,  Hour, 
Bells  go  single,  Bells  down.  See 
Beyond. 

Back-and-belly.  All  over,  com- 
pletely :  also  back-and-bed,  and  cf. 
back  -  and  •  edge  (supra,  s.  v.  Back, 


phrases).  Hence  to  keep  one  back-and- 
belly,  to  provide  everything,  feed  and 
clothe ;  to  beat  one  back-and-belly,  to 
thrash  thoroughly,  (c.  1300.) 

Backare.     See  Baccare. 

Backbiter.  1.  One  who  slanders 
another  behind  his  back,  i.e.  in  his 
absence  (Grose).  Also  (2)  His  bosom 
friends  are  become  his  back  -  biters, 
said  of  a  lousy  man. 

Back-breaker.  1.  A  hard  task- 
master :  spec,  the  foreman  of  a  gang  of 
farm  labourers  ;  and  (2)  any  task  that 
requires  excessive  exertion.  Hence 
back-breaking,  arduous. 

Back-cap.  To  depreciate,  dispar- 
age :  also  to  give  a  back-cap. 

Back-cheat  A  cloak ;  a  wrap- 
rascal  (q.v.). 

Backdoor.  The  fundament.  Hence 
backdoor  -  trot,  diarrhoea.  As  adj., 
clandestine,  speciously  secret :  also 
backstairs :  e.g.  backdoor  counsellor, 
backstairs  influence  (or  work),  etc.  ; 
orig.  and  spec,  of  underhand  intrigue 
at  Court,  i.e.  when  the  Sovereign  is 
approached  secretly  by  the  private 
stairs  of  a  palace  instead  of  by  the 
State  entrance.  (1611.) 

Back-end.  The  last  two  months  of 
the  racing  season,  commencing  with 
October :  also  as  adj.  [Properly,  the 
latter  part  of  autumn.]  Hence  back- 
ender,  a  horse  entered  for  a  race  late  in 
the  season.  (1820.) 

Backfall.  A  trip  or  fall  on  the 
back,  as  also  backheel  and  backlock. 
Also  as  verb.  (1713.) 

Back- friend.  (1)  A  secret  enemy; 
one  who  holds  back  in  time  of  need. 
Also  (2)  an  ally  (see  Back,  verb,  2). 
(1472.)  (3)  A  splinter  of  skin  formed 
near  the  roots  of  the  finger-nail,  a 
stepmother's  blessing  (q.v.). 

Back-gammon.     See  Backdoor. 

Back-handed  Turn.  An  unprofit- 
able bargain. 

Back-hander.  1.  A  glass  of  wine 
out  of  turn,  the  bottle  being  passed 
back  or  retained  for  a  second  glass  in- 
stead of  following  the  sun  round  the 
table.  Hence  backhand  (verb)  and 
backhanding.  (1855.)  2.  A  blow  on 
the  face  delivered  with  the  back  of  the 
hand  ;  hence  an  unexpected  rebuff,  a 
set-down  (q.v.).  (1836.) 

Backing  and  Filling.  Shifty, 
irresolute,  shilly-shally  :  orig.  nautical 
(1854.) 

Backing  On.     See  Turning-on. 


20 


Backings  up. 


Bad. 


Backings  up  (Winchester).  The 
unconsumed  ends  of  half  -  burned 
faggots :  obsolete. 

Back  Jump.  A  back  window  :  see 
Jump  (Grose). 

Backmarked.  To  be  backmarked, 
in  handicapping  to  receive  less  start 
from  scratch  than  previously  given. 

Back  -  paternoster.  See  Back- 
wards. 

Back  -  scratcher.  1.  A  wooden 
toy  on  the  principle  of  a  watchman's 
rattle,  which,  drawn  down  the  back, 
sounds  like  the  ripping  up  of  cloth ; 
much  in  favour  at  fairs  and  in  crowds  ; 
its  use  (in  London)  is  now  (1904)  pro- 
hibited by  police  order.  2.  A  flatterer : 
hence  back-scratching,  flattery  :  cf.  Ka 
me,  Ka  thee. 

Back- seam.  To  be  down  on  one1  a 
back-seam,  to  be  down  on  one's  luck. 

Back  Seat.  To  take  a  back  seat,  to 
retire  into  obscurity,  confess  failure,  be 
left  behind.  [The  colloquialism  re- 
ceived an  immense  send  off  by 
Andrew  Johnson  in  1868 :  In  the 
work  of  reconstruction  traitors  should 
take  back  seats.] 

Back-set  (modern,  Set-back).  A 
rebuff,  untoward  circumstance,  relapse. 
Hence,  to  set  back,  to  check. 

Back-slang.  1.  A  variety  of  slang, 
orig.  costers,  in  which  a  word  is 
slightly  veiled  by  being  written  or  pro- 
nounced as  nearly  as  possible  back- 
wards :  thus  yob,  boy ;  cool,  look ; 
yennep,  penny ;  etc.  2.  See  Slum. 
3.  A  back-room;  also  the  back-entrance 
to  any  house  or  premises  ;  thus,  we'll 
give  it  'em  on  the  back  slum,  means 
we'Jl  get  in  at  the  backdoor.  As  verb, 

( 1 )  To  enter  or  come  out  of  a  house  by 
the  backdoor  ;  or  to  go  a  circuitous  or 
private  way  through   the   streets,  in 
order  to  avoid  any  particular  place  in 
the  direct  road,  is  termed  back-slanging 
it  (Grose.).     (2)  (Australian)  to  ask  for 
hospitality  on  the  road  :  a  common  and 
recognised  up-country  practice. 

Back -slum.  See  Slum  2,  and 
Back-slang. 

Backs  tair.     See  Backdoor. 

Backstaircase.  A  bustle,  dress 
improver :  see  Birdcage. 

Back-stall.     See  Stale,  subs.  5. 

Back-talk.      (1)  A   rude   answer; 

(2)  contradiction  ;  (3)  an  insinuation  ; 
and  (4)  withdrawal  from  a  promise  or 
an  accepted  invitation  (Lane.) :  also 
back-word  and  back -answer.     Hence 


backward  -  answer,  a  perverse  reply  ; 
No  back  talk  !   Shut  up  !     (1605.) 

Back-teeth.  To  have  one's  back 
teeth  afloat,  to  be  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Back- timber.  Clothes  :  cf.  Belly- 
timber.  (1656.) 

Back  Tommy.  Cloth  to  cover  the 
stays  at  the  waist. 

Backtrack.  To  take  the  back-track, 
to  retreat,  back  out  (q.v.). 

Back- trade.  A  backward  course. 
(1640.) 

Back- trick.  A  caper  backwards 
in  dancing.  (1601.) 

Backward.  A  few  phrases  fall 
into  alphabet  here  ;  To  say  (or  sing) 
the  Te  Deum  (the  Lord's  Prayer  or  to 
spell)  backwards,  to  mutter,  curse :  also 
as  a  charm  :  hence  back-paternoster  (or 
prayer),  an  imprecation ;  to  go  back- 
wards,  to  go  to  the  W.C.  :  see  Mrs. 
Jones  ;  to  piss  backwards,  to  defecate ; 
to  blow  backwards,  crepitate ;  If  I 
were  to  fall  backwards,  I  should  break 
my  nose  (Nay  :  It.,  i.e.  I  am  so  foiled 
in  everything  I  undertake).  See  Bad 
talk. 

Backwardation.  A  sum  which  a 
seller  pays  for  not  being  obliged  to 
deliver  the  shares  at  the  time  before 
agreed  upon,  but  to  carry  them  over  to 
the  following  account :  cf.  Contango. 
Also  Backwardization. 

Back-word.     See  Back-talk. 

Backy.  A  shopmato  working  be- 
hind another. 

Bacon.  1.  Generic  for  rusticity.  Thus 
bacon-slicer  (bacon-chops  or  chaw-bacon) 
a  rustic  ;  bacon-brains,  a  stupid  clod- 
hopper :  hence  bacon-brained  (-faced  or 
-fed),  clownish,  dull  (Bee  and  Grose) : 
also  bacon-faced  (or  -side),  fat-jowled, 
fat,  sleek ;  bacon-picker,  a  glutton. 
(1596.)  2.  The  human  body.  Whence 
to  save  one's  bacon,  to  save  appearances, 
to  escape  injury  or  loss  (B.  E.,  Grose, 
Bee) :  Fr.,  sauver  son  lard  ;  to  sell  one's 
bacon,  (1)  to  work  for  hire  and  spec., 
(2)  to  play  the  harlot  for  bread. 
(1362.)  To  pvll  bacon,  described  in  the 
Ingoldsby  Legends  :  He  put  his  thumb 
unto  his  nose  and  spread  his  fingers 
out,  to  take  a  sight  (q.v.),  to  make 
Queen  Anne's  Fan  (q.v.).  Phrases:  A 
good  voice  to  beg  bacon  (said  in  jeer 
of  an  ill  voice)  (B.  E.  and  Grose) ; 
When  the  devil  is  a  hog,  you  shall  eat 
bacon  (Ray). 

Bad  (or  Badly).  Very  much, 
greatly.  Also  colloquial  phrases ;  to  go 


21 


Bad  Bargain. 


Bad  Way. 


to  the  bad,  to  go  to  ruin  ;  to  be  [any- 
thing] to  the  bad,  to  show  a  deficit,  be 
on  the  wrong  side  of  an  account ;  to 
come  back  again  like  a  bad  penny,  (1) 
of  anything  unwelcome,  and  (2)  a 
jocular  assurance  of  return ;  not  half 
bad,  fairly  good ;  bad  to  beat,  difficult 
to  excel ;  to  want  badly,  the  superla- 
tive of  desire ;  cruel  bad,  very  bad. 
Also  Give  a  dog  a  bad  name  and  you 
may  hang  him.  (1816.) 

Bad  Bargain.     See  Q.H.B. 

Bad- break.  A  corruption  of  bad 
outbreak. 

Bad  Crowd  Generally.  In  sing., 
a  mean  wretch,  no  great  shakes 
(q.v.). 

Bad-egg  (-halfpenny,  -hat,  -lot, 
penny,  etc.).  1.  A  ne'er-do-weel, 
loose  fish :  in  America  more  inde- 
finitely used  than  in  England.  Also 
(old),  a  bad  or  risky  speculation :  Fr., 
mauvais  gobet.  (1363.) 

Bad  Form.  Conduct  not  in  keep- 
ing with  a  conventional  standard, 
vulgarity. 

Badge.  'A  mark  of  Distinction 
among  poor  People ;  as  Porters,  Water- 
men, Parish- Pensioners,  and  Hospital- 
boys,  Blew -coats  and  Badges  being 
the  ancient  Liveries'  (B.  E.).  Hence 
badge-cove  (or  -man),  a  parish  pensioner 
(Grose).  To  have  one  «  badge,  to  be 
burned  in  the  hand  :  e.g.  He  has  got 
his  badge  and  piked,  He  has  been 
burned  in  the  hand  and  set  at  liberty 
(Grose). 

Badger.  1.  They  that  buy  up  a 
quantity  of  Corn  and  hoard  it  up  in 
the  same  Market,  till  the  price  rises  ; 
or  carry  it  to  another  where  it  bears 
a  better  (B.  E.).  [O.  E.  D.  :  Origin 
unknown :  Fuller  derived  it  from  L., 
bajutare,  to  carry  (as  if  a  cant  con- 
traction baj.,  cf.  the  modern  zoo,  cab, 
etc.),  but  evidence  is  required  before 
this  can  be  admitted  for  the  15c.  .  .  . 
By  Act  5  and  6  Ed.  VI.  o.  14.  7, 
Badgers  were  required  to  be  licensed  by 
the  Justices  (the  origin  of  the  hawker's 
license).]  2.  A  river  desperado  ;  vil- 
lains who  rob  near  rivers,  into  which 
they  throw  the  bodies  of  those  they 
murder  (Grose) :  see  Ark-ruffian.  3.  A 
panel-thief  (q.v.) :  hence  Badger-crib. 
4.  A  red-haired  individual.  5.  A  com- 
mon prostitute.  6.  The  impersonator 
of  Neptune  in  the  festivities  incident  to 
Crowing  the  Lone ;  also  Badger-bag ; 
see  Ambassador  and  Arthur.  7.  (Wel- 


lington School)  A  member  of  the  2nd 
XV.  at  football.  [A  badge  is  worn  by 
each  individual :  see  sense  1.]  8.  A 
brush ;  spec,  when  made  of  badger's 
hair.  9.  See  Badger  State.  As  verb, 
to  worry  unceasingly :  as  a  badger  when 
baited  ;  to  pester  :  usually  of  a  helpless 
victim  (Bee).  Hence  badgered,  wor- 
ried, teased ;  badgering,  heckling, 
persecution:  Fr.,  aguigner.  (1794.) 
To  overdraw  the  badger,  to  overdraw  a 
banking  account.  (1843.) 

Badger-box  (Australian).  A  bad- 
ger-box  is  like  an  inverted  V  in  section. 
They  are  covered  with  bark,  with  a 
thatch  of  grass  along  the  ridge,  and  are 
on  an  average  about  14  X  10  feet  at  the 
ground,  and  9  or  10  feet  high. 

Badgerly.  Elderly,  grey-haired : 
cf.  grey  as  a  badger.  (1753.) 

Badger  State.  (1)  The  State  of 
Wisconsin.  [Badgers  once  abounded 
there.]  Whence  Badger,  an  inhabitant 
of  Wisconsin. 

Bad  Give-away.     See  Give-away. 

Bad-halfpenny.     See  Bad-egg. 

Bad  Job.  An  ill  bout,  bargain,  or 
business  (B.  E.). 

Bad  Man.  A  professional  fighter 
or  man-killer,  but  who  is  sometimes 
perfectly  honest.  These  men  do  most 
of  the  killing  in  frontier  communities ; 
yet  the  men  who  are  killed  generally 
deserve  their  fate.  They  are  used  to 
brawling,  are  sure  shots,  and  able  to 
draw  their  weapon  with  marvellous 
quickness.  They  think  nothing  of 
murder,  are  the  terror  of  their  asso- 
ciates, yet  are  very  chary  of  taking  the 
life  of  a  man  of  good  standing,  and 
will  often  weaken,  and  back  down,  at 
once  if  confronted  fearlessly.  Stock- 
men have  united  to  put  down  these 
dangerous  characters,  and  many  locali- 
ties once  infested  by  bad  men  are 
now  perfectly  law-abiding  (Boose- 
veldt). 

Bad  Match  Twist.  Red  (or  car- 
roty) hair  and  black  whiskers. 

Badminton.  1.  A  kind  of  claret- 
cup  :  claret,  sugar,  spice,  soda-water, 
and  ice.  [Invented  at  the  Duke  of 
Beaufort's  seat  of  the  same  name.] 
(1845.)  2.  Blood:  cf.  Claret,  Rosy, 
etc. 

Bad  Shot    See  Shot 

Bad  Slang.  Faked  up  monstrosi- 
ties, spurious  curiosities :  see  Slang, 
subs.  7. 

Bad  Way.    See  Way. 


22 


Saff. 


Bagman. 


Baff.     See  Buff. 

Bag.  1.  The  womb.  Hence  as  verb 
(or  to  be  bagged),  to  become  pregnant, 
to  get  big  with  child  ;  bagged,  lumpy 
(q.v.) :  properly  of  animals  ;  bag-pud- 
ding, pregnancy  :  cf.  Sweet-heart  and 
bag-pudding  (Bay).  (1598.)  2.  The 
stomach :  hence  as  verb,  to  feed,  fill  the 
stomach  ;  bagging,  food  :  spec.  (North) 
food  eaten  between  meals,  or  (Lane.)  a 
substantial  afternoon  repast,  high 
tea;  hence  bagging -time.  (1750.)  3. 
In  pi.,  the  paps,  dugs  (q.v.) :  properly 
of  animals.  ( 1 642. )  4.  In  pi. ,  Buenos 
Ayres  Great  Southern  Railway  Bonds. 
5.  In  pi.,  loosely-fitting  clothes  :  spec, 
trousers  ;  also  bumbags  :  whence  hold- 
ing bags,  breeches  of  loud  pattern  or 
cut,  and  go-to-meeting-bags,  Sunday 
clothes,  one's  best  wear :  see  Kicks. 
Hence  baggy,  stretched  by  wear ;  bag- 
gily,  loosely  ;  to  bag,  to  sag  ;  bag-sleeve, 
a  sleeve  baggy  above,  and  tight  at,  the 
wrist.  (1350.)  6.  (Westminster  School). 
In  sing.,  milk.  7.  The  contents  of  a 
game  bag,  the  result  of  sport ;  said  of 
racing  as  of  fishing,  shooting,  etc.;  and 
alike  of  a  big  game  expedition  as  of  a 
day  in  the  stubble.  As  verb  (or  to 
bring  to  bag),  (1)  to  shoot,  to  kill,  to 
catch.  (1814.)  (2)  To  acquire,  secure  : 
i.e.  to  seize,  catch,  or  steal :  cf.  Nab, 
Cop,  Bone,  etc.  Whence  (old)  bagger,  a 
miser;  bagged,  (1)  got,  and  (2)  quodded 
(q.v.).  (1740.)  As  intj..  Bags  I  or 
Bags  I  \  to  assert  a  claim  to  some 
article  of  privilege :  cf.  Fains  or  Fain 
it  (q.v.),  a  demand  for  a  truce  during 
a  game,  which  is  always  granted : 
Pike  I  (or  Prior  pike)  likewise  serves 
to  lay  claim  to  anything,  or  to  assert 
priority  :  also  bar  \  e.g.  He  wanted  me 
to  do  so  and  so,  but  I  barred  not. 
Phrases.  To  turn  to  bag  and  wallet,  to 
turn  beggar  ;  to  give  one  the  bag  to  hold 
(Hay),  to  slip  off :  also  leave  in  the 
lurch  ;  to  give  the  bag,  (1)  to  leave  with- 
out warning  (Grose),  also  (2)  dismiss, 
and  (3)  cheat  (Webster):  see  Canvas, 
Sack,  and  Wallet ;  to  let  the  cat  out  of 
the  bag,  to  disclose  a  trick  or  secret  (see 
Cat) ;  to  empty  the  bag,  to  tell  all :  also 
lose  an  argument  (Fr.,  vider  le  sac); 
to  put  one  in  a  bag,  to  vanquish,  double 
up  ;  to  put  (or  get)  one's  head  in  a  bag, 
to  drink  a  pot  of  beer  ;  to  take  the  bag, 
to  play  the  hare  in  Hare  and  Hounds ; 
to  have  the  bags,  ( 1 )  to  come  of  age,  and 
(2)  be  flush  of  money  ;  to  bag  the  over 
(see  Jockey).  See  Blue-bag  ;  Carpet- 


bagger ;  Cat ;  Green-bag  ;  Nose-bag  ; 
Wind-bag. 

Bag-and- baggage.  One's  belong- 
ings :  hence  to  dear  (or  turn)  out  bag- 
and-baggage,  to  make  a  good  riddance : 
in  depreciation.  [0.  E.  D. :  Originally 
a  military  phrase  denoting  all  the  pro- 
perty of  an  army  collectively,  and  of  the 
soldiers  individually;  hence  the  phrase, 
orig.  said  to  the  credit  of  an  army  or 
general,  To  march  out  with  bag-and- 
baggage  (Fr.,  vie  et  bagues  sauves) ;  i.e. 
with  all  belongings  saved  ...  to  make 
an  honourable  retreat.]  Bag  -  and- 
baggage  policy,  wholesale  surrender, 
general  scuttling,  peace  at  any  price. 
(1600.) 

Bag  and  Bottle.  Provisions,  food 
and  drink  :  cf.  Back  and  belly. 

Bagatelle.  A  trifle,  matter  of  little 
worth  or  consequence.  As  adj.,  trump- 
ery, trifling.  [O.  E.  D. :  Formerly  quite 
naturalised ;  now  scarcely  so.]  (1637. ) 

Baggage.  1.  Luggage,  portable 
property  ;  belongings  (q.v.) :  spec,  the 
equipment  of  an  army.  Hence  bag-and- 
baggage  (q.v.).  Whence  baggage-check, 
a  luggage-ticket,  cloak-room  ticket ; 
baggage-man  (or  master),  a  guard  in 
charge  of  luggage ;  baggage-room,  a 
parcels  office  or  cloak-room  ;  baggage- 
smasher,  a  porter,  station  thief.  ( 1430. ) 
2.  Generic  for  trash:  e.g.  encumbrances, 
rubbish,  dirt,  pus.  Whence  (spec.  post- 
Reformation),  the  rites  and  accessories 
of  Catholic  ritual :  cf.  sense  3.  As  adj., 
trumpery  (also  baggagely),  corrupt, 
vile.  (1538.)  3.  A  good-for-nothing  : 
man  or  woman :  spec,  strumpet  (B.  E. : 
cf.  Fr.  bagasse,  Sp.  bagaza,  Port,  bgasa, 
It.  bagascia).  Also  (4)  a  familiar  ad- 
dress to  a  woman,  esp.  a  young  woman : 
usually  qualified  by  cunning,  saucy, 
pretty,  little,  sly,  etc.  (Grose) :  cf.  Puss, 
Rogue,  Wench,  Drab,  etc.  As  adj., 
worthless  (see  sense  2),  vile  ;  baggagery, 
the  rabble,  the  scum  of  society.  Heavy 
baggage  (Grose  and  Bee),  women  and 
children. 

Baggy.  Inflated ;  high-falutin' 
(q.v.).  See  Bag,  subs.  3. 

Bagle.     A  prostitute  (HattiweU). 

Bagman.  1.  A  bag  -  fox,  a  fox 
caught  and  preserved  alive  to  be 
hunted  another  day,  when  it  is  brought 
in  a  bag  and  turned  out  before  the 
hounds.  2.  A  commercial  traveller, 
an  Ambassador  of  commerce  (q.v.)  : 
formerly  the  usual  epithet,  but  now  in 
depreciation.  (1766.) 


23 


Bagnio. 


Baktr. 


Bagnio.  A  brothel,  a  stew  (q.v.). 
[Orig.  a  bathing-house.]  Also  Bainos. 
(1541.) 

Bag- of- bones.  An  emaciated 
person  (or  animal)  a  walking  skeleton 
(q.v.),  shapes  (q.v).  Also  (old)  Bed- 
full  of  bones,  and  Bagful  of  skin  and 
bones :  Fr.,  sacdos  (i.e.  sac  d  dos). 
(1621.) 

Bag  of  Nails.  Confusion,  topsy- 
turveydom.  [Qy.  from  bacchanals.] 
Also,  He  squints  like  a  bag  of  nails, 
i.e.  his  eyes  are  directed  as  many  ways 
as  the  points  of  a  bag  of  nails  (Grose. ) 

Bag  o'  Moonshine.  Nonsense : 
see  Moonshine. 

Bag  of  Mystery.  A  sausage  (or 
Baveloy),  a  chamber  of  horrors  (q.v.). 

Bag-of- tricks.  Usually  the  whole 
bag  of  tricks,  every  shift  or  expedient. 
[See  fable  of  The  Fox  and  the  Cat] 
Hence  the  bottom  of  the  bag  of  tricks 
(or  the  bag),  a  last  resource,  a  card 
up  one's  sleeve.  (1659.) 

Bagpipe.  A  chatterbox,  a  wind- 
bag (q.v.) :  cf.  He's  like  a  bagpipe, 
he  never  talks  till  his  belly's  full.  As 
adj.,  empty-headed,  gutless  (q.v.) ;  and 
as  verb,  to  gas  (q.v.). 

Bag- pud  ding.  A  clown:  cf.  Jack- 
pudding  :  see  Bag,  subs.  1. 

Bag-wig.  An  eighteenth  century 
wig  ;  the  back  hair  was  enclosed  in  an 
ornamental  bag  ;  hence  bag  -  wigged, 
wearing  a  bag- wig.  (1760.) 

Ba-ha.     Bronchitis. 

Bah.  An  exclamation  of  contempt 
or  disgust:  Fr.,  bah  !  (1600.) 

Bail.     Straw-bail   (or    straw-shoes). 

1.  Professional  bail :  see  Straw.     Also 
(2)  insufficient  bail  (modern).     To  give 
(or  take)  leg  bail,  to  escape,  be  indebted 
to  one's  legs  for  safety  :  see  Bunk.  Also 
to  take  leg-bail  and  give  land-security. 
(1775.) 

Bail  up  (or  Bale  up).  (1)  To  se- 
cure the  head  of  a  cow  in  a  bail  for 
milking.  (2)  By  transference,  to  stop 
travellers  in  the  bush,  used  of  bush- 
rangers. ...  It  means  generally  to 
stop.  Like  Stick  up  (q.v.),  it  is  often 
used  humorously  of  a  demand  for  sub- 
scriptions, etc.  (1844.) 

Bain.     See  Bagnio. 

Bairn's- bed.     The  womb.     (1549.) 

Bait.      1.    Anger,    a    wax    (q.v.). 

2.  A  fee,  a  refresher  (q.v.).     (1603.) 
Welsh  (or  Scotch)  bait,  a  rest  given  to 
a  horse  at  the  top  of  a  hill,  a  breather 
(q.v.).     (1662.) 


Baiting-stock.  A  laughing-stock. 
(1630.) 

Bait  land.  An  old  word,  formerly 
used  to  signify  a  port  where  refresh- 
ments could  be  procured.  (1725.) 

Bake  (Winchester).  To  rest,  to  sit 
(or  lie)  at  ease.  Hence  baker,  (1)  a 
cushion,  and  (2)  anything  to  sit  (or 
kneel)  upon,  as  a  blotting- book,  etc. 
[Bakers  were  of  two  kinds :  that  used 
in  College  was  large,  oblong  and 
green  ;  whilst  the  Commoners'  baker 
was  thin,  narrow,  much  smaller,  and 
red.]  Whence  baker-layer  (obs.),  a 
Junior  who  carried  a  Prefect's  green 
baker  in  and  out  of  Hall  at  meal-times. 
Also  bakester  (obs.),  a  sluggard  ;  bak- 
ing-leave (obs.),  (1)  permission  to  bake 
(spec,  on  a  kind  of  sofa)  in  a  study  in 
Commoners  or  in  a  Scob-place  (q.v.) 
in  College,  and  (2)  leave  to  sit  in 
another's  toys  (q.v.) ;  baking-place, 
any  place  in  which  to  bake,  or  in 
connection  with  which  baking  leave 
was  given.  [North,  dial.  :  beek  (or 
beak),  to  expose  oneself  to  the  genial 
warmth  of  sun,  fire,  etc.,  to  bask. 
Jamieson  :  beik,  beke,  beek,  to  bask.] 
(1230.)  Phrases  :  To  bake  one's  bread, 
to  punish  (q.v.),  to  do  for  (q.v.) ;  As 
they  brew,  so  let  them  bake  (prov. 
saying),  Let  them  go  on  as  they  have 
begun ;  I  must  go  and  bake  some  bread 
(a  jocular  excuse  for  departure)  ( 1 380. ) 

Baked.  Collapsed,  exhausted,  done 
up  ;  e.g.  toward  tne  end  of  the  course 
the  crew  were  regularly  baked.  Half- 
(or  dough-)  baked,  inconclusive,  imper- 
fect Also  dull-witted,  soft  (q.v.): 
see  Half-baked.  (1502.) 

Baker.  1.  Bakers,  against  whom 
severe  penalties  for  impurity  of  bread 
or  shortness  of  weight  were  enacted 
from  very  early  times,  have  been  the 
subject  of  much  colloquial  sarcasm. 
'  I  feare  we  parte  not  y6et,  Quoth  the 
baker  to  the  pylorie.'  (1562.)  They 
say  the  owl  was  a  baker's  daughter. 
(1602.)  Three  dear  years  will  raises 
baker's  daughter  to  a  portion  ;  'Tis 
not  the  smallness  of  the  bread,  but  the 
knavery  of  the  baker ;  Take  all,  and 

ry  the  baker  ;  Pull  devil,  pull  baker. 
A  loafer.  [The  word  is  generally 
atthbutedto  Baron  de  MandatGrancey, 
who,  in  Cowboys  and  Colonels,  inno- 
cently translated  the  word  loafer  as 
baker.]  To  spett  baker,  to  attempt  a 
difficult  task.  [In  old  spelling  booka 
Baker  was  often  the  first  word  of 


24 


Baker-kneed. 


Ball. 


two  syllables  to  which  a  child  came 
when  learning  to  spell.] 

Baker-kneed  (or  Baker-legged). 
Knock-kneed,  bow-legged,  effeminate 
(Grose).  (1607.) 

Baker's  Dozen  (or  Bargain).  1. 
Thirteen  counted  as  twelve :  sometimes 
fourteen  (Grose  and  Bee).  Hence  2.  good 
measure  :  e.g.  To  give  a  man  a  baker's 
dozen,  to  trounce  him  well.  Also 
Brown-dozen  (q.v.),  DeviPs-dozen  (cf. 
Baker  1,  and  Fr.,  boulanger,  devil), 
and  Round-dozen  (see  Round).  [Bakers 
•were  (and  are)  liable  to  heavy  penalties 
for  deficiency  in  the  weights  of  loaves  : 
these  were  fixed  for  every  price  from 
eighteenpence  down  to  twopence,  but 
penny  loaves  or  rolls  were  not  specified 
in  the  statute.  They,  therefore,  to  be 
on  the  safe  side,  gave,  for  a  dozen  of 
bread,  an  additional  loaf,  known  as 
inbread.  A  similar  custom  was  for- 
merly observed  with  regard  to  coal, 
and  publishers  nowadays  reckon  thir- 
teen copies  of  a  book  as  twelve. 
(1596.) 

Baker's  Light  Bobs.  The  10th 
Hussars. 

Bakes.  1.  A  schoolboy.  2.  An  ori- 
ginal stake :  chiefly  schoolboys':  e.g. 
When  I  get  my  bakes  back  I  shall 
stop  playing.  [Barttett  :  in  reference 
possibly  to  a  baker  not  always  getting 
his  bake  safely  out  of  the  oven.] 

Bakester,  Baking-leave,  Baking- 
place,  etc.  See  Bake. 

Balaam.  Miscellaneous  paragraphs 
for  filling  up  a  column  of  type,  padding 
(q.v.) ;  applied  either  to  MS.  copy  or 
stereo.  Hence  Balaam-box  (or  -basket), 
(1)  a  receptacle  for  such  matter,  and  (2) 
a  waste  -  paper  basket.  [Webster  :  a 
cant  term  ;  popularised  by  BlackwoocTa 
Mag.  See  Numbers  xxii.  30.]  (1822.) 

Balaclava- day.  A  soldier's  pay 
day.  [Balaclava  in  1854-6  was  a  base 
of  supply  for  English  troops  :  as  pay 
was  drawn,  the  men  went  down  to 
make  their  purchases.] 

Balance.  The  remainder,  the  rest : 
cf.  lave  (Scots)  and  shank  (as  in  the 
shank  of  the  evening).  ( 1 846. ) 

Balbus.  A  Latin  prose  composition. 
[From  the  frequency  with  which  Balbus 
is  mentioned  in  Arnold's  Latin  Prose 
Composition.'] 

Baldcoot.  1.  A  term  of  contempt: 
cf.  Baldhead.  [The  frontal  plate  of 
the  coot  is  destitute  of  feathers.] 
Hence  bald  as  a.  coot,  as  bald  as  may  be. 


[Tyndale,  Works  (1530),  ii.  224,  s.v.]. 
2.  A  young  man  who  parts  with  his 
blunt  freely  at  gambling,  and  is  rooked; 
older  persons  also  stay  and  get  plucked 
sometimes,  until  they  have  not  a 
feather  to  fly  with.  Such  men,  after 
the  plucking,  become  bald-coots  (Bee). 

Balderdash.  (1)  Froth  or  frothy 
liquid ;  (2)  a  jumble  of  liquors  (B.  E. 
and  Grose) :  e.g.  brandy  (or  milk)  and 
beer,  milk  and  rum,  etc.  :  also  as  verb, 
to  dash  with  another  liquid,  and 
hence  to  adulterate  (Grose) ;  (3)  a 
jumble  of  words,  nonsense,  trash  ;  and 
(4)  lewd  conversation  (Grose),  obscen- 
ity, scurrility.  [0.  E.  D.  :  From  the 
evidence  at  present  the  inference  is 
that  the  current  sense  was  transferred 
....  with  the  notion  of  frothy  talk. 
Century :  Of  obscure  origin,  apparently 
dial,  or  slang.]  (1598.) 

Bald -face.  New  whisky:  war- 
ranted to  kill  at  forty  rods.  Boldfaced, 
neat  (q.v.). 

Bald-faced  Shirt.  A  white  shirt: 
cf.  Boiled  shirt. 

Bald-faced  Stag.  A  bald-headed 
man,  bladder  of  lard. 

Baldhead  (or  Pate).  A  term  of 
contempt :  also  Baldy.  [Of  Biblical 
origin.]  Hence  baltititde,  a  state  of 
baldness  ;  his  balditude,  a  mock  title  ; 
and  baldheaded-row,  the  first  row  of 
stalls  at  theatres,  especially  at  leg- 
shops  (q.v.).  (1535.) 

Baldheaded.  Eagerly ;  with  might 
and  main.  [Bartlett :  as  when  one 
rushes  out  without  his  hat.  (1848.) 
To  snatch  baldheaded,  to  defeat  a  person 
in  a  street  fight. 

Baldober  (or  Baldower).  A 
leader,  a  spokesman  [Ger.]. 

Bald-rib.  A  lean  person,  a  walk- 
ing-skeleton (q.v.).  (1621.) 

Bal  due  turn.  Nonsense,  rubbish  : 
as  adj.,  affected,  trashy.  (1577.) 

Bal  four's  Maiden.  A  covered  bat- 
tering-ram :  used  by  the  Royal  Irish 
Constabularly  in  carrying  out  evictions 
in  Ireland  (1888-89.) 

Ball.  1.  The  head:  also  Ball  in 
the  hood,  Billiard-ball,  etc.  (1300.) 
2.  A  ration,  food  or  drink.  3.  (Win- 
chester) in  pi.,  a  Junior  hi  College : 
his  duty  is  to  collect  footballs  from 
lockers  in  school  and  take  them  through 
to  the  Ball-keeper  in  Commoners  to  be 
blown  or  repaired,  and  who,  for  service 
in  looking  after  cricket  and  footballs, 
is  exempted  from  kicking  in  (q.v.)  and 


26 


Ballad-basket. 


Banbury. 


watching  out  (q.v.).  Phrases.  To 
catch  (or  take)  the  ball  before  the  bound,to 
uiticipate  ;  to  have  the  ball  at  one's  foot 
(or  before  one),  to  have  in  one's  power 
(or  at  one's  finger-ends) ;  to  open  the 
ball,  to  lead  off,  make  a  start ;  to  keep 
the  ball  rolling  (or  keep  up  the  ball),  to 
prevent  a  matter  flagging  or  hanging 
fire ;  to  take  up  the  bau,  to  take  one's 
turn :  whence  the  ball's  with  you, 
you're  next  (1589.)  Call  the  ball 
(Stonyhurst),  the  Foul !  of  Associa- 
tion football.  Three  brass  (or  golden) 
balls  :  see  Three  Balls. 

Ballad- basket.  A  street  singer  : 
see  Street  pitcher :  Fr.,  braillard. 

Ballad-monger.  A  ballad-maker : 
in  contempt :  hence  Ballad- mongering. 
(1596.) 

Ballahou.  A  term  of  derision 
applied  to  an  ill-conditioned  slovenly 
ship  (Century) ;  a  West  Indian  clip- 
per schooner :  apparently  she  may  also 
be  a  brig  to  judge  from  The  Cruise  of 
the  Midge  (Clark  Russell). 

Ballambangjang.  The  Straits  of 
BaUambangjang,  though  unnoticed  by 
geographers,  are  frequently  mentioned 
in  sailors'  yarns  as  being  so  nanrow.and 
the  rocks  on  each  side  so  crowded  with 
trees  inhabited  by  monkeys,  that  the 
ship's  yards  cannot  be  squared,  on  ac- 
count of  the  monkeys'  tails  getting 
jammed  into,  and  choking  up,  the 
brace  blocks  (Hotten). 

Ballast.  Money  :  generic  :  see 
Rhino.  Hence  wett-baUasted,  rich. 

Ball  Face.  A  white  man  [Bartlett  : 
applied  at  Salem,  Mass.,  1810-1820]. 

Ball-keeper.     See  Ball,  subs. 

Ball  of  Fire.  A  glass  of  cheap 
brandy  (Grose.) 

Ball  of  Honour.  See  Beggar's 
Ace. 

Ball  of  Wax.  A  snob,  or  shoe- 
maker. 

Balloon.  To  brag,  to  gas  (q.v.). 
Also  baUoonacy  (cf.  lunacy),  a  mania 
for  ballooning ;  baUoonatic  (cf.  lunatic), 
balloon  -  mad  ;  ballooning,  inflating 
prices  by  fictitious  means,  and  as  adj., 
high  falutin'  (q.v.).  (1826.) 

Ballot-box  Stuffing.  Tampering 
with  election  returns  ;  a  box  is  con- 
structed with  false  bottom  and  com- 
partments so  as  to  permit  spurious  bal- 
lots to  be  introduced  by  the  teller  in 
charge.  The  most  outrageous  frauds 
have  been  committed  by  this  means 


Ball's-bull.  Like  BalT*  bull,  said 
of  a  person  with  no  ear  for  music  : 
Ball's  bull  had  so  little  that  he  kicked 
the  fiddler  over  the  bridge  (HalliweU). 

Bally.  A  generic  intensive  :  very, 
great,  excessive.  [A  comparatively  re- 
cent coinage,  it  is  said,  of  The  Sporting 
Times  from  ballyhooly.] 

Ballyhack.  Go  to  hollyhock,  Get 
along. 

Ballyrag.    See  Bullyrag. 

Balm.     A  lie  (Duncombe). 

Balmy.  The  balmy,  sleep :  as  adj., 
sleepy:  cf.  balmy  slumbers  (Shake- 
speare) and  balmy  sleep  ( Young).  To 
have  a  doze  (or  wink)  of  the  balmy,  to 
go  to  sleep :  see  Bedfordshire  and 
Barmy. 

Balsam.  Generic  for  money  (Grose 
and  Bee) :  see  Rhino. 

Bam  (or  Bamboozle).  A  hoax, 
cheat :  as  verb  (bamboo,  boozle,  or  6am- 
booze),  to  victimize,  outwit,  mystify 
or  deceive  (Grose) :  also  (HalliweU)  to 
threaten :  cf.  hum  from  humbug, 
[Swift  (1710),  Toiler,  Refinements  of 
Twenty  Years  Past :  Certain  words 
such  as  banter,  bamboozle  .  .  .  now 
struggling  for  the  vogue ;  Johnson 
(1755) :  a  cant  word  ;  Boucher  (1833) : 
has  long  .  .  .  had  a  place  in  the  gypsy 
or  canting  dictionaries ;  0.  E.  D.  : 
probably  of  cant  origin ;  Century : 
[a  slang  word  of  no  definite  origin.] 
Whence  numerous  combinations,  col- 
loquialisms and  phrases :  e.g.  to  bam- 
boozle away,  to  get  rid  of  speciously; 
to  bamboozle  into,  to  persuade  artfully  ; 
to  bamboozle  out  of,  to  obtain  by  trick ; 
bamboozled,  mystified,  tricked  ;  bam- 
boozlement,  tricky  deception ;  bam- 
boozler,  a  mystifier  ;  bambost,  deceptive 
humbug  ;  to  bamblustercate,  to  bluster, 
embarrass,  or  confuse  :  cf.  conglomer- 
ate and  comflogisticate  ;  bamsquabbled 
(or  &itm*gtta6Wed),discomfited,defeated 
squelched.  See  Banter.  (1703.) 

Banaghan.  He  beats  Banaghan, 
an  Irish  saying  of  one  who  tells 
travellers'  tales.  [Banaghan  (Grose) 
was  a  minstrel  famous  for  dealing  in 
the  marvellous.] 

Banagher.     To  bang. 

Bananaland,  Bananalander. 
Queensland,  a  native  of  Queensland. 
A  large  portion  of  Queensland  lies 
within  the  tropics  to  which  the  banana 
(Musa  sapientum)  is  indigenous.] 

Banbury.  The  inhabitants  of  this 
Oxfordshire  town  (now  noted  for  its 

26 


Banco. 


Bang. 


cakes)  seem  to  have  been  the  subjects 
of  ridicule  and  sarcasm  from  very  early 
times  ;  chiefly  on  account  of  their  zeal 
for  the  Puritan  cause.  Thus  Banbury- 
man  (-blood  or  -saint),  a  hypocrite  (cf. 
popular  saying  A  Banbury  man  will 
hang  his  cat  on  Monday  for  catching 
mice  on  Sunday) ;  Banbury  -  wife,  a 
whore  ;  Banbury  -  story  (or  Banbury 
tale  of  a  cock-and-a-butt),  an  extremely 
improbable  yarn  (Grose),  silly  chat 
(B.  E.) ;  Banbury-gloss,  a  specious 
reading  ;  Banbury-vapours,  the  stock- 
in-trade  of  a  Puritan  agitator  ;  Ban- 
bury-cheese,  the  thinnest  of  poor  cheese 
(Hey wood  :  I  never  saw  Banbury 
cheese  thick  enough) :  hence  a  term 
of  contempt.  Also  proverbs  (Howett, 
1660) :  Like  Banbury  tinkers,  who  in 
stopping  one  hole  make  two  ;  As  wise 
as  the  mayor  of  Banbury,  who  would 
prove  that  Henry  III.  was  before 
Henry  II.  (1535.) 

Banco.  (Charterhouse). — Evening 
preparation  at  House,  under  the 
superintendence  of  a  monitor ;  the 
Winchester  toy  -  time  (q.v.).  [See 
Farmer  :  Public  School  Word  Book.'] 

Banco-steerer.  See  Bunco- 
steerer. 

Band.  Our  Lady's  bands,  accouche- 
ment, confinement  (an  old  abstract 
meaning.)  (1495.)  See  Banded. 

Bandanna.  Orig.  a  silk  handker- 
chief with  white,  yellow,  or  other 
coloured  spots  on  a  dark  ground. 
Also  (loosely)  a  handkerchief  of  any 
kind  :  see  Wipe.  (1752.) 

Bandbox  (or  Bandboxical).  (1) 
Precisely  neat,  fussy,  finical ;  and  (2) 
frail  or  small  (as  is  a  bandbox) :  e.g.  a 
bandbox  thing  ;  She's  just  come  out 
of  a  bandbox  (or  glass  case) ;  You 
ought  to  be  put  in  a  bandbox  (of  any- 
one over  particular).  See  Bandog. 
(1774.) 

Banded.  Hungry ;  also  to  wear 
the  bands  (Grose  and  Vaux). 

Bandero.  Widows'  weeds.  [Cf. 
Littrt/ :  bandeau,  anciennement,  coiffure 
des  veuves  ;  Kennett :  bandore  a  widow's 
veil,  and  B.  E.,  a  widow's  mourning 
Peak ;  Eng.,  banderol,  a  streamer 
carried  on  the  shaft  of  a  lance  near 
the  head.] 

Bandog.  1.  A  bailiff,  or  his 
Follower,  a  Sergeant,  or  his  Yeo- 
man (B.  E.  and  Cfrose).  [Properly 
a  bound  -  dog,  because  ferocious ; 
hence  a  mastiff  or  bloodhound.]  To 


speak  like  a  bandog  (or  bandog  and 
bedlam),  to  rave,  to  bluster.  (1600.) 
2.  A  bandbox  (Grose). 

B.  andS.  Brandy  and  Soda.  (1868.) 

Bandy.     See  Bender. 

Bandy-legged.  Crooked  (B.  E.) 
[The  earliest  quot.  in  0.  E.  D.  is  dated 
1787  ;  but  the  word  did  not  come  into 
general  use  until  the  second  quarter  of 
the  eighteenth  century.] 

Bang.  1.  Generic  for  energy  and 
dash :  a  blow,  thump,  sudden  noise, 
go  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  drub  (B.  E. 
and  Grose),  strike,  explode,  or  shut 
with  violence.  Hence  to  bang  it  out 
(or  about),  to  come  to  blows  (or  fisti- 
cuffs), fight  it  out ;  to  bang  (slam)  a 
door  ;  to  bang  (fire)  a  gun  ;  to  bang 
(play  loudly)  a  piano  ;  to  bang  into 
one's  head,  to  convince  by  force  ;  to 
bang  against,  to  bump  (or  thump) ; 
to  bang  away  at,  to  make  a  violent  and 
continuous  noise  ;  to  bang  out,  to  go 
with  a  flourish  ;  to  bang  up,  to  sud- 
denly throw  oneself  upon,  to  spring 
up;  bang  (or  bang  off),  at  once,  abruptly; 
e.g.  bang  went  saxpence  ;  tn  a  bang,  in 
a  hurry ;  bang  out,  completely ;  banging, 
violent,  noisy,  and  as  subs,  a  drubbing : 
see  Wipe.  2.  A  fringe  of  hair  (usually 
curled  or  frizzed)  cut  squarely  across 
the  forehead.  As  verb,  to  cut  (or 
wear)  the  hair  in  this  fashion :  also 
bang  tail,  bang-tailed,  and  bang-tail 
muster  (of  horses,  cattle,  etc.)  Every 
third  or  fourth  year  on  a  cattle 
station,  they  have  what  is  called  a 
bang  tail  muster  ;  that  is  to  say,  all  the 
cattle  are  brought  into  the  yards,  and 
have  the  long  hairs  at  the  end  of  the 
tail  cut  off  square,  with  knives  or 
sheep-shears  :  the  object  of  it  is  ...  to 
find  out  the  actual  number  of  cattle  on 
the  run,  to  compare  with  the  number 
entered  on  the  station  books  (Tyr- 
whitt).  As  verb  (1)  to  excel,  surpass, 
beat :  cf.  (Irish)  that  bangs  Bannag- 
her  and  Bannagher  bangs  the  world  ; 
(2)  to  outwit,  puzzle,  deceive :  banging 
great,  large,  thumping  (q.v.) :  e.g.  a 
banging  boy,  wench,  lie,  etc.  ;  banger, 
anything  exceptional ;  bang-up,  fine, 
first-rate,  of  the  best  (the  root  idea  is 
completeness  combined  with  energy 
and  dash) ;  occasionally  (as  verb),  to 
smarten  up ;  (3)  to  offer  stock  loudly 
with  the  intention  of  lowering  the 
price  (Stock  Exchange).  To  be  banged 
up  to  the  eyes,  to  be  drunk :  see  Screwed 
to  bang  (or  beat)  the  hoof  :  see  Hoof. 


27 


Bang-beggar. 


Bantling. 


Bang- beggar.  1.  A  stout  cudgel.  2. 
A  constable  or  beadle.  3.  A  vagabond : 
^  term  of  reproach. 

Banger.  A  heavy  cane,  a  bludgeon : 
one  of  the  Yale  vocables  (Hall).  The 
Bangert,  the  First  Life  Guards. 

Bang- pitcher.  A  tippler:  see  Lush- 
Ington.  Hence  to  bang  the  pitcher, 
to  guzzle  :  see  Lush. 

Bangs  ter.  1.  A  bully,  braggart.  As 
adj.  turbulent.  Bangstry,  violence. 

2.  A  victor,  winner :   cf.   bang,  verb. 

3.  A  wanton. 

Bangstraw.  A  thresher:  also  ap- 
plied to  all  servants  of  a  farmer 
(Grose). 

Bang- tail.    See  Bang. 

B  a  n  g  y  (Winchester  College). 
Brown  sugar.  As  adj.,  brown.  Hence 
bangy  bags  (or  6on0te£),brown-coloured 
trousers :  the  strong  objection  to 
these  in  former  times  probably  arose 
from  Tony  Lumpkin  coming  to  school 
in  corduroys  (Wrench).  Bangy -gate 
(1)  a  brown  gate  leading  from  Grass 
Court  to  Sick  House  Meads ;  and  (2) 
a  gate  by  Racquet  Court  into  Kings- 
gate  Street. 

Banian  (or  Banyan) -day.  One 
day  (originally  two)  in  the  week  on 
which,  in  the  Royal  Navy,  meat  was 
withheld  from  the  crews ;  hence,  a  bad 
day,  a  disagreeable  day :  in  reference 
to  the  Banian's  abstinence  from  flesh. 

Banister.  A  balustrade :  a  cor- 
ruption of  baluster  condemned  by 
Nicholson  as  improper,  by  Stuart 
and  Gwilt  (Diet.  Archit.  1830)  as  vul- 
gar, the  term  had  already  taken 
literary  rank,  and  has  now  acquired 
general  acceptance. 

Banjo.  A  bed-pan,  fiddle  (q.v.),  slip- 
per (q.v.). 

Bank.  1.  A  lump  sum,  the  total 
amount  possessed :  e.g.  How's  the 
bank  ?  Not  very  strong,  about 
one  and  a  buck.  As  verb,  (1)  to  steal, 
make  sure  of :  e.g.  Bank  the  rags, 
Take  the  notes  ;  (2)  to  place  in  safety  ; 
and  (3)  to  share  the  booty,  to  nap  the 
regulars  (q.v.).  2.  Spec.  The  Bank, 
i.e.  Millbank  Prison;  the  site  is  now 
(1903)  occupied  by  an  Art  Gallery. 

Banker.  1.  A  horse,  good  at 
jumping  on  and  off  banks  too  high  to 
be  cleared.  2.  In  pi.,  clumsy  boots 
and  shoes,  beetle-crushers  (q.v.):  see 
Trotter-cases. 

Bankrupt -cart.  A  one-horse 
chaise  —  of  a  Sunday  (Bcc) :  said  to 


be  so  called  by  a  Lord  Chief  Justice 
through  their  being  so  frequently  used 
on  Sunday  jaunts  by  extravagant 
shopkeepers  and  tradesmen  (Grose). 

Bankruptcy  List  To  be  put  on  the 
bankruptcy  lift,  to  be  completely 
knocked  out  of  time  (Grose). 

Bank-shaving.  Usury :  before  banks 
were  regulated  by  Act  of  Congress,  the 
least  reputable  purchased  notes  of 
hand  and  similar  documents  at  enor- 
mously usurious  rates  of  discount : 
he  who  thus  raised  the  wind  was  said 
to  get  his  paper  shaved. 

Bankside-lady  (or  wench).  In 
15th  to  17th  c.  a  harlot:  in  old  London 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  theatres  was 


— notably  Bank-side,  Southwark,  and 
in  later  days,  Covent  Garden  and 
Drury  Lane. 

Bank-sneak.     A  bank  thief  (q.v.). 

Banner.  Money  paid  for  board  and 
lodging  :  the  origin  of  the  term  is  un- 
known. 

Bannister.  A  traveller  in  distress  : 
the  term  occurs  in  the  ancient  accounts 
of  the  parish  of  Chudleigh,  co.  Devon. 

Ban  que  t.  Running  banquet,  a  snack, 
slight  repast  between  meals ;  running 
banquet  between  beadles,  a  whipping. 

Banquet-beagle.  A  glutton,  smell- 
feast  (q.v.). 

Banter.  Nonsense,  raillery, 
pleasantry,  a  jest  or  matter  of  jest. 
As  verb,  with  numerous  derivatives : 
e.g.  banter er,  banter ee,  bantering,  ban- 
tery,  etc.  Swift  says  the  word  was  First 
borrowed  from  the  bullies  in  White 
Friars,  then  it  fell  among  the  foot- 
men, and  at  last  retired  to  the  pedants 
(Tale  of  a  Tub,  1710;  of  unknown 
etymology  :  it  is  doubtful  whether  the 
verb  or  the  sb.  was  the  earlier :  ex- 
isting evidence  is  in  favour  of  the  verb : 
the  sb.  wad  treated  as  slang  in  1688 
(O.  E.  D.).  2.  A  challenge  to  a  race, 
shooting-match,  etc.  (Bartlett,  1484). 
Also  as  verb. 

Bant.  Orig.  to  follow  the  dietary 
prescribed  by  Dr.  Banting  for  corp- 
ulence ;  hence  to  diet  oneself,  train. 

Bantling.  A  bastard  :  cf.  brat ; 
hence  (modern),  child  (B.  E.,  Grose) : 
spec,  a  young  or  undersized  child ; 
usually  in  depreciation :  with  great 
probability,  a  corruption  of  Ger. 
oanlding,  bastard,  from  bank,  bench, 
i.e.  a  child  begotten  on  a  bench  and 
not  in  the  marriage-bed  (AfaAn). 


28 


tianty. 


Bargain. 


Banty.     Saucy,  impudent. 

Banyan- day.     See  Banian-day. 

Baptised.  Mixed  with  water, 
christened  (q.v.)  (Grose,  Bee) :  spec, 
of  spirits  when  not  taken  neat  (q.v.) : 
Fr.,  chretien,  baptist. 

Baptist.  A  pickpocket  caught  and 
ducked  (Bee). 

Bar.  As  verb  and  preposition  bar, 
of  respectable  lineage,  is  now  more  or 
lees  colloquial.  1.  Except,  excluding, 
save,  but  for :  mostly  used  in  racing, 
e.g.  four  to  one  bar  one,  four  to  one 
on  the  field,  that  is  on  all  the  horses 
entered  excepting  only  the  favourite. 
2.  To  exclude  from  consideration,  take 
exception  to.  3.  To  stop,  cease.  4.  To 
frequent  drinking-bars,  to  tipple.  To 
bar  too  much,  to  get  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Barabbas.  A  publisher.  [Usually, 
but  erroneously,  attributed  to  Lord 
Byron,  who  is  said  to  have  applied  it 
to  John  Murray  the  elder,  having  sent 
him  a  Bible  in  which  the  famous  pas- 
sage in  John  xviii.,  40,  was  altered 
to  Now  Barabbas  was  a  publisher. 
The  reigning  John  Murray  (1904) 
writes  :  I  have  it  on  the  authority  of 
my  father,  who  was  alive  during  all 
the  time  of  his  father's  dealings  with 
Byron,  that  there  is  not  a  word  of 
truth  in  any  detail  of  the  story.  The 
joke  was  in  reality  made  by  Thomas 
Campbell  in  regard  to  another  pub- 
lisher, the  Mr  Longman  of  his  day]. 

Baragan-tailor.  A  rough-working 
tailor. 

Barathrum.  An  extortioner,  a  glut- 
ton. 

Barb.  To  shave,  trim  the  beard  : 
also  to  barber :  cf.  Butch.  2.  To  clip 
gold,  sweat  (q.v.) :  also  applied  to 
clipping  wool,  cloth,  etc. 

Barbadoes.  To  transport  (as  a  con- 
vict) :  Barbadoes  was  formerly  a  penal 
settlement. 

Barbar.  (Durham  School).  A  can- 
didate for  scholarship  hailing  from 
another  school :  i.e.  barbar-i&a, 
stranger. 

Barber.  1.  A  thick  fagot  or  bough  : 
one  was  included  in  each  bundle  of  fire- 
wood. 2.  Any  large  piece  of  timber.  3. 
A  generic  reproach :  thus,  barber' s -block 
(cleric,  or  barber-monger),  a  fop,  one 
who  spends  much  time  in  barbers' 
shops ;  spec,  (mechanics)  an  over- 
dressed shopman  or  clerk ;  barber's 
cat,  a  weak,  sickly-looking  person ; 


barber's  -  chair,  a  strumpet  (because 
common  to  all  comers) ;  barber' s-music, 
rough  music.  Also  (proverbial)  Nos- 
trils wider  than  barbers'  basins.  As 
verb,  to  work  off  an  imposition  by 
deputy  :  also  barberise  :  tradition  says 
that  a  learned  barber,  was  at  one 
time  employed  as  a  scapegoat  in 
working  off  this  species  of  punish- 
ment. 3.  See  Barb  and  barberise. 
That's  the  barber,  that's  well  done  ; 
It's  all  O.K.  (q.v.) :  a  street  catch- 
phrase  about  the  year  1760  (Grose). 

Barberize.  To  shave,  cut  hair,  play 
the  barber  :  cf.  Barb. 

Barber's-knock.  A  double  knock : 
the  first  hard,  and  the  second  soft  as  if 
by  accident. 

Bard.  A  term  of  contempt :  in 
early  Lowland  Scotch  used  for  a 
strolling  musician  or  minstrel,  into 
which  the  Celtic  bard  had  degenerated, 
and  against  whom  many  laws  were 
enacted;  in  16th  cent.,  a  term  of  con- 
tempt, but  idealised  by  Scott  to  mean 
an  epic  poet,  a  singer. 

Bar' d  cater  tra.  False  dice:  so 
constructed  that  the  quatre  and  trois 
were  seldom  cast :  cf.  fullams,  high- 
men,  low-men,  etc. 

Bare-board.  To  go  on  bare-board,  to 
play  without  putting  down  the  stake. 

Bare-bones.  A  lean  person,  walk- 
ing skeleton,  rack  of  bones  :  also  (in 
Commonwealth  times)  a  term  of  con- 
tempt. 

Bare-footed.  Variously  applied : 
e.g.  to  take  tea  barefooted,  to  dispense 
with  sugar  and  milk  ;  to  take  a  dram 
barefooted,  to  drink  spirits  neat  (q.v.), 
or  naked  (q.v.) ;  barefooted  on  the  top 
of  the  head,  bald. 

Bargain.  Subs.  (old).  —  A  catch, 
sell  (q.v.).  Hence,  to  sell  a  bargain, 
to  humbug,  hoax,  banter :  a  species  of 
low  wit,  of  ancient  usage,  but  much  in 
vogue  about  the  latter  end  of  the  reign 
of  Queen  Anne.  Swift  remarks  that, 
The  maids  of  honour  often  amused 
themselves  with  it.  Dutch  (or  wet) 
bargain,  a  deal  clinched  by  a  drink ; 
Dutch-bargain  also  means  a  deal  the 
advantage  of  which  is  all  on  one  side. 
Also  in  various  proverbial  phrases  : 
thus,  To  make  the  best  of  a  bad 
bargain  (Hay) ;  At  a  great  bargain 
make  a  pause  ;  More  words  than  one 
go  to  a  bargain  ;  A  good  bargain  is  a 
pick-purse  (i.e.  tempts  people  to  buy 
what  they  need  not). 


29 


Barge. 


Barmy. 


Barge.  1.  A  fat,  heavy  person  ;  one 
broad  in  the  beam  :  in  contempt.  2. 
(Printers)  (a)  A  case  unduly  loaded 
with  stamps  not  in  frequent  request 
with  a  shortness  of  those  most  in  use. 
Also  (b)  a  card  or  small  box  for  spaces : 
used  while  correcting  away  from  case. 
3.  (Sherborne  School).  Small  cricket : 
played  against  a  wall  with  a  stump 
for  bat.  As  verb,  to  abuse,  slang  ; 
cf.  Bullyrag.  Also  (Charterhouse  and 
Uppingham)  to  hustle,  mob  up,  brick. 

Bargee.  A  barge- man  or  barger 
(the  dictionary  terms):  Cambridge 
wit  (Grose). 

Barge-pole  (Winchester).  A  large 
stick  of  thick  bough,  of  which  there 
was  one  in  each  fagot :  also  any  large 

Eiece  of  wood  :   cf.  Barber.     Not  fit  to 
5  touched  with  the  end  of  a  barge-pole 
(a  pair  of  tongs,  etc.),  unapproachable 
through  filth,  disease,  prejudice,  or  the 
like. 

Bark.  1.  A  native  of  Ireland :  hence 
Barkshire,  Ireland.  2.  The  skin.  As 
verb,  to  abrade  (scrape,  or  rub  off) 
the  skin,  bruise.  3.  A  cough :  spec, 
when  persistent  and  hacking:  per- 
sons thus  troubled  are  said  to  Have 
been  to  Barking  Creek  (or  Barkshire). 
As  verb,  to  cough  incessantly.  Barker, 
one  with  a  churchyard  cough  (q.v.)  or 
notice  to  quit  (q.v.).  4.  See  Barker, 
Phrases:  To  bark  against  (or  at)  the 
moon  (see  Barker) ;  to  take  the  bark  off, 
to  reduce  in  value,  rub  the  gilt  off ; 
the.  word  with  the  bark  on  it,  without 
circumlocution,  no  mincing  matters, 
the  straight -tip  (q.v.);  between  the 
bark  and  the  wood  (or  tree)  (of  a  well- 
adjusted  bargain  where  neither  party 
has  the  advantage  (BaUiweU) ;  to  bark 
through  the  fence,  to  take  advantage 
of  adventitious  shelter  or  protection 
to  say  or  do  that  which  would  other- 
wise entail  unpleasant  consequences  ; 
to  bark  up  the  wrong  tree,  to  blunder,  to 
mistake  one's  object  or  the  right  course 
to  pursue,  to  get  the  wrong  sow  by  the 
ear ;  to  go  between  bark  and  tree,  to 
meddle  :  spec,  in  family  matters  ;  the 
bark  is  worse  than  the  btle  (of  one  who 
threatens  but  fails  to  do  as  he  vows). 

Barker.  1.  A  salesman's  servant 
that  walks  before  the  shop,  and  cries, 
Cloaks,  Coate,  or  Gowns,  what  d'ye 
lack,  sir  T  (B.  E.).  2.  A  tout  of  any 
description.  Fr.,  aboyeur.  3.  A  boy 
attending  a  drover,  helping  him  to 
drive  his  sheep  by  means  of  imitating 


the  bark  of  a  dog.  4.  A  noisy  (or 
assertive)  disputant,  spouting  dema- 
gogue, querulous  fault  -  finder.  As 
verb,  to  clamour,  menace,  abuse.  5. 
(Univ.),  a  big  swell  (i.e.  one  assert- 
ing himself  or  putting  on  side  (q.v.) 
6.  (American)  A  noisy  coward,  blatant 
bully,  lamb  (q.v.).  7.  Whence  to  bark 
at  (or  against)  the  moon,  to  clamour 
uselessly,  agitate  to  no  effect,  labour 
in  vain :  cf.  proverb,  Barking  dogs 
bite  not.  8.  Generic  for  firearms,  spec, 
(in  navy),  a  duelling  pistol ;  also  a 
lower  deck  gun.  Barking  iron  is 
historically  the  older  term  (Grose). 
English  synonyms,  blue  lightning, 
dag,  meat  -  in  -  the  -  pot,  my  uncon- 
verted friend,  one-eyed  scribe,  pop, 
peacemaker,  whistler. 

Barkey.  Any  kind  of  vessel :  an 
endearment.  [Bark  for  vessel  is 
never  used  by  sailors  (Clark  Russell).] 

Barla-fumble !  A  call  for  truce  or 
quarter :  also  barley. 

Barley.  In  general  colloquial  use  : 
thus,  oil  of  barley  (or  barley  -  bree, 
•broth,  -juice,  -water,  or  -wine),  (1) 
strong  ale,  and  (2)  whisky  (Grose) ; 
barley-island,  an  alehouse  ;  John  Bar- 
ley (or  Barleycorn),  the  personification 
of  malt  liquor  :  cf.  proverb,  Sir  John 
Barleycorn's  the  strongest  knight ; 
barley  -  cap,  a  tippler ;  barley-mood  (or 
sick)  (1)  drunk;  and  (2)  ill-humour 
caused  by  tippling ;  also  to  have  (or 
wear)  a  barley-hat  (-cap,  or  -hood) 
(1500). 

Barley-bun  gentleman.  A  gent 
(although  rich)  yet  lives  with 
barley  bread,  and  otherwise  barely 
and  hardly  (Minsheu). 

Barley-straw.     A  trifle  (1721). 

Barmecide.  Usually  in  the  phrase 
a  Barmecide  feast,  short  commons ; 
lenten  entertainment.  [From  the 
Arabian  Nights  story  of  a  prince  of 
that  name  who  put  a  series  of  empty 
dishes  before  a  beggar  pretending  that 
they  formed  a  sumptuous  repast,  the 
beggar  facetiously  assenting.]  Also 
as  adj. 

Barmy  (Balmy).  Excited,  flighty, 
empty-headed  (i.e.  full  of  nothing  but 
froth) ;  barmy-brained,  crazy  ;  barmy- 
froth,  a  simpleton,  muddle-head ;  to 
put  on  the  balmy  stick  (prison),  to  feign 
madness.  English  synonyms:  to  be 
dotty,  off  one's  chump,  sappy,  spoony, 
touched,  wrong  in  the  upper  storey, 
half-baked,  have  a  screw  loose,  a  bee 


30 


Barn. 


Ban  ell's  Blues. 


in  one's  bonnet,  no  milk  in  the  cocoa- 
nut,  rats  in  the  upper  storey  (or  cock- 
loft), a  tile  (screw  or  slate)  loose. 

Barn.     See  Parson's  barn. 

Barnaby.  To  dance  Barnaby,  to 
move  expeditiously,  irregularly  ( Grose): 
an  old  dance  to  a  quick  movement  was 
so  named.  Barnaby-bright  (or  Long 
Barnaby),  St.  Barnabas's  Day,  llth 
June,  O.S.  :  cf.  old  rhyme — 
Barnaby  Bright !  Barnaby  Bright : 
The  longest  day  and  the  shortest  night. 

Barnacle.  1.  A  close  companion,  a 
follower  that  will  not  be  dismissed,  a 
leech  ;  hence  a  decoy  swindler  (1591) : 
cf.  Barnard.  2.  One  that  speaketh 
through  the  nose  (Percivatt).  3. 
A  good  job,  or  snack  easily  got 
(B.  E. ).  4.  A  gratuity  given  to  grooms 
by  the  buyers  and  sellers  of  horses 
(B.  E.).  5.  In  pi.,  spectacles,  bossers 
(q.v.),  goggles  (q.v.):  Fr.,  persiennes: 
formerly  applied  only  to  spectacles 
with  side-pieces  of  coloured  glass,  and 
used  more  as  protectors  from  wind, 
dust,  etc.,  than  as  an  aid  to  the  sight 
(1571).  6.  A  brake  for  unruly 
horses'  noses  (B.  E.).  7.  The  irons 
felons  wear  in  gaol  (B.  E.). 

Barnard.  A  sharper's  confederate ;  a 
decoy  :  cf.  Barnacle.  (1532.) 

Barnburner.  A  member  of  the 
radical  section  of  the  Democratic  party 
(U.S.A.).  (1848.) 

Barndoor.  1.  A  target  too  large  to 
be  easily  missed  ( 1547) :  hence  barn- 
door practice,  a  battue  :  the  quarry  is 
driven  within  a  radius  from  which  it  is 
impossible  for  it  to  escape  ;  2.  applied 
at  cricket  to  a  player  who  blocks 
every  ball. 

Barndoor-savage.  A  country  yokel, 
farm-labourer,  clodhopper. 

Barnet !  (Christ's  Hospital :  ob- 
solete). Nonsense  !  humbug  ! 

Barnet-fair  (or  Barnet).     The  hair. 

Barney.  1.  Generic  for  humbug  or 
deceit  :  spec,  (sporting)  an  unfair 
competition  of  any  kind — a  race,  prize 
fight,  or  game ;  the  term  is  never  ap- 
plied to  a  fair  contest ;  hence  a  free 
fight,  or  rough  and  tumble,  in  which 
the  rules  of  the  game  are  not  too 
strictly  observed.  2.  A  spree,  lark 
(q.v.),  picnic  (q.v.).  3.  A  bad  recita- 
tion (Harvard  College,  c.  1810).  As 
verb,  to  recite  badly. 

Barn  -  mouse.  Bitten  by  a  barn- 
mouse,  tipsy,  screwed  (q.v.) :  see 
Barley  (Grose), 


Barn-stormer.  A  strolling  player  : 
spec,  a  mouthing  actor  (see  quot. 
1886) :  also  barnstorming. 

Barnumese.  The  high-f abating  (q.v.) 
language  so  lavishly  used  by  the  late 
P.  T.  Barnum  in  advertising  the 
greatest  show  on  earth,  exaggeration 
of  style  :  cf.  Telegraphese  :  hence  to 
barnumize  (1)  to  exhibit  with  a  lavish 
display  of  puffing  advertisement ;  and 
(2)  to  talk  of  (or  assert)  oneself  bom- 
bastically in  the  style  of  Barnum. 

Baronet.  A  sirloin  of  beef :  cf. 
Baron.  (1749.) 

Barrack.  To  jeer  at  opponents, 
interrupt  noisily,  make  a  disturbance ; 
also  with  for,  to  support  as  a  partisan, 
generally  with  clamour  :  an  Australian 
football  term  dating  from  about  1880  : 
the  verb  has  been  ruled  unparlia- 
mentary by  the  Speaker  in  the  Vic- 
torian Legislative  Assembly,  but  it  is 
in  very  common  colloquial  use :  it  is 
from  the  aboriginal  word  borak  (q.v.), 
and  the  sense  of  jeering  is  earlier  than 
that  of  supporting,  but  jeering  at  one 
side  is  akin  to  cheering  for  the  other 
(Morris).  Hence  barracking  and  bar- 
rocker. 

Barrack-  (or  Garrison)  -hack.  1.  A 
young  woman  attending  garrison  balls 
year  after  year.  2.  A  soldiers'  trull : 
see  Hackney. 

Barred-gown.  An  officer  of  the  law ; 
spec,  a  judge :  broad  stripes  or  bars  of 
gold  lace  run  across  the  front  of  the 
gown. 

Barrel.  1.  A  confirmed  tippler : 
also  beer-barrel  ;  whence  barrel-house 
(American),  a  low  groggery ;  barrel- 
fever,  drunkenness  (or  disease  caused 
by  tippling  ) :  see  Gallon-distemper  ; 
barrel-boarder ,  a  bar  loafer.  2.  Money 
used  in  a  political  campaign  (Ameri- 
can politics) ;  spec,  that  expended  for 
corrupt  purposes  :  cf.  Boodle  ;  barrel- 
campaign,  an  election  in  which  bribery 
is  a  leading  feature  :  a  wealthy  candi- 
date for  office  (c.  1876)  is  said  to  have 
remarked,  Let  the  boys  know  that 
there's  a  bar* I  o'  money  ready  for  'em, 
or  words  to  that  effect.  Never  (or  the 
devil)  a  barrel  the  better  herring,  much 
like,  not  a  pin  to  choose  between  them, 
six  of  one  and  half  a  dozen  of  the 
other.  (1542). 

Barrel-bellied.  Well  -  rounded  in 
stomach,  corpulent.  ( 1 694. ) 

BarreU's  Blues.  The  Fourth  Foot, 
now  The  King's  Own  (Royal  Lanca- 


31 


fiarrcs. 


Bates'  Farm. 


•hire  Regiment) :  from  its  facings  and 
Colonel's  name  from  1734  to  1739. 

Barres.  Money  lost  at  play,  but  not 
paid :  a  corruption  of  barrace,  an 
obsolete  plural  of  bar. 

B  a  r  r  i  k  i  n.  Gibberish,  jargon, 
jumble  of  words.  (1851.) 

BarringOut  A  half  serious 
bat  oftentimes  jocular  rebellion  of 
schoolboys  against  their  schoolmaster. 
[HaUiweil. — An  ancient  custom  at 
schools :  the  boys,  a  few  days  before 
the  holidays,  barricade  the  school 
room  from  the  master,  and  stipulate 
for  *-he  discipline  of  the  next  half  year. 
According  to  Dr.  Johnson,  Addison, 
in  1683,  was  the  leader  in  an  affair  of 
this  kind  at  Lichfield.] 

Barrow- bun ter.  A  barrow-woman, 
a  female  costermonger.  (1771.) 

Barrow-man.  A  man  under  sen- 
tence of  transportation. 

Barrow- tram.  A  raw-boned  person : 
properly  the  shaft  of  a  wheelbarrow. 

Barter  (Winchester  College).  A 
half  volley :  as  verb,  to  bit  hard. 
[From  the  Warden  of  that  name 
famous  for  disposing  of  them.]  Hit- 
ting barters,  practice  catching,  full 
pitches  hit  from  the  middle  of  Turf 
towards  Ball  -  Court  for  catching 
practice  towards  the  end  of  Long 
Meads. 

Bartholomew  Baby.  1.  A  gaudily 
dressed  doll,  such  as  appears  to  have 
been  commonly  sold  at  Bartholomew 
Fair.  2.  A  person  gaudily  dressed. 

Bartholomew-pig.  Roasted  pigs 
were  formerly  among  the  chief  attrac- 
tions of  Bartholomew  Fair,  West  Smith- 
field,  London :  they  were  sold  pip- 
ing hot,  in  booths  and  on  stalls, 
and  ostentatiously  displayed,  to  excite 
the  appetite  of  passengers.  Hence  a 
Bartholomew-pig  became  a  common 
subject  of  allusion  :  the  Puritan  railed 
against  it 

Bar  ts.     St.  Bartholomew  Hospital. 

Bash.  To  beat,  thrash,  crush  out  of 
shape.  Bashing,  a  flogging,  spec,  with 
the  cat ;  basher  (1)  a  rough ;  and  (2) 
a  prize-fighter. 

Bashaw.  1.  A  pasha.  2.  A  great  (or 
imperious)  man,  grandee.  (1593.) 

Bashi  -  Bazouk.  A  ruffian  :  used 
loosely  as  a  more  or  less  mild  term  of 
opprobrium  ;  also  applied  to  anything 
bizarre  in  character  or  composition : 
the  expression  came  into  vogue  during 
the  period  when  the  Bulgarian  atro- 


cities were  electrifying  the  world  by 
their  barbarous  cruelty. 

Bash-rag.     A  ragamuffin. 

Basil.  A  fetter :  usually  fastened 
on  the  ankle  of  one  leg  only.  (1592.) 

Basin.     A  schooner  (q.v.). 

Baske  t.  An  exclamation  frequen  tly 
made  use  of  in  cockpits  where  persons, 
unable  to  pay  their  losings,  are  ad- 
judged to  be  put  into  a  basket  BUS- 
pended  over  the  pit,  there  to  remain 
till  the  sport  is  concluded  (Grose).  To 
go  to  the  basket,  to  go  to  prison  :  poor 
prisoners  in  public  gaols  were  mainly 
dependent  on  the  almsbasket  for  sus- 
tenance (1632) ;  to  pin  the  basket,  to 
conclude  a  matter ;  to  be  left  in  the 
basket,  to  remain  unchosen ;  left  to  the 
last ;  the  pick  of  the  basket,  the  best, 
choicest ;  to  bring  to  the  basket,  to  re- 
duce to  poverty  ;  to  leave  in  the  basket, 
to  leave  in  the  lurch. 

Basket-scrambler.  One  living  on 
charity,  in  receipt  of  alms. 

Bass.  A  familiar  abbreviation 
for  Bass'  ale,  brewed  at  Burton-on- 
Trent. 

Bass.  A  kiss:  see  Buss  (1450). 
Also  as  verb. 

Basta.  It  is  enough  !  No  more  ! 
No  matter ! 

Baste.  To  thrash,  beat  soundly  : 
cf.  Anoint  (1533).  Basting,  a  cudgel- 
ling, tanning  (q.v.). 

Baster.  1.  A  house  thief  (q.v.). 
2.  A  stick,  cudgel.  3.  A  heavy  blow. 
(1726.) 

B  a  s  t  i  1  e.  A  workhouse.  2.  A 
prison,  steel  (q.v.). 

Bat  1.  A  prostitute  :  cf.  Fly-by- 
night  :  Fr.  hirondelle  de  nuit.  2.  A 
drunken  frolic  :  see  Batter.  3.  Pace, 
speed,  rate,  manner,  style :  e.g. 
going  off  at  a  lively  bat  Off  one's 
own  bat,  by  oneself,  through  one's 
own  exertions,  unaided  (1845);  to 
bat  the  eye*,  (1)  to  blink,  wink  ;  (2)  to 
look  on,  watch ;  of  a  bystander  not 
playing ;  to  carry  out  one's  bat,  to 
outlast  all  opponents,  secure  result 
aimed  at 

Batch.  To  live  single :  of  both  sexes : 
a  corruption  of  '  batchelor.' 

Batchelor's  Son.      A  bastard. 

Bate.  Bate  me  an  ace,  quoth  Bolton, 
an  expression  of  credulity  (1570), 
Excuse  me  ! 

Bates'  Farm  (or  Garden).  Coldbath 
Fields  prison  :  from  a  warder  of  that 
name  and  a  certain  appropriateness  in 

32 


Bat-fowler. 


Bayard  of  Ten  Toes. 


the  initials,  C.B.F.,  the  prison  initials, 
and  used  as  a  stamp,  Charley  Bates' 
farm.  To  feed  the  chickens  on  Charley 
Bates'  Farm,  to  be  put  to  the  tread- 
mill. 

Bat-fowler.  A  swindler,  sharper, 
victimiser  of  the  unwary.  Bat-fowl- 
ing, swindling,  rookery  (1602). 

Bath.  Go  to  Bath,  a  contemptuous 
injunction  to  be  off,  Go  to  Blazes, 
Hull,  Halifax  —  anywhere  :  the  in- 
junction was  intensified  by,  'and  get 
your  head  shaved,'  a  suggestion  of 
craziness.  To  go  to  Bath,  to  go  beg- 
ging :  Bath  in  the  latter  days  of  the 
17th  century  was  infested  with  the 
cadging  fraternity. 

Bathing  Machine.     A  10-ton  brig. 

Batie-bum  (or  Batie- bummil). 
A  useless  bungler,  slowcoach,  inactive 
helpless  fellow  (1550), 

Bat-mugger  (Winchester  College). 
A  wooden  instrument  used  for  rubbing 
oil  into  cricket  bats. 

Bats.  A  pair  of  bad  or  old  boots. 
Elworthy,  in  West  Somerset  Words, 
gives  this  as  a  heavy  laced  boot  with 
hobnails. 

Bats  Down.  How  many  bats 
down  ?  i.e.  how  many  wickets  have 
fallen  ? 

Battels.  The  weekly  bills  of  students 
at  Oxford.  Dr.  Murray  says  much  de- 
pends on  the  original  sense  at  Oxford : 
if  this  was  food,  provisions,  it  is 
natural  to  connect  it  with  battle, 
to  feed,  or  receive  nourishment.  It 
appears  that  the  word  has  apparently 
undergone  progressive  extensions  of 
application,  owing  partly  to  changes 
in  the  internal  economy  of  the  colleges. 
Some  Oxford  men  of  a  previous  gener- 
ation state  that  it  was  understood  by 
them  to  apply  to  the  buttery  accounts 
alone,  or  even  to  the  provisions  ordered 
from  the  buttery,  as  distinct  from  the 
commons  supplied  from  the  kitchen  : 
but  this  latter  use  is  disavowed  by 
others.  Also  as  verb,  and  Battler,  an 
Oxford  student,  formerly  used  in  con- 
tradistinction to  a  gentleman  com- 
moner. 

Batter.  Wear  and  tear  ;  e.g.  the 
batter  is  more  than  can  be  stood  for 
long.  To  go  on  the  batter,  to  indulge 
in  debauchery  of  any  kind — drunken- 
ness, prostitution,  etc.  Battered,  drunk : 
see  Screwed. 

Batterfang.  To  beclaw,  attack  with 
fists  and  nails  (1630). 

B  33 


Battle.  See  Battels.  Phrases,  to 
give  the  battle,  to  acknowledge  defeat, 
grant  the  victory  ;  to  have  the  battte,  to 
be  the  victor  (1400) ;  half  the  battle  (of 
anything  that  contributes  largely  to 
success). 

Battledore.  Not  to  know  a  B  from 
a  battledore,  to  be  utterly  illiterate 
(1553) ;  to  say  B  (or  Bo  I)  to  a  battle- 
dore, to  open  one's  mouth,  to  speak : 
cf.  Bo  to  a  goose  (1592). 

Battledore-boy.     An  abecedarian. 

Battle  of  the  Nile.  A  hat,  tile: 
see  Cady. 

Battle-royal.  A  general  squabble, 
free  fight :  spec,  of  two  termagant 
women  (1672). 

Battle- wright.    A  soldier. 

Battlings.  A  weekly  allowance  of 
money  :  at  Winchester  it  is  Is.,  while 
at  Repton  it  is  only  6d :  also  see 
Battels,  passim. 

Battner.  An  ox :  The  cove  has 
hushed  the  battner,  i.e.  has  killed 
the  ox  (B.  E.). 

Batty.  Wages  ;  perquisites  :  from 
batta,  an  extra  pay  given  to  soldiers 
while  serving  in  India.  Col.  Yule 
says  in  Indian  banking,  batty  means 
difference  in  exchange,  discount  on 
coins  not  current  (or  of  short  weight). 

Baubee.     See  Bawbee. 

Bauble  (Bable  or  Bawbell).  A  toy, 
trinket,  trifle  (B.  E.).  To  deserve  the 
baubel,  to  be  foolish  :  the  baubel  being 
the  Court  jester's  baton  surmounted 
by  a  carved  head  with  ass'  ears  j  to 
give  the  baubel,  to  befool. 

Baulk.  1.  A  false  report  (especially 
that  a  master  is  at  hand),  which  is 
sported  (q.v.),  not  spread.  2.  A  false 
shot,  a  mistake. 

Baum.  To  fawn,  flatter,  curry 
favour  (Hall). 

Bawbee  (or  Baubee).  A  halfpenny 
(B.  E.). 

Bawcock.  A  burlesque  term  of  en- 
dearment, my  good  fellow,  my  fine 
fellow. 

Bawdy-baskets.  The  twenty-third 
rank  of  Canters,  with  Pins,  Tape,  Ob- 
scene Books,  etc.,  to  sell,  but  live 
more  by  stealing  (B.  E.). 

Bawdy- house- bottle.  A  very 
small  one  (B.  E.). 

Baw-waw.  An  exclamation  of  con- 
tempt (1599).  As  adj.,  contemptibly 
noisy. 

Bayard  of  Ten  Toes.  1.  The  feet, 
Shanks  mare,  Marrowbone  stage 


Bay  State. 


Bean. 


(1606).  To  ride  bayard  of  ten  toes,  to 
go  OD  foot ;  as  bold  as  blind  Bayard  (of 
those  who  do  not  look  before  they  leap) ; 
hence  generic  for  blindness,  ignorance, 
or  recklessness.  Bayard  was  a  horse 
famous  in  old  romances. 

Bay  State.  The  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts :  orig.  the  Colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay. 

Bayswater  Captain.  A  sponger 
(q.v.),  adventurer:  cf.  Dryland  sailor. 

Bay  Window.  Fat,  pregnant,  lumpy 

.(q.v.)- 

Beach  -  cadger.  A  beggar  whose 
pitch  is  at  watering  -  places  and 
sea-ports. 

Beach-comber.  1.  A  long  wave  roll- 
ing in  from  the  ocean.  2.  A  settler  on 
islands  in  the  Pacific,  living  by  means 
more  or  less  reputable :  comprising 
runaway  seamen,  and  deserters  from 
whalers.  3.  A  sea-shore  loafer,  one 
on  the  look-out  for  odd  jobs.  4.  A 
river  boatman.  5.  A  wrecker,  water- 
rat  (q.v.). 

Beach- tram  per.  A  coastguards- 
man,  shingle  smasher. 

Bead.  To  draw  a  bead,  to  attack 
an  opponent  by  speech  or  otherwise  : 
from  backwoods  parlance ;  to  raise  a 
bead,  to  bring  to  the  point,  ensure 
success :  from  brandy,  rum,  or  other 
liquors,  which  will  not  raise  a  bead 
unless  of  the  proper  strength  ;  to  bid  a 
bead,  to  offer  prayer ;  beads-bidding, 
prayer ;  to  say  (tell,  or  count)  one's 
beads,  to  say  prayers ;  to  pray  without 
one's  beads,  to  be  out  of  one's  reckoning. 

Beadledom.  Red-tapism,  formal- 
ity, stupid  officiousness  (1860). 

Beady.  Full  of  bubbles,  frothy 
(1868). 

Beagle,  subs.  (old).  A  spy ;  in- 
former ;  man-hunter,  policeman  ;  also 
a  general  term  of  contempt  (1559). 

Beak.  1 .  A  constable  (also  barman - 
beck),  policeman,  guardian  of  the 
peace :  as  far  as  is  known,  this  (as 
beck)  is  the  oldest  cant  term  for  one 
of  a  class  of  men.  In  Harman's  Caveat 
(1573),  harman  beck  is  explained  as 
'the  counstable,  harmans  being  the 
stockes.'  2.  A  magistrate :  some- 
times beak  of  the  law.  3.  The 
nose :  see  Conk  (1598).  4.  (Eton  and 
Marlborough  Schools).  A  master : 
5.  A  thrust,  poke  (1592).  Birds  of  a 
beak,  birds  of  a  feather  (q.v.). 

Beaker.  A  fowl :  also  Beak.  Cackl- 
ing-cheat  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  estable,  or  estaphle 


Beaker-hunter.  A  poultry  thief: 
also  Beak-hunter. 

Beak-gander.  A  judge  of  the  High 
Court  of  Justice. 

Beaksman.     A  policeman. 

Be  -  all  and  End  -  all.  The  whole, 
everything,  the  blooming  lot  (q.v.) 
(1606). 

Beam.  An  authorised  standard  of 
criticism,  manners,  morals,  etc.  To 
kick  (or  strike)  the  beam,  to  be  over- 
powered, in  a  tight  place  (or  corner). 

Beam  Ends.  To  be  thrown  on  one's 
beam  ends,  ( 1 )  tobe  in  bad  circumstances, 
at  one's  last  shift,  hard-up :  a  metaphor 
drawn  from  sea  -  faring  life  :  a  ship  is 
said  to  be  on  her  beam  ends  when  on 
her  side  by  stress  of  weather,  or  shifting 
of  cargo,  as  to  be  submerged  (1830), 
2.  Also,  less  figuratively,  to  be  thrown 
to  the  ground,  reduced  to  a  sitting 
or  lying  posture. 

Bean  (or  Bien).  1.  A  sovereign,  20s.: 
formerly  a  guinea :  in  America  five- 
dollar  gold  pieces  :  see  Half -bean  and 
Haddock  of  Deans  :  in  old  French  cant, 
biens  meant  money  or  property :  see 
Rhino.  2.  pi.,  small  coal  (Newcastle). 
Full  of  beans,  in  good  form  (or  con- 
dition), full  of  health,  spirits,  or  capa- 
city, aa  a  horse  after  a  good  feed  of 
beans.  To  give  beans,  to  chastise, 
give  a  good  drubbing.  Like  beans,  in 
good  form  (style,  time,  etc.),  with 
force :  a  general  expression  of  ap- 
proval ana  praise :  cf.  Like  blazes, 
(bricks,  or  one  o'clock).  Not  to  care 
(or  be  worth)  a  bean,  to  hold  in  little 
esteem,  think  lightly  of,  be  of  little 
value :  the  allusion  is  to  the  small 
worth  or  value  of  a  bean,  or  the 
black  of  a  bean  (1297).  Beany,  in 
good  humour — a  metaphor  drawn  from 
the  stable.  To  know  beans,  to  be  well- 
informed,  sharp  and  shrewd,  within 
the  charmed  circle  of  the  cultured 
elect,  fully  equipped  in  the  upper 
storey.  To  know  how  many  blue  beans 
make  five  white  ones,  this  is  generally 
put  in  the  form  of  a  question,  the 
answer  to  which  is  Five,  if  peeled, 
and  those  who  fail  to  get  tripped  by 
the  catch  are  said  to  know  how  many, 
etc.  ;  in  other  words  to  be  cute,  know- 
ing, wide  awake.  To  draw  a  bean,  to 
get  elected  :  an  allusion  to  the  former 
use  of  beans  in  balloting  ;  to  have  the 
bean,  to  be  first  and  foremost ;  in  re- 
ference to  the  custom  of  appointing 
as  king  of  the  company  on  Twelfth 


34 


Bean  Belly. 


Bearings. 


Night,  the  man  in  whose  portion  of 
the  cake  the  bean  was  found  (1556). 
Also  proverbial,  Hunger  maketh 
hard  beans  sweet ;  It  is  not  for 
idleness  that  men  sow  beans  in  the 
wind  (i.e.  labour  in  vain) ;  Every 
bean  hath  its  black.  Three  blue  beans 
in  a  blue  bladder,  noisy  talk,  clap-trap, 
froth  (1600). 

Bean  Belly.  A  Leicestershire  man : 
from  a  real  or  supposed  fondness  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  county  for  beans. 

Bean-feast.  An  annual  feast  given 
by  employers  to  their  work  -  people. 
The  derivation  is  uncertain,  and,  at 
present,  there  is  little  evidence  to  go 
upon.  Some  have  suggested  its  origin 
in  the  prominence  of  the  bean  goose,  or 
even  beans  at  these  spreads ;  others 
refer  it  to  the  French  bien,  good,  i.e. 
a  good  feast  (by-the-bye,  tailors  call 
all  good  feeds  bean  -  feasts) ;  whilst 
others  favour  its  derivation  from  the 
modern  English  bene,  a  request  or  soli- 
citation, from  the  custom  of  collecting 
subscriptions  to  defray  the  cost :  also 
called  a  wayzgoose  (q.v.). 

Bean-f caster.  One  who  takes  part 
in  a  bean-feast  (q.v.). 

Beano.  The  same  as  bean  -  feast 
(q.v.). 

Bean-pole  (stick,  or  wood).  A 
lanky  person,  lamp-post  (q.v.). 

Bean  Trap.  A  swell  mobsman, 
stylish  sharper. 

Beany.  Full  of  vigour,  fresh,  like  a 
bean-fed  horse. 

Bear  (Stock  Exchange).  1.  Ap- 
plied, in  the  first  instance,  to  stock  sold 
by  jobbers  for  delivery  at  a  certain 
date,  on  the  chance  of  prices  falling  in 
the  meantime,  thus  allowing  the  seller 
to  re  -  purchase  at  a  profit.  At  first 
the  phrase  was  probably  To  sell  the 
bear-skin,  the  buyers  of  such  bar- 
gains being  called  bear-skin  jobbers, 
in  allusion  to  the  proverb,  To  sell  the 
bear's  skin  before  one  has  caught  the 
bear.  So  far,  the  origin  of  the  phrase 
seems  pretty  clear  ;  of  the  date  of  its  in- 
troduction, however,  nothing  is  known. 
It  was  a  common  term  in  Stock  Ex- 
change circles,  at  the  time  of  the  burst- 
ing of  the  South  Sea  Bubble  in  1720, 
but  it  does  not  seem  to  have  become 
colloquial  until  much  later.  In  these 
transactions  no  stock  was  delivered,the 
difference  being  settled  according  to 
the  quotation  of  the  day,  as  is  the  prac- 
tice now  in  securities  dealt  with  for 


the  account.  At  present  the  term  for 
such  an  arrangement  is  time-bargain. 
2.  Hence  a  dealer  who  speculates  for  a 
fall.  The  earliest  instance  noted  of 
this  transferred  usage  is  of  the  date 
1744.  Fr.,  baissier  :  see  Bull,  Stag, 
and  Lame  Duck.  3.  A  rough,  un- 
mannerly, or  uncouth  person ;  hence 
the  pupil  of  a  private  tutor,  the  latter 
being  called  a  Bear  -  leader  (q.v.); 
also  called  formerly  Bridled-bear.  To 
play  the  bear,  to  behave  roughly  and 
uncouthly  (1579).  As  verb,  to  act  as 
a  bear  (q.v.).  Are  you  there  with  your 
bears  ?  A  greeting  of  surprise  at  the 
reappearance  of  anybody  or  anything ; 
are  you  there  again ;  What,  again  ! 
so  soon  ?  The  phrase  is  explained  by 
Joe  Miller,  as  the  exclamation  of  a 
man  who,  not  liking  a  sermon  he  had 
heard  on  Elisha  and  the  bears,  went 
next  Sunday  to  another  church,  only  to 
find  the  same  preacher  and  the  same 
discourse  (1642).  To  bear  the  bell 
(coals,  palm,  etc.),  see  the  nouns  ;  to 
bear  low  sail,  to  demean  oneself  humbly 
( 1300) ;  to  bear  a  blow,  to  strike  ;  to  bear 
up,  to  cheat,  swindle :  see  Bonnet. 
Bear  a  bob,  (1)  lend  a  hand,  look  sharp  ! 
look  alive  !  (2)  To  aid,  to  assist,  to 
take  part  in  anything. 

Beard.  In  spite  of  one's  beard,  in 
opposition  or  defiance  to  a  purpose ; 
to  one's  beard,  openly,  to  one's  face ; 
to  run  in  one's  beard,  to  oppose  openly, 
face  out ;  to  take  by  the  beard,  to  attack 
resolutely  ;  to  make  one's  beard,  to  out- 
wit, delude ;  to  make  one's  beard  without 
a  razor,  to  behead ;  to  put  against  the 
beard,  to  taunt. 

Bearded  Cad  (Winchester  College). 
A  porter,  employed  by  the  College 
to  convey  luggage  from  the  railway 
station  to  the  school :  the  term  origin- 
ated in  an  extremely  hirsute  individ- 
ual who  at  one  time  acted  in  the 
capacity. 

Bear-garden.  A  scene  of  strife  and 
tumult. 

Bear  -  garden  Jaw,  subs.  (old). 
Rough,  unmannerly  speech  ;  talk  akin 
to  that  used  in  bear  gardens  and  other 
places  of  low  resort  (Grose). 

Be-argered.   Drunk:  see  Screwed. 

Bearing.  Acting  as  a  bear  (q.v.) ; 
or  using  artifices  to  lower  the  price  of 
stock  to  suit  a  bear  account. 

Bearings.  To  bring  one  to  one's  bear- 
ings, to  bring  one  to  reason,  to  act  as 
a  check. 


35 


Bear-leader. 


Bed. 


Bear-leader.     A  travelling  tutor. 

Bear  -  play.  Rough,  tumultuous 
behaviour. 

Bearskin-jobber.    See  Bear. 

Beast  1.  Applied  to  anything  un- 
pleasant ;  or,  to  that  which  displeases ; 
e.g.  It's  a  perfect  beast  of  a  day,  for 
it's  an  unpleasant  day :  see  Beastly. 
2.  A  new  cadet  at  the  U.S.  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point  3.  (Cam- 
bridge University).  One  who  has  left 
school  and  come  np  to  Cambridge 
for  study,  before  entering  the  Uni- 
versity: because  he  is  neither  man 
nor  boy. 

Beastly.  In  modern  colloquial  usage 
applied  to  whatever  may  offend  the 
taste :  cL  awful*  everlasting,  etc. 
(1611). 

Beat  1.  This  word  is  used  in  many 
ways,  its  precise  meaning  often  depend- 
ing on  ita  qualifying  adjective.  It  is  said 
of  both  men  and  things  ;  for  example, 
a  live  beat  is  anybody  or  anything  that 
surpasses  another,  and  the  sense  is 
not  derogatory  in  the  least.  A  dead 
beat,  on  the  other  hand,  is  the  name 
given  to  a  man  who  sponges  on  his 
fellows.  [Probably  from  that  sense 
of  beat  signifying  to  overcome;  to 
show  oneself  superior  to,  either  in  a 
good  or  bad  sense.]  2.  A  daily  round, 
duty,  work,  etc.  ;  and,  figuratively, 
a  sphere  of  influence  (1788).  As 
adj.  (1)  overcome,  exhausted,  done 
up:  generally  dead-beat  (q.v.) ;  (2) 
hence  baffled,  defeated.  As  verb,  to 
swindle,  deceive,  cheat  Daisy  beat, 
a  swindle  of  the  first  water,  a  robbery 
of  magnitude.  To  beat  hollow  (to 
sticks,  ribands,  fits,  all  creation,  to 
shivers,  etc.),  to  excel,  surpass  (1759). 
To  get  a  beat  on,  to  get  the  advantage  of. 
Other  phrases  are,  to  beat  the  air,  to 
strive  to  no  purpose  (1375) ;  to  beat  the 
rtreete,  to  walk  to  and  fro ;  tobeat  over  the 
old  ground,  to  discuss  topics  already 
treated ;  to  beat  about  the  bush,  to  act 
cautiously,  approach  warily  or  in  a 
roundabout  way  (1572);  to  beat  up, 
to  visit  unceremoniously ;  to  beat  the 
brains,  (head,  etc.),  to  think  per- 
sistently ;  to  beat  out,  to  exhaust, 
overpower ;  to  beat  the  hoof,  to 
walk,  go  on  foot,  plod,  prowl  (1596) ; 
to  beat  the  rib  (see  Rib).  To  beat  the 
booby  (or  goose),  to  strike  the  hands 
across  the  chest  and  under  the  arm  pits 
to  warm  them  :  formerly  to  beat  Jonas  ; 
to  beat  the  road,  to  travel  by  rail  without 


paying.  That  beats  the  Dutch!  (see 
Dutch).  To  beat  daddy  mammy,  to 
tattoo,  practise  the  elements  of  drum 
beating.  To  beat  down  to  bed-rock  (see 
Bedrock).  To  beat  out,  impoverished, 
in  one's  last  straits,  hard  up. 

Beater-cases.  Boots,  shoes,  now 
nearly  obsolete.  Trotter-cases  (q.v.) 
being  the  usual  term  nowadays. 

Beaters.  The  feet :  Barclay  in  Shyp 
of  Polys  (1509),  speaks  of  'night 
watchers  and  beters  of  the  stretes : ' 
see  Creepers. 

Beating-stock.  A  subject  of  fre- 
quent chastisement :  cf.  Laughing- 
stock. 

Beauetry.  Dandyism,  dandy  out- 
fit :  a  humorous  imitation  of  coquetry 
(1702). 

Beau  Trap.  1 .  A  loose  stone  in  a  pave- 
ment, under  which  water  lodges,  and 
which,  on  being  trodden  upon,  squirts 
it  up.  2.  A  well-dressed  sharper,  on 
the  look-out  for  raw  country  visitors 
and  such  like.  3.  A  fop,  well-dressed 
outwardly,  but  whose  linen,  person, 
and  habits  generally  are  unclean. 

B eau ty.  A  term  applied,  on  the  rule 
of  contrary,  to  the  plainest  or  ugliest 
cadet  in  the  class  at  the  United  States 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point  It 
was  great  beauty,  it  was  a  fine  sight ; 
That's  the  beauty  of  it,  That's  just  as  it 
should  be  :  as  affording  special  pleasure 
or  satisfaction. 

Beauty-sleep.  Sleep  before  mid- 
night, the  idea  being  that  early  hours 
conduce  to  health  and  beauty  ( 1850). 

Beauty-spot.  Ironically  of  a  pimple 
or  other  blemish  on  the  face  or  other 
exposed  parts  of  the  person. 

Beaver,  subs,  (common).  An  old 
term  for  a  hat;  goss,  cady  (1528): 
at  one  time  hats  were  made  of  beaver's 
fur — hence  the  name  ;  the  term  is  still 
occasionally  applied  to  tall  chimney- 
pot hats,  but  for  many  years  silk  has 
replaced  the  skin  of  the  rodent  in  their 
manufacture.  In  beaver,  in  a  tall  hat 
and  non-academical  garb,  as  distin- 
guished from  cap  and  gown  (1840). 
See  also  Bever. 

Beck.  1.  A  constable  :  see  Beak.  2. 
A  parish  beadle  ;  apparently  the  term 
was  applied  to  all  kinds  of  watch- 
men :  see  Harman-beck.  As  verb,  to 
imprison :  amongst  Dutch  thieves 
bfJcaan  has  the  same  signification. 

Bed.  To  put  to  bed  with  a  pickaxe 
and  shovel,  to  bury. 


36 


Bedder. 


Been. 


Bedder  (Cambridge  University).  A 
charwoman  ;  one  who  makes  the  beds 
and  performs  other  necessary  domestic 
duties  for  residents  in  college. 

Bed-fagot.  1.  Applied  contemp- 
tuously to  a  woman ;  cf.  hussy, 
witch,  etc.  2.  A  wanton. 

Bedfordshire.  Sheet  alley  (q.v.), 
blanket  fair  (q.v.),  the  land  of  Nod 
(q.v.),  etc.  (1665). 

Bedful  of  Bones.  A  skinny,  bony, 
bedfellow  (1621). 

Bedoozle.  To  confuse,  to  bewilder  : 
probably  a  corrupt  form  of  the  old 
English  verb  bedazzle,  used  by 
Shakespeare  in  Taming  of  the  Shrew, 
IV.  v.  46  (1593). 

Bedpost.  In  the  twinkling  of  a  bedpost, 
instantaneously,  with  great  rapidity  : 
originally  in  the  twinkling  of  a  bedstaff 
(1660).  Among  English  synonyms 
may  be  included : — in  a  jiffy,  in  two 
two's,  in  a  brace  of  shakes,  before  you 
can  say  Jack  Robinson,  in  a  crack,  in 
the  squeezing  of  a  lemon.  Between 
you  and  me  and  the  bed-post,  a  humor- 
ous tag  to  an  assertion  ;  i.e.  between 
ourselves  —  I  know  what  you  say, 
but,  between  you  and  me,  etc.  .  .  .  the 
thing  is  absurd  :  sometimes  the  last 
word  is  varied  by  post,  door  post, 
or  gate  post  —  any  prop  will  serve 
(1831). 

Bedrock.  To  get  down  to  bedrock,  to 
get  at  the  bottom  of  matters,  thorough- 
ly understand,  get  in  on  the  ground 
floor  (q.v.) :  a  miner's  term,  alluding 
to  the  solid  rock  underlying  superficial 
and  other  formations.  Bedrock  fact, 
a  chiel  that  winna  ding,  the  incon- 
testable and  incontrovertible  truth. 

Bedtime.  The  hour  of  death  (Al- 
ford). 

Bee.  1.  A  sweet  writer.  2.  A 
busy  worker.  3.  A  working  party  of 
neighbours  and  friends  for  the  benefit 
of  one  of  their  number ;  as  when  a 
party  of  settlers  combine  to  erect  a 
log-house  for  a  newcomer,  or  when 
farmers  unite  to  gather  one  another's 
harvests  in  succession  :  e.g.  apple-bee, 
raising  bee,  etc. ;  hence,  a  social  gather- 
ing for  some  specific  purpose,  as  spelling 
bee.  To  have  a  bee  in  the  head  (brains, 
garret,  or  bonnet,)  to  have  queer  ideas, 
be  half-cracked,  nighty  ;  this  phrase  is 
of  considerable  antiquity,  being  traced 
back  to  a  Scotch  writer,  Gawin 
Douglas  by  name  [1474-1521],  Bishop 
of  Dunkeld,  who  used  it  in  a  transla- 


tion of  Virgil's  JEneid.  Hence,  bee- 
bonneted  (or  bee-headed)  crazed ;  bee- 
head,  a  crazy  pate  :  see  Buffle. 

Beef.  1.  Human  flesh  (a  trans- 
ferred sense) ;  i.e.  obese,  stolid,  fleshy 
like  an  ox.  2.  By  a  further  transi- 
tion beef  has  also  come  to  signify 
men,  strength,  hands ;  More  beef  I  a 
bo' sun's  exhortation  to  extra  exertion. 
To  be  in  a  man's  beef,  to  wound  with  a 
sword  (Grose).  To  cry  (or  give)  beef  (or 
hot  beef),  to  give  an  alarm,  pursue,  set 
up  a  hue  and  cry :  it  has  been  suggested 
that  beef  in  this  case  is  a  rhyming 
synonym  for  thief.  To  be  dressed 
like  Christmas  beef,  to  be  decked  out 
in  one's  best  raiment.  To  make  beef, 
to  run  away,  decamp.  Beef  to  the 
heels,  like  a  Mullingar  Heifer,  said  of  a 
stalwart  man,  or  a  fine  woman ;  i.e. 
one  whose  superiority  is  manifest  from 
the  crown  of  the  head  to  the  sole  of  the 
foot ;  literally,  all  beef  down  to  the  heels. 
Beef  up  I  phr.  Put  on  your  strength  ! 
Give  a  long  pull  and  a  strong  pull ! 
To  beef  it,  originally  a  provincialism, 
but  now  common  in  the  East  End  of 
London  :  to  take  a  meat  meal,  more 
particularly  of  beef. 

Beef  -  brained.  Doltish,  obtuse, 
thickheaded. 

Beef-head.  A  dolt ;  a  stupid,  thick- 
headed person :  see  Buffle. 

Beefment.  On  the  beefment,  on  the 
alert,  on  the  look  out. 

Beef-stick.  The  bone  in  a  joint  of 
beef.  At  mess  it  is  First  come,  best 
served ;  and  those  who  come  last 
sometimes  get  little  more  than  the 
beef-stick. 

Beef  Straight    See  Straight. 

Beef  -  witted.  See  Beef-brained 
(1594). 

Beefy.  Fleshy,  unduly  thick,  obese : 
a  run  of  luck  and  good  fortune,  gener- 
ally, is  likewise  referred  to  as  beefy. 
Whence  beefiness. 

Bee-line.  To  take  (or  make)  a  bee- 
line,  to  go  direct,  as  the  crow  flies, 
without  circumlocution.  Bees,  when 
fully  laden  with  pollen,  make  for  the 
hive  in  a  straight,  or  bee-line.  One 
of  the  American  railways  is  called  the 
Bee  Line  Road  from  the  direct  route  it 
takes  between  its  termini  (1849). 

Beelzebub's  Paradise.  Hell,  the 
infernal  regions. 

Been.  Been  in  the  sun,  drunk  :  see 
Screwed.  Been  measured  for  a  new 
umbrella,  said  sportively  of  any  one 


37 


Beer. 


Before. 


appearing  in  new,  ill  •  fitting  clothes, 
or  who  has  struck  out  a  new  line  of 
action,  the  wisdom  of  which  is  doubt- 
ful :  the  joke  is  an  old  one  and  refers  to 
a  man  of  whom  it  was  said  that  nothing 
fitted  him  but  his  umbrella.  Oh  yes, 
Pve,  been  there ;  I  know  what  I  am 
about.  A  popular  exclamation :  when 
it  is  said  of  a  man  that  he  has  been 
there,  shrewdness,  pertinacity,  and 
experience  are  implied. 

Beer.  To  drink  beer,  also,  to  do  a  beer. 
To  be  in  beer,  drunk :  see  Screwed.  To 
think  no  email  beer  of  oneself,  to  possess 
a  good  measure  of  self-esteem  (1840) : 
see  Small-beer. 

Beer  an  d  Bi  ble.  An  epithet  applied 
sarcastically  to  a  political  party  which 
first  came  into  prominence  during  the 
last  Beaconsfield  Administration,  and 
which  was  called  into  being  by  a 
measure  introduced  by  the  moderate 
Liberals  in  1873,  with  a  view  to  placing 
certain  restrictions  upon  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  drinks.  The  Licensed 
Victuallers,  an  extremely  powerful 
association  whose  influence  extended 
all  over  the  kingdom,  took  alarm, 
and  turned  to  the  Conservatives  for 
help  in  opposing  the  bill.  In  the 
ranks  of  the  latter  were  numbered  the 
chief  brewers  ;  the  leaders  of  the  asso- 
ciation, moreover,  had  mostly  strong 
high -church  tendencies,  while  one  of 
them  was  president  of  the  Exeter  Hall 
organization.  The  Liberals,  noting 
these  facts,  nicknamed  this  alliance 
the  Beer  and  Bible  Association ;  the 
Morning  Advertiser,  the  organ  of  the 
Licensed  Victuallers,  was  dubbed  the 
Beer  and  Bible  Gazette ;  and  lastly, 
electioneering  tactics  ascribed  to  them 
the  war  cry  of  Beer  and  Bible  I  This 
so-called  Beer  and  Bible  interest  made 
rapid  strides :  in  1 870  the  Conservatives 
were  at  their  low-water  mark  among 
the  London  constituencies ;  but,  in 
1 880,  they  had  carried  seats  in  the  City, 
Westminster,  Marylebone,  Tower  Ham- 
lets, Greenwich,  and  Southwark.  A 
notable  exception  to  this  strange 
fellowship  was  Mr.  Bass  [afterwards 
Lord  Bass],  of  pale-ale  fame,  who  held 
aloof  from  opposition  to  the  measure 
in  question.  Anent  the  nickname 
Beer  and  Bible  Gazette,  given  to  the 
Morning  Advertiser,  it  may  be  men- 
tioned that  it  had  already  earned  for 
itself  a  somewhat  similar  sobriquet. 
For  a  long  time  this  paper  devoted 


one-half  of  its  front  page  to  notices  of 
publicans  and  tavern-keepers  ;  while 
the  other  half  was  filled  up  with 
announcements  of  religious  books, 
and  lists  of  preachers  at  the  London 
churches  and  chapels.  This  gained 
for  the  paper  the  sobriquet  of  the  Gin 
and  Gospel  Gazette. 

Beer  and  Skittles.  Generally,  Not  all 
beer  and  skittles,  i.e.  not  altogether 
pleasant,  or  couleur  de  rose. 

Beer- barrel.  The  human  body :  cf. 
Bacon. 

Beeriness  (or  Beery),  pertaining  to 
a  state  of  (or  approaching  to)  drunken- 
ness, intoxicated,  fuddled  with  beer  : 
see  Screwed  (1857). 

Beer-jerker  (or  -slinger).  A  tippler: 
see  Lushington. 

Beerocracy,  subs,  (common).  The 
brewing  and  beer-selling  interest :  a 
humorous  appellation  in  imitation  of 
aristocracy :  cf.  Mobocracy,  Cotton- 
ocracy, etc. 

Beeswax.  1.  Poor,  soft  cheese, 
sweaty-toe  cheese  (q.v.)  (1821).  2.  A 
bore  ;  one  who  button-holes  another ; 
generally  Old  beeswax. 

Beeswaxers  (Winchester  College). 
Thick  boots  :  used  for  football :  prob- 
ably from  being  smeared  with  bees- 
wax to  supple  them :  pronounced 
Beswaxers. 

Beeswing.  A  gauzy  film  or  crust,  in 
port  wines,  the  result  of  age,  so  called 
from  its  appearance  when  broken  up 
in  the  process  of  decanting.  Hence 
also  Beeswinged  ( 1846).  Ola  beeswing, 
a  nickname  for  any  one,  but  especi- 
ally for  one  who  takes  to  his  liquor 
kindly. 

Beetle.  Deaf  (dumb,  or  dull)  as  a 
beetle,  a  type  of  dulness  or  stupidity, 
blockishness  ;  beetle-brain  (-or  head),  a 
term  of  contempt :  cf.  Blockhead. 

Bee  tie-crusher  (or  bee  tle-squasher), 
1.  A  large  foot :  the  term  was  popu- 
larised by  Leech  in  Punch.  2.  A 
large  boot  or  shoe :  also  Beetle-cases. 
3.  An  infantry  soldier ;  a  cavalry  term : 
see  Mud-crusher. 

Beetle-crushing.  With  solid  tread, 
such  as  comes  from  large  heavy  feet  in 
boots  or  shoes  to  match ;  e.g.  the 
marching  of  infantry. 

Beetles.     Colorado  mining  shares. 

Beetle-sticker.     An  entomologist. 

Before.  Before  the  wind,  in  prosper- 
ous circumstances,  out  of  debt  or 
difficulty. 


38 


Begad ! 


Bell-topper. 


Begad  !  A  corruption  of  By  God ! 
and,  as  such,  a  euphemistic  oath 
(1742). 

Beggar.  1.  A  term  of  contempt ; 
a  mean  or  low  fellow.  2.  An  endear- 
ment :  cf.  baggage,  dog,  rogue,  etc. 
Also  phrases :  A  beggar's  wallet  is 
never  filled  (1539) ;  Beggars  should 
not  be  choosers  (1562) ;  A  beggar 
may  sing  before  a  thief  (1562) ;  I 
know  him  as  well  as  a  beggar  knows 
his  bag ;  Beggars  mounted  run  their 
horses  to  death ;  Rich  when  young, 
a  beggar  when  old ;  As  great  as 
beggars;  Sue  a  beggar  and  catch  a 
louse ;  Set  a  beggar  on  horseback 
and  he'll  ride  to  the  devil.  Beggar  the 
thing !  confound  it,  or,  hang  the 
thing. 

Beggared.  Ptt  be  beggared  if,  etc.,  an 
emphatic  asseveration ;  i.e.  I'll  give 
up  everything,  even  to  being  reduced 
to  beggary,  if,  etc. 

Beggar-maker.     A  publican. 

Beggars.  The  small  cards  from  the 
deuce  to  the  ten. 

Beggar's  Brown.  Scotch  snuff : 
made  of  the  stem  of  tobacco. 

Beggar's  Bullets  (or  Bolts).  Stones 
(1584). 

Beggar's  Bush.  To  go  home  by 
beggar's  bush,  to  go  to  ruin  (1686). 

Beggar's  Plush.     Corduroy  (1688). 

Beggar's  Velvet.  Downy  particles 
which  accumulate  under  furniture : 
otherwise  called  sluts'-wool  (q.v.). 

Begin.  To  begin  upon  a  person,  to 
attack,  assault. 

Begosh  1  B'gosh  I  An  expletive 
(probably  of  negro  origin),  a  half  veiled 
oath. 

Behind.  1.  The  posterior.  2.  (Eton 
and  Winchester  Colleges).  A  back  at 
football :  at  Eton  called  short  behind 
and  long  behind,  usually  abbreviated 
to  short  and  long ;  at  Winchester, 
second  behind  and  last  behind :  these 
answer  to  the  half-back  and  back  of 
Association  football :  at  Winchester, 
in  the  Fifteens,  there  is  also  a  third 
behind.  Behind  one's  side  (Winchester 
College).  Said  of  a  man  when  nearer 
the  opponent's  goal  than  the  player  of 
his  team  who  last  touched  the  ball. 

Beilby's  Ball.  An  Old  Bailey 
execution  (Grose). 

Bejan,  Baijan  (Scotch  University). 
A  freshman  student  of  the  first  year  at 
the  Universities  of  St.  Andrews  and 
Aberdeen  :  it  is  now  obsolete  at  Edin- 


burgh :  from  the  French  bee  jaune, 
yellow  beak,  in  allusion  to  the  colour 
of  the  mandibles  of  young  birds.  The 
term  was  adopted  from  the  University 
of  Paris ;  but,  signifying  a  novice, 
it  has  been  in  more  or  less  general  use 
for  nearly  three  hundred  years.  At 
Aberdeen,  the  second-class  students 
are  semi-bejans  ;  in  the  third  tertians  ; 
while  those  in  the  highest  rank  are 
magistrands. 

Belph.  Beer,  especially  poor  beer : 
because  of  its  liability  to  cause  eructa- 
tion. One  of  Shakespeare's  characters 
in  Twelfth  Night  is  Sir  Toby  Belch,  a 
reckless,  roystering,  jolly  knight  of  the 
Elizabethan  period. 

Belcher.  1.  A  neckerchief  named 
after  Jim  Belcher,  a  noted  pugilist :  the 
ground  is  blue,  with  white  spots  :  also 
any  handkerchief  of  a  similar  pattern 
(1812).  2.  A  ring:  with  the  crown 
and  V.R.  stamped  upon  them.  3.  A 
beer  drinker,  a  hard  drinker  (1598). 

Belial.     Balliol  College,  Oxford. 

Believe.  /  believe  you,  employed  to 
signify  general  assent ;  Yes :  some- 
times /  believe  you,  my  boy ;  once  a 
favourite  catch-phrase  of  a  well-known 
actor. 

Bell.  A  song  :  a  tramps'  term  :  a 
diminutive  of  bellow.  To  bell  a 
marble,  to  run  away  with  it :  the 
action  scarcely  amounts  to  actual 
theft.  To  ring  one's  own  bell,  to 
blow  one's  trumpet,  to  sound  one's 
own  praises. 

Bell  -  bastard.  The  illegitimate 
child  of  a  woman  who  is  herself 
illegitimate. 

Bellmare.  A  political  leader,  mostly 
contemptuously. 

Bellows.  The  lungs  (1615).  Bellows  to 
mend,  said  of  a  broken-winded  horse ; 
likewise  of  a  man  whose  lungs  are 
affected,  or  one  who  from  any  cause 
is  out  of  health. 

Bellows-blower.  1.  One  exciting  to 
strife.  2.  An  unskilled  assistant,  a 
mere  hodman. 

Bellowsed.  Transported,  lagged :  cf. 
Bellowser. 

Bellowser.  1.  A  blow  in  the  pit  of 
the  stomach,  a  winder,  that  which  takes 
the  breath  away.  2.  A  sentence  of 
transportation  for  life. 

Bell-rope.     Aggera waters  (q.v.). 

Bellswagger.     See  Belswagger. 

Bell-topper.  A  silk  hat :  see  Gol- 
gotha. 


39 


Bend. 


Bell- we  ther.  1 .  A  chief  or  leader :  in 
contempt.  2.  Clamorous  person,  a 
mouther  (q.v.).  Henoe  BeUwethering 
and  Kdlwetherishneas. 

Belly-ache.     A  colic. 

Belly-bender.  A  boy's  term  for 
weak  and  unsafe  ice. 

Belly- bound.  Constipated  ;  costive. 

Belly-bumper  (or  Belly-buster). 
To  take  a  belly-butter,  to  ride  downhill 
in  a  sled  lying  on  one's  stomach  :  an 
amusement  of  young  America :  the 
idea  of  tobogganing  was  derived  from 
this  boyish  pastime :  also  Belly- bumbo, 
Belly-guts  (or  gutter).  Belly-flounders, 
Belly-Sumps,  and  Belly-plumper. 

Belly-button.    The  navel. 

Belly-cheat  (or  Belly-chete).  1. 
An  apron.  2.  Food  (1609). 

Belly-cheer  (or  Belly-chere).  Food. 
Belly-cheering,  eating,  drinking  (1559). 

Belly-critic.  A  connoisseur  of  good 
living. 

Belly-friend.  A  parasite,  sponger 
(q.v.). 

Belly-full.  A  sound  drubbing,  a 
thrashing  (1599). 

Belly-furniture.  Food,  something 
wherewith  to  furnish  the  belly :  cf. 
Belly-timber,  Back- timber,  etc.  (1653). 

Belly-god.    A  glutton  (1540). 

Belly  -  go-firster.  An  initial  blow, 
generally  given,  say  some  authorities, 
in  the  stomach  —  whence  its  classic 
name  ! 

Belly-grinding.  Colic,  a  pain  in  the 
bowels. 

Belly-gut,  subs.  (old).  A  lazy,  greedy 
fellow;  slothful  glutton  (1540). 

Belly-guts.  1.  In  Pennsylvania, 
molasses  candy.  2.  Belly  -  bumper 
(q.v.). 

Belly-hedges  (Shrewsbury  School). 
In  school  steeplechases,  obstructions 
of  such  a  height  that  they  can  easily 
be  cleared — i.e.  about  belly-high. 

Belly-metal.     Food. 

Belly-mountained.  Prominent  in 
the  belly,  footy-gutted  (q.v.). 

Belly- paunch.  A  glutton,  a  great 
feeder. 

Belly- piece.  1.  An  apron:  cf.  Belly- 
cheat  (1689).  2.  A  mistress,  concubine 
(1630). 

Belly-pinched.     Hungry. 

Belly  Plea.  A  plea  of  pregnancy  : 
urged  by  female  felons  capitally  con- 
victed. The  plea  still  holds  good, 
execution  of  female  convicts  in  an 
interesting  condition  being  deferred 


until  after  accouchement :  in  practice, 
it  really  means  a  commutation  of  the 
death  penalty  for  life  imprisonment. 

Belly- plum  per.    See  Belly-bumper. 

Belly-sacrifice.  A  gluttonous  feast. 

Belly- slave.     A  glutton. 

Belly-swain.     A  glutton. 

Belly-timber.  Food,  provisions  of 
all  kinds :  like  many  other  words  of  its 
class  (e.g.  Back-timber,  q.v.),  once 
in  serious  use,  but  now  a  thorough- 
going vulgarism,  only  surviving  dia- 
lectically,  and  as  slang  :  Massinger  and 
the  older  dramatists  employed  it 
seriously,  toward  the  end  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  it  began  to  be  used  in 
a  ludicrous  and  vulgar  sense. 

Belly-up.     Enceinte. 

Belly- vengeance.  Sour  beer:  as 
apt  to  cause  gastralgia :  Fr.,  pissin  de 
cheval. 

Belongings.  1.  Qualities,  endow- 
ments, faculties.  2.  Relations,  one's 
kindred.  3.  One's  effects,  possessions. 
4.  Trousers. 

Belswagger,subs.(old).  l.Alewdster, 
pimp  (1775).  2.  A  bully,  hector  (1592). 

Belt.  To  strike  below  the  belt,  to  act 
unfairly  ;  to  take  mean  advantage,  to 
stab  a  man  in  the  back. 

Bel  tinker.  A  beating,  drubbing.  As 
verb,  to  thrash,  beat  soundly. 

Bemused.  Fuddled,  in  the  stupid 
stage  of  drunkenness  :  see  Screwed  : 
usually  bemused  with  beer  (Pope). 

Ben.  1.  A  benefit,  performance  of 
which  the  receipts,  after  paying  ex- 
penses, are  devoted  to  one  person's 
special  use  or  benefit.  2.  A  fool :  see 
Buffle  (Orose).  3.  A  shortened  form  of 
Benjamin  (q.v.),  a  coat ;  also  of  Benjy 
(q.v.),  a  waistcoat.  To  stand  ben,  to 
stand  treat. 

Benar.     See  Bene. 

Benbouse.    Good  beer  (1567). 

Bench-babbler  (or  whistler).  A 
loafer,  one  who  sits  idly  on  a  bench : 
a  generic  reproach. 

Bencher.  A  frequenter  of  taverns, 
one  who  hulks  about  public  houses. 

Ben  Cull  (or  Cove).  A  friend, 
Pall  (q.v.),  companion. 

Bend.  To  tipple,  drink  hard  (Jamie- 
son)  (1758).  Above  one's  bend,  above 
one's  ability  (power  or  capacity),  out 
of  one's  reach,  above  one  s  hook :  in 
U.S. A.  above  my  huckleberry  (q.v.). 
Grecian  bend,  a  craze  amongst  women 
which  had  a  vogue  from  about  1872  to 
1880:  it  consisted  in  walking  with 


Bender. 


Bet. 


the  body  bent  forward.  On  the  bend, 
in  an  underhand,  oblique,  or  crooked 
way — not  on  the  square.  Bend  over 
(Winchester  College),  a  direction  to 
put  oneself  into  position  to  receive  a 
spanking :  this  is  done  by  bending 
over  so  that  the  tips  of  the  fingers  ex- 
tend towards  the  toes,  thus  presenting 
a  surface  as  tight  as  a  drum  for  castiga- 
tion. 

Bender.  1.  A  sixpence  :  see  Rhino 
(1789).  2.  A  hard  and  persistent 
drinker,  a  tippler  (1728).  3.  In  public 
school  phraseology  a  stroke  of  the 
cane  administered  by  the  master  while 
the  culprit  bends  down  his  back.  4. 
The  arm.  5.  A  drinking  bout,  spree.  6. 
The  leg.  7.  The  bow-shaped  segment 
of  a  paper  kite.  Over  the  bender,  a 
variant  of  Over  the  left  shoulder. 
As  intj.,  an  exclamation  of  incredulity, 
also  used  as  a  kind  of  saving  clause  to 
a  promise  which  the  speaker  does  not 
intend  to  carry  into  effect. 

Bendigo.  A  rough  fur  cap  :  named 
after  a  notorious  pugilist. 

Bene,  Ben.  Good  :  this  belongs  to 
the  most  ancient  English  cant,  and  is 
probably  a  corruption  from  the  Latin  : 
benar  and  benat  appear  to  have  been 
used  as  comparatives  of  bene  (1567). 
Stowe  your  bene,  hold  your  tongue. 

Bene-bouze.     See  Benbouse. 

Bene-cove.     See  Ben-cull. 

Bene  Darkmans  !  Good-night ! 
French  thieves  say  sorgabon,  an  in- 
version of  bonne  sorgue. 

Benedick.  A  newly-married  man  ; 
especially  one  who  has  long  been  a 
bachelor.  Apparently,  however,  there 
is  some  confusion  in  the  usage,  for  it 
also  signifies  a  bachelor. 

Bene  Feakers.  Counterfeiters  of 
bills  (Grose). 

Bene  Feakers  of  Gybes.  Counter- 
feiters of  passes  (Grose). 

Bene  (or  Bien)  Mort.  A  fine  woman, 
pretty  girl,  hostess  (1567). 

Beneship.     See  Benship  (1567). 

Beneshiply.    Worshipfully. 

Ben-flake.    A  steak. 

Bengal  Tigers.  The  Seventeenth 
Foot,  now  the  Leicestershire  regiment : 
from  its  badge  of  a  royal  tiger  granted 
for  services  in  India  from  1804-1823  : 
also  called  The  Lily- Whites  from  its 
facings. 

Bengi.    An  onion. 

Benish.     Foolish. 

Benjamin  (Winchester  College).    1. 


A  small  ruler.  2.  (thieves')  A  coat : 
said  to  have  been  derived  from  a  well- 
known  London  advertising  tailor  of 
the  same  name.  Upper  Benjamin,  a 
greatcoat  (1815). 

Ben  Joltram.  Brown  bread  and 
skimmed  milk ;  a  Norfolk  term  for  a 
ploughboy's  breakfast  (Hotten). 

Benjy.  1.  A  low  crowned  straw  hat 
having  a  very  broad  brim.  2.  A 
waistcoat:  also  Ben  (q.v.). 

Bens.    Tools. 

Benship  (or  Beenship).  Worship, 
goodness  :  this  word,  evidently  from 
Beneship  (q.v.),  is  given  by  Bailey 
(1728),  and  by  Coles  (1724),  As  adj., 
very  good  (1567). 

Beong.  A  shilling :  see  Rhino : 
from  Italian  bianco,  white ;  also  the 
name  of  a  silver  coin. 

Beray.  To  defile,  befoul,  abuse :  old 
cant. 

Berkeleys.     A  woman's  breasts. 

Bermudas.  A  district  in  London, 
similar  to  Alsatia  in  Whitefriars  (q.v.), 
and  the  Mint  in  Southwark,  privileged 
against  arrests.  The  Bermudas  are 
thought  to  have  been  certain  narrow 
and  obscure  alleys  and  passages  north 
of  the  Strand,  near  Covent  Garden,  and 
contiguous  to  Drury  Lane. 

Berthas.  London,  Brighton,  and 
South  Coast  Railway  shares. 

Berwicks.  The  ordinary  stock  of  the 
North  Eastern  Railway. 

Besom.    A  low  woman. 

Besom-head.  A  blockhead,  fool: 
see  Buffle.  Whence  besom-headed. 

Besognio.  1.  A  raw  soldier.  2.  A 
needy  beggar.  3.  A  worthless  fellow. 

Bespeak-nigh  t.     A  benefit. 

Bess.     See  Betty. 

Bess-o'- Bedlam.  A  lunatic  vagrant. 

Best  To  best  one.  To  obtain  an 
advantage,  secure  a  superior  position 
in  a  contest  or  bargain,  to  worst,  but 
not  necessarily  to  cheat.  To  best  the 
pistol,  to  get  away  before  the  signal  for 
starting  is  actually  given.  To  give  one 
best,to  leave  one,  sever  companionship. 

Bester.  A  cheat,  swindler :  generally 
applied  to  a  turf  or  gaming  blackleg. 

Bet.  1.  To  bet  one's  eyes,  to  onlook, 
but  to  take  no  part  in,  nor  bet  upon 
the  game.  You  bet !  Be  assured,  cer- 
tainly. 2.  To  bet  round,  to  lay  fairly  and 
equally  against  nearly  all  the  horses  in 
a  race,  so  that  no  great  risk  can  be  run : 
commonly  called  getting  round  (Hot- 
ten). 


Bethel. 


Biddy. 


Bethel.  In  the  year  1680  Bethel 
and  Cornish  were  chosen  sheriffs.  The 
former  used  to  walk  about  more  like  a 
corn-cutter  than  Sheriff  of  London. 
He  kept  no  house,  but  lived  upon 
chops,  whence  it  is  proverbial  for  not 
feasting  to  bethel  the  city  (North). 
Little  Bethel,  a  place  of  worship  other 
than  those  of  the  established  church  : 
in  contempt. 

Be  there.     See  There. 

Better.  More  :  there  is  no  idea  of 
superiority :  a  depraved  word,  once 
in  good  usage,  but  now  regarded  as  a 
vulgarism  (1587).  Better  half,  a  wife  : 
originally  my  better  half,  i.e.  the  more 
than  half  of  my  being ;  said  of  a  very 
close  and  intimate  friend :  formerly  also 
applied  to  the  soul,  as  the  better  part 
of  man  (Murray)  (1580). 

Be  t  tor  Roun  d.  One  who  is  addicted 
to  betting  round  :  see  Bet. 

Betty.  1.  A  man  who  occupies  him- 
self with  household  matters :  in  con- 
tempt. 2.  A  small  instrument  used 
by  burglars  to  force  open  doors  and 
pick  locks :  also  Bess,  now  called  a 
Jenny  (1671).  3.  A  Florence  flask: 
as  used  for  olive  oil.  As  verb  (collo- 
quial), to  potter  about,  fuss  about. 
All  betty  !  a  cry  of  warning,  it's  all  up, 
the  game  is  lost ! 

Betwattled.  Surprised,  confounded, 
out  of  one's  senses,  bewrayed  (Grose). 

Between.  Phrases:  Bet vxen thebeetle 
and  the  block,  in  parlous  state  ;  between 
the  cup  and  the  lip,  as  near  as  a  toucher 
(q.v.) ;  between  the  devil  and  the  Dead 
(or  deep  blue)  sea,  at  one's  last  resource, 
cornered  (q.v.) ;  between  the  bark  and 
the  wood  (or  tree),  see  Tree  ;  between  you 
and  me  and  the  bedpost ;  see  Bedpost. 

Beyer.  1.  Drink,  liquor.  2.  A 
potation,  drinking  bout,  a  time  for 
drinking.  3.  A  small  repast  between 
meals,  snack :  especially  a  snack 
between  mid-day  dinner  and  supper 
(1500).  Also  as  verb. 

Beverage  (or  Bevy).  A  tip,  vail : 
equivalent  to  the  FT.,  pourboire:  money 
for  drink,  demanded  (Grose)  of  any  one 
having  a  new  suit  of  clothes. 

Beware.  '  We  [strolling  actors]  call 
breakfast,  dinner,  tea,  supper,  all  of 
them,  numyare ;  and  all  beer, 
brandy,  water,  or  soup,  are  beware' 
(Mayhew). 

Beyond.  The  back  of  beyond,  an 
out-of-the-way  place,  ever  so  far  off 
(1816). 


B  Flat  A  bug :  cf.  F  sharps  :  see 
Norfolk  Howards. 

Bib.  To  nap  a  bib  (or  one'' a  bib),  to 
weep,  blubber,  snivel,  Best  bib 
and  tucker,  best-clothes. 

Bibables  (or  Bibibles).  Drink,  as 
distinguished  from  food :  a  coinage 
on  the  model  of  edibles,  eatables, 
drinkables,  etc. 

Bib-all-night  A  toper,  confirmed 
drunkard  :  see  Lushington  (1612). 

Bible.  A  hand-axe,  a  small  holy-* 
stone  (a  kind  of  sand-stone  used  in 
cleaning  decks),  so  called  from  seamen 
using  them  kneeling  (Smyth).  That's 
bible,  that's  the  truth,  that's  A  1. 

Bible-carrier.  A  running  stationer 
(q.v.)  who  sells  songs  without  singing 
them:  once  often  heard  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Seven  Dials. 

Bible-clerk  (Winchester  College).  A 
College  prefect  in  full  power,  appointed 
for  one  week.  He  keeps  order  in 
school,  reads  the  lessons  in  chapel, 
takes  round  rolls  (q.v.),  and  assists  at 
floggings.  He  is  absolved  from  going  up 
to  books  (q.v. )  during  his  term  of  office. 
The  prefect  of  hall  need  not  act  as 
Bible-clerk  unless  he  likes,  and  the 
prefect  of  School  may  choose  any 
week  he  pleases ;  the  rest  take  weeks 
in  rotation,  in  the  order  of  their 
Chambers  in  College :  see  Bibler  and 
Bibling. 

Bible-pounder  (sharp,  or  thumper). 
A  clergyman. 

Bibler  (Winchester  College). 
Now  called  Bibling  (q.v.).  BMer 
under  nail,  see  Bibling  under  nail. 

Bibling  (Winchester  College).  For- 
merly called  a  bibler.  A  flogging  of 
six  cuts  on  the  small  of  the  back,  ad- 
ministered by  the  head  or  second 
master.  So  called  because  the  person 
to  be  operated  upon  ordered  (q.v.)  hia 
name  to  the  Bible-clerk  (q.v.). 

Bibling-rod  (Winchester  College). 
The  instrument  with  which  a  bibling 
(q.v.)  was  administered.  It  consisted 
of  a  handle  with  four  apple  twigs  in 
the  end,  twisted  together.  It  is  re- 
presented on  Aut  Disce.  It  was 
invented  and  first  used  by  Warden 
Baker  in  1454.  It  is  not  used  now. 

Bibling  under  Nail  (Winchester 
College).  A  bibling  (q.v.)  administered 
for  very  heinous  offences  after  an 
offender  had  stood  under  nail  (q.v.). 

Biddy.  1.  A  chicken  :  sometimes 
chick-a-biddy.  2.  A  young  woman, 


42 


Bidet. 


Big  Wig. 


not  necessarily  Irish :  in  both  these 
senses  the  word  appears  in  Grose  (1785) 
Since  that  time  it  would  seem  to  have 
changed  somewhat  in  meaning  as 
follows.  3.  A  woman,  whether  young 
or  old.  4.  (Winchester  College).  See 
Bidet.  5.  (American).  A  servant 
girl — generally  Irish. 

Bidet  (or  Biddy)  (Winchester 
College).  A  bath. 

Bidstand.     A  highwayman  (1637). 

Bien.     See  Bene. 

Biff.  A  blow.  To  give  a  biff  in  the 
jaw,  to  smack  one's  face,  to  wipe  one 
in  the  chops. 

Biffin.  M y  biffin !  my  pal !  A 
biffin  is  properly  a  dried  apple,  cf. 
Pippin. 

Big.  To  talk  (or  look)  big,  to  assume 
a  pompous  style  or  manner  with  a 
view  to  impressing  others  with  a  sense 
of  one's  importance ;  to  talk  loudly, 
boastingly :  Fr.,  se  hancher  (1579). 
Big  as  all  outdoors,  an  expression  in- 
tended to  convey  an  idea  of  indefinite 
size,  hugeness,  enormous  capacity. 

Big- bellied.  Advanced  in  preg- 
nancy (1711). 

Big  Ben.  A  nickname  for  the  clock 
in  the  tower  of  the  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment at  Westminster  :  named  after  Sir 
Benjamin  Hall,  the  Commissioner  of 
Works,  under  whose  supervision  it 
was  constructed :  it  was  commenced 
in  1856,  and  finished  in  1857. 

Big  Bird.  To  get  (or  give)  the  big 
bird,  to  be  hissed  on  the  stage ;  or, 
conversely,  to  hiss. 

Big  Bug.  A  person  of  standing  (or 
consequence) :  a  common  mode  of 
allusion  to  persons  of  wealth  or  other 
claims  to  distinction :  variants  are 
Big-dog,  Big-toad,  Big- wig,  and  Great 
gun  (1854). 

Big  Country.     The  open  country. 

Big  Dog  of  the  lanyard.  A  conse- 
quential, pompous  individual;  one 
who  will  neither  allow  others  a  voice  in 
any  matter,  or  permit  dissent  from  his 
own  views. 

Big  Dog  with  the  Brass  Collar. 
The  chief  in  any  undertaking  or 
enterprise,  a  leader. 

Big  Drink.  1.  The  ocean:  more  par- 
ticularly applied  to  the  Atlantic  :  also 
called  the  Big  pond,  Herring  pond,  the 
Puddle  (q.v.).  2.  When  a  Western 
plainsman  talks  of  the  Big  drink  he  is 
always  understood  to  mean  the  Mis- 
sissippi river.  To  take  a  big  (or  long) 


drink,  to  partake  of  liquor  from  a  large 
glass. 

Big-endian.  Anybody  or  anything 
of  importance. 

Big  Figure.  To  go  the  big  figure,  a 
variant  of  to  go  the  whole  hog,  or 
to  go  the  whole  animal. 

Biggest.  A  superlative  often  used  in 
the  sense  of  the  best  or  the  finest. 

Biggest  Toad  in  the  Puddle.  One  of 
the  many  bold,  if  equivocal,  metaphors 
to  which  the  West  has  given  rise. 
The  biggest  toad  in  the  puddle  is  the 
recognised  leader  or  chief,  whether 
in  politics  or  in  connection  with  the 
rougher  avocations  of  pioneer  life. 

B  i  g  g  i  t  y.  Consequential,  giving 
oneself  airs  :  a  negro  term. 

Big  Gun.    A  person  of  consequence. 

Big-head.  To  have  a  big-head.  1.  To 
be  conceited,  bumptious  :  also  applied 
to  those  who  are  cocksure  of  every- 
thing, or  affected  in  manner.  2.  The 
after  effect  of  a  debauch.  To  get  the 
big-head,  to  get  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Big  House.  The  workhouse :  some- 
times called  the  Large  House. 

Big  Mouth.  Excessive  talkative- 
ness, loquacity. 

Big  Nuts  to  crack.  An  undertaking 
of  magnitude,  one  not  easy  to  perform. 

Big  One  (or  Big  "Un).  A  man  of 
note  or  importance. 

Big  People.  Persons  of  standing 
or  consequence. 

Big  Pond.  The  Atlantic  :  also  The 
big  drink  (q.v.). 

Big  Pot.     A  person  of  consequence. 

Big-side  (Rugby  School).  The  com- 
bination of  all  the  bigger  fellows  in 
the  school  in  one  and  the  same  game 
or  run ;  also  the  ground  specially 
used  for  the  game  so  denominated : 
also  used  at  other  public  schools. 
Whence  Big-side  run,  a  paper  chase, 
in  which  picked  representatives  of  all 
houses  take  part,  as  opposed  to  a 
house  run. 

Big  Take.  That  which  takes  the 
public  fancy,  a  great  success,  etc., — 
in  short,  anything  that  catches  on. 

Big  Talk.  Pompous  speech,  a 
pedantic  use  of  long  words. 

Big  Wig.  A  person  of  consequence, 
one  high  in  authority  or  rank :  used 
both  contemptuously  and  humor- 
ously (1703).  Big-wigged,  pompous, 
consequential.  Big-wiggery,  a  display 
of  consequence,  or  pomposity.  Big- 
wiggism,  pomposity. 


Big  Words. 


Big  Words.  Pompous  speech, 
crack  jaw  words. 

Bike.    Short  for  bicycle  :  cf.  Trike. 

Bilbo  (or  Bilboa).  (1)  A  sword: 
Bilbao  in  Spain  was  once  renowned  for 
well  •  tempered  blades.  Hence  (2)  a 
sword  personified,  especially  that  of  a 
bully.  Bilbo's  the  word,  Beware,  a  blow 
will  follow  the  word.  Bilbo-lord,  a 
bully.  Also  (3)  a  kind  of  stock — a  long 
iron  bar  with  sliding  shackles  for  the 
ankle,  and  a  lock  by  which  to  fasten  the 
bar  at  one  end  to  the  ground  (1567). 

Bile.     A  vulgarism  for  boil. 

Bilgewater.     Bad  beer. 

Bilk.  A  word,  formerly  in  general 
use,  to  which  a  certain  stigma  of  vul- 
garity is  now  attached.  Uncertain  in 
derivation — possibly  a  corrupted  form 
of  balk — it  was  first  employed  tech- 
nically at  cribbage  to  signify  the 
spoiling  of  an  adversary's  score  in  the 
crib.  Among  obsolete  or  depraved 
usages  may  be  mentioned.  1.  A  state- 
ment or  string  of  words  without  sense, 
truth,  or  meaning  (1663).  2.  A  hoax, 
imposition,  humbug  (1664).  3.  A 
swindler,  cheat :  this  is  the  most 
familiar  current  use  of  the  word  in  ita 
substantive  form,  and  is  applied 
mainly  to  persons  who  cheat  cabmen 
of  their  fares,  and  such  like :  also 
Bilker  (1790).  4.  A  person  who 
habitually  sponges  upon  another,  and 
who  never  by  any  chance  makes  a 
return  or  even  offers  to  do  so.  As 
adj.,  fallacious,  without  truth  or 
meaning  (1740).  As  verb,  to  cheat, 
defraud,  evade  one's  obligations, 
escape  from,  etc.  (1677).  To  bilk  the 
bluet,  to  evade  the  police.  To  bilk  the 
schoolmaster,  to  obtain  knowledge  or 
experience  without  paying  for  it  ( 1821 ). 

Bilker.  A  cheat,  swindler :  see  Bilk. 

Bilking.     Cheating,  swindling. 

BUI  (Eton  College).  1.  A  list  of  boys 
who  have  to  go  to  the  headmaster  at 
12  o'clock  ;  also  of  those  who  get  off 
Absence  (q.v.),  or  names-calling  :  e.g. 
an  eleven  playing  in  a  match  are  thus 
exempt.  2.  (Harrow  School).  Names- 
calling.  To  hang  up  a  bill,  to  pass  it 
through  one  or  more  of  its  stages,  and 
then  to  lay  it  aside  and  defer  ita 
further  consideration  for  a  more  or 
lees  indefinite  period.  To  rush  a  bill, 
to  expedite  the  passing  of  a  bill 
through  the  Senate  and  Congress. 
To  hold  with  bill  in  the  water,  to  keep 
in  suspense.  Long  (or  short)  bill,  a 


long  (or  short)  term  of  imprisonment. 
To  pay  a  bill  at  sight,  said  of  a  man  or 
woman  who  is  always  ready  for  action. 
To  bill  up,  to  be  confined  to  barracks. 

Bill  brighter  (Winchester  College). 
A  small  fagot  used  for  lighting  coal  fires 
in  Kitchen :  so  called  from  a  servant 
Bill  Bright,  who  was  living  in  1830. 

Billet.  A  situation,  berth.  To  get  a 
billet,  amongst  prisoners  to  obtain 
promotion  to  duties  which  carry  with 
them  certain  privileges. 

Billiard  Block.  One  who  puts  up 
with  disagreeables  for  the  sake  of 
pecuniary  or  other  advantages;  also, 
occasionally,  a  jackal  (q.v.),  a  tame 
cat  (q.v.). 

Billiard-slum.     False  pretences. 

Billingsgate.  Coarse  language,  scur- 
rilous abuse  :  from  the  evil  reputation 
which  the  market  of  the  same  name 
has  enjoyed  for  centuries.  In  the 
seventeenth  century  references  to  the 
violent  and  abusive  speech  of  those 
frequenting  the  place  were  very 
numerous  (1652).  In  French  an 
analogous  reference  is  made  to  the 
Place  Maubert,  also  long  noted  for 
its  noisy  market  To  Billingsgate  (or 
talk  Billingsgate),  to  scold,  talk  coarsely 
(or  violently),  slang  (q.v.)-  So 
also,  You're  no  better  than  a  Billings- 
gate fishfag,  i.e.  rude  and  ill-mannered. 
Billingsgatry,  scurrilous  language. 

Billingsgate  Pheasant.  A  red 
herring  (or  bloater),  a  two-eyed  steak. 

Bill  of  Sale.     Widow's  weeds. 

Billy.  1.  A  pocket  handkerchief 
(or  neckerchief) :  chiefly  of  silk :  the 
various  fancies  have  been  thus 
described  :  —  Belcher,  darkish  blue 
ground,  large  round  white  spots,  with 
a  spot  in  the  centre  of  darker  blue  than 
the  ground  :  this  was  adopted  by  Jem 
Belcher,  the  pugilist,  as  his  colours, 
and  soon  became  popular  amongst  the 
fancy ;  Bird's  -  eye  wipe,  a  hand- 
kerchief of  any  colour,  containing 
white  spots :  the  blue  bird's-eye  is 
similar  to  the  Belcher  except  in  the 
centre :  sometimes  a  bird's-eye  wipe 
has  a  white  ground  and  blue  spots ; 
Blood-red  fancy,  red  ;  Blue  Billy,  blue 
ground,  generally  with  white  figures  ; 
Cream  fancy,  any  pattern  on  a  white 
ground  ;  King's  man,  yellow  pattern 
on  a  green  ground  ;  Randal's  man, 
green,  with  white  spots  :  named  after 
the  favourite  colours  of  Jack  Randal, 
pugilist ;  Water's  man,  sky  coloured ; 


BUly  Barlow. 


Bird's-eye. 


Yellow  fancy,  yellow  with  white  spots  ; 
Yellow  man,  all  yellow.  2.  Stolen 
metal.  3.  A  weapon :  usually  com- 
posed of  a  piece  of  untanned  cowhide, 
as  hard  as  horn  itself,  some  six  inches 
in  length,  twisted  or  braided  into  a 
sort  of  handle,  and  covered  from  end 
to  end  with  woollen  cloth :  one  ex- 
tremity is  loaded  with  lead  ;  to  the 
other  is  firmly  attached  a  loop,  large 
enough  to  admit  a  man's  hand,  formed 
of  strong  linen  cord,  and  intended  to 
allow  the  billy  to  hang  loose  from  the 
wrist,  and  at  the  same  time  prevent 
it  being  lost  or  wrenched  from  the 
grasp  of  its  owner.  4.  A  policeman's 
staff,  truncheon.  6.  A  bushman'a 
tea-pot  or  saucepan.  6.  A  companion, 
comrade,  mate  (1505).  7.  A  fellow 
(1774).  8.  A  brother ;  hence  Billyhood, 
brotherhood  (1724). 

Billy  Barlow.  A  street  clown, 
mountebank  :  from  the  hero  of  a  slang 
song — Billy  was  a  real  person,  semi- 
idiotic,  and  though  in  dirt  and  rags, 
fancied  himself  a  swell  of  the  first 
water ;  occasionally  he  came  out  with 
real  witticisms  ;  he  was  a  well-known 
street  character  about  the  East-end 
of  London,  and  died  in  Whitechapel 
Workhouse  (1851). 

Billy  blinder.    Ahoodwinker. 

Billy-boy.  A  vessel  like  a  galliot, 
with  two  masts,  the  fore-mast  square- 
rigged  :  they  hail  mainly  from  Goole : 
also  called  Humber-keels. 

Billy -button.  1.  Mutton.  2.  A 
journeyman  tailor. 

Billy  Buzman.  A  thief  whose 
speciality  ia  silk  pocket-  and  necker- 
chiefs. 

Billy-cock.  A  round,  low-crowned 
hat — generally  of  soft  felt,  and  with  a 
broad  brim.  The  Billy-cock  of  the 
Antipodean  colonies  differs  from  the 
English  headgear  known  by  the  name 
in  being  made  of  hard  instead  of  soft 
felt,  and  in  having  a  turned-up  brim. 

Billy-fencer.  A  marine  store  dealer. 

Billy-goat.  A  tufted  beard ;  similar 
to  that  of  a  goat. 

Billy-hunting.  1.  Collecting  and 
buying  old  metal.  2.  Stealing  pocket- 
handkerchiefs. 

Billy  Noodle.  A  ladykiller,  con- 
ceited ass. 

Billy-roller.     A  long  stout  stick. 

Bim,  Bimshire.  A  Barbadian:  the 
island  of  Barbadoes  :  this  place  is  also 
jeeringly  called  Little  England. 


Bing.     See  Bynge  a  waste. 

Binge.     A  drinking  bout. 

Bingham's  Dandies.  The  17th 
Lancers. 

Bingo.  Brandy,  or  other  spirituous 
liquor :  thought  to  be  a  humorous 
formation  from  B.  for  brandy  (cf.  B. 
and  S.)  and  stingo  (Grose).  Hence, 
Bingo  boy,  a  tippler,  drunkard  ;  Bingo 
mort,  a  drunken  woman. 

Bingy.  Bad,  ropy  butter ;  nearly 
equivalent  to  vinnied  (q.v.):  in  the 
English  Dialect  Society's  Chester 
Glossary,  bingy  is  given  as  a  peculiar 
clouty  or  frowsty  taste  in  milk — the 
first  stage  of  turning  sour. 

Binnacle  Word.  A  fine  (or  affected) 
word,  which  sailors  jeeringly  offer  to 
chalk  up  upon  the  binnacle  (Grose). 

Birch  -  broom.  A  room.  Like  a 
birch-broom  in  a  fit,  said  of  a  rough 
towzly  head. 

Birchin  Lane.  To  send  one  to 
Birchin  Lane,  to  castigate,  flog :  cf. 
Strap  oil,  etc. 

Birch-oil.  A  thrashing :  cf.  Strap- 
oil,  Hazel- oil,  etc. 

Bird.  When  a  play  is  hissed  the 
actors  say  The  bird's  there  !  see  Goose. 
As  verb,  to  thieve,  steal,  look  for 
plunder :  used  by  Ben  Jonson.  A 
bird  of  one's  own  brain,  one's  own 
conception.  The  bird  in  the  bosom, 
one's  secret  pledge,  conscience.  Birds 
of  a  feather,  of  like  character.  Also 
proverbs  and  proverbial  sayings — 
Some  beat  the  bush  and  others  take 
the  bird ;  A  child's  bird  and  a 
knave's  wife  lead  a  sore  life ;  The 
bird  that  fouleth  its  own  nest  is  not 
honest,  A  bird  in  hand  is  worth  three 
in  the  wood  (or  bush) ;  An  old 
bird  is  not  caught  with  chaff ;  To 
kill  two  birds  with  one  stone ;  The 
early  bird  catches  the  worm. 

Bird-cage.  1.  A  bustle,  an  article 
of  feminine  attire,  used  for  extending 
the  skirts  of  the  dress :  at  one  time  con- 
structed of  such  a  size  and  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  be  not  altogether  unlike 
an  elongated  bird-cage :  among  Eng- 
lish synonyms  may  be  mentioned 
canary  cage,  backstaircase,  false  here- 
after, bishop.  2.  A  four-wheeled  cab. 
3.  The  paddock  at  the  Newmarket 
race-course  where  saddling  takes  place. 

Birdlime.  1.  Time.  2.  A  thief 
(1705). 

Bird's  -  eye  (Bird's  -  eye  Fogle, 
Bird's-eye  Wipe).  A  silk  handker- 


Bvrdsnye. 


chief  spotted  with  eye-like  markings : 
see  Billy  (1665). 

Birdsnye.  An  endearment :  cf. 
Pigsnye. 

Bird-witted.  Inconsiderate, 
thoughtless,  easily  imposed  on  (Grose) 
(1605). 

Birk.     A  crib  (q.v.),  i.e.  a  house. 

Birthday  Suit  Nudity,  buff 
(q.v.) :  FT.,  en  sauvage  (1771). 

Bishop.  1.  A  warm  drink :  wine, 
orange  (or  lemon),  peel,  and  sugar — 
but  variously  compounded  (1703).  2. 
A  bustle  (q.v.) :  a  pad  worn  on  the 
back  part  of  the  waist,  and  designed 
to  give  prominence  to  the  skirt :  see 
Bird-cage  (1848).  3.  A  chamber- 
pot, jerry,  Jordan,  it  (q.v.).  4.  (Win- 
chester College).  The  sapling  with 
which  a  fagot  is  bound  together.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  burn  marks  into  a  horse's 
teeth,  after  he  has  lost  them  by  age  ; 
or,  by  other  deceptive  arts  to  give  a 
good  appearance  to  a  bad  horse :  by 
bishopping,  a  horse  is  made  to  appear 
younger  than  he  is  :  the  expression  is 
derived  from  the  name  of  a  person  who 
initiated  the  practice ;  (2)  to  murder 
by  drowning :  now  obsolete :  like 
Burke  and  Boycott  from  the  name  of 
an  individual ;  a  man  named  Bishop 
drowned  a  boy  in  Bethnal  Green,. in 
1831,  to  sell  the  body  for  dissecting 
purposes. 

Bismarquer.  To  cheat,  play  foul  at 
cards  (or  billiards) :  the  policy  of  Prince 
Bismarck,  the  German  Chancellor,  in 
1865-66  roused  the  indignation  of 
Europe. 

Bit,  Bite,  Byte,  1.  Money: 
see  Rhino  (1532).  2.  A  coin  varying 
in  value  according  to  locality — usually, 
however,  to  the  silver  piece  of  the 
lowest  denomination.  Four  •  penny 
pieces  are  still  called  bits  in  English, 
though  more  popularly  known  as 
Joeys  (q.v.)  (1748).  3.  In  disparage- 
ment—otto  of  girls,  bits  of  children, 
bit  of  a  place,  bit  of  one's  mind,  candid 
(and  uncomplimentary)  criticism, 
opinion,  etc.  Bitwise,  little  by  little. 

Bitch,  subs.  (low).  1.  A  woman : 
not  now  in  literary  use,  though  for- 
merly so  (1400).  2.  A  man  :  it  has  long 
since  passed  out  of  decent  usage  (1500). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  yield  (or  give  up  an 
attempt)  through  fear  (Grose).  (2)  to 
spoil,  bungle.  To  stand  bitch,  to  make 
tea,  or  do-  the  honours  of  the  tea  table, 
or  to  perform  a  woman's  duty. 


Bitch  Booby.  A  country  girl 
(Grose). 

Bitch-daughter.  The  night- 
mare. 

Bitch-fou.  Very  drank,  beastly 
drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Bitch  Party.  A  party  composed  of 
women  :  originally  an  Oxford  term  for 
a  tea-party  :  cf.  Hen-party  (q.v.),  and 
Stag-party. 

Bite.  1.  Money :  generic  :  see  Bit 
and  Rhino.  2.  An  imposition,  piece 
of  humbug,  sell,  do :  cf.  Bilk,  Bam, 
Bargain,  and  Sell :  the  sense  runs 
through  all  stages,  from  jocular  hoax- 
ing to  downright  swindling ;  also  in 
the  sense  of  disappointment,  as  in  the 
old  proverb,  the  biter  bit  (1711).  3. 
A  sharper,  cheat,  trickster  (1742).  4. 
Applied  in  a  transferred  sense  to  any- 
body or  anything  suspected  of  being 
different  to  what  it  appears,  but  not 
necessarily  in  a  bad  sense.  5.  One 
who  drives  a  hard  bargain,  a  close 
fist  6.  A  Torkshireman.  7.  An 
irregular  white  spot  on  the  edge  or 
corner  of  a  printed  page,  caused  by 
the  frisket  not  being  sufficiently  cut 
out  (1677).  As  verb,  (1)  to  deceive, 
cheat,  swindle,  do,  or  take  in :  for- 
merly used  both  transitively  and  pas- 
sively ;  now  only  in  latter  (1699) ;  (2) 
to  strike  a  hard  bargain  ;  (3)  to  steal ; 
e.g.  to  bite  the  roger,  to  steal  a  port- 
manteau, to  bite  the  wiper,  to  pur- 
loin a  handkerchief.  As  intj.,  (1) 
formerly  an  equivalent  to  the  modern 
Sold!  Done!  etc.  (1704);  (2) 
(Charterhouse).  A  warning  Cave ! 
To  do  a  thing  when  the  maggot  bites,  to  do 
it  when  the  fancy  takes  one,  at  one's 
own  sweet  will.  To  bite  one's  hips,  to 
regret  a  word  or  action.  To  bite  one's 
name  in,  to  drink  heavily,  tipple,  drink 
greedily.  To  bite  on  the  bridle,  to  be 
pinched  in  circumstances,  reduced, 
in  difficulties.  Phrases  :  To  bite  upon 
the  bridle,  to  wait  impatiently,  like  a 
restless  horse  ;  To  bite  the  dust  (ground, 
sand),  etc.,  to  die ;  to  bite  the  tongue, 
to  repress  speech  ;  to  bite  the  thumb  at, 
(1)  'To  threaten  or  defie  by  putting 
the  thumbe  naile  into  the  mouth,  and 
with  a  ierke  (from  the  upper  teeth) 
make  it  to  knack '  (Cotgrave) ;  (2)  to 
insult ;  to  bite  one's  ear,  to  caress  fondly ; 
to  bite  the  ear,  to  borrow. 

Biter.  1.  A  practical  joker,  hoaxer, 
one  who  deceives,  a  cheat  and  trickster : 
the  term  now  only  survives  in  the 


46 


Bite-up. 


Black-birders. 


proverbial  expression,  the  biter  bit 
(1669).  2.  A  wanton. 

Bite-up.  An  unpleasant  altercation. 

Bit-faker  (or  Turner-out).  A  coiner 
of  bad  money. 

Bit- faking.  Manufacturing  base 
coin,  counterfeiting. 

Bi ting-up.  Grieving  over  a  loss  (or 
bereavement). 

Bit- maker.     A  counterfeiter. 

Bit-o'-bull.  Beef :  Fr.,  gobet  ;  for- 
merly, a  dainty  morsel. 

Bit  of  blood.  A  spirited  horse 
thoroughbred  (1819). 

Bit  of  cavalry.     A  horse  (1821). 

Bit  of  ebony.  A  negro  (or  negress), 
snowball  (q.v.). 

Bit  o  f  fat.  1.  An  unexpected 
advantage  in  a  transaction.  2.  See 
Fat. 

Bit  of  jam.     See  Jam. 

Bit  of  leaf.     Tobacco. 

Bit  of  muslin.  A  young  girl, 
a  woman  :  see  Petticoat. 

Bit  of  mutton.  A  woman, 
cf.  Laced  mutton. 

Bit  of  sticks.      A  corpse. 

Bitofstiff.  A  bank-note  (or 
other  paper  money),  the  equivalent  of 
money  when  not  in  specie,  i.e.  a 
draft  or  bill  of  exchange  (1854). 
Hence,  to  do  a  bit  of  stiff,  to  accept  a 
bill. 

Bit  of  stuff.  An  overdressed 
man,  man  with  full  confidence  in  his 
appearance  and  abilities  ;  also  a  young 
woman. 

Bitter.  A  glass  of  beer.  To  do  a 
bitter,  to  drink  a  glass  of  bitter : 
originally  (says  Hotten)  an  Oxford 
term  :  varied  by,  to  do  a  beer. 

Bittock.  A  distance  of  very  un- 
decided length :  if  a  North  country- 
man be  asked  the  distance  to  a  place, 
he  will  most  probably  reply,  a  mile 
and  a  bittock  :  the  latter  may  be  con- 
sidered any  distance  from  one  hundred 
yards  to  ten  miles  :  also  of  time. 

Biz.  Business,  employment,  occu- 
pation :  Good  biz,  profitable  busi- 
ness. 

B.  K.  S.  Barracks :  used  by  officers 
in  mufti,  who  do  not  wish  to  give  their 
address. 

Blab,  subs,  (vulgar).  1.  A  babbler : 
a  depraved  word,  once  in  common  use, 
but  rarely  employed  now,  except 
colloquially.  2.  Loose  talk,  chatter. 
Also  as  verb  and  in  various  com- 
pounds and  allied  forms,  such  as  blab- 


ber, blabbing,  blabbing  -  book,  etc. 
— a  taint  of  vulgarism  now  rests  upon 
them  all. 

Black.  1.  A  poacher  working  with 
a  blackened  face  (1722).  2.  A  mute 
(1619).  Phrases:  To  look  black,  to 
frown,  look  angrily ;  to  say  black  is 
any  one's  eye  (eyebrow,  nail,  etc.),  to 
find  fault,  lay  to  charge ;  black-babbling, 
malicious  talk. 

Black  Act.     Black  art  (q.v.). 

Blackamoor.  \.  A  negro,  any  dark- 
skinned  person ;  originally  not  in 
depreciation,  but  now  a  nickname 
(1547).  2.  A  devil,  demon,  evil  spirit 
(1663). 

Blackamoor's  Teeth.  Cowrie  shells 
— the  currency  of  some  savage  tribes 
(1700). 

Black-and-tan.  Porter  (or  stout) 
and  ale,  mixed  in  equal  quantities. 

Black-and-tan  country.  The 
Southern  States  of  North  America. 

Black  and  White.  The  black 
characters  of  print  or  writing  on  white 
paper.  Hence,  to  put  a  thing  down  in 
black  and  white,  to  preserve  it  in  writ- 
ing or  in  print :  black  on  white  is  a 
variant  (1596). 

Black -apronry.  The  clerical  and 
legal  professions  (1832). 

Black  -  art.  1.  Picking  of  locks, 
burglary  (1591).  2.  The  business  of 
an  undertaker. 

Black-ball.     See  Pill. 

Blackballing.  Stealing,  pilfering : 
a  sailor's  word  :  it  originated  amongst 
the  employees  of  the  old  Black  Ball 
line  of  steamers  between  New  York 
and  Liverpool — the  cruelty  and  scan- 
dalous conduct  of  officers  to  men,  and 
sailors  to  each  other,  were  so  proverb- 
ial, that  the  line  of  vessels  in  question 
became  known  all  over  the  world  for 
the  cruelty  of  its  officers,  and  the 
thieving  propensities  of  its  sailors. 

Blackbeetles.  The  lower  strata  of 
society  (1821). 

Blackberry  swagger.  A  hawker 
of  tapes,  boot-laces,  etc. 

Blackbird.  Formerly  a  captive 
on  board  a  slaver ;  now  generally 
understood  as  referring  to  a  Poly- 
nesian indentured  labourer,  who,  if 
not  by  name  a  slave,  is  often  one  to  all 
intents  and  purposes.  As  verb,  to  cap- 
ture negroes  or  Polynesians,  to  kidnap. 

B 1  a  c  k  -  bir  der s.  Kidnappers  for 
labour  purposes  on  the  islands  of  the 
Pacific. 

47 


Black-book. 


Blackleg. 


Black- book.  To  be  in  the  black  books, 
to  be  in  disgrace,  have  incurred  dis- 
pleasure, to  be  out  of  favour. 

Black  box.     A  lawyer  (Grow}. 

Black- boy.     See  Blackcoat 

Black  Bracelets.  Handcuffs :  see 
Darbies  (1839). 

Black-cattle.  1.  Clergymen,  par- 
sons. 2.  lace,  active  citizens  (q.v.), 
chates  (q.v.). 

Black-cattle  Show.  A  gathering  of 
clergymen. 

Black-coat     A  parson  (1627). 

Black-country.  Parts  of  Stafford- 
shire and  Warwickshire  blackened  by 
the  coal  and  iron  industries  (1834). 

Black-cuffs.  The  Fifty-eighth  Foot: 
now  the  second  battalion  of  the  North- 
amptonshire Regiment ;  from  the 
regimental  facings,  which  have  been 
black  since  1767  :  also  nicknamed  the 
steel  backs  (q.v.). 

Black  Diamonds.  1.  Coals  (1849). 
2.  A  rough  (but  clever  or  good)  person  : 
this  has  given  place  to  rough  diamond 
(q.v.). 

Black  Dog.  1.  Applied,  circa  1702- 
30,  to  a  counterfeit  shilling  and  other 
base  silver  coinage.  2.  Delirium 
tremens,  the  horrors,  jim  jams : 
black  dog  is  frequently  used  for  de- 
pression of  spirits,  and  melancholy: 
when  a  child  is  sulky,  it  is  said,  the 
black  dog  is  on  his  back :  among 
the  ancients  a  black  dog  and  its  pups 
were  considered  an  evU  omen.  To 
Hush  like  a  black  dog,  not  to  blush 
at  all,  to  be  shameless  (1634). 

Black  Doll.     See  Dolly  shop. 

Black-eye.  To  give  a  bottle  a 
black  eye,  to  empty  it 

Black -eyed  Susan.  Texan  for  a 
revolver :  among  other  slang  equiva- 
lents for  this  weapon  current  in  the 
Lone  Star  State  may  be  mentioned, 
Meat  in  the  pot,  Blue  lightning,  The 
peace-maker,  Mr.  Speaker,  One-eyed 
scribe,  Pill  box,  and  My  unconverted 
friend. 

Black-fellow.  An  Australian 
aboriginal  (1831). 

Black- fly.  A  clergyman:  see 
Devil-dodger  (1811). 

Black- foot  A  go-between, 
match-maker  (1814). 

Blackfriars.    Look  out !     Beware  ! 

Black  Friday.  1.  The  day  on  which 
Overend,  Gurney,  &  Co.  suspended 
pay mentr— 10th  May  1886:  cf.  Blue 
Monday  (1750).  2.  The  Monday  on 


which  the  death  penalty  is  carried 
out ;  these  events  are  (or  were)  gener- 
ally arranged  to  fall  on  the  day  in 
question. 

Black-gown.  A  collegian,  learned 
man  (17 10). 

Blackguard,  subs,  (common).  A 
man  coarse  in  speech,  and  offensive  in 
manner,  scamp,  scoundrel,  disreput- 
able fellow  :  the  term,  as  now  used,  is 
one  of  opprobrium,  and  although  a 
good  deal  of  uncertainty  hangs  about 
its  history  and  derivation,  it  seems 
pretty  clear  that  a  certain  amount  of 
odium  has  always  been  attached  to 
the  word  (1532).  As  adj.,  of  or  per- 
taining to  a  blackguard,  to  the  scum 
or  refuse  of  society,  vile,  vicious  ( 1 760). 
As  verb,  to  act  like  a  rufnan,use  filthy 
(or  scurrilous)  language,  play  the 
vagabond  (or  scoundrel). 

Black  Hole.  1.  Cheltenham,  from 
the  number  of  retired  Anglo-Indians 
who  live  there  :  cf.  Asia  Minor.  2.  A 
barrack  punishment-cell  (or  lock-up), 
guard-room :  the  official  designation 
till  1868. 

Black  Horse.  The  Seventh  Dra- 
goon Guards  :  so  called  from  the  regi- 
mental facings,  black  on  scarlet : 
occasionally  The  Blacks.  During  the 
reign  of  George  II.,  the  corps  was 
known  as  The  Virgin  Mary's  Guard, 
and  is  often  called  Strawboots  (q.v.). 

Black  House.  A  place  of  business 
where  hours  are  long,  and  wages  at 
starvation  rates  ;  a  sweating  house. 

Black-humour.     Melancholy. 

Black  Indies.  Newcastle-on-Tyne : 
from  its  trade,  coal :  the  term  is  now 
obsolete,  but  it  was  in  common  use 
at  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

Black  Jack.  1.  A  leathern  jug  for 
beer,  usually  holding  two  gallons 
(1591).  2.  A  black  leather  jerkin 
(1512). 

Black  job.     A  funeral. 

Blackleg.  1.  A  turf  swindler, 
rook,  welcher  ;  also  one  who  cheats  at 
cards  or  billiards :  origin  unknown : 
although  many  speculations  have  been 
hazarded,  none  are  satisfactory  (1771). 

2.  A  workman  who,  when  his  fellows 
are  on  strike,  is  willing  to  go  on  working. 

3.  Also  any  one  failing  or  refusing  to 
join  his  fellows  in  combination  for  a 
given  purpose.     As  verb,  to  boycott, 
to  make  things  so  uncomfortable  for  a 
man  that  he  is  compelled  to  leave  hi* 


48 


Black-leggism. 


Blanket. 


work  or  the  town.  To  blackleg  it, 
amongst  trades'  union  men  to  return 
to  work  before  the  causes  of  a  strike 
have  been  removed  (or  settled)  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  leaders. 

Black-leggism,  Black-legger7. 
Cheating,  swindling,  the  arts  and 
practices  of  a  blackleg  (q.v.)  (1832). 

Black-letter  Day.  An  inauspicious 
day  :  cf.  Red-letter  day. 

Black  Literature.  That  printed  in 
black  letter  (1797). 

Blackmail  (or  rent).  An  illegal 
tribute  (1533). 

Black  -  man  (Black  Gentleman). 
The  devil  (1606). 

Blackmans.     See  Darkmans. 

Black  Maria.  A  prison  van  or 
omnibus  :  used  for  the  conveyance  of 
prisoners :  the  origin  of  the  phrase  is 
unknown.  A  variant  is  Sable  Maria. 

Black  Monday.  A  schoolboys' 
term  for  the  Monday  on  which,  after 
holidays,  school  re-opens. 

Black  Mouth.  A  foul-mouthed 
person,  a  slanderer.  Hence  black- 
mouthed,  calumnious. 

Black  -  mummer.  One  unwashed 
and  unshorn. 

Black-neb.  A  person  of  democratic 
sympathies  at  the  time  of  the  French 
Revolution. 

Black -nob.  A  non-unionist,  one 
who  (while  his  fellows  are  on  strike) 
persists  in  working  at  his  trade,  a 
blackleg  (q.v.). 

Black  Ointment.    Uncooked  meat. 

Black- pot.  A  toper,  tippler,  Lush- 
ington  (q.v.)  (1594). 

Black  Psalm.  To  sing  the  black 
psalm,  to  cry ;  a  saying  used  to  children 
(Grose). 

Blacks.     See  Black  horse. 

Black  Sal  (or  Suke).     A  kettle. 

Black  Sanctus.  A  burlesque  hymn 
or  anthem,  rough  music. 

Black  Saturday.  A  Saturday  on 
which  an  artisan  or  mechanic  has  no 
money  to  take,  having  anticipated  it 
by  advances. 

Black  Sheep.  A  scapegrace,  bad 
lot ;  mauvais  sujet :  also  applied  like 
blackleg  and  black-nob  to  workmen 
who  persist  in  working  when  their 
comrades  are  on  strike.  As  verb  (Win- 
chester College) :  when  a  fellow  in 
Junior  Part  got  above  (or  jockeyed) 
a  fellow  in  Middle  Part. 

Blacksmith's  Daughter.  A  key: 
formerly  the  key  with  which  the  doors 


of  sponging  houses  were  unlocked : 
also  Locksmith's  daughter. 

Black-snake.     A  long  whip-lash. 

Black-  spice  Racket.  Robbing 
chimney  sweepers  of  their  tools,  bag, 
and  soot  (Lexicon  Ealatronicum). 

Black  Spy.     The  devil :  Fr.,  dache. 

Black-strap.  1.  Thick,  sweet  port. 
2.  Properly  speaking,  gin  mixed  with 
molasses,  but  frequently  applied  to 
a  compound  of  any  alcoholic  liquor 
with  molasses :  beverages  of  this 
description  were  at  one  time  the 
commonest  of  drinks  among  agricul- 
tural labourers.  3.  A  task  of  labour 
imposed  on  soldiers  at  Gibraltar  as  a 
punishment  for  small  offences  (Grose). 

Black-teapot.     A  negro  footman. 

Black  Watch  (The).  The  42nd 
Foot ;  now  the  Royal  Highlanders : 
from  the  colour  of  the  dress. 

Blackwork.  Undertaking :  waiters 
at  public  dinners  are  often  employed 
during  the  day  as  mutes. 

Blacky.    A  negro  :  cf.  Darky. 

Bladder.  A  pretentious  person, 
windbag  (q.v.). 

Bladderdash.  Nonsense,  bunkum 
(q.v.),  spoof  (q.v.):  a  portmanteau 
word — bladder  balderdash. 

Bladder  of  Lard.  A  bald-headed 
person. 

Bladderskate.     See  Bletherskate. 

Blade.  A  roysterer,  gallant, 
sharp,  keen,  free-and-easy  man,  good 
fellow  (1595). 

Blamed.  Used  to  emphasize  a 
statement :  it  partakes  of  the  nature 
of  an  oath,  being  often  used  instead 
of  doomed  or  damned :  in  America 
the  expression  is  more  of  a  collo- 
quialism than  it  is  in  England  (1835). 
Hence,  Blame  it  I  a  round  -  about 
oath. 

Blamenation !     Damnation ! 

Blandiloquence.  Smooth,  flattering 
speech,  carneying  (q.v.).  Hence 
Blandiloquous,  smooth-speaking,  flat- 
tering (1615). 

Blank  (Blanked,  Blankety). 
Euphemistic  oaths :  clearly  an  out- 
come of  the  practice  of  representing 
an  oath,  for  decency's  sake,  in  printing, 
by  a  dash  or  blank  space  ;  e.g.  d a. 

Blank  -  charter.  Liberty  to  do 
as  one  likes. 

Blank  cheque.     Unlimited  credit. 

Blanket.  Lawful  blanket ;  a  wife  : 
see  Dutch.  Wet-blanket,  any  thing  or 
person  that  discourages,  a  damper 


49 


Blanket  Fair. 


Bless. 


(q.v.)  (1830).  Born  on  the  wrong  side 
of  the  blanket,  illegitimate  (1771). 

Blanket  Fair.  Bed:  cf.  Bedford- 
shire, Sheet  Alley,  and  Land  of  Nod. 

Blanket-love.  Illicit  amours  (1649). 

Blarmed.  A  euphemism  for 
blessed  (q.v.) ;  damned ;  bio  wed 
(q.v.) ;  or  blamed  (q.v.),  of  the  last  of 
which  it  is  probably  a  corruption. 

Blarm  me  1     A  euphemistic  oath. 

Blarney.  Blandishment,  soft 
speech,  or  sawder,  gross  flattery, 
gammon.  [From  Castle  Blarney  in 
Ireland,  in  the  wall  of  which,  difficult  of 
access,  is  placed  a  stone.  Whoever  is 
able  to  kiss  this  is  said  thereafter  to  be 
able  to  persuade  to  anything  (Grose).] 
As  verb,  (1)  to  wheedle,  coax,  flatter 
grossly ;  (2)  to  pick  locks  (American 
thieves). 

Blasted.  Execrable,  confounded  : 
Grose  has  bloated  fellow  for  an  aban- 
doned rogue  (1682). 

Blatantation.  Noisy  effusion, 
swagger. 

Blater.  A  calf :  probably  a  cor- 
ruption of  bleater  (1714). 

Blather.  Noisy  talk,  voluble  non- 
sense :  cf.  Blether.  As  verb,  to  talk 
volubly,  noisily,  nonsensically. 

Blatherskite.  1.  Boastful  dis- 
putatious swagger :  cf.  Bletherskite. 
2.  A  swaggerer,  boaster,  one  who  talks 
volubly  and  nonsensically. 

Blayney's  Bloodhounds.  The 
Eighty-ninth  Foot,  now  the  second 
battalion  of  the  Royal  Irish  Fusiliers  : 
they  obtained  this  nickname  during  the 
Irish  Rebellion  in  1798. 

Blaze.  Blaze-away  !  Look  sharp  ; 
stir  your  stumps  —  an  injunction  to 
renewed  and  more  effective  effort. 

Blazer.  Originally  applied  to  the 
uniform  of  the  Lady  Margaret  Boat 
Club  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge, 
which  was  of  a  bright  red  and  was 
called  a  blazer :  now  applied  to  any 
light  jacket  of  bright  colour  worn  at 
cricket  or  other  sports.  Prof.  Skeat 
[N.  and  Q.,  7  S.,  iii.  436]  speaking  of 
the  Johnian  blazer,  says  it  was  always 
of  the  most  brilliant  scarlet,  and  thinks 
it  not  improbable  that  the  fact  sug- 
gested the  name  which  subsequently 
became  general. 

Blazes.  1.  The  infernal  regions. 
As  a  verb,  to  blaze  is  employed  in  a 
manner  closely  bordering  on  slang : 
thus  one  says  of  an  action  that  it  is  a 
blazing  shame  ;  that  he  has  a  blazing 


headache  ;  that  so-and-so  is  a  blazing 
thief ;  that  such  a  job  is  blazing  hard 
work  ;  that  it  is  a  blazing  hot  day.  2. 
The  brilliant  habiliments  of  flunkeys  : 
from  the  episode  of  Sam  Weller  and 
the  swarry.  Old  blazes,  the  deviL 
Go  to  blazes  !  Go  to  the  devil ;  go  to 
hell  —  used  in  imprecations  (1851). 
Like  blazes,  vehemently,  with  extreme 
ardour.  How  (Who,  or  What)  the 
blazes.  How  (What  or  Who)  the 
Dickens.  Drunk  as  blazes  (or  blaizers), 
very  drunk,  beastly  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Bleach  (Harvard  University). 
To  absent  oneself  from  morning 
prayers. 

Bleached  Mort  A  fair  complex- 
ioned  wench  (Grose). 

Bleak.     Handsome. 

Bleater.  The  victim  of  a  sharper 
or  rook  (1609). 

Bleating  cheat     A  sheep  (1567). 

Bleating  Cull.     A  sheep  stealer. 

Bleating  Prig  (or  Rig).  Sheep  steal- 
ing- 
Bleed.  1.  To  be  victimised,  lose 
or  part  with  money  so  that  the  loss  is 
felt,  be  rushed  (q.v.),  have  money 
drawn  or  extorted  from  one  (1668). 
2.  To  plane  down  so  that  the  edge 
of  a  printed  book  is  cut  away.  3.  To 
let  water  out  (nautical).  To  bleed  the 
monkey,  to  steal  rum  from  the  mess 
tub  called  the  monkey :  the  term 
is  exclusively  naval,  monkeys  not 
being  known  on  merchant  ships  :  also 
called  sucking  the  monkey  and  tapping 
the  admiral. 

Bleeder  (University).  1.  A 
duffer  beyond  compare,  a  superlative 
fool :  see  Buffle.  2.  A  sovereign  :  see 
Rhino.  3.  A  spur. 

Bleeding.  An  expletive :  cf.  (Shake- 
speare), bleeding  new. 

Bleeding  Cully.  One  who  parts 
easily  with  his  money,  or  bleeds  freely 
(Grose). 

Blanker.  To  plunder :  much  used 
during  the  Civil  War. 

Bless.  To  curse,  damn.  To  bless 
oneself,  to  be  surprised,  vexed,  mor- 
tified :  generally,  God  bless  me ! 
Bless  my  eyes !  Bless  my  soul ! 
Lor'  bless  me !  (1592).  Not  a 
penny  to  bless  oneself  with,  utterly  im- 
pecunious, without  a  sou  (1843). 
To  bless  one's  stars,  to  thank  oneself, 
attribute  one's  good  fortune  to  luck, 
generally  in  a  ludicrous  sense  (1845). 


50 


Blessed. 


Block. 


Blessed  (Blest).  An  ironical 
euphemism  ;  often  used  like  blazing 
for  cursed,  damned,  etc.,  or  as  a  vow 
(1806). 

Blessing.     A  curse  :  ironical. 

Blether  Blather.  Nonsense, 
vapid  talk,  voluble  chatter  (1787). 
Hence  Blethering,  volubly,  foolishly 
talkative  :  cf.  Bletherskate. 

Bletherskate,  Blatherskite.  1. 
Boastful  swagger:  in  talk  or  action. 
2.  A  boaster,  noisy  talker  :  in  Ireland, 
Bladder  •  skate,  and  Bladderum-skate 
(1650). 

Blew.  1.  To  inform,  peach,  expose, 
betray  :  see  Blow  upon.  2.  To  spend, 
waste  :  generally  of  money ;  when  a 
man  has  spent  or  lost  all  his  money,  he 
is  said  to  have  blewed  it. 

Blimey  1      Blind  me  ! 

Blind.  1.  A  means  or  place  of  con- 
cealment (1647).  2.  A  pretence,  shift, 
action  through  which  one's  real  pur- 
pose is  concealed,  that  which  obstructs, 
make  -  believe  (1663).  3.  A  para- 
graph [in  mark  is  so  called  ;  from  the 
eye  of  the  reversed  P  being  filled  up. 
As  adj.,  tipsy,  in  liquor  :  see  Screwed. 
Blind  as  a  brickbat,  very  blind — men- 
tally or  physically  (1849).  When  the 
devti  is  blind,  never :  Fr.,  le  trente  six 
du  mols,  and  quand  les  ponies  auront 
des  dents.  To  go  it  blind,  to  enter  upon 
an  undertaking  without  thought  as 
to  the  result,  or  inquiry  beforehand  : 
from  poker. 

Blind-drunk  (or  fou).  So  drunk  as 
to  be  unable  to  see  better  than  a  blind 
man :  see  Screv/ed :  Americans  say, 
So  drunk  as  not  to  be  able  to  see 
through  a  ladder. 

Blinder.  To  take  a  blinder,  to  die : 
see  Hop  the  Twig. 

Blind  Half  Hundred.  The  Fiftieth 
Regiment  of  Foot,  now  the  first  bat- 
talion Queen's  Own  (Royal  West  Kent 
Regiment) :  many  men  suffered  from 
ophthalmia  during  the  Egyptian  cam- 
paign [1801]. 

Blind  Harper.  A  beggar  coun- 
terfeiting blindness,  playing  on  a 
fiddle  (Grose). 

Blind-man's  Holiday.  Formerly, 
the  night  or  darkness  ;  now  usually 
applied  to  the  time  between  lights, 
when  it  is  too  dark  to  see,  but  often 
not  dark  enough  to  light  up,  and  a 
holiday  or  rest  from  work  is  taken 
(1599). 

Blind  Monkeys.  An  imaginary 


collection  at  the  Zoological  Gardens, 
which  are  supposed  to  receive  care  and 
attention  from  persons  fitted  by 
nature  for  such  office  and  for  little 
else.  An  idle  and  useless  person  is 
often  told  that  he  is  only  fit  to  lead 
blind  monkeys.  Another  form  is  for 
one  man  to  tell  another  that  he  knows 
of  a  suitable  situation  for  him.  How 
much  a  week  ?  and  what  to  do  ?  are 
natural  questions,  and  then  comes 
the  scathing  and  sarcastic  reply,  Five 
bob  a  week  at  the  doctor's — you're 
to  stand  behind  the  door  and  make 
the  patients  sick.  They  won't  want 
no  physic  when  they  sees  your  mug 
(Hotten). 

Blindo.  A  drunken  spree.  As  verb, 
to  die :  see  Hop  the  Twig. 

Blind  Side.  The  side  that  is 
weakest,  the  most  assailable  side 
(1606). 

Blind  Story.  A  story  without 
point. 

Blink.     To  drink  :  see  Lush. 

Blinker.  1.  The  eye  :  cf.  Winker, 
Peeper,  Optic,  etc.  (1816).  2.  In  pi. 
Spectacles,  barnacles  (1732).  3.  In 
Norfolk,  a  black  eye.  4.  A  hard  blow 
in  the  eye.  Blank  your  blinkers,  a 
euphemistic  oath. 

Blink  -  fencer.  A  vendor  of  spec- 
tacles. 

Blinko.  An  amateur  entertain- 
ment, a  free-and-easy  (q.v.);  a  sing- 
song (q.v.). 

Blister.  Euphemistic  for  damn: 
cf.  Blamed  (1840). 

Blizzard.  1.  A  poser,  stunning  blow, 
unanswerable  argument,  etc.,  etc. 
(1831).  2.  A  snow-gale,  furious  storm 
of  frost-wind  and  blinding  snow. 

Bloak.     See  Bloke. 

Bloat.  1.  A  drowned  body.  2. 
A  drunkard.  3.  A  contemptuous 
name  for  a  human  being. 

Bloated  Aristocrat.  A  man  swollen 
with  the  pride  of  rank  or  wealth  ;  also 
a  general  sobriquet  applied  by  the 
masses  to  the  classes.  Bloated 
has  long  been  employed  in  a  similar 
sense.  Swift  spoke  of  a  certain  states- 
man as  a  bloated  minister  (1731). 

Bloater.     See  My  bloater. 

Blob.  To  talk,  patter.  Blob- 
tale,  a  tell-tale,  tale-bearer  (1670). 

Block.  A  stupid  person,  hard 
unsympathetic  individual,  one  of 
mean,  unattractive  appearance  (1534) : 
see  Buffie.  Barber's  block  (1),  the 


51 


Slackers. 


Bloody. 


head  (1637);  (2)  s  fop.  A  chip  of  the 
tame  (or  old)  block,  a  man  or  thing 
exhibiting  the  same  qualities  as  he  or 
that  with  which  a  comparison  is  made 
(1627).  At  deaf  <u  a  block,  as  deaf  as 
may  be.  To  cut  a  block  with  a  razor,  in- 
consequent argument,  futile  endeavour, 
incongruous  application  of  means  (or 
ability)  to  the  end  in  view  (1774).  To 
block  a  hat,  to  crush  a  man's  hat  over 
the  eyes,  to  bonnet  (q.v.). 

Blockers.     See  Block  ornaments. 

Blockhead  (or  Block- pate).  A 
etupid  fellow,  woodenhead  ;  see 
Buffle. 

Block  House.  A  prison,  house 
of  detention  :  see  Cage  (1624). 

Block  Island  Turkey,  subs.  (Ameri- 
can). Salted  cod-fish.  Connecticut 
and  Rhode  Island.  Slang  delights  in 
naming  fish  as  flesh.  For  some  curious 
examples,  see  Two-eyed  Steak. 

Block  Ornament  (or  Blocker). 
1.  A  small  piece  of  meat  of  indifferent 
quality,  a  trimming  from  a  joint, 
etc. :  as  exposed  for  sale  on  the  blocks 
or  counters  of  butchers'  shops  in  cheap 
neighbourhoods,  opposed  to  meat 
hung  on  hooks  (1848).  2.  A  queer- 
looking  man  or  woman  —  one  odd  in 
appearance. 

Block- pate.     See  Blockhead. 

Bloke  (or  Bloak).  A  man,  fellow 
(1851). 

Blood.  1.  A  fop,  dandy,  buck,  or 
fast  man :  originally  in  common  use, 
but  now  obsolete :  from  that  legitimate 
sense  of  the  word  which  attributes  the 
seat  of  the  passions  and  emotions  to 
the  blood — hence,  a  man  of  spirit ;  one 
who  has  blood  worth  mention,  and,  in 
an  inferior  sense,  he  who  makes  him- 
self notorious,  whether  by  dress  or 
rowdyism  :  in  the  last  century,  especi- 
ally during  the  regency  of  George  IV., 
the  term  was  largely  in  vogue  to  denote 
a  young  man  of  good  birth  or  social 
standing  about  town ;  subsequently, 
it  came  to  mean  a  riotous,  disorderly 
fellow  (1562).  2.  Money:  generic: 
see  Rhino.  As  verb,  to  deplete  of 
money,  victimise :  a  figurative  usage 
of  to  bleed ;  i.e.  surgically,  to  let  or 
draw  blood  by  opening  a  vein. 

Blood  ana  Entrails.  The 
British  ensign  is  so  nicknamed  by 
Yankee  sailors  ;  English  salts  return 
the  compliment  by  jokingly  speaking 
of  the  American  flag  as  The  Gridiron 
and  Doughboys  (q.v.). 


Blood  and  Thunder.  A  beverage 
of  port  wine  and  brandy  mixed. 

Blood  and  Thunder  Tales. 
Low  class  fiction,  the  term  being 
generally  applied  to  works  dealing 
with  the  exploits  of  desperadoes  cut- 
throats, and  other  criminals :  also  called 
Awfuls,  Penny  dreadfuls,  Gutter 
literature,  Shilling  shockers. 

Blood-an'-'ouns.  An  abbreviated 
form  of  an  old  and  blasphemous  oath. 

Blood-curdler  (or  Blood-freezer). 
A  narration  or  incident  which  makes 
the  flesh  creep,  that  which  stirs  one's 
feelings  strongly  (and  generally  re- 
pulsively) :  said  of  a  sensational 
murder,  a  thrilling  ghost-story,  etc. 

Blood  for  Blood.  When 
tradesmen  exchange  wares,  setting 
the  cost  of  one  kind  off  against  another 
instead  of  making  payment  in  cur- 
rency, they  are  said  to  give  blood  for 
blood. 

Blood-Freezer.    See  Blood-curdler. 

Blood-red  Fancy.  A  particu- 
lar kind  of  handkerchief  sometimes 
worn  by  pugilists  and  frequenters  of 
prize  fights  :  see  Billy. 

Blood  Suckers.  The  Sixty-third 
Regiment  of  Foot,  now  the  first 
battalion  of  the  Manchester  Regi- 
ment. 2.  An  extortioner,  sponger 
(1668). 

Blood-tub.  A  rowdy,  blustering 
bully,  rough :  this  nickname  was 
peculiar  to  Baltimore  ;  the  Blood-tubs 
were  said  to  have  been  mostly  butchers, 
and  to  have  got  their  epithet  from 
having,  on  an  election  day,  dipped  an 
obnoxious  German's  head  in  a  tub  of 
warm  blood,  and  then  driven  him 
running  through  the  town. 

Bloody,  adj.  (low).— An  intensive 
difficult  to  define,  and  used  in  a  mul- 
titude of  vague  and  varying  senses,  but 
frequently  with  no  special  meaning, 
much  less  a  sanguinary  one  :  generally 
=  an  emphatic,  very  :  in  general  collo- 
quial use  from  1650-1750,  but  now 
vulgar  or  profane.  The  origin  is  not 
quite  certain  ;  but  there  is  good  reason 
to  think  that  it  was  at  first  a  refer- 
ence to  the  habits  of  the  bloods  or 
aristocratic  rowdies  of  the  end  of  the 
17th  and  beginning  of  the  18th  cent. 
The  phrase  bloody  drunk  was  ap- 
parently as  drunk  as  a  blood  (cf. 
as  drunk  as  a  lord) ;  thence  it  was 
extended  to  kindred  expressions,  and 
at  length  to  others  ;  probably  in  later 


62 


Bloody  Back. 


Slowed. 


times,  its  associations  with  bloodshed 
and  murder  (cf.  a  bloody  battle,  a 
bloody  butcher)  have  recommended 
it  to  the  rough  classes  as  a  word  that 
appeals  to  their  imagination.  Compare 
the  prevalent  craving  for  impress- 
ive or  graphic  intensives  as  seen  in  the 
use  of  jotty,  awfully,  terribly,  devil- 
ish, deuced,  damned,  ripping,  rattling, 
thumping,  stunning,  thundering,  etc. 

Bloody  Back.     A  soldier. 

Bloody  Chasm.  To  bridge 
the  bloody  chasm,  a  favourite  expres- 
sion with  orators  who,  during  the 
years  immediately  succeeding  the 
Civil  War,  sought  to  obliterate  the 
memory  of  the  struggle.  The  anti- 
thetical phrase  is  to  wave  the  bloody 
shirt  (q.v.). 

Bloody  Eleventh.  The  Eleventh 
Regiment  of  Foot,  now  the  Devon- 
shire Regiment :  at  the  battle  of  Sala- 
manca (fought  with  the  French)  the 
corps  was  nearly  cut  to  pieces,  whence 
its  sanguinary  sobriquet.  At  Fon- 
tenoy  and  Ostend  also,  it  was  hard- 
pressed  and  nearly  annihilated. 

Bloody  Jemmy.  An  uncooked 
sheep's  head. 

Bloody  Shirt.  To  wave  the 
bloody  shirt,  to  keep  alive  factious 
strife  on  party  questions.  Primarily 
it  was  the  symbol  of  those  who, 
during  the  Reconstruction  period  at 
the  close  of  the  rebellion  of  the  South- 
ern or  Confederate  States,  would  not 
suffer  the  Civil  War  to  sink  into  oblivion 
out  of  consideration  for  the  feelings  of 
the  vanquished. 

Bloomer.  A  mistake  :  said  to  be 
an  abbreviated  form  of  blooming 
error. 

Blooming  (often  Bloomin').  This 
word,  similar  in  type  to  blessed, 
blamed,  and  other  words  of  the  kind, 
is,  as  used  by  the  lower  classes,  a 
euphemism,  but  it  is  also  frequently 
employed  as  a  mere  meaningless  in- 
tensitive  (1726). 

Bloss.  Generic  for  a  woman — 
girl,  wife,  or  mistress :  Shakespeare, 
in  Titus  Andronicus  (1588,  iv.  ii.  72), 
employs  it  in  the  sense  of  one  lovely 
and  full  of  promise — Sweet  blowse 
you  are  a  beautious  blossome  sure ; 
Tennyson  (1847)  in  the  Princess  (v. 
79),  uses  the  expression,  My  babe, 
my  blossom,  ah,  my  child  ! 

Blossom-faced.  With  red  bloated 
face. 


Blossom-nose.  A  tippler,  Lushing- 
ton  (q.v.).  Blossom-nosed,  red  with 
tippling :  cf.  Grog-blossom,  Rum-bud. 

Blot.  To  blot  the  scrip,  to  put  an 
undertaking  into  writing  :  the  modern 
phrase  is,  to  put  it  in  black  and 
white.  Hence,  To  blot  the  scrip  and 
jark  it,  to  stand  engaged,  bound  for 
any  one  (Grose). 

Bloviate.  To  talk  aimlessly 
and  boastingly,  indulge  in  high 
falutin' :  said  to  have  been  in  use 
since  1850. 

Blow.  1.  A  shilling :  see  Rhino. 
2.  A  drunken  froh'c,  spree.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  boast,  brag,  gas,  fume,  storm 
— generally  to  talk  boastfully  or  self- 
assertingly  of  oneself  or  one's  affairs 
(1400) ;  (2)  to  inform,  expose,  betray, 
peach  (1575) ;  (3)  to  lie  ;  (4)  employed 
euphemistically  for  damn  —  gener- 
ally in  the  imperative — Blow  it  I 
hang  it  t  (5)  to  lose  or  spend  money : 
cf.  Blue ;  (6)  to  indulge  in  a  frolic  or 
spree ;  (7)  (Winchester  School),  to 
blush.  To  bite  the  blow,  to  steal 
goods,  prig.  To  blow  a  cloud,  to 
smoke.  To  blow  hot  and  cold,  to 
vacillate,  be  inconsistent ;  to  blow  the 
bellows,  to  stir  up  passion  ;  to  blow  off, 
to  relieve  one' s  feelings,  get  rid  of  super- 
fluous energy ;  to  blow  into  one's  ear, 
to  whisper  privily ;  to  blow  one's  own 
trumpet,  to  brag,  sound  one's  own 

E raises  ;  to  blow  the  coals  (or  the  fire),  to 
in  the  flame  of  discord,  promote 
strife ;  to  blow  up,  to  scold,  rate,  rail 
at ;  To  blow  great  guns,  to  blow  a 
hurricane  or  violent  gale  :  sometimes 
to  blow  great  guns  and  small  arms 
(1839).  To  blow  one's  bazoo,  to  boast, 
swagger,  gasconade.  To  blow  oneself 
out,  to  eat  heartily,  gorge :  hence, 
blow  out,  a  heavy  feed  (or  enter- 
tainment), a  tuck  in.  To  blow  the 
gab  (or  gaff),  to  reveal  (or  let  out)  a 
secret,  peach  (Grose).  To  blow  the 
grampus,  to  throw  cold  water  on  a 
man  who  has  fallen  asleep  when  on 
duty.  To  blow  together,  to  make  gar- 
ments in  a  slovenly  manner.  To  blow 
up  sky-high,  to  do  everything  with  un- 
usual energy.  To  blow  upon,  to  betray, 
tell  tales  of,  discredit,  defame. 

Blowboul  (orBloboll).  A 
tippler :  see  Lusbington. 

Blow-book.  A  book  containing 
indelicate  or '  smutty  '  pictures  (1708). 

Blowed.  To  be  blowed,  Slowed  is 
here  a  euphemism,  frequently  little 

53 


Blue. 


more  than  a  thinly-veiled  oath.  To 
be  cursed,  sent  about  one's  business. 

Blowen  (or  Blowing).  Origin- 
ally a  woman,  without  special  refer- 
ence to  moral  character,  now  a  showy 
courtesan  or  a  prostitute  (1688). 

Blower.  1.  A  girl :  contemptuous 
in  opposition  to  jomer  (q.v.)  (Grose). 

2.  A  good  talker,   boaster,  gas-bag. 

3.  A  pipe. 

Blowhard.  A  Western  term  of 
abuse  :  a  newcomer  may,  in  one  and 
the  same  breath,  be  called  a  blareted 
Britisher,  a  coyote,  and  a  blowhard. 

Blowse  (Blowsy,  Blouze,  Blowzy). 
1.  A  beggar's  trull,  a  wench.  2. 
A  slatternly  woman,  especially  one 
with  dishevelled  hair.  Thought  to  be 
of  canting  origin. 

Blowze.  1.  A  beggar's  trull,  beg- 
gar wench,  wench  (1573).  2.  A  fat, 
rod  -  faced  bloated  wench,  or  one 
whose  head  is  dressed  like  a  slattern 
(Bailey). 

Blubber.  1.  The  mouth:  see 
Potato-trap  (Grose).  2.  A  woman's 
breasts.  As  verb,  to  cry,  weep :  in 
contempt  (1400) :  also  Blab. 

Blubber  and  Guts.  Obesity;  a 
low  term. 

Blubber-belly.     A  fat  person. 

Blubber  Head.  A  foolish,  empty- 
headed  individual :  see  Buffle. 

Blucher  (ch.  hard)  (Winchester 
College).  1.  A  College  praefect  in  half 
power :  their  jurisdiction  does  not 
extend  beyond  Seventh  Chamber 
passage,  though  their  privileges  are 
the  same  as  those  of  other  prefects  . 
they  are  eight  in  number.  2.  A  non- 
privileged  cab  plying  at  railway 
stations :  railway  companies  recog- 
nise two  classes  of  cabs,  called  the  Pri- 
vileged ....  and  the  Bluchers,  non- 
privileged  cabs,  which  are  admitted  to 
stations  after  all  the  privileged  have 
been  hired,  named  after  the  Prussian 
Field  -  Marshal  who  arrived  on  the 
field  of  Waterloo  only  to  do  the  work 
that  chanced  to  be  undone. 

Bludgeoner.  A  bully,  pimp, 
ponce. 

Bludger.  A  thief,  who  does  not 
hesitate  to  use  violence ;  literally  one 
who  will  use  a  bludgeon. 

Bludget.  A  female  thief,  who 
decoys  her  victims  into  alley-ways, 
etc.,  to  rob  them. 

Blue.  1.  A  policeman  :  from  the 
colour  of  the  uniform ;  also  (collect- 


ively). Blues,  Men  in  Blue,  Blue-boys, 
Blue-bottles,  Blue-devils,  Royal  Regi- 
ment of  Foot-guards  Blue.  2.  Among 
licensed  victuallers  and  their  customers 
in  certain  districts  of  Wales  a  com- 
promise between  the  half -pint  and 
the  pint  pot ;  it  is  not  recognised  as  a 
legal  measure  by  the  authorities,  but 
the  Board  of  Trade  has  pointed  out 
to  the  local  authorities  that  there  is 
nothing  in  the  Weights  and  Measures 
Act  to  prevent  the  use  of  the  Blue  or  to 
make  its  possessor  liable  to  penalties, 
always  provided  of  course  that  the 
vessel  is  not  used  as  a  measure.  3.  A 
scholar  of  Christ's  Hospital :  a  blue- 
coat  boy  :  also  derived  from  the  colour 
of  the  clothes — a  blue  drugget  gown  or 
body  with  ample  skirts  to  it,  a  yellow 
vest  underneath  in  winter  time,  small 
clothes  of  Russia  duck,  worsted 
yellow  stockings,  a  leathern  girdle,  and 
a  little  black  worsted  cap,  usually 
carried  in  the  hand,  being  the  com- 
plete costume  ;  this  was  the  ordinary 
dress  of  children  in  humble  life  in 
Tudor  times.  4.  Short  for  blue- 
stocking (q.v.) ;  formerly  a  contempt- 
uous term  for  a  woman  having  (or 
affecting)  literary  tastes  (1788).  5. 
Female  learning  or  pedantry  (1824). 
6.  At  Oxford  and  Cambridge  a  man  is 
said  to  get  his  blue  when  selected  as  a 
competitor  in  inter-university  sports  : 
the  University  colours  are,  for  Oxford, 
dark  blue ;  and  for  Cambridge,  light 
blue :  cf.  to  get  one's  silk,  said  of  a 
barrister  when  made  King's  Counsel. 
As  adj.,  (1)  applied,  usually  in  con- 
tempt, to  women  of  literary  tastes : 
FT.,  bleue  celle-la ;  (2)  indecent ; 
smutty ;  obscene ;  (3)  gloomy, 
fearful,  depressed,  low-spirited  :  cf.  to 
look  blue,  blue  funk,  and  in  the  blues. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  blush  (1709);  (2)  to 
pawn,  pledge,  spend,  actually  to  get 
rid  of  money  quickly  :  cf.  Blew  ;  (3)  to 
miscalculate,  to  make  a  mess  of 
anything,  to  mull ;  (4)  to  steal, 
plunder  ;  to  be  blued,  to  be  robbed  :  see 
Prig.  By  all  that's  blue,  a  euphemistic 
oath  :  probably  by  Heaven  :  it  may 
be  compared  with  the  French  parbleu, 
synonymous  with  par  Dieu.  Till  all 
is  blue,  (1)  to  the  utmost,  the  end,  for 
an  indefinite  period :  Smyth,  in  his 
Sailors'  Word  Book,  says  this  phrase 
is  borrowed  from  the  idea  of  a  vessel 
making  out  of  port  and  getting  into 
deep  water ;  (2)  tipsy :  see  Screwed 


Blue  Apron. 


Blue  Murder. 


(1616) :  cf.  Fr.,  avoir  un  coup  cFbleu. 
To  look  blue,  to  be  confounded,  sur- 
prised, astonished,  annoyed,  dis- 
appointed. Fr.,  en  r ester  tout  bleu,  en 
lire  bleu,  en  bailler  tout  bleu  ( 1 600).  To 
make  the  air  blue,  to  curse,  swear. 
True  blue,  faithful,  genuine,  real :  an 
allusion  to  blue  as  the  colour  of  con- 
stancy (1383). 

Blue  Apron.     A  tradesman  (1721). 

Bluebacks.  1.  The  paper  money 
of  the  Confederates :  originating,  as 
in  the  case  of  United  States  paper 
currency  greenbacks,  in  the  colour  of 
the  printing  on  the  reverse.  2.  The 
Orange  Free  State  paper  money. 

Blue  Bellies.  A  nickname  be- 
stowed by  Southerners,  during  the 
Civil  War,  upon  their  opponents  of 
the  North,  whose  uniform  was  blue : 
also  Boys  in  blue,  Yanks,  etc.  The 
Southerners,  on  the  other  hand,  re- 
ceived such  names  as  The  secesh, 
Rebs,  and  Johnny  Rebs,  the  latter 
being  some  times  shortened  to  Johnnies. 
The  grey  uniform  of  the  Confederates 
likewise  caused  them  to  be  styled 
Boys  in  grey,  and  Greybacks. 

Blue  Bills  (Winchester  College). 
A  tradesman's  bills  sent  home  to  the 
parents  and  guardians  of  students. 

Blue  Billy.  A  handkerchief 
(blue  ground  with  white  spots)  some- 
times worn  and  used  as  a  colour  at 
prize-fights  :  see  Billy. 

Blue  Blanket.  1.  The  sky: 
probably  suggested  by  Shakespeare's 
Blanket  of  the  dark  (Macbeth,  i. 
v.)  (1720).  2.  A  rough  overcoat  made 
of  coarse  pilot  cloth. 

Blue  Blazes.     See  Blazes. 

Blue  Boar.     A  venereal  disease. 

Blue  Bottle.  1.  A  policeman, 
constable,  watchman  (1598).  2.  A 
serving-man  :  blue  was  the  usual  habit 
of  servants  (1602).  3.  A  term  of  re- 
proach for  a  servant. 

Blue  Boy.  A  bubo,  a  tumour  or 
abscess  with  inflammation. 

Blue-boys.     The  police. 

Blue  Butter.     Mercurial  ointment. 

Blue-cap.  A  Scotchman  (1596). 
2.  A  kind  of  ale  (1822). 

Blue-coat.  1.  A  constable, 
guardian  of  public  order.  2.  A  serv- 
ing man,  and,  3.  (generally)  one  of  the 
lower  orders  :  as  wearing  coats  of  blue 
(1600).  4.  A  blue-coat  boy  :  see  Blue. 

Blued  (or  Slewed).  Tipsy,  drunk: 
see  Screwed. 


Blue  Dahlia.  Something  rare  (or 
seldom  seen),  a  rara  avis. 

BlueDevils.  1.  Dejection,  low- 
ness  of  spirits,  hypochondria  (1786). 
2.  Delirium  tremens  (1818).  Hence, 
such  derivatives  as  Blue  devilage,  Blue 
devilry,  Blue  devilism ;  and  Blue 
devilly. 

Blue  Fear.  Extreme  fright :  the 
same  as  Blue  funk  (q.v.). 

Blue  Flag.  A  blue  apron  (q.v.) 
worn  by  butchers,  publicans,  and 
other  tradesmen  (Grose). 

Blue  Funk.  Extreme  fright, 
nervousness,  dread  (1856). 

Blue  -  gown.  1.  A  loose  woman  : 
a  blue-gown  was  the  dress  of  igno- 
miny for  a  harlot  in  the  house  of 
correction  (Nares).  2.  A  beggar, 
especially  a  licensed  beggar  who  wore 
the  dress  as  a  badge. 

Blue  Hen's  Chickens. 
The  inhabitants  of  Delaware.  The 
nickname  arose  thus :  Captain  Cald- 
well,  an  officer  of  the  first  Delaware 
regiment  in  the  American  War  of  In- 
dependence, was  noted  for  his  love  of 
cock-fighting.  Being  personally  popu- 
lar, and  his  regiment  becoming  famous 
for  their  valour,  they  were  soon  known 
as  game  -  cocks ;  and  as  Caldwell 
maintained  that  no  cock  was  truly 
game  unless  its  mother  was  a  blue  hen, 
his  regiment,  and  subsequently  Dela- 
wareans  generally,  became  known  as 
blue  hen's  chickens,  and  Delaware  as 
the  Blue  Hen  State  for  the  same  reason. 
A  boaster  is  also  often  brought  to  book 
by  the  sarcasm  Your  mother  was  a 
blue  hen  no  doubt. 

Blue  Horse.  The  Fourth  Dragoon 
Guards  (1746-88). 

Blue- jacket.  A  sailor  ;  especially 
used  to  distinguish  seamen  from  the 
marines. 

Blue  Laws.  Puritanic  laws  of 
extreme  severity  :  originally  of  enact- 
ments at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  U.S.A. 

Blue  Lightning.     A  revolver. 

Blue  Monday.  A  Monday 
spent  in  dissipation  and  absence  from 
work. 

Blue  Moon.  Once  in  a  blue 
moon,  extremely  seldom,  an  unlimited 
time,  a  rarely  recurring  period :  an 
old  phrase,  first  used  in  the  sense  of 
something  absurd  ;  a  blue  moon,  like 
the  Greek  Kalends,  is  something  which 
does  not  exist  (1526). 

Blue  Murder  (or  Blue  Murders) 


55 


Blueness. 


Bluey. 


Cries  of  terror  (or  alarm),  a  great 
noise,  an  unusual  racket:  cf.  Fr., 
morbleu. 

Blueness.  Indecency  (1840).  Fr., 
horreurt,  bftises,  gueultes. 

Blue  Noses.  The  natives  of 
Nova  Scotia :  in  allusion,  it  is  said, 
to  a  potato  of  that  name  which  Nova 
Scotians  claim  to  be  the  best  in  the 
world ;  Proctor,  however,  hazards 
the  suggestion  that  the  nickname 
refers  to  the  blueness  of  nose  resulting 
from  intense  cold  (1837). 

Blue  Peter.  The  signal  or 
call  for  trumps  at  whist :  properly  a 
blue  flag  with  white  square  in  centre, 
hoisted  as  a  signal  for  immediate 
sailing. 

Blue  Pigeon.  1.  Lead  used  for 
roofing  purposes :  see  Blue  pigeon 
flyer.  2.  The  sounding  lead. 

Blue  Pigeon  Flyer.  A  thief 
who  steals  lead  from  the  roofs  of 
buildings.  Hotten  thus  explains  the 
modus  operandi.  Sometimes  a  journey- 
man plumber,  glazier,  or  other 
workman,  when  repairing  houses, 
strips  off  the  lead,  and  makes  away 
with  it.  This  performance  is,  though, 
by  no  means  confined  to  workmen. 
An  empty  house  is  often  entered  and 
the  whole  of  the  roof  in  ite  vicinity 
stripped,  the  only  notice  given  to  the 
folks  below  being  received  by  them  on 
the  occasion  of  a  heavy  downfall  of 
rain.  The  term  flyer  has,  indeed,  of 
late  years  been  more  peculiarly  ap- 
plied to  the  man  who  steals  the  lead 
in  pursuance  of  his  vocation  as  a  thief, 
than  to  him  who  takes  it  because  it 
comes  in  the  way  of  his  work  (1789). 
Fr.,  limousineur,  gras-doublier,  mas- 
taroufleur.  To  fly  the  blue,  pigeon,  to 
steal  lead  from  the  roofs  of  houses. 

Blue  Pill.  A  bullet;  also  Blue 
plum  and  lilue.  whistler. 

Blue  Ribbon  (or  Riband).  A  first 
prize,  the  greatest  distinction. 

Blue  Ruin.  Gin :  see  Drinks 
(1817). 

Blues.  1.  Despondency,  hypo- 
chondria, depression  of  spirits :  a 
shortened  form  of  blue  devils  (q.v.). 
2.  The  police.  3.  The  Royal  Horse 
Guards  Blue  are  popularly  so  known 
from  their  blue  uniform  with  scarlet 
facings :  the  corps  first  obtained  the 
name  of  Oxford  Blues  in  1690,  to 
distinguish  it  from  a  Dutch  regiment 
of  Horse  Guards  dressed  in  blue, 


commanded  by  the  Earl  of  Portland, 
the  former  being  commanded  by  the 
Earl  of  Oxford  ;  subsequently  the 
regiment  was,  during  the  campaign  in 
Flanders  [1742-45],  known  as  the 
Blue  Guards. 

Blue  Skin.  1.  Formerly  a 
contemptuous  term  for  a  Presby- 
terian. 2.  A  half-breed — the  child  of 
a  black  woman  by  a  white  man. 

Blue  Squadron.  Mixed  blood ; 
properly  one  with  a  Hindoo  strain : 
Eurasians  belong  to  the  blue  squad- 
ron :  cf.  Touch  of  the  tar  brush. 

Blue  Stocking.  A  literary 
lady :  applied  usually  with  the  im- 
putation of  pedantry.  The  gener- 
ally received  explanation,  is  that  the 
term  is  derived  from  the  name  given 
to  certain  meetings  held  by  ladies  in 
the  days  of  Dr.  Johnson  for  conversa- 
tion with  distinguished  literary  men. 
One  of  the  most  eminent  of  these 
literati  was  a  Mr.  Benjamin  Stilling- 
fleet,  who  always  wore  blue  stockings, 
and  whose  conversation  at  these 
meetings  was  so  much  prized,  that  his 
absence  at  any  time  was  felt  to  be  a 
great  loss,  so  that  the  remark  became 
common,  We  can  do  nothing  without 
the  blue  stockings,  hence  these  meet- 
ings were  sportively  called  blue- 
stocking clubs,  and  the  ladies  who 
attended  them  blue-stockings.  It  is 
stated  that  the  name  specially  arose  in 
this  way.  A  foreigner  of  rank  refused 
to  accompany  a  friend  to  one  of  these 
parties  on  the  plea  of  being  in  his 
travelling  costume,  to  which  there  was 
the  reply,  Oh  !  we  never  mind  dress 
on  these  occasions ;  you  may  come  in 
bat  bleus  or  blue  stockings,  with 
allusion  to  Stillingfleet's  stockings, 
when  the  foreigner,  fancying  that  bat 
bleus  were  part  of  the  necessary  cos- 
tume, called  the  meeting  ever  after  the 
Bas-bleu  Society.  In  modern  slang 
the  term  blue-stocking  is  abbrevi- 
ated into  blue.  Derivatives  are  blue- 
stockingism,  bluc-stockinger,  etc.  (1738). 

Blue  Stone.  Gin  (or  whisky) 
of  so  bad  a  quality  that  it  can  only  be 
compared  to  vitriol,  of  which  blue-stone 
is  also  a  nickname  in  the  north  of 
England  and  Scotland. 

Blue  Tape.     Gin :  see  Drinks. 

Blue  Water.     The  open  sea. 

Blue  Whistler.    A  bullet. 

Bluey.  1.  Lead:  see  Blue 
pigeon.  2.  A  bushman's  bundle,  the 


56 


Bluey-hunter. 


Bob. 


outside  wrapper  of  which  is  generally 
a  blue  blanket — hence  the  name :  also 
called  swag  (q.v.)  and  drum  (q.v.). 

Bluey-hunter.  A  thief  who  steals 
lead,  as  described  under  Blue  pigeon 
flyer  (q.v.)  (1851). 

B  1  u  ff .  An  excuse,  pretence, 
that  which  is  intended  to  hoodwink  or 
blind.  As  verb,  to  turn  aside,  stop, 
hoodwink,  to  blind  as  to  one's  real 
intention. 

Bluffer.  1.  An  innkeeper  (Qrose). 
2.  A  bo'sun. 

Blunderbuss.  A  stupid  blundering 
fellow  :  see  Buffle  (Qrose). 

Blunt.  Generic  for  money,  espe- 
cially ready  money:  see  Rhino  (1714). 

Blunted.  Possessed  of  money,  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  warm  ( q.  v. ) 

Blunt-worker.  A  blunderer 
(1440).  Blunt-working,  blundering. 

B 1  u  n  t  y.  A  stupid  fellow,  one 
slow-witted :  see  Buffle. 

Blur-paper.     A  scribbler  (1603). 

Blush.  To  blush  like  a  black  or 
blue  dog,  to  blush  not  at  all  (1579). 

Blushet.  A  modest  girl,  a  little 
blusher  (1625). 

B.  N.  C.  Brasenose  :  the  initials 
of  Brasen  Nose  College,  Oxford :  in 
spite  of  the  nose  over  the  gate,  the 
probability  is  that  the  real  name  was 
Brasinium;  it  is  still  famous  for  its 
beer. 

Bo  (or  Boh).  To  cry  (or  say)  Bo 
to  a  goose  (battledore,  bull,  etc.),  to  open 
one's  mouth,  to  speak. 

Boanerges.  A  loud,  vociferous 
speaker :  i.e.  a  son  of  thunder 
(Mark  iii.  17). 

Board.  1.  To  borrow.  2.  To 
accost,  ask  of,  make  a  demand ;  i.e. 
to  come  to  close  quarters  (1547).  To 
board  in  the  smoke,  to  take  one  un- 
awares, or  by  surprise.  On  the  board, 
enjoying  all  the  privileges  and  emolu- 
ments of  a  competent  workman :  when 
an  apprentice  becomes  a  regular  jour- 
neyman he  goes  on  the  board  :  tailors 
usually  work  squatting  on  a  low  raised 
platform — hence  possibly  the  expres- 
sion. To  keep  one's  name  on  the  board,  to 
remain  a  member  of  a  College.  To  sweep 
the  board,  to  pocket  all  the  stakes.  To 
begin  the  board,  to  take  precedence. 
To  go  by  the  board,  to  go  for  good  and 
all,  be  completely  done  for,  ruined. 
To  sail  on  another  board,  to  change 
one's  tactics. 

Boarding     House    (or     School). 


Newgate:  but  equally  applicable  to 
any  gaol — New  York  thieves  apply  it 
to  the  Tombs  :  see  Cage. 

Boardman.  A  standing  pat- 
terer :  they  endeavour  to  attract  at- 
tention to  their  papers,  or,  more 
commonly,  pamphlets  ...  by  means 
of  a  board  with  coloured  pictures  upon 
it,  illustrative  of  the  contents  of  what 
they  sell :  this  in  street  technology 
is  board  work :  sometimes  called  a 
sandwich  man. 

Board  of  Green  Cloth.  A  card 
(or  billiard)  table. 

Boat.  Formerly  the  hulks ; 
latterly  to  any  prison :  see  Cage.  To 
have  an  oar  in  another's  boat,  to 
meddle,  busybody.  To  sail  in  the 
same  boat,  to  pursue  the  same  course. 
As  verb,  ( 1 )  originally  to  transport :  the 
term  is  now  applied  to  penal  servitude. 
To  get  the  boat  (or  to  be  boated),  to  be 
sentenced  to  a  long  term  of  imprison- 
ment— equivalent  to  transportation 
under  the  old  system ;  (2)  to  join  as 
partner :  evidently  a  corruption  of 
to  be  in  the  same  boat,  i.e.  to  be  in 
the  same  position  or  circumstances. 
To  bail  one's  own  boat,  to  be  self- 
reliant,  to  paddle  one's  own  canoe. 

Bob.  LA  shilling:  seeRhino  (1812). 
2.  A  shoplifter's  assistant ;  one  who 
receives  and  carries  off  stolen  goods : 
Fr.,  nonne  (or  noune).  3.  Gin:  see 
Drinks  ( 1749).  4.  An  infantry  soldier ; 
generally  Light-bob,  i.e.  a  soldier  of  the 
fight  infantry  (1544).  5.  (Winchester 
College).  A  large  white  jug  contain- 
ing about  a  gallon  in  measure,  and 
used  for  beer.  As  adj.,  lively,  nice,  in 
good  spirits  (1721).  As  verb,  to  cheat, 
trick,  disappoint :  also  to  606  out  of 
( 1605).  As  intj.,  Stop  !  That's  enough  ! 
Dry  bob  (Wet  bob)  (Eton  College),  the 
first-named  is  one  who  devotes  him- 
self to  cricket  or  football  and  other 
land  sports ;  the  latter  one  who  goes 
in  for  rowing  and  aquatics  generally 
(1844).  All  is  bob,  All's  safe,  serene, 
gay  (1786).  Bear  a  bob  I  Be 
brisk !  look  sharp !  To  give  the  bob,  ( 1) 
to  give  the  door  :  used  by  Massinger — 
It  can  be  no  other  but  to  give  me  the 
bob;  (2)  to  befool,  mock,  impose  upon. 
S'help  me  bob,  a  street  oath,  equivalent 
to  So  help  me  God  ;  a  corrupted  form 
of  the  legal  oath :  So  help  is  pro- 
nounced swelp :  also  a'help  the  cot — my 
greens — the  toturs,  etc.  To  shift  one's 
bob,  to  go  away. 


67 


Bogus. 


Bobber,  l.  \  follow- workman, 
mate,  chum.  2.  A  spurious  plural 
of  bob  (q.v.)  =  a  shilling. 

Bobbery.  A  noise,  squabble, 
disturbance,  racket  (1813). 

Bobbish.  Frequently  pretty 
bobbish,  i.e.  hearty,  in  good  health 
and  spirits,  clever,  spruce  (1819) ;  also 
bobbishly. 

Bobby.  A  policeman :  this  nick- 
name, though  possibly  not  derived 
from,  was  certainly  popularised  by 
the  fact  that  the  Metropolitan  Police 
Act  of  1828  was  mainly  the  work  of  Mr., 
afterwards  Sir  Robert  Peel.  Long 
before  that  statesman  remodelled  the 
police,  however,  the  term  Bobby  the 
beadle  was  in  use  to  signify  a  guard- 
ian of  a  public  square  or  other  open 
space.  There  seems,  however,  a  lack 
of  evidence,  and  examples  of  its 
literary  use  prior  to  1851  have  not 
been  discovered.  At  the  Universities 
the  Proctors  are  or  used  to  be  called 
bobbies. 

Bobby- twister.  A  burglar  or 
thief  (q.v.),  who,  when  resisting  pur- 
suit or  capture,  uses  violence. 

Bob-cull.  A  good  fellow,  pleasant 
companion. 

Bob  my  pal.     A  girl,  i.e.  gal. 

Bobstick.     A  shilling's  worth. 

Bob  Tail.  1.  A  lewd  woman.  2. 
A  contemptible  fellow  —  Tag,  rag, 
and  bobtail.  See  Tag. 

Bocardo.  A  prison  :  see  Cage : 
specially  the  prison  in  the  old  North 
Gate  of  Oxford,  demolished  in  1771. 

Boco.  1.  The  nose  :  see  Conk.  2. 
Nonsense,  bosh. 

Bodier.  A  blow  on  the  side  of  the 
body. 

Bodkin.  Amongst  sporting  men, 
a  person  who  takes  his  turn  between 
the  sheets  on  alternate  nights,  when 
an  hotel  has  twice  as  many  visitors 
as  it  can  comfortably  lodge  ;  as,  for 
instance,  during  a  race  -  week.  A 
transferred  sense  from  To  ride  (or  sit) 
bodkin,  to  take  a  place  and  be  wedged 
in  between  other  persons  when  the 
accommodation  is  intended  for  two 
only  (1638). 

Body-cover.     A  coat. 

Body  of  Divinity  Bound  in  Black 
Calf.  A  parson  :  see  Devil-dodger. 

Body-slangs.  Fetters :  see  Dar- 
bies (1819). 

Body-snatcher.  1.  A  bailiff  or 
runner :  the  snatch  was  the  trick  by 


which  the  bailiff  captured  the  delin- 
quent. 2.  A  policeman.  3.  A  gener- 
ally objectionable  individual :  also 
mean  body  tnatcher.  4.  A  violator  of 
graves,  resurrectionist :  also  Body- 
lifter  (1833).  5.  An  undertaker. 

Bog.  1.  The  works  at  Dartmoor, 
on  which  convicts  labour ;  during 
recent  years  a  large  quantity  of  land 
has  been  reclaimed  in  this  way.  2.  An 
abbreviated  form  of  bog-house  (q.v.). 
As  verb,  to  ease  oneself,  evacuate. 

Bogey.     See  Bogy. 

Boggle- de- Botch  ( Boggled  y- 
Botch).  A  bungle,  mess,  hash : 
Boggle,  however,  is  more  frequently 
employed  (1834). 

Bog-house  (Bog-shop).  A  privy, 
necessary  house  (1671). 

Boglander.  An  Irishman  :  from 
the  boggy  and  marshy  character  of  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  Emerald 
Isle  (1698). 

Bog  Latin.  A  spurious  mode 
of  speech  simulating  the  Latin  in  con- 
struction :  see  Dog  Latin. 

Bog-oranges.  Potatoes :  see 
Bogland,  with  an  eye  to  the  vegetable 
in  question  forming  a  very  substantial 
food  staple  of  the  Irish  peasantry. 

Bog-trotter.  An  Irishman : 
Camden,  however  (c.  1605),  speaking 
of  the  debateable  land  on  the  bor- 
ders of  England  and  Scotland,  says, 
Both  these  dales  breed  notable  bog- 
trotters;  so  the  original  sense  would 
appear  to  have  been,  accustomed  to 
walk  across  bogs  ;  as  a  nickname  for 
an  Irishman,  it  dates  at  least  from 
1671.  Bog  -  trotting,  living  among 
bogs ;  e.g.  a  bog-trotting  Irishman 
(1758). 

Bogus.  Spurious,  fictitious,  sham, 
not  what  it  professes  to  be  :  of 
American  origin.  Dr.  Murray,  who, 
while  slily  satirising  the  bogus  deri- 
vations circumstantially  given,  says : 
Dr.  S.  Willard,  of  Chicago,  in  a  letter 
to  the  editor  of  this  Dictionary,  quotes 
from  the  Painesvitte  (Ohio)  Telegraph 
of  July  6  and  Nov.  2,  1827,  the  word 
bogus  as  a  subs.,  applied  to  an  ap- 
paratus for  coining  false  money.  Mr. 
Eber  D.  Howe,  who  was  then  editor  of 
that  paper,  describes  in  his  Autobio- 
graphy (1878)  the  discovery  of  such  a 
piece  of  mechanism  in  the  hands  of  a 
gang  of  coiners  at  Painesville,  in  May 
1827  ;  it  was  a  mysterious-looking 
object,  and  some  one  in  the  crowd 

58 


Bogy. 


Bolter. 


styled  it  a  bogus,  a  designation  adopted 
in  the  succeeding  numbers  of  the 
paper.  Dr.  Willard  considers  this  to 
have  been  short  for  tanlrabogus,  a 
word  familiar  to  him  from  his  child- 
hood, and  which  in  his  father's  time 
was  commonly  applied  in  Vermont  to 
any  ill-looking  object ;  he  points  out 
that  tantrabobs  is  given  in  Halliwell 
as  a  Devonshire  word  for  the  devil. 
[Bogus  seems  thus  to  be  related  to 
bogy,  etc.]  (1825). 

Bogy,  Bogey.  A  landlord  : 
Fr.,  Monsieur  Vautour  (vautour  —  & 
vulture).  Ask  Bogy,  a  reply  to  a 
question  (Grose) :  modern  God  knows  ! 
or  Bramah  knows !  under  similar  cir- 
cumstances. As  adj.,  sombre,  dark 
in  tint :  said  of  a  painting  exhibiting 
these  characteristics. 

Bohemian.  A  gipsy  of  society; 
one  who  either  cuts  himself  off,  or  is 
by  his  habits  cut  off,  from  society  for 
which  he  is  otherwise  fitted ;  especi- 
ally an  artist,  literary  man,  or  actor, 
who  leads  a  free,  vagabond,  or  irre- 
gular life,  not  being  particular  as  to 
the  society  he  frequents,  and  despis- 
ing conventionality  generally :  used 
with  considerable  latitude,  with  or 
without  reference  to  morals  (O.E.D.). 

Bonn  (American  College).  A  trans- 
lation, pony  (q.v.) :  the  volumes  of 
Bonn's  Classical  Library  are  in  such 
general  use  among  under-graduates 
in  American  Colleges,  that  Bohn  has 
become  a  common  name  for  a  trans- 
lation. 

Boil.  To  betray,  peach  (1602). 
To  boil  down,  to  reduce  in  bulk  by  con- 
densing or  epitomising.  To  boil  the 
pot,  to  gain  (or  supply)  one's  liveli- 
hood. To  keep  the  pot  boiling,  to  keep 
going.  The  blood  boils,  of  strong 
emotion,  anger,  or  resentment.  To 
boU  one'slobster,  to  enter  the  army  after 
having  been  in  the  church. 

Boiled  Shirt  (Biled  Shirt  or 
Boiled  Rag).  A  white  shirt  (1854). 

Boiler  (Winchester  College). 
1.  A  plain  coffee-pot  used  for  heating 
water  :  called  fourpenny  and  sixpenny 
boilers,  not  from  their  price,  but 
from  the  quantity  of  milk  they  will 
hold  :  ro  irav  boilers  were  large  tin 
saucepan-like  vessels  in  which  water 
for  hot  bidets  (q.v.)  was  heated.  2, 
See  Pot  boiler. 

Boiler  -  plated.  Imperturbable, 
stolid,  stoical. 


Boilers  (or  Brompton  Boilers). 
1.  The  Kensington  Museum  and 
School  of  Art,  in  allusion  to  the 
peculiar  form  of  the  temporary  build- 
ings, and  the  fact  of  their  being  mainly 
composed  of,  and  covered  with  sheet 
iron.  This  has  been  changed  since  the 
extensive  alterations  in  the  building, 
or  rather  pile  of  buildings,  and  the 
term  boilers  is  now  applied  to  the 
Bethnal  Green  Museum :  cf.  Pepper- 
boxes. 2.  (Royal  Military  Academy). 
Boiled  potatoes  :  Fried  potatoes  are 
called  Greasers. 

Boiling  (or  B  i  1  i  n  g).  Whole 
boiling  (or  bUing),  the  whole  lot,  entire 
quantity:  also  whole  gridiron  (q.v.) 
and  All  the  shoot  (1835). 

Boke.     The  nose. 

Bold.  Bold  as  brass,  audaci- 
ously forward,  presumptuous,  without 
shame. 

Boler  (or  Bowler).  A  stiff  felt 
hat  (1861). 

B  o  1 1  y  (Marlborough  College). 
Pudding. 

Bolt.  The  throat  (1821).  As 
verb  (at  one  period  slang,  now  recog- 
nised), 1.  To  escape,  leave  suddenly  : 
an  instance  of  a  word  once  orthodox, 
subsequently  fell  into  disrepute,  but 
which,  after  having  for  generations 
served  as  a  mere  slang  term,  is  now 
nearly  as  respectable  as  when  Dryden 
wrote :  I  have  reflected  on  those 
who,  from  time  to  time,  have  shot  into 
the  world,  some  bolting  out  on  the 
stage  with  vast  applause,  and  others 
hissed  off.  2.  The  usage  hi  the 
United  States  indicates  the  right 
of  the  independently  minded  to 
revolt  against  partisan  rule,  as  He 
bolted  the  party  nominations :  also 
substantively,  as  He  has  organised  a 
bolt.  3.  To  eat  hurriedly  without 
chewing,  swallow  whole,  gulp  down. 
To  get  the  bolt,  sentenced  to  penal 
servitude.  To  turn  the  corner  of  Bolt 
Street,  to  run  :  cf.  Queer  Street.  See 
Moon. 

Bolter.  1.  One  who  hides 
himself  in  his  own  house,  or  some 
privileged  place,  and  dares  only  peep, 
but  not  go  out  of  his  retreat  (Dyche) : 
the  privileged  places  referred  to  were 
such  as  Whitefriars,  the  Mint,  Higher 
and  Lower  Alsatia,  etc.  2.  One  who 
bolts ;  especially  applied  to  horses, 
but  figuratively  to  persons  in  the  sense 
of  one  given  to  throwing  off  restraint ; 

59 


Bolt-in-Tun. 


Bone-house. 


in  American  parlance  one  who  kick* 
(q.v.)  (1840).  3.  One  who  exercises 
the  right  of  abstention  in  regard  to  his 
political  party. 

Bolt-in-Tun.  Bolted,  run 
away  (1819).  A  term  founded  on  the 
cant  word  bolt,  and  merely  a  fanciful 
variation  very  common  among  flash 
persons,  there  being  in  London  a 
famous  inn  so  called  ;  it  is  customary 
when  a  man  has  run  away  from  his 
lodgings,  broken  out  of  jail,  or  made 
any  other  sudden  movement,  to  say, 
the  Bolt -in -tun  is  concerned,  or, 
he's  gone  to  the  Bolt-in-tun  instead 
of  simply  saying,  he  has  bolted,  etc. 

Boltsprit  (Boltspreet,  Bowsprit). 
The  nose  :  see  Conk  (1690). 

Bolus.     An  apothecary,  a  doctor. 

Boman.     A  gallant  fellow. 

Bombay  Ducks.  1.  The  Bombay 
regiments  of  the  East  India  Company's 
army.  2.  A  well  -  known  delicacy  : 
the  Anglo  -  Indian  relation  of  the 
Digby  chick ;  alive,  it  is  a  fish  called 
the  bummelo ;  dead  and  dried,  it 
becomes  a  duck. 

Bombo,  Bumbo.  A  nickname 
given  to  various  mixtures,  but  chiefly 
to  cold  punch  ;  Smollett,  in  a  note  in 
Roderick  Random,  speaks  of  it  as  A 
liquor  composed  of  rum,  sugar,  water, 
and  nutmeg  (1748). 

B  o  n  a.  A  girl,  young  woman, 
belle :  a  modern  form,  in  a  good  sense, 
of  Bona-roba  (q.v.).  As  adj.,  good. 

Bonanza.  A  happy  hit,  stroke 
of  fortune,  success :  from  the  Spanish, 
a  fail  wind,  fine  weather,  prosperous 
voyage  ;  Bonanza  was  originally  the 
name  of  a  mine  in  Nevada,  which  once, 
quite  unexpectedly,  turned  out  to  be 
a  big  thing,  and  of  enormous  value ; 
now  applied  to  any  lucky  hit  or  suc- 
cessful enterprise. 

Bona-roba,  subs.  (old).  A  wench, 
specially  a  courtesan,  a  showy  wanton. 
The  term  was  much  in  use  among  the 
older  dramatists.  Ben  Jonson  speaks 
of  a  bouncing  bona-roba ;  and  Cowley 
seems  to  have  considered  it  as  implying 
a  fine,  tall  figure.  Bona  in  modern 
times  is  frequently  employed  to  signify 
a  girl  or  young  woman,  without  re- 
ference to  morals  (1589). 

Bonce.  1.  The  head  (probably  a 
derivative  of  sense  2)  2.  A  large 
marble  (origin  unknown,  but  see  Alley). 

Bond.  Our  Lady' s  bonds, pregnancy, 
confinement 


Bone.  1.  A  bribe  to  a  Custom! 
House  officer.  2.  Something  relished 
(1884).  As  adj.,  good,  excellent; 
O  is  the  vagabonds'  hieroglyphic  for 
bone,  or  good,  chalked  by  them  on 
houses  and  street  corners  as  a  hint  to 
succeeding  beggars.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
filch,  steal,  make  off  with,  take  into 
custody  (1748);  (2)  to  bribe,  grease 
the  palm  ;  (3)  to  study  :  see  Bonn.  To 
bone  standing,  to  study  hard.  The  ten 
bones,  the  fingers :  as  in  asseveration, 
By  these  ten  bones !  To  have  a  bone 
in  the  leg  (arm,  throat,  etc. ),  a  humorous 
reason  for  declining  to  do  anything,  a 
feigned  obstacle  (1642).  Hard  (or 
dry)  as  a  bone,  as  hard  (or  dry)  as  may 
be  ( 1833).  Bones  of  me  (you,  etc. ),  an 
exclamation  (1588).  To  feel  a  thing 
in  one's  bones,  to  feel  acutely,  under- 
stand perfectly.  A  bone  to  pick,  a 
difficulty  to  solve,  nut  to  crack,  a 
matter  of  dispute,  something  dis- 
agreeable needing  explanation,  a 
settlement  to  make.  A  bone  of  con- 
tention, a  source  of  contention  or 
discord.  To  make  bones  of,  to  make 
objection  to,  have  scruples  of,  hesitate. 
To  find  bones  in,  to  be  unable  to  credit, 
believe,  or  swallow.  To  put  a  bone 
in  one's  hood,  to  break  one's  head.  To 
carry  a  bone  in  the  mouth  (or  teeth),  of 
a  ship  when  cutting  through  the  water 
making  foam  about  her.  One  end  is 
pretty  sure  to  be  bone,  an  old-time 
saying  equivalent  to  an  admission 
that  All  is  not  gold  that  glitters  ;  that 
the  realization  of  one's  hopes  never 
comes  up  to  the  ideal  formed  of  them. 
To  be  upon  the  bones,  to  attack  (1616). 

Bone-ache.  The  lues  venerea  ( 1 592). 

Bone-baster.  A  staff,  cudgel  ( 1600). 

Bone-box.  The  mouth  :  see 
Potato-trap  (Grose). 

Bone-breaker.     Fever  and  ague. 

Bone-crusher.  A  heavy-bore 
rifle  used  for  killing  big  game. 

Boned.     See  Bone,  verb,  sense  1. 

Bone-grubber.  1.  One  who  lives 
by  collecting  bones  from  heaps  of 
refuse,  selling  his  spoils  at  the  marine 
stores  or  to  bone  grinders  (1750).  2. 
A  resurrectionist,  a  violator  of  graves : 
Cobbett  was  therefore  called  a  bone- 
grubber,  because  he  brought  the 
remains  of  Tom  Paine  from  America. 

Bone-house.  1.  The  human 
body.  2.  A  coffin :  also  a  charnel- 
house  :  Americans  generally  call  a 
cemetery  a  bone-yard  (1836). 


60 


Bone  Musde. 


Boodle. 


Bone  Muscle.  To  practise 
gymnastics. 

Bone-picker.  1.  A  footman :  Fr., 
larbin.  2.  A  collector  of  bones,  rags, 
and  other  refuse  from  the  streets  and 
places  where  rubbish  is  placed,  for  the 
purpose  of  sale  to  marine  dealers  and 
crushers  :  the  same  as  bone -grubber. 

Bone-polisher.  The  cat  -  o'  -  nine- 
tails. 

Boner  (Winchester  College).  A 
sharp  blow  on  the  spine. 

Bones.  1.  Dice,  also  called  St. 
Hugh's  bones  (q.v.)  To  rattle  the 
bones,  to  play  at  dice  (1386).  2. 
Pieces  of  bones  held  between  the  fingers 
and  played  Spanish  castanet  fashion  : 
generally  an  accompaniment  to  banjo 
and  other  negro  minstrel  music 
(1592).  3.  A  member  of  a  negro 
minstrel  troupe  ;  generally  applied  to 
one  of  the  end  men  who  plays  the 
bones  (sense  2)  (1851).  4.  The  bones 
of  the  human  body,  but  more  generally 
applied  to  the  teeth :  Fr.,  pUoches, 
ossdots.  5.  A  surgeon ;  generally 
sawbones  (q.v.).  6.  (a)  The  shares 
of  Wickens,  Pease  and  Co.  ;  (b)  North 
British  4%  1st  Preference  Shares,  the 
4%  2nd  Preference  Stock  being  nick- 
named Bonettas.  One  end  is  pretty 
sure  to  be  bone :  an  old-time  saying 
equivalent  to  an  admission  that  All  is 
not  gold  that  glitters  ;  that  the  realiza- 
tion of  one's  hopes  never  comes  up 
to  the  ideal  formed  of  them.  To  be 
upon  the  bones,  to  attack. 

Bonesetter.  A  hard  riding 
horse,  ricketty  conveyance  :  see  Bone- 
shaker (Grose). 

Bone-shake.  To  ride  a  bone- 
shaker (q.v.). 

Bone-shaker.  1.  A  hard  trotting 
horse  :  see  Bone-setter.  2.  An  ordin- 
ary, as  distinguished  from  a  safety, 
a  type  of  bicycle  in  use  prior  to  the 
introduction  of  india-rubber  tires  and 
other  manifold  improvements. 

Bonettas.  The  4%  2nd  North 
British  2nd  Preference  Stock. 

Bong.     See  Boung. 

Boniface.  The  landlord  of  a  tavern 
or  inn,  mine  host :  from  Farquhar's 
play  of  The  Beaux'  Stratagem  (1707). 

Boning.  Boning  adjutant, 
aping  a  military  bearing.  Boning 
muscle  (q.v.)  going  in  largely  for 
gymnastics.  Boning  demerit,  giving  no 
cause  for  complaint  as  regards  one's 
conduct :  all  West  Point  cadet  slang. 


Bonk.    A  short,  steep  hill. 

Bonnering.  Burning  for  heresy 
(1613)  :cf.  Boycott,  Burke,  Maffick,  etc. 

Bonnet.  1.  A  gambling  cheat, 
decoy  at  auctions  ;  sometimes  called  a 
bearer  up  :  the  bonnet  plays  as  though 
he  were  a  member  of  the  general 
public,  and  by  his  good  luck,  or  by  the 
force  of  his  example,  induces  others  to 
venture  their  stakes;  bonneting  is  often 
done  in  much  better  society  than  that 
to  be  found  in  the  ordinary  gaming- 
rooms  ;  a  man  who  persuades  another 
to  buy  an  article  on  which  he  receives 
commission  or  percentage,  is  said  to 
bonnet  or  bear-up  for  the  seller  (1812). 
2.  A  pretext,  pretence,  make  believe.  3. 
A  woman :  cf .  petticoat.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to 
act  as  a  bonnet,  cheat,  puff,  to  bear  up 
(q.v.) ;  (2)  to  crush  a  hat  over  a  man's 
eyes  (1835).  To  have  a  green  bonnet, 
to  fail  in  business.  A  bee  in  one's 
bonnet,  see  Bee.  To  fill  a  person's 
bonnet,  to  fill  his  place,  equal  him. 
To  rive  the  bonnet  of,  to  excel. 

Bonnet-  builder.   A  milliner  (1839). 

Bonneter.  1.  See  Bonnet.  2.  A 
crushing  blow  on  the  hat. 

Bonnet  -  laird.  A  petty  proprie- 
tor in  Scotland  :  as  wearing  a  bonnet 
like  humbler  folk. 

Bonnet-man.     A  highlander. 

Bonnets-so-blue.     Irish  stew. 

Bonny.  Looking  well,  plump. 
2.  Fine,  good,  very.  To  give  a  bonny 
penny  for,  to  pay  a  long  price.  A 
bonny  row,  a  jolly  uproar. 

Bono.     Good  :  from  the  Latin. 

Booby.  1.  A  stupid  fellow,  lubber, 
clown :  see  Buffle.  2.  A  dunce,  the  last 
in  a  class.  To  beat  the  booby,  see  Beat. 

Booby  Hutch.     A  police  station. 

Booby  -  trap.  An  arrangement  of 
books,  wet  sponges,  vessels  of  water, 
etc.,  so  arranged  on  the  top  of  a  door 
set  ajar  that  when  the  intended  victim 
enters  the  room  the  whole  falls  on  him 
(1850). 

Boodle.  1.  A  crowd,  com- 
pany,  the  whole  boiling  (q.v.) :  often 
caboodle  (q.v.).  2.  Capital,  stock-in- 
trade  :  specially  something  secret, 
peculiar  and  illegal ;  also  money  used 
for  bribery,  money  that  comes  as  spoils, 
the  result  of  some  secret  deal,  the  profits 
of  which  are  silently  divided ;  the  term 
is  likewise  used  to  cover  the  booty 
of  a  bank  robber,  or  the  absconding 
cashier.  Amongst  the  thieving  fra- 
ternity boodle  is  used  to  denote  money 


61 


Books. 


that  is  actually  spurious  or  counterfeit, 
and  not  merely  money  used  for  nefari- 
ous purposes,  but  which  as  currency 
is  genuine  enough.  3.  Generic  for 
money :  see  Rhino.  4.  A  fool,  noodle : 
see  Buffle.  To  carry  boodle,  to  utter 
base  money.  Fake  -  boodle,  a  roll  of 
paper  over  which,  after  folding,  a 
dollar  bill  is  pasted,  and  another  bill 
being  loosely  wrapped  round  this, 
it  looks  as  if  the  whole  roll  is 
made  up  of  a  large  sum  of  money  in 
bills. 

B  o  o  d  1  e  r.  1.  One  who  bribes 
or  corrupts.  2.  A  man  uttering  base 
money :  swindlers  of  this  type  gener- 
ally hunt  in  couples  ;  one  carrying  the 
bulk  of  the  counterfeit  money,  and 
receiving  the  good  change  as  obtained 
by  his  companion,  who  utters  the 
boodle  piece  by  piece ;  the  game  is 
generally  worked  so  that  at  the  slightest 
alarm  the  boodle  carrier  vanishes  and 
leaves  nothing  to  incriminate  his  con- 
federate. 

B  o  o  g  e  t.  A  travelling  tinker's 
basket  (Harmon)  (1567). 

Book.  1.  In  betting  (more 
especially  in  connection  with  horse- 
racing),  an  arrangement  of  bets  made 
against  certain  horses,  and  so  cal- 
culated that  the  bookmaker  (q.v.)  has 
a  strong  chance  of  winning  something 
whatever  the  result  (1836).  By  the 
book,  formally,  in  set  phrase.  In  a 
person's  good  (or  bad)  books,  in  favour 
(or  disfavour).  Out  of  one's  book, 
mistaken,  out  of  one's  reckoning. 
Without  one's  book  (1)  unauthorised, 
(2)  by  rote.  To  drive  to  book,  to 
compel  to  give  evidence  on  oath. 
To  bring  to  book,  to  bring  to  account. 
To  speak  like  a  book,  to  speak  with 
authority.  To  talk  like  a  book,  to 
speak  in  set  terms,  as  a  precisian.  To 
take  a  leaf  out  of  a  person's  book,  to 
take  example  by  him.  2.  The  first  six 
tricks  at  whist.  3.  The  copy  of  words 
to  which  music  is  set,  the  words  of  a 
play :  formerly  only  applied  to  the 
libretto  of  an  opera  (1768).  To  know 
one's  book,  to  have  made  up  one's  mind, 
to  know  what  is  best  for  one's  interest. 
To  suit  one's  book,  to  suit  one's  arrange- 
ments, fancy,  or  wish. 

Book  Answerer.     A  critic  (1760). 

Booked.  Caught,  fixed,  disposed 
of,  destined,  etc.  (1840). 

Book-form.  The  relative  powers 
of  speed  (or  endurance)  of  race-horses 


as  set  down  in  the  Racing  Calendar  or 
book. 

Bookie  (or  Booky).  A  book- 
maker (q.v.). 

Bookmaker.  A  professional 
betting- man.  The  English  Encyclo- 
paedia says  : — In  betting  there  are  two 
parties— one  called  layers,  as  the 
bookmakers  are  termed,  and  the  other 
backers,  in  which  class  may  be  in- 
cluded owners  of  horses  as  well  as  the 
public.  The  backer  takes  the  odds 
which  the  bookmaker  lays  against  a 
horse,  the  former  speculating  upon 
the  success  of  the  animal,  the  latter 
upon  its  defeat ;  and  taking  the  case 
of  Cremorne  for  the  Derby  of  1872, 
just  before  the  race,  the  bookmaker 
would  have  laid  3  to  1,  or  perhaps 
£1000  to  £300  against  him,  by  which 
transaction,  if  the  horse  won,  as  he  did, 
the  backer  would  win  £1000  for  risking 
£300,  and  the  bookmaker  lose  the 
£1000  which  he  risked  to  win  the 
smaller  sum.  At  first  sight  this  may 
appear  an  act  of  very  questionable 
policy  on  the  part  of  the  bookmaker  ; 
but  really  it  is  not  so,  because  so  far 
from  running  a  greater  risk  than  the 
backer,  he  runs  less,  inasmuch  as  it  is 
his  plan  to  lay  the  same  amount  (£1000) 
against  every  horse  in  the  race,  and  as 
there  can  be  but  one  winner,  he  would 
in  all  probability  receive  more  than 
enough  money  from  the  many  losers 
to  pay  the  stated  sum  of  £1000  which 
the  chances  are  he  has  laid  against  the 
one  winner,  whichever  it  is  (1862). 

Bookmaker's  Pocket.  A  breast- 
pocket made  inside  the  waistcoat,  for 
notes  of  large  amount  (Hottcn). 

Books.  1.  A  pack  of  cards ; 
used  mainly  by  professional  card- 
players  :  also  called  devil's  books, 
book  of  broads,  book  of  briefs :  Fr., 
juge  de  paix,  cartouchiere  a  portces  (a 
prepared  pack  used  by  sharpers) 
(1706).  2.  (Winchester  College),  (a) 
The  prizes  formerly  presented  by  Lord 
Say  and  Sele,  now  given  by  the  govern- 
ing body,  to  the  Senior  in  each 
division  at  the  end  of  Half,  (b) 
The  school  is  thus  divided : — Sixth 
Book — Senior  and  Junior  Division ; 
the  whole  of  the  rest  of  the  School  is 
in  Fifth  Book — Senior  Part,  Middle 
Part,  Junior  Part,  each  part  being 
divided  into  so  many  divisions,  Senior, 
Middle,  and  Junior,  or  Senior,  2nd, 
3rd,  and  Junior,  as  the  case  may  require. 


G2 


BoolcworJc. 


Boots. 


Formerly,  there  was  also  Fourth 
Book,  but  it  ceased  to  exist  about 
twenty -five  years  ago  (1840).  (c) 
Up  at  books,  in  class,  repeating  lessons : 
now  called  Up  to  books,  (d)  Books 
chambers,  on  Remedies  (a  kind  of 
whole  holiday),  we  also  went  into  School 
in  the  morning  and  afternoon  for  an 
hour  or  two  without  masters  ;  this  was 
called  books  chambers ;  and  on  Sun- 
days, from  four  till  a  quarter  to  five. 
(Mansfield),  (e)  To  get  or  make  books, 
to  make  the  highest  score  at  anything. 

Bookwork.  Mathematics  that 
can  be  learned  verbatim  from  books 
— all  that  are  not  problems. 

Bookwright.     An  author. 

Boom.  This  word  is  a  compara- 
tively recent  production  in  its  slang 
sense  ;  and  is  used  in  a  variety  of  com- 
binations ;  as,  The  whole  State  is 
booming  for  Smith,  or  The  boys  have 
whooped  up  the  State  to  boom  for 
Smith,  or  The  State  boom  is  ahead  in 
this  State,  etc.,  etc.  Stocks  and  money 
are  said  to  be  booming  when  active ; 
and  any  particular  spot  within  a 
flourishing  district  is  regarded  as  within 
the  boom  -  belt.  A  successful  team 
or  party  is  said  to  be  a  booming  squad, 
and  we  even  read  of  boomlets  to  ex- 
press progress  of  a  lesser  degree.  As 
subs,  commercial  activity,  rapid  ad- 
vance in  prices,  flourishing  state  of 
affairs  —  synonymous  with  extreme 
vigour  and  effectiveness  (1875).  As 
verb,  to  make  rapid  and  vigorous 
progress,  advance  by  leaps  and  bounds, 
push,  puff,  bring  into  prominence  with 
a  rush  (1874).  To  top  one's  boom  off, 
to  be  off  (or  to  start)  in  a  certain  direc- 
tion. 

Boomer.  1.  One  who  booms  or 
causes  an  enterprise  to  become  flourish- 
ing, active  or  notorious.  2.  Anybody 
(or  anything)  considerably  above  the 
average  :  a  bouncing  lie,  a  fine  woman, 
a  horse  with  extra  good  points,  etc.,  etc. 

Boomerang.  Acts  or  words, 
the  results  of  which  recoil  upon  the 
person  from  whom  they  originate  :  the 
boomerang  is  properly  an  Australian 
missile  weapon  which,  when  thrown, 
can  be  made  to  return  to  the  thrower  ; 
or  which,  likewise,  can  be  caused  to 
take  an  opposite  direction  to  that  in 
which  it  is  first  thrown  (1845). 

Booming.  Flourishing,  active, 
in  good  form,  large,  astonishing. 

Boom-passenger.     A  convict 


on  board  ship :  prisoners  on  board 
convict  ships  were  chained  to,  or  were 
made  to  crawl  along  or  stand  on  the 
booms  for  exercise  or  punishment 
(Hotten). 

Boon  -  companion.  A  comrade 
in  a  drinking  bout,  a  good  fellow 
(1566). 

Boon  -  companionship.  Jollity, 
conviviality  (1592). 

Boong.      See  Bung. 

Boorde.     See  Bord. 

Boost.  A  hoisting,  shove,  lift, 
push  up  —  a  New  England  vulgar- 
ism (1858).  As  verb,  to  hoist,  lift  up, 
shove. 

Boosy.     See  Boozy. 

Boot.  To  beat,  punish  with  a 
strap  :  the  punishment  is  irregular  and 
unconventional,  being  inflicted  by 
soldiers  on  a  comrade  discovered 
guilty  of  some  serious  breach  of  the  un- 
written law  of  comradeship,  such  as 
theft,  etc. :  formerly  inflicted  with  a 
bootjack — hence  the  name.  To  make 
one  boot  serve  for  either  leg,  to  speak 
with  double  meaning.  The  boot  is  on 
the  other  leg,  the  case  is  altered,  re- 
sponsibility is  shifted.  To  have  one's 
heart  in  one's  boots,  to  be  in  extreme 
fear.  Over  shoes,  over  boots,  reck- 
less continuance  of  a  course  begun, 
in  for  a  lamb — in  for  a  sheep.  Like  old 
boots,  vigorously,  thorough-going.  To 
die  in  one's  boots,  to  be  hanged. 

Boot-  catcher.  A  servant  whose 
duty  it  was  to  remove  a  person's 
boots. 

Booth.  A  house.  To  heave  a 
booth,  to  rob  a  house. 

Booth-burster.  A  loud  and 
noisy  actor,  barn-stormer  (q.v.). 

Booting.  A  punishment  ad- 
ministered with  a  strap. 

Boot- Joe.     Musketry  drill. 

Bootlick.  A  flunkey,  hanger- 
on,  doer  of  dirty  work,  toady.  As 
verb,  to  toady,  hang  on,  undertake 
dirty  work. 

Boots.  1.  The  servant  at  hotels 
and  places  of  a  kindred  character  who 
cleans  the  boots  of  visitors  :  formerly 
called  boot  -  catchers  (q.v.),  because 
in  the  old  riding  and  coaching  days 
part  of  their  duty  was  to  divest  travel- 
lers of  their  footgear.  2.  The  youngest 
officer  in  a  regimental  mess.  3.  In 
humorous  (or  sarcastic)  combination  : 
e.g.  Clumsy-boots,  Lazy-boots,  Sly- 
boots, Smooth-boots,  etc. 


63 


Boots  and  Leathers. 


Botany  Bay. 


Boots  and  Leathers.  See  Com- 
moner Peal. 

Booty.  Plunder,  spoils,  swag  (q.v.). 
To  play  booty,  to  play  falsely,  dis- 
honestly ;  or  unfairly ;  this  with  the 
object  of  not  winning,  a  previous  ar- 
rangement having  been  made  with  a 
confederate  to  share  the  spoils  result- 
ing from  the  bogus  play  :  sometimes  it 
takes  the  form  of  permitting  the 
victim  to  win  small  stakes  in  order 
to  encourage  him  to  hazard  larger 
sums  which,  naturally,  he  is  not 
allowed  to  win  (1575).  Booty-fellow, 
a  sharer  in  plunder,  illicit  -  gains, 
etc. 

Booze.  1.  Drink,  a  draught : 
the  older  forms  are  bouse  or  bouze 
(q.v.),  but  booze  in  its  present  form 
appears  as  early  as  1714.  2.  A  drink- 
ing bout,  tipsy  frolic.  As  verb,  to 
drink  heavily,  tipple,  guzzle  :  an  old 
term  employed  in  some  sense  of  to 
drink,  as  early  as  1300.  Boozed, 
drunk,  fuddled.  Boozy,  drunken, 
screwed  (q.v.).  Boozing,  the  act  of 
drinking  hard.  Boozer,  a  drunkard, 
a  tippler. 

Boozing  Cheat     A  bottle. 

Boozing -ken.  A  drinking  den: 
Fr.,  bibine  :  see  Lush  crib  (1567). 

Bpozington.  A  drunkard, 
Lushington  ( q.  v.  )• 

Borachio.  A  drunkard  :  see 
Lushington :  properly  a  akin  for  hold- 
ing wine  (1599). 

B  o  r  a  k.  To  poke  borak,  to  pour 
fictitious  news  into  credulous  ears, 
stuff,  kid. 

Bord,  Borde,  Boorde.  A 
shilling  :  see  Rhino  (1567). 

Bordeaux.  Blood  :  cf.  Claret  and 
Badminton.  Bordeaux  hammer,  a 
vinous  headache. 

Bord  You !  An  expression  used 
to  claim  the  next  turn  in  drinking. 

Bore  (old  slang,  but  now  recog- 
nised). Anybody  (or  anything)  weari- 
some or  annoying.  As  verb,  (I)  to 
weary  or  to  be  wearied  :  the  word  does 
not  appear  in  English  literature  prior 
to  1750 ;  (2)  push  (or  thrust)  out  of  the 
course  :  amongst  pugilists  it  signifies 
to  drive  an  opponent  on  to  the  ropes 
of  the  ring  by  sheer  weight,  whilst 
amongst  rowing  men  it  denotes  the 
action  of  a  coxswain  in  so  steering  a 
boat  as  to  force  his  opponent  into 
the  shore,  or  into  still  water,  thus 
obtaining  an  unfair  advantage;  also 


analogously  applied  to  horse  -  racing 
(1672). 

Born.  All  one't  born  days,  one's 
lifetime  (1740).  Born  weak,  said  of 
ft  vessel  feebly  built 

Bosh.  Nonsense,  rubbish,  stuff, 
rot  —  anything  beneath  contempt : 
Murray  says  from  the  Turkish  both 
lakerdi,  empty  talk ;  the  word  became 
current  in  England  from  its  frequent 
occurrence  in  Morier's  Persian  novel, 
Ayesha  [1834],  an  extremely  popu- 
lar production.  As  verb,  to  num- 
bug,  spoil,  mar.  As  intj.,  nonsense  1 
Rubbish  !  It's  all  my  eye  ! 

Bosh    Faker.     A  violin  player. 

Boshing.     A  flogging,  bashing. 

Boshy.     Trumpery,  nonsensical. 

Bos-ken.  A  farmhouse :  an  old 
canting  term. 

Boskiness.  The  quality  of  being 
fuddled  with  drink  (or  bemused),  a 
state  of  drunkenness. 

Bosky.  Drunk,  tipsy,  fuddled : 
see  Screwed  (1748). 

Bosnian.    A  farmer. 

Bosom-bird.     An  intimate  friend. 

Bosom-mischief.  The  root 
of  offending. 

Bosom-piece.  A  bosom  friend : 
especially  of  a  woman. 

Bosom -sermon.  One  learnt  by 
heart 

Bosom-slave.     A  mistress. 

Boss.  1.  A  master,  head  man, 
one  who  directs  :  from  the  Dutch  boat, 
a  master.  2.  A  short-sighted  person  ; 
also  one  who  squints  :  also  Bosser :  cf. 
Boss-eyed.  3.  A  miss,  blunder.  As 
adj.,  pleasant,  first  rate,  chief.  As 
verb,  (1 )  to  manage,  direct,  control ;  (2) 
to  miss  one's  aim,  make  such  a  shot  as 
a  boss-eyed  (q.v.)  person  would  be  ex- 
pected to  make.  Boss-shot,  a  shot  that 
fails  of  its  mark. 

Bossers.     Spectacles. 

Boss-eyed.  Said  of  a  person  with 
one  eye  (or  rather  with  one  eye  in- 
jured), a  person  with  obliquity  of 
vision,  squinny-eyed  (q.v.),  swivel- 
eyed  (q.v.). 

Bostruchyzer  (Oxford  University). 
A  small  kind  of  comb  for  curling 
the  whiskers  (H often). 

Bot,  Bott,  Botts.  The  colic, 
belly-ache,  gripes  (1787). 

Botanical  Excursion.  Transporta- 
tion :  the  allusion  is  to  Botany  Bay  ( q.  v. ) 

Botany  Bay  (University), 
1.  At  Oxford,  Worcester  College :  on 


Botany  Bay  Fever. 


Bounty-jumper 


account  of  its  remote  situation  as  re- 
gards other  collegiate  buildings.  2. 
A  certain  portion  of  Trinity  College, 
Dublin :  for  a  similar  reason.  3. 
Penal  servitude :  formerly  convicts 
[1787-1867]  were  transported  to  Bot- 
any Bay,  a  convict  settlement  at  the 
Antipodes.  Hence  to  go  to  Botany 
Bay,  to  get  a  long  term  of  imprison- 
ment. 

Botany  Bay  Fever.  Trans- 
portation, penal  servitude. 

Botch.     A  tailor. 

Bottle.  To  turn  out  no  bottle, 
not  to  turn  out  well,  to  fail.  To  pass 
the  bottle  of  smoke,  to  countenance  a 
conventional  tie,  to  cant.  To  look  for  a 
needle  in  a  bottle  of  hay,  to  engage  in  a 
hopeless  search  :  also,  needle  in  a  hay- 
stack. To  bottle  up,  to  restrain  temper 
(or)  feelings,  to  hold  (or  keep)  back 
(1622). 

Bottle  -  ache.  Drunkenness  :  see 
Gallon  distemper. 

Bottle  -  arsed.  Type  thicker  at 
one  end  than  the  other  —  a  result  of 
wear  and  tear. 

Bottle-head.     A  fool :  see  Buffle. 

Bottle-holder.  1.  A  second  at 
a  prize-fight.  2.  One  who  gives  moral 
support,  backer,  adviser  :  in  the  Times 
of  1851,  Lord  Palmerston  was  reported 
to  consider  himself  the  bottle-holder  of 
oppressed  states  :  and  in  Punch  of  the 
same  year,  a  cartoon  appeared  repre- 
senting that  statesman  as  the  judi- 
cious bottle-holder  (1753). 

Bottle  -  holding.  Backing,  sup- 
porting. 

Bottle  of  Brandy  in  a  Glass. 
A  long  drink,  of  beer. 

Bo ttle  of  Spruce.  Twopence, 
deuce  (q.v.). 

Bottles.  Barrett's  Brewery  and 
Bottling  Co.  Shares. 

Bottle  -  sucker.  An  able  -  bodied 
seaman,  the  abbreviation  is  A.B.S. 

Bottom.  1.  The  posteriors : 
not  now  in  polite  or  literary  use  (1794). 
2.  Capital,  resources,  stamina,  grit 
(1662).  3.  Spirit  placed  in  a  glass  prior 
to  the  addition  of  water.  To  knock  the 
bottom  out  of  one,  to  overcome,  defeat. 
To  stand  on  one's  own  bottom,  to  act 
for  oneself,  to  be  independent. 

Bottom  Dollar.  The  last  dollar. 
To  bet  one's  bottom  dollar,  to  risk  all. 

Bottom  Facts.  The  exact 
truth  about  any  matter.  To  get  to  the 
bottom  facts  concerning  a  subject,  to 


arrive  at  an  unquestionable  conclusion 
concerning  it,  to  get  to  the  root  of  the 
question :  also  Bottom-rock. 

B  o  1 1  y.  An  infant's  posteriors, 
Fr.,  tu  tu.  As  adj.,  conceited,  swag- 
gering: Fr.,  faire  sa  merde,  faire  son 
matador. 

Bough.  The  gallows :  see  Tree 
(1590). 

Boughs.  Up  in  the  boughs,  in  a 
passion  (Grose). 

Bounce.  1.  Brag,  swagger,  boast- 
ful falsehood,  exaggeration  (1714). 
2.  Impudence,  cheek,  brass  (q.v.).  3. 
A  boaster,  swaggerer,  showy  swindler, 
bully  (1812).  As  verb,  (1)  to  boast, 
bluster,  hector,  bully,  blow  up  (1633) ; 
(2)  to  lie,  to  cheat,  swindle  ( 1762).  On 
the  bounce,  in  a  state  of  spasmodic 
movement,  general  liveliness.  To  get 
the  grand  bounce,  to  be  dismissed:  spec. 
in  reference  to  government  appoint- 
ments. 

Bounceable.  Prone  to  bounc- 
ing or  boasting,  uppish,  bump- 
tious (1830). 

Bouncer.  1.  A  bully,  hector, 
blusterer,  one  who  talks  swagger- 
ingly  (1748).  2.  A  thief  who  steals 
goods  from  shop  counters  while  bar- 
gaining with  the  tradesman:  Fr., 
degringoleur,  and  (the  practice  itself) 
degringoler  h  la  carre.  3.  A  lie,  a 
liar  (1762).  4.  Anything  large  of  its 
kind,  whopper,  thumper,  corker 
(1596).  5.  Chucker-out  (q.v.).  6.  A 
prostitute's  bully.  7.  A  gun  that 
kicks  when  fired. 

Bouncing.  Vigorous,  lusty,  ex- 
aggerated, excessive,  big  (1563). 

Bouncing  Cheat.     A  bottle. 

Bounder.  1.  A  four-wheeled 
cab,  growler  (q.v.).  2.  A  student 
whose  manners  are  not  acceptable, 
one  whose  companionship  is  not  cared 
for.  3.  A  dog  -  cart.  4.  A  vulgar, 
though  well-dressed  man,  a  superior 
kind  of  'Arry,  one  whose  dress  and 
personal  appearance  are  correct,  but 
whose  manners  are  of  a  questionable 
character.  The  term  is  very  often 
used  in  connection  with  bally  (q.v.). 

Boung.     See  Bung. 

Boung  Nipper.     See  Bung-nipper. 

Bounty-jumper.  A  man  who, 
receiving  a  bounty  when  enlisting, 
deserts,  re-enlists,  and  receives  a 
second  bounty.  The  War  of  the 
Rebellion  is  responsible  for  this,  as 
for  many  other  colloquialisms ;  as 


65 


Bounty -jumping. 


Box. 


the  conflict  lengthened  out,  men  be- 
came in  great  request,  and  large 
bounties  were  offered  by  the  North 
for  volunteers.  This  bounty  was 
found  to  be  a  direct  incitement  to  bad 
faith  and  unfair  dealing.  Men  would 
enlist,  receive  their  bounty,  join  their 
regiment,  and  then  decamp,  to  re- 
appear in  another  State,  to  go  through 
the  same  performance,  in  some  cases 
many  times  over. 

Bounty- jumping.  Obtaining  a 
bounty  by  enlisting  and  then  deserting. 

Bourbon.  1.  In  American 
politics  a  Democrat  of  the  straitest 
sect ;  a  fire-eater :  applied,  for  the 
most  part,  to  the  Southern  Democrats 
of  the  old  school  —  uncompromising 
adherents  of  political  tradition  —  be- 
hind the  age,  and  unteachable.  2. 
A  superior  kind  of  whisky  :  originally 
that  manufactured  in  Bourbon,  Ken- 
tucky. 

Bouse,  Bowse,  Booze.  1.  Drink 
or  liquor  of  any  kind  (1667).  2.  A 
drinking  bout,  carouse.  As  verb,  to 
drink  to  excess,  tipple,  swill :  both 
this  and  the  substantive  seem  to  have 
been  known  as  early  as  1300,  but 
neither  came  into  general  use  until  the 
sixteenth  century,  from  which  period 
both  forms  have  become  more  and 
more  colloquial :  see  Lush.  Hence, 
bouser,  a  toper ;  bousing,  hard  drink- 
ing ;  and  bousy,  intoxicated  or 
screwed.  To  bouse  the  jib,  to  tipple, 
drink  heavily :  a  different  word — from 
bouse,  to  haul  with  tackle,  i.e.  to  make 
oneself  tight :  see  Screwed. 

Bousing  Ken.  A  tavern,  inn, 
drinking  den :  now  applied  to  a  low 
public  house :  see  Lush  crib  (1567). 

Bouzy.      See  Boozy. 

Bow.  Two  (or  many)  strings  to 
one's  bow,  an  alternative,  more  re- 
sources than  one  (1562).  To  draw 
the  long  bow,  to  exaggerate,  gas, 
talk  up  (1819).  To  draw  the  bow 
up  to  the  ear,  to  do  a  thing  with  alac- 
rity, put  on  full  steam,  exert  oneself 
to  the  utmost.  The  bent  of  one's  bow, 
one's  intention,  inclination,  disposi- 
tion. To  shoot  in  another's  bow,  to 
undertake  another's  work,  practise  an 
art  or  profession  other  than  one's  own. 
By  the  string  rather  than  the  bow,  in  a 
direct  fashion,  by  the  straightest  way 
to  an  end.  To  bend  (or  bring)  to  one's 
bow,  to  control,  compel  to  one's  will 
or  inclination.  To  come  to  one's  bow, 

\   66 


to  be  complaisant,  become  com- 
pliant. 

B  o  w-c  a  t  c  h  e  r.  A  kiss-curl  :  see 
Aggerawator  :  a  corruption  of  beau- 
catcher. 

Bowdlerize.  To  expurgate  by 
removing  words  or  phrases  considered 
offensive  or  questionable  from  a  book 
or  writing  :  from  Dr.  T.  Bowdler's 
method  in  editing  an  edition  of  Shakes- 
peare, in  which,  to  use  his  own  words, 
Those  .  .  .  expressions  are  omitted 
which  cannot  with  propriety  be  read 
aloud  in  a  family  (1836). 

Bower.     A  prison  :  see  Cage. 

Bowery  Boy,  Bowery  Girl.  The 
'Any  and  'Arriet  of  New  York  of  some 
years  ago  :  the  Bowery  was  the  farm  of 
Governor  Stuyvesant 

Bowlas.  Round  tarts  made  of 
sugar,  apple,  and  bread  (May  hew). 

Bowled.      Croppled(q.v.). 

Bowler.     See  Boler. 

Bowles.       Shoes  :   see  Trotter- 


Bowl  Out  To  overcome,  get  the 
better  of,  defeat  (1812). 

Bowl  -  the  -  hoop,  subs,  (rhyming 
slang).  Soup. 

Bowman.  All's  Bowman,  All's 
well! 

Bowse.     See  Booze. 

Bowsing  Ken.     See  Bousing  ken. 

Bowsprit.  The  nose.  To  have 
one's  bowsprit  in  parenthesis,  to  have  it 
pulled  :  cf.  To  have  one's  head  in 
Coventry. 

Bow-  window.  A  big  belly,  cor- 
poration (q.v.).  Bow-windowed,  big- 
bellied  (1840). 

Bow-wow.  1.  A  childish  name  for 
a  dog  (1800).  2.  A  Bostonian  : 
in  contempt.  3.  A  cavalier,  lover,  spec. 
a  petticoat-dangler  :  cf.  Tame-cat. 

Bow-wow  Mutton.     Dog's  flesh. 

Bow-  wow-  word.  A  term  applied 
sarcastically  by  Max  Mullerto  words 
claimed  as  imitations  of  natural  sounds. 

B  o  w  y  e  r.  One  who  draws  a 
long  bow,  a  dealer  in  the  marvellous, 
a  teller  of  improbable  stories,  a  liar. 

Box.  A  prison  cell.  As  verb 
(Westminster  School),  to  take  posses- 
sion of,  bag.  To  be  in  a  box,  to  be 
cornered,  in  a  fix,  stuck  (or  hung) 
up.  To  be  in  the  wrong  box,  to  be  out 
of  one's  element,  in  a  false  position, 
mistaken  (1555).  On  the  box,  a  man 
when  on  strike  and  in  receipt  of  strike 
pay  is  said  to  be  on  the  box.  To  box 


Box  Hat. 


Brain-crack. 


Harry  (1)  to  take  dinner  and  tea 
together ;  (2)  to  dine  out,  i.e.  to  do 
without  a  meal  at  all.  To  box  the 
compass,  to  repeat  in  succession,  or 
irregularly,  the  thirty-two  points  of 
the  compass ;  beginners,  on  accom- 
plishing this  feat,  are  said  to  be  able 
to  box  the  compass  (1731). 

Box  Hat.     A  silk  hat :  see  Cady. 

Box-irons.  Shoes :  see  Trotter- 
cases  (1789). 

Box  of  Dominoes.  The  mouth. 
[From  box  +  dominoes  (q.v.),  a  slang 
term  for  the  teeth.]  For  synonyms, 
see  Potato-trap. 

Boy.  1.  Champagne,  fiz,  Cham 
(q.v.) :  Fr.,  champ.  [A  story,  ben 
trovato,  is  told  by  the  Sporting  Times 
of  June  30,  1882,  as  regards  the  origin 
of  the  phrase : — At  a  shooting  party 
in  Norfolk  once,  a  youth  was  told  off 
to  supply  the  company  with  cham- 
pagne. The  day  being  hot  and  the 
sportsmen  thirsty,  cries  of  Boy  I 
Boy  !  Boy  !  were  heard  all  day  long. 
This  tickling  the  fancy  of  the  royal  and 
noble  party,  the  term  boy  became 
applied  to  champagne.]  2.  A  hump 
on  a  man's  back:  itis  common  to  speak 
of  a  humpbacked  man  as  two  persons 
— him  and  his  boy.  3.  (Anglo- 
Indian  and  colonial).  A  servant  of 
whatever  age.  Old  boy  (1)  a  familiar 
term  of  address  :  spec,  a  father,  the 
guv' nor,  the  boss;  (2)  The  devil.  Yellow 
boy,  a  guinea ;  also,  one  pound  sterling  : 
see  Rhino.  Angry  (or  roaring  boys), 
a  set  of  young  bucks,  bloods,  or  blades 
(q.v.),  of  noisy  manners  and  fire- 
eating  tastes :  Nares  says,  like  the 
Mohawks  (q.v.)  described  by  the 
Spectator,  they  delighted  to  commit 
outrages  and  get  into  quarrels ;  early 
mention  is  made  of  such  characters ; 
Wilson,  in  his  Life  of  James  I.  (1653), 
gives  an  account  of  their  origin  : — 
The  king  minding  his  sports,  many 
riotous  demeanours  crept  into  the 
kingdom ;  divers  sects  of  vicious 
persons,  going  under  the  title  of  roar- 
ing boys,  bravadoes,  roysterers,  etc., 
commit  many  insolencies  ;  the  streets 
swarm,  night  and  day,  with  bloody 
quarrels,  private  duels  fomented,  etc. 
(1599).  Boys  of  the  holy  ground,  for- 
merly [1800-25]  bands  of  roughs  in- 
festing a  well  -  known  region  in  St. 
Giles  :  see  Holy-land. 

Boycott.  To  combine  in  refusing 
to  hold  relations  of  any  kind,  social  or 


commercial,  public  or  private,  with  a 
person,  on  account  of  political  or  other 
differences,  so  as  to  punish  or  coerce 
him.  The  word  arose  in  the  autumn 
of  1880 — Capt.  Boycott,  an  Irish  land- 
lord, was  the  original  victim — to  de- 
scribe the  action  instituted  by  the  Irish 
LandLeague  toward  those  who  incurred 
its  hostility.  It  was  speedily  adopted 
into  every  European  language (0. E.D.) 

Brace.  To  get  credit  by  swagger. 
To  brace  it  through,  to  succeed  by  dint 
of  sheer  impudence. 

Bracelets.  Handcuffs ;  fetters 
for  the  wrist:  Fr.,  alliances  (properly 
wedding  rings),  also  tartouve  and 
lacets  :  see  Darbies  (1661). 

Brace  of  Shakes.  A  moment, 
jiffy,  twinkling  of  an  eye,  etc. : 
see  Shakes. 

Brace  Up.  1.  To  pawn  stolen  goods 
to  their  utmost  value.  2.  To  take  a 
drink. 

Bracket- faced.  Ugly,  hard- 
featured  (Grose). 

Bracket-mug.     An  ugly  face. 

Brads.  Generic  for  money :  see 
Rhino  (1812).  To  tip  the  brads,  to 
pay,  shell  out. 

Brag.     A  usurer,  Jew. 

Braggadocia.  Three  months'  im- 
prisonment as  a  reputed  thief. 

Brain.  Cuteness,  cleverness,  nous 
(q.v.).  Hence  brainy,  smart,  clever, 
up-to-date.  Phrases :  To  beat  (break, 
busy,  cudgel,  drag,  or  puzzle)  one's 
brains,  to  exert  oneself  to  thought  or 
contrivance.  To  crack  one's  brains, 
to  become  crazy.  On  the  brain,  crazy 
about  (a  matter).  To  turn  one's 
brain,  to  bewilder,  flummox.  A  dry 
brain,  silly,  stupid,  barren  brain.  A 
hot  brain  an  inventive  fancy.  Boiled 
brains,  a  hot-headed  person.  To  bear 
a  brain,  to  be  cautious.  To  suck  (or 
pick)  a  person's  brains,  to  get  and  ap- 
propriate information.  Of  the  same 
brain,  identical  in  conception  or 
doing. 

Brain-pan  (or  Box.)  1.  The  skull, 
or  skull-cap  :  also  Brain-canister ;  the 
Scotch  equivalent  is  Hani  pan  2, 
The  head  (1520). 

A  cunning  devio  . 
A    wriggling    dis- 


Brain-  trick. 

Brain  -  worm, 
putant  (1645). 

Brain  -  brat, 
fancy  (1630), 

Brain-crack, 
bee  (1851). 


A    creature  of  the 
A   craze,  crotchet, 


67 


"Brain-worm. 


freak. 


Brain  -  worm.  A  wriggling  dis- 
putant (1643). 

Bramble.  A  lawyer ;  a  tangle  of 
the  law. 

Bramble-gel  der.  An  agricul- 
turist :  a  Suffolk  term. 

Bran.     A  loaf. 

Branded  Ticket  A  discharge  given 
to  an  infamous  man,  on  which  his 
character  is  given,  and  the  reason  he 
is  turned  out  of  the  service  (Smyth). 

Brandy.  Brandy  is  Latin  for  goose 
(or  for  fish),  this  punning  vulgarism 
appears  first  in  Swift's  Polite  Conversa- 
tion ;  the  pun  is  on  the  word  answer. 
Anscr  is  the  Latin  for  goose,  which 
brandy  follows  as  surely  and  quickly 
as  an  answer  follows  a  question. 

Brandy  Face.  A  tippler,  drunkard : 
spec,  one  whose  favourite  drink  is 
brandy:  see  Lushington  (1687). 

Brandy-faced.   Red-faced,  bloated. 

Brandy  Pawnee.  Brandy  and 
water  (1816). 

Brandy  Smash.  An  American 
drink  of  brandy  and  crushed  ice. 

Bran-mash.  Bread  sopped  in  coffee 
or  tea. 

Brass.  1.  Impudence,  effrontery, 
unblushing  hardness,  shamelessness, 
etc.  (1594).  2.  Generic  for  money: 
see  Rhino  (1526). 

Brass-  basin.  A  barber,  surgeon- 
barber  (1599). 

Brass-face.     An  impudent  person. 

Brass-bound  and  Copper  Fast- 
ened. Said  of  a  lad  dressed  in  a 
midshipman's  uniform  (W.  Clark 
Russell). 

Brass-bounder.     A  midshipman. 

Brasser  (Christ's  Hospital).  A 
bully. 

Brass  Farthing  (or  Farde).  The 
lowest  limit  of  value  (1642). 

Brass  Knocker.  Broken  victuals, 
the  remains  of  a  meal :  specially  ap- 
plied by  beggars  to  the  scraps  often 
bestowed  upon  them  in  place  of  money. 

Brass-plate  Merchant  A  dealer 
who  merely  procures  orders  for  coal, 
gets  some  merchant  who  buys  in  the 
market  to  execute  them  in  his  name, 
and  manages  to  make  a  living  by  the 
profits  of  these  transactions  (May hew). 

Brassy.  Impudent,  impertinent, 
shameless  (1570). 

Brat  1.  A  child  :  almost  invari- 
ably in  contempt  (1505).  2.  A  rag, 
shabby  clothes,  or  other  articles  that 
arc  mere  rags. 


Brattery.      A  nursery  ( 1 788). 

Bratful.     An  apronful. 

Brazen-faced.  Shameless,  impud- 
ent, unblushing,  with  a  face  as  of  brass, 
or  as  if  rubbed  with  a  brass  candlestick 
(1571). 

Bread.  Employment  Out  of 
bread,  out  of  work.  Phrases :  To  know 
on  which  side  one's  bread  is  buttered, 
to  recognise  one's  interests.  To 
take  the  oread  out  of  one's  mouth,  to 
deprive  of  the  means  of  livelihood. 
Bread  buttered  on  both  sides,  the  height 
of  good  fortune,  the  best  of  luck.  No 
bread  and  butter  of  mine,  no  concern 
(or  business)  of  mine  (1764). 

Bread-artist  One  working  merely 
to  gain  a  living :  cf.  Potboiler. 

Bread  and  Butter  Warehouse, 
phr.  (old).  Ranelagh  Gardens. 

Bread-and-cheese.  Plain  living, 
needful  food. 

Bread  and  Meat  The  commis- 
sariat 

Bread  Bags.  A  nickname  given 
in  the  army  and  navy  to  any  one  con- 
nected with  the  victualling  depart- 
ment, as  a  purser  or  purveyor  in  the 
commissariat :  at  one  time  called 
muckers :  Fr.,  riz-pain-sel. 

Bread-barge.  The  distributing 
basket  or  tray  containing  the  rations 
of  biscuits. 

Bread-basket  The  stomach.  Eng- 
lish synonyms:  bread-room,  dumpling- 
depot,  victualling-office,  porridge- bowl 
(1735). 

Bread-picker  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). The  four  senior  prefects  used 
to  appoint  juniors  to  this  office, 
which  was  nominal,  but  which  carried 
with  it  exemption  from  fagging  at 
meal  times.  No  notion  book  states 
in  what  the  office  consisted,  but  it  is 
supposed  that  it  relates  to  times  when 
juniors  had  to  secure  the  bread,  etc., 
served  out  for  their  masters. 

Bread-room.  The  stomach,  bread- 
basket (1760)  (q.v.). 

Bread -room  Jack.  A  purser's 
servant 

Break.  1.  A  collection  (of  money) 
usually  got  up  by  a  prisoner's  friends, 
either  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his  de- 
fence, or  as  a  lift  when  leaving  prison. 
2.  Formerly  and  more  generally  ap- 
plied to  a  pause  in  street  performances 
to  enable  the  hat  to  be  passed  round : 
cf.  Lead.  Tn  l>rmk  one's  barl\  tobecome 
bankrupt  (1601).  To  break  one's  egg: 


Break-down. 


Bridge. 


see  Crack  one's  egg.  Tobreak  out  all  over 
(or  in  a  fresh  spot),  expressions  in  com- 
mon use — in  the  one  case  conveying 
an  idea  of  completeness ;  and,  in  the 
other,  of  commencing  some  new  under- 
taking, or  assuming  a  different  posi- 
tion whether  in  an  argument  or  action. 
To  break  shins,  to  borrow  money. 
To  break  the  balls,  to  commence  play- 
ing. To  break  the  molasses  jug,  to  come 
to  grief,  to  make  a  mistake.  To  break 
the  neck  or  back  of  anything,  to  ac- 
complish the  major  portion  of  a  task, 
be  near  the  end  of  an  undertaking,  be 
past  the  middle  of  same.  To  break  a 
straw  with,  to  fall  out  with.  To  break 
a  lance  with,  to  enter  into  competition 
with.  To  break  Priscian's  head,  to 
violate  the  laws  of  grammar.  To 
break  the  neck  of  a  thing  (or  matter),  to 
get  through  the  serious  part  of  it. 
To  break  the  ice,  to  commence,  prepare 
the  way.  To  break  no  squares,  to  do 
no  harm. 

Break-down.  1.  A  measure  of  liquor. 
2.  A  noisy  dance,  a  convivial  gather- 
ing :  the  term  was,  at  first,  specially 
applied  to  a  negro  dance,  but  is  now 
in  general  use  in  England  in  a  humor- 
ous sense.  To  break  down,  to  dance 
riotously,  be  boisterous,  spreeish. 

Break-o'-day  Drum.  A  drinking 
saloon  which  keeps  its  doors  open  aU 
night. 

Breaky-leg.  1.  Intoxicating 
drink  ;  see  Drinks.  2.  A  shilling. 

Breast  Fleet.  Roman  Catholics  ; 
from  their  practice  of  crossing  them- 
selves on  the  breast  as  an  act  of  devo- 
tion (Grose). 

Breath.  Change  your  breath,  an 
injunction  to  adopt  a  different  manner 
or  bearing.  An  offensive,  slang  ex- 
pression which,  originating  in  Cali- 
fornia, quickly  ran  its  course  through 
the  Union. 

Breath-bubble.  An  empty  thing, 
trifle  (1835). 

Breath-seller.  LA  perfumer 
(1601).  2.  A  paid  speaker. 

Breech.  To  flog :  formerly  in 
literary  use,  but  now  fallen  into  des- 
uetude (1557). 

Breeched.  Well  off,  with  plenty  of 
money  ;  well  breeched,  in  good  circum- 
stances: cf.  Ballasted.  Fr.,  deculotte 
(= bankrupt,  i.e.  unbreeched). 

Breeches.  Ironically  applied  to  the 
Commonwealth  coinage ;  suggested 
by  the  arrangement  of  two  shields 


on  the  reverse  side  of  the  coin.  To 
wear  the  breeches,  to  usurp  a  husband's 
prerogative,  be  master  (1450) :  cf. 
the  grey  mare  is  the  better  horse  of 
the  two. 

Breeching.  A  flogging  (q.v.), 
formerly  in  general  use  (1520). 

Breef.     See  Brief. 

Breeze.  A  row,  quarrel,  disturb- 
ance, coolness  (Grose). 

Brekker.     Breakfast. 

Brevet  Hell.  A  battle :  the  term 
originated  during  the  American  Civil 
War. 

Brevet-wife.  A  woman  who  takes 
a  man's  name,  and  enjoys  all  the 
privileges  of  a  wife. 

Brew  (Marlborough  School).  To 
make  afternoon  tea. 

Brewer's  Horse.  A  drunkard:  see 
Lushington. 

Brian  o'  Linn.     GUI  :  see  Drinks. 

Briar,  Brier.     A  brier-wood  pipe. 

Brick.  A  good  fellow ;  one  whose 
staunchness  and  loyalty  commend  him 
to  his  fellows  :  said  to  be  of  University 
origin,  the  simile  being  drawn  from 
the  classics  (1835).  As  verb,  to  pun- 
ish a  man  by  bringing  the  knees  close 
up  to  the  chin,  and  lashing  the  arms 
tightly  to  the  knees  —  a  species  of 
trussing.  Like  a  brick  (like  bricks,  or 
like  a  thousand  of  bricks),  with  energy, 
alacrity,  thoroughly,  vehemently  and 
with  much  display.  Brick  in  the  hat, 
top  -  heavy,  inability  to  preserve  a 
steady  gait:  of  drunken  men. 

Brick- duster.     See  Brick-fielder. 

Brickdusts.  The  Fifty-third 
Regiment  of  Foot,  now  The  King's 
(Shropshire  Light  Infantry),  from  its 
facings. 

Brickfielder  (or  Brickduster).  In 
Sydney  the  name  given  to  a  dust  or 
sand  storm  brought  by  southerly 
winds  from  sand  hills  locally  known 
as  the  Brickfields — hence  the  name : 
also  the  Buster  or  Southerly  Burster. 

Bricklayer.     A  clergyman. 

Bricklayer's  Clerk.  A  lubberly 
sailor. 

Bricks  (Wellington  College).  A 
sort  of  pudding. 

BrickWall.  To  run  one's  head 
against  a  brick  wall,  to  pursue  a  course 
obstinately  to  certain  disaster,  ruin, 
or  death. 

Bridge.  A  cheating  trick  at 
cards,  by  which  any  particular  card 
is  cut  by  previously  curving  it  by  the 


69 


Bridle-cull. 


Broiled  Crow. 


pressure  of  tho  hand :  Fr.,le  pont  gee. 
To  throw  a  person  over  the  bridge,  to 
deceive  him  by  betraying  the  con- 
fidence he  has  reposed  in  you.  Betide 
the  bridge,  off  the  track,  astray.  A 
gold  (or  silver)  bridge,  an  easy  way  of 
escape. 

Bridle-cull.   A  highwayman  (1754). 

Bridport  (or  Brydport)  Dagger. 
The  hangman's  rope.  To  be  stabbed 
with  a  Bridport  dagger,  to  be  hanged 
(16881 

Brief.  1.  A  ticket  of  any  kind — 
railway  pass,  pawnbroker's  duplicate, 
raffle  ticket  2.  A  pocket  book.  Hence 
briefless,  ticketless. 

Briefs  (or  Breefs).  Prepared  cards 
( 1 529 ).  [Take  a  pack  of  cards  and  open 
them,  then  take  out  all  the  honours 
.  .  .  and  cut  a  little  from  the  edges  of 
the  rest  all  alike,  so  as  to  make  the 
honours  broader  than  the  rest,  so  that 
when  your  adversary  cuts  to  you,  you 
are  certain  of  an  honour.  When  you 
cut  to  your  adversary  cut  at  the  ends, 
and  then  it  is  a  chance  if  you  cut  him 
an  honour,  because  the  cards  at  the 
ends  are  all  of  a  length.  Thus  you 
may  make  breefs  end-ways  as  well  as 
side-ways]  (Hotten). 

Brief -snatcher.  A  pocket-book 
thief  (q.v.). 

Brier  (or  Briar).  In  pi.  difficulty, 
trouble,  vexation.  In  the  briars,  in 
trouble  (1509). 

Brigh.      A  pocket,  cly,  skyrocket. 

Bright  Bright  in  the  eye,  tipsy : 
see  Screwed. 

Brighton  Tipper.  A  particular 
brew  of  ale. 

Brim.  A  prostitute :  i.e.  Brim- 
stone (q.v.)  (1730).  2.  An  angry, 
violent  woman,  or  a  termagant,  with- 
out reference  to  moral  character. 

Brimstone.  1.  A  violent  tempered 
woman,  virago,  spitfire  (1712).  2.  A 
prostitute. 

Briney  (or  Briny).  The  sea  ( 1856). 
English  synonyms,  herring  pond,  big 
pond,  big  drink,  the  puddle,  Davy's 
locker. 

Bring.  To  bring  down  the  house, 
to  elicit  loud  applause ;  and,  figur- 
atively, to  be  successful  (1754). 

Brisket- beater.  A  Roman  Catholic: 
cf.  Breast-fleet,  and  Craw-thumper 
(Grose). 

Bristle.  To  set  up  one's  bristles, 
to  show  temper. 

Bristle    Dice    or    Bristles,    subs. 


A  method  of  cogging  dice  by  inserting 
bristles  into  them,  and  thus  influencing 
the  position  of  the  cubes  when  thrown 
(1562). 

Bristol  Milk.  Sherry :  formerly 
a  large  import  of  the  city  of  Bristol : 
see  Drinks  (1644). 

Broach.  To  broach  claret,  to 
draw  blood. 

Broad.  Knowing,  cute,  smart : 
cf.  Wide.  Phrases :  In  the  broad  or  the 
long,  in  one  way  or  another.  It's  as 
broad  as  it's  long,  there's  no  difference, 
there's  not  a  pin  to  choose  between 
them. 

Broad  and  Shallow.  An 
epithet  applied  to  the  Broad  Church 
party,  in  contradistinction  to  the 
High  and  Low  Churches :  see  High 
and  dry. 

Broadbottoms.  A  nickname  of 
two  Coalition  Governments,  one  in  the 
last  century  [1741],  and  the-  other  in 
1807. 

Broadbrim.  A  Quaker :  the  origin 
of  this  expression  is  to  be  found  in  the 
hat  once  peculiar  to  the  Society  of 
Friends  (1712). 

Broad  -  cooper.  A  person  em- 
ployed by  brewers  to  negotiate  with 
publicans. 

Broad  Cove.  A  card  -  sharper : 
FT.,  bremeur  (1821). 

Broad-faking.  Playing  at 
cards :  spec,  work  of  the  three  card 
and  kindred  descriptions. 

Broad-fencer.  A  k'rect  card  vendor. 

Broads.     Playing  cards  ( 1 789). 

Broadsman.     A  card-sharper. 

Broady  1.  Cloth:  a  corruption 
of  broadcloth  (1851).  2.  Anything 
worth  stealing. 

Broady  Worker.  A  man  who  goes 
round  selling  shoddy  stuff  under  the 
pretence  that  it  is  excellent  material, 
which  has  been  got  on  the  cross,  i.e. 
stolen. 

Brock  (Winchester  College).  To 
bully,  tease,  badger. 

Brockster  (Winchester  College).  A 
bully. 

Brogues  (Christ's  Hospital). 
Breeches :  in  reality  an  obsolete  old 
English  term  which  has  survived 
among  the  Blues. 

Broiled  (or  Boiled)  Crow.  To  eat 
boiled  crow,  a  newspaper  editor,  who  is 
obliged  by  his  party,  or  other  outside 
influences,  to  advocate  principles  dif- 
ferent from  those  which  he  supported 


70 


Broke. 


Bruise. 


a  short  time  before,  is  said  to  eat 
boiled  crow. 

Broke.  Dead  broke  (or  stone 
broke),  ruined,  decayed,  hard  up — of 
health  or  pecuniary  circumstances : 
Fr.,  pas  un  radis. 

Broken  Feather  in  One's  Wing. 
A  blot  on  one's  character. 

Broken-kneed  (or  legged). 
Seduced. 

Brolly.  An  umbrella :  first  used 
at  Winchester  and  subsequently 
adopted  at  both  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge Universities. 

Broncho.  Unruly,  wild,  savage : 
from  the  name  of  the  native  horse  of 
California,  a  somewhat  tricky  and  un- 
certain quadruped ;  familiarly  applied 
to  horses  that  buck  and  show  other 
signs  of  vice  :  the  Spanish  signification 
of  the  word  is  rough  and  crabbed  little 
beast,  and  in  truth  he  deserves  this 
name. 

Broncho-buster.  A  breaker-in  of 
bronchos,  a  flash-rider. 

Bronze  John.  A  Texas  name  for 
yellow  fever ;  commonly  called  Yel- 
low Jack  (q.v.). 

Broom,  subs.  (old).  A  warrant 
(1815).  As  verb,  to  runaway:  see  Bunk. 

Broomstick.  A  sort  of  rough 
cricket  bat,  very  narrow  in  the  blade  : 
all  of  one  piece  of  wood.  To  jump 
the  broomstick  (hop  the  broom,  jump 
the  besom),  to  go  through  a  quasi 
marriage  ceremony  by  jumping  over 
a  broomstick  (1774). 

Broomsticks.  Worthless  bail, 
straw-bail  (1812). 

Brosier  (or  Brozier)  (Eton  Col- 
lege). A  boy  when  he  had  spent  all 
his  pocket  money  :  brozier  is  Cheshire 
for  bankrupt.  Broziered,  cleaned  out, 
done  up,  mined,  bankrupt  (1796). 
Brozier-my-dame  (Eton  College),  eat- 
ing one  out  of  house  and  home  :  when 
a  dame  (q.v.)  keeps  an  unusually  bad 
table,  the  boys  agree  together  on  a 
day  to  eat,  pocket,  or  waste  every- 
thing eatable  in  the  house.  The 
censure  is  well  understood,  and  the 
hint  is  generally  effective  (1850). 

Broth.  Breath.  To  make  white 
broth  of,  to  boil  to  death.  A  broth  of 
a  boy,  a  downright  good  fellow. 

Brother  -  blade.  A  soldier  :  see 
Mudcrusher  (Grose). 

Brother  Chip.  One  of  the  same 
calling  or  trade :  formerly  a  fellow- 
carpenter  (1820). 


Brother  of  the  Brush.  An  artist,  a 
house- painter  (1687). 

Brother  of  the  Bung.  A  brewer ; 
one  of  the  same  trade. 

Brother  of  the  Buskin.  A  player, 
actor — one  of  the  same  profession. 

Brother  of  the  Coif.  A  serjeant- 
at-law  :  the  coif  was  a  close-fitting  cap 
worn  by  the  serjeants-at-law  (Grose). 

Brother  of  the  Quill.  An  author 
(1754). 

Brother  of  the  String.     A  fiddler. 

Brother  of  the  Whip.  A  coachman 
(1756). 

Brother  -  smut  A  term  of  famili- 
arity :  e.g.  Ditto,  brother  or  sister 
smut,  tu  quoque. 

Brpughtonian.  A  bruiser,  boxer, 
pugilist :  from  Broughton,  once  the 
best  boxer  of  his  day. 

Brown.  1.  A  halfpenny :  see 
Rhino  (1812).  2.  Porter:  an  ab- 
breviation of  Brown  Stout.  As  verb, 

(1)  to  do  brown,  to  get  the  better  of  ; 

(2)  to  understand,  comprehend.     To 
do  broum,  to  do  well,  take  in,  deceive, 
exceed  bounds  (1600). 

Brown  Bess.  1.  Yes.  2.  The  old 
regulation  musket.  3.  A  prostitute 
(1631).  To  hug  broum  Bess,  to  serve 
as  a  private  soldier. 

Brown  George.  1.  A  wig,  of  the 
colour  of  over- baked  ginger-bread : 
modish  during  the  latter  half  of  the 
last  century.  2.  A  jug :  generally  of 
brown  earthenware :  cf.  Black-jack. 
3.  A  coarse  brown  loaf,  or  hard  biscuit 
(1653). 

Brownie.     The  polar  bear. 

Brown  Janet.     A  knapsack. 

B  r  o  w  n  J  o  e.  No  :  cf.  Brown 
Bess,  Yes. 

Brown  -  paperman.  A  gambler 
in  pence. 

Brown-paper  warrant.  A  warrant 
given  by  a  captain  :  this  he  can  cancel 
(Smyth). 

Brown  Stone.     Beer  :  see  Drinks. 

Brown-study.  Mental  abstraction, 
musing,  thoughtful  absentminded- 
ness,  idle  reverie. 

Brown  Talk.  Conversation  of 
an  exceedingly  proper  character :  cf. 
Blue 

Browse.  To  idle,  loll,  take 
things  easy.  A  browse  morning,  one 
in  which  there  is  little  work. 

Bruise.  To  fight,  box  —  gen- 
erally with  the  idea  of  mauling.  To 
bruise  along,  to  pound  along. 


71 


Bruiser. 


Buck. 


Bruiser.  1.  A  prize-fighter, 
boxer  (  1  744).  2.  A  prostitute's  bully. 
S.  One  fond  of  fighting.  4.  Generic  for 
a  rowdy  or  buDy  :  sometimes,  how- 
ever, limited  in  its  application  to  a 
particular  band  of  ruffians,  as  once 
in  Baltimore. 

Bruising.  Prize  -  fighting,  boxing 
(1767). 

B  r  u  m.  1.  A  counterfeit  com  : 
contracted  form  of  Brummagem  (q.v.), 
spec,  counterfeit  groats  (about  1691). 

2.  Anything  counterfeit,  not  genuine. 

3.  Copper  money  struck  by  Boulton 
and   Watt  at  their  works  at  Soho, 
Birmingham  (1787).     4.  An  inhabit- 
ant of  Birmingham.      As  adj.  (Win- 
chester College),  mean,  poor,  stingy  : 
the  superlative  is  dead  brum. 

Brumby.  A  wild  horse  :  the  Anti- 
podean counterpart  of  the  American 
broncho. 

Brummagem.  1.  Birmingham.  2. 
Base  money  of  various  denominations 
—especially  groats  in  17th  century  — 
hence  anything  spurious  or  unreal 
(1691).  As  adj.,  counterfeit,  unreal, 
sham,  showy,  pretentious  (1637). 

Brummagem  Buttons.  Counter- 
feit coin  (1836). 

Brummish.  Doubtful,  counterfeit 
(1805). 

B  r  u  m  s.  London  and  North 
Western  Stock  :  formerly  the  London 
and  Birmingham  Railway. 

Brush.  1.  See  Brother  of  the 
Brush.  2.  A  hasty  departure  (1750). 
3.  A  person  who  decamps  hastily,  or 
who  evades  his  creditors  (1748).  As 
verb,  (1)  to  flog,  thrash  :  e.g.  to  brush 
one's  jacket:  cf.  Dust;  (2)  to  run  away, 
decamp  :  also  to  brush  off  (1696). 

Brusher.  1.  A  full  glass.  2.  One 
that  gets  or  steals  away  privately 
(Dyche).  3.  A  schoolmaster.  As 
verb,  to  humbug  by  flattery.  To 
brush  tip  a  flat,  to  use  mealy-mouthed 
words,  lay  it  on  thick,  soft  soap  (q.v.). 

Brute.  A  man  who  has  not  yet 
matriculated  :  the  play  is  evident  —  A 
man,  in  college  phrase,  is  a  collegian  ; 
and  as  matriculation  is  the  sign  and 
seal  of  acceptance,  a  scholar  before 
that  ceremony  is  not  a  man,  only  a 
biped  brute. 

Brydport   Dagger.     See   Bridport 


.  T.  I.  An  abbreviation  of  A  big 
thing  on  ice  :  cf.  P.D.Q.,  O.K.,  N.G., 
andQ.K. 


Bub.  1.  Strong  drink  of  any 
kind :  usually  applied  to  malt  liquor. 
To  take  bub  and  grub,  to  eat  and  drink 
(1671).  2.  A  woman's  breast:  gen- 
erally in  plural— bubbles  (q.v.).  3. 
A  brother.  4.  A  term  of  affection 
applied  to  a  little  boy  :  also  a  familiar 
address.  5.  An  abbreviated  form  of 
bubble  (q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  to  drink 
(1671) ;  (2)  to  bribe,  cheat:  cf.  Bub- 
ble (1719). 

Bubber.  1.  A  hard  drinker,  con- 
firmed tippler:  see  Lushington:  FT., 
bibassier  (1653).  2.  A  drinking  bowl 
( 1696).  3.  A  public-house  thief  (1 785). 
4.  An  old  woman  with  large  pendulous 
breasts. 

Bubbies.  A  woman's  breasts 
(1686). 

B  u  b  b  i  n  g.  Drinking,  tippling 
(1678). 

Bubble.  A  dupe,  gull,  caravan 
(q.v.);  and  rook  (q.v.)  (1598).  As 
verb,  to  cheat,  humbug,  delude  aa 
with  bubbles,  to  overreach  (1664). 

Bubbleable.  That  can  be  duped, 
gullible  (1669). 

Bubble  and  Squeak.  Cold  meat 
fried  up  with  potatoes  and  greens 
(Grose). 

Bubble-buff.     A  bailiff. 

Bubble  Company.  A  swindling 
association,  enterprise,  or  project : 
the  South  Sea  Bubble  will  occur  to 
mind  (1754). 

Bubbled.  Gulled,  deceived,  be- 
fooled (1683). 

Bubbling-squeak.     Hot  soup. 

Bubbly  Jock.  1.  A  turkey  cock, 
gobbler  (Grose).  2.  A  stupid  boaster. 
3.  A  pert,  conceited,  pragmatical 
fellow  ;  a  prig  ;  a  cad. 

Bubby.     See  Bub  and  Bubbies. 

Bucco.     A  dandy,  buck  (q.v.). 

Buck,  1.  In  the  first  instance  a 
man  of  spirit  or  gaiety  of  conduct ; 
later  a  fop,  a  dandy  (1725).  2.  An 
unlicensed  cabdriver  :  also  a  sham  fare 
(1851).  3.  A  sixpence  :  thought  to  be 
a  corruption  of  fyebuck  (q.v.) :  rarely 
used  by  itself,  but  denotes  the  sixpence 
attached  to  shillings  in  reference  to 
cost,  aa,  three  and  a  buck,  three  shil- 
lings and  sixpence :  see  Rhino.  4. 
A  large  marble.  5.  A  term  used  in 
poker.  As  adj.,  at  Princeton  College 
anything  which  is  of  an  intensive 
degree,  good,  excellent,  pleasant  or 
agreeable,  is  called  buck.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  oppose,  run  counter  to ;  (2)  Ap- 


72 


Buck  Bait. 


Bufe. 


plied  to  horses  this  term  describes  the 
action  of  plunging  forward  and  throw- 
ing the  head  to  the  ground  in  an 
effort  to  unseat  the  rider.  (3)  To  cook 
(q.v.) :  of  accounts.  (4)  To  play 
against  the  bank,  usually,  to  buck  the 
tiger.  (5)  To  put  forth  one's  whole 
energy.  To  run  a  buck,  to  poll  a  bad 
vote  at  an  election  (Orose).  To  buck 
(or  fight)  the  tiger,  to  gamble.  To 
buck  down  (Winchester  College),  to  be 
sorry,  unhappy.  To  be  bucked,  to  be 
tired.  To  buck  up  (Winchester  Col- 
lege), to  be  glad,  pleased :  the  usual 
expression  is  Oh,  buck  up,  a  phrase 
which  at  Westminster  School  would 
have  a  very  different  meaning,  namely 
exert  yourself ;  at  Uppingham  to  be 
bucked  (q.v.)  is  to  be  tired. 

Buck  Bait.  Bail  given  by  a  con- 
federate. 

Buckeen.  1.  A  bully  (Orose).  2.  A 
younger  son  of  the  poorer  aristocracy. 

Bucket.  An  anonymous  letter. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  ride  hard,  not  to  spare 
one's  beast ;  (2)  to  cheat,  ruin,  deceive 
(1812) ;  (3)  to  take  the  water  unfairly 
— with  a  scoop  at  the  beginning  of  the 
stroke  instead  of  a  steady  even  pull 
throughout.  To  give  the  bucket,  to 
dismiss  from  one's  employment,  send 
a  person  about  his  business  :  see  Bag 
and  Sack.  To  kick  the  bucket,  to  die  : 
the  bucket  here  is  thought  to  refer  to  a 
Norfolk  term  for  a  pulley  ;  when  pigs 
are  killed  they  are  hung  by  their  hind 
legs  on  a  bucket  (Grose). 

Bucket-afloat.     A  coat. 

Bucket  Shop.  1.  A  stock  gambling 
den  carried  on  in  opposition  to  regular 
exchange  business,  and  usually  of  a 
more  than  doubtful  character.  2.  A 
low  groggery,  lottery  office,  gambling 
den,  etc. 

Buckeye.  A  native  of  Ohio. 
Buck-eye  State,  Ohio. 

Buck  Face.     A  cuckold. 

Buck  Fitch.     An  old  rou6. 

Buckhara.  A  cattle-driver,  cow- 
boy. 

Buckhorse.  A  smart  blow,  box 
on  the  ear :  from  the  name  of  a  cele- 
brated bruiser  of  that  name ;  Buck- 
horse  was  a  man  who  either  possessed 
or  professed  insensibility  to  pain,  and 
who  would  for  a  small  sum  allow  any- 
one to  strike  him  with  the  utmost  force 
on  the  side  of  the  face  ;  his  real  name 
was  John  Smith,  and  he  fought  in 
public  1732-46. 


Buckish.  Foppish,  dandyish 
(1782). 

Buck  -  jump.  A  jump  made  in 
buck  (q.v.)  fashion. 

Buckle.  1.  To  marry  (1693). 
2.  To  buckle  to,  to  undertake,  grapple 
with,  slip  in,  work  vigorously  (1557). 
To  buckle  down,  to  settle  down,  be- 
come reconciled  to,  knuckle  down 
(q.v.). 

Buckle-beggar.  A  Fleet  parson; 
also  one  who  celebrated  irregular 
marriages,  a  hedge  priest,  one  who 
undertook  similar  offices  for  gipsies 
and  tramps  (1700). 

Buckle- bosom.  A  catchpoll,  con- 
stable. 

Buckled.     Arrested,  scragged. 

Buckler.     A  collar. 

Bucklers.    Fetters.     See  Darbies. 

Buckram.  Men  in  buckram,  non- 
existent persons :  in  allusion  to  Fal- 
staff's  four  men  in  buckram. 

Bucksome  (Winchester  College). 
Happy,  in  a  state  of  buck-uppishness  : 
see  Buck-up. 

Bud.  An  endearment :  of  children 
or  young  persons. 

Budge.     1.  A  pick -pocket  (1671). 

2.  An  accomplice  who  gains  access  to  a 
building  during  the  day  for  the  pur- 
pose of  being  locked  in,  so  that  he  can, 
when  night  comes,  admit  his  fellow 
thieves:   also  sneaking  -  budge  (1752). 

3.  Drink,  liquor  :  see  Drinks.     Budgy, 
drunk.     Budging-ken,  a  public  house. 
Cove  of  the  budging-ken,  a  publican. 
Budger,  a  drunkard  (1821).     As  verb, 
to  move,  to  make  tracks. 

B  u  d  g  e  -  a  -  beake.  To  run  away 
(presumably  from  justice) :  cf.  to  bilk 
the  blues  (q.v.)  (1610). 

Budger.  A  drunkard:  see  Lush- 
ington. 

Budget.  To  open  one's  budget,  to 
speak  one's  mind. 

Budging  -  ken.  A  public  house : 
see  Lush-crib  (1821). 

Budgy.  Drunk,  intoxicated:  see 
Screwed. 

Bud  of  Promise.  A  young  un- 
married woman :  see  Rosebud  and 
Bud. 

Buenos  Ayres.  The  Royal  Crescent 
at  Margate  at  the  extreme  end  of  the 
town  used  to  be  so  called  :  the  houses 
remained  unfinished  for  a  very  con- 
siderable time  (H.  J.  Byron). 

Bufe.  A  dog:  from  the  sound  of 
its  bark  (1567). 


73 


Bufe-nabber. 


Bug-juice. 


Bufe  -  nabber  (or  napper).  A  dog 
thief  (q.v.)  (Grose). 

Buff.  1.  The  bare  skin  (1054). 
2.  A  man,  fellow:  also  Buffer  (q.v.) 
(1708).  3.  Foolish  talk  (1721).  To 
buff  it,  (1)  to  swear  to,  adhere  to  a 
statement  hard  and  fast,  stand  firm : 
also  to  buff  it  home  (1812) ;  (2)  to  strip, 
bare  oneself  to  the  buff  or  skin  (1581). 
In  buff,  naked,  in  a  state  of  nudity 
(1602).  To  stand  buff,  to  stand  the 
brunt,  pay  the  piper,  endure  without 
flinching  (1680).  To  say  neither  buff 
nor  baff  (not  to  say  buff  to  a  wolfs 
shadow,  or  to  know  neither  buff  nor 
stye),  to  say  neither  one  thing  nor 
another,  to  know  nothing  at  all. 

B  u  ff  a  r  d.  A  foolish  fellow :  cf. 
Buffle. 

Buff  -  coat.  A  soldier,  one  who 
wears  a  buff  coat  (1670). 

Buffer.  1.  A  dog:  this  term  in 
varying  forms  from  1567  down  to  the 
present  time — Harman  gives  it  as  bufe 
(1567)  and  bufa  (1573) ;  Rowlands  as 
buffa  (1610) ;  Head  as  bugher  (1673) ; 
whilst  in  The  Memorials  of  John  Hall  it 
first  appears  as  buffer.  2.  A  man,  fellow 
— sometimes  with  a  slightly  contempt- 
uous meaning ;  generally  speaking  a 
familiar  mode  of  address,  as  in  Old 
Buffer,  although  even  this  form  may 
be  used  disparagingly  (1749).  3.  A 
boxer,  one  of  the  fancy  (1819).  4. 
A  rogue  that  kills  good  sound  horses 
only  for  their  skins  (B.  E.).  5.  One 
who  took  a  false  oath  for  a  considera- 
tion. 6.  A  pistol  (1824).  7.  A  smuggler, 
rogue,  cheat  8.  A  boatswain's  mate, 
one  of  whose  duties  it  is — or  was — to 
administer  the  Cat.  9.  A  stammerer 
(1382). 

Buff  Howards.  The  Third 
Regiment  of  Foot,  now  the  East  Kent 
Regiment ;  also  The  Buffs  :  from  its 
facings  and  Colonel  from  1737  to  1749  ; 
also  the  Nut-crackers  (q.v.) ;  and  the 
Resurrectionists  (q.v.),  from  its  re- 
appearing at  the  Battle  of  Albucra 
after  being  dispersed  by  the  Polish 
Lancers  ;  also  the  Old  Buffs,  from  its 
facings,  and  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
31st,  the  Young  Buffs  ;  but  the  most 
ancient  Old  Buffs  were  the  Duke  of  York 
and  Albany's  Maritime  Regiments 
raised  in  1664,  and  incorporated  into 
the  2nd  or  Coldstream  Guards  in  1689. 

Buffle.  A  fool,  a  stupid  person: 
Murray  quotes  it  as  occurring  in  1655, 
but  the  term  was  in  use  in  1580. 


Buffle-  head.  An  ignoramus,  stupid, 
obtuse  fellow  (1659). 

Buffleheaded.  Stupid.idiotic.foolish. 

Buffo.  A  comic  actor,  singer  in 
comic  opera  (or  burlesque)  (1764). 

Buffs  (The).  The  Third  Regiment 
of  Foot  in  the  British  army :  see  Buff 
Howards. 

Buff  y.     Intoxicated :  see  Screwed. 

Bug.  1.  A  breast-pin.  2.  An 
Englishman  (old  Irish) :  Grose  says, 
because  bugs  were  introduced  into 
Ireland  by  Englishmen  !  !  3.  In  the 
United  States  bug  is  not  confined, 
as  in  England,  to  the  domestic  pest, 
but  is  applied  to  all  insects  of  the 
Coleoptera  order,  which  includes  what 
in  this  country  are  generally  called 
beetles.  4.  A  person  of  assumed  im- 
portance (1771) ;  big  bug  (q.v.),  a  per- 
son of  wealth  or  distinction  ;  thence 
cattle  -  bug,  a  wealthy  stock  -  raiser  ; 
gold -bug,  a  monied  man.  Fire-bug, 
an  incendiary.  That  beats  the  bugs, 
a  high  mead  of  praise,  that  beata 
cock  -  fighting.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  among 
journeymen  hatters,  to  exchange  dear 
materials  for  others  of  less  value : 
Hats  were  composed  of  the  furs  and 
wools  of  diverse  animals,  among  which 
is  a  small  portion  of  bever's  fur — 
bugging  is  stealing  the  bever,  and 
substituting  in  lieu  thereof  an  equal 
weight  of  some  cheaper  ingredient 
(Qrose).  (2)  to  bribe  :  bailiffs  accept- 
ing money  to  delay  service  were  said 
to  bug  the  writ ;  (3)  to  give,  hand  over, 
deliver  (1812). 

Bugaboo.  1.  A  sheriffs  officer 
(Grose).  2.  A  tally-man.  3.  A  weekly 
creditor. 

Bugaroch.  Pretty,  comely,  hand- 
some (Grose). 

Bug- blinding.    Whitewashing. 

Bugger.  1.  A  thief  (q.v.),  one 
who  steals  breast-pins  from  drunken 
men.  2.  A  man,  a  fellow :  a  coarse 
term  of  abuse  with  little  reference  to 
the  legal  meaning  :  the  French  has  an 
exact  equivalent :  equivalent  to  bitch 
(q.v.),  as  applied  to  women  (1719). 

Buggy.     A  leather  bottle. 

Bugher.     See  Buffer. 

Bug-hunter.  1.  A  thief  who 
plunders  drunken  men.  2.  An 
upholsterer  (Lexicon  Balatronicum). 

B  u  g  -  j  u  i  c  e.  1.  Ginger  ale.  2. 
The  Schlechter  whisky  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Dutch — a  very  inferior  spirit : 
also  bug-poison. 


74 


Bugle. 


Butt. 


Bugle.  To  bugle  it.  To  abstain 
from  going  into  class  until  the  last 
moment,  i.e.  until  the  bugle  sounds. 

Bug  Walk.  A  bed.  English 
synonyms :  Bedfordshire,  Sheet  Alley, 
Blanket  Fair,  Land  of  Nod,  doss,  rip, 
Cloth  Market. 

Bug-word.  A  word  to  cause  terror, 
swaggering  (or  threatening)  language  ; 
i.e.  Bugbear- word  (1562). 

Build.  Properly,  to  build  is  to 
construct,  says  Murray,  for  a  dwell- 
ing and  by  extension  of  meaning ...  to 
construct  by  fitting  together  of  sepa- 
rate parts  ;  chiefly  with  reference  to 
structures  of  considerable  size  . . .  (not, 
e.g.,  a  watch  or  a  piano).  Therefore, 
when  build  is  applied  to  the  make  or 
style  of  dress,  it  is  pure  slang — It's  a 
tidy  build,  who  made  it  ?  A  tailor  is 
sometimes  called  a  trousers  builder. 
In  the  United  States,  as  Fennimore 
Cooper  puts  it,  everything  is  built. 
The  priest  builds  up  a  flock,  the  specu- 
lator a  fortune,  thelawyerareputation, 
the  landlord  a  town,  and  the  tailor,  as 
in  England,  builds  up  a  suit  of  clothes  ; 
a  fire  is  built  instead  of  made,  and  the 
expression  is  even  extended  to  in- 
dividuals, to  be  built  being  used  with 
the  meaning  of  formed.  I  was  not 
built  that  way ;  and  hence  in  a  still 
more  idiomatic  sense  to  express  un- 
willingness to  adopt  a  specified  course 
or  carry  out  any  inconvenient  plan. 
To  build  a  chapel,  to  steer  badly,  and 
so  cause  a  ship  to  veer  round.  Not 
built  that  way,  not  to  one's  taste,  in 
one's  line  —  a  general  expression  of 
disapproval  or  dissent,  whether  said 
of  persons  or  things. 

Bulgarian  Atrocities.  Varna  and 
Rustchuk  Ry.  3  per  cent,  obligations. 

Bulge.  The  legitimate  meaning  is 
extended  in  many  odd  ways.  Bags 
(q.v.)  bulge,  but  do  not  get  baggy; 
and  in  a  similar  fashion  when  a  man  is 
all  attention  his  eyes  are  said  to  bulge. 
To  go  (or  be)  on  a  bulge,  to  drink 
to  excess :  see  Screwed.  To  get  the 
bulge  on  one,  to  obtain  an  advan- 
tage over,  to  get  the  drop  on  one 
(1869). 

Bulger.     Large  buster  (q.v.). 

Bulk.  An  assistant  to  a  File 
or  Pickpocket,  who  jostles  a  person 
up  against  the  wall,  while  the  other 
picks  his  pocket  (B.  E. ). 

Bulker.  1.  A  prostitute  of  a  low 
type,  one  who  slept  on  a  bulk,  a  kind  of 


sill  projecting  from  a  window  (1691). 
2.  A  thief  (q.v.) :  see  Bulk  (1669). 

Bulky.  A  police  constable:  said 
to  be  a  northern  term  (1821).  As 
adj.  (Winchester  College) ;  rich,  gener- 
ous (or  both) :  the  opposite  of  brum 
(q.v.). 

Bull.  1.  Formerly  a  blunder  or 
mistake ;  now  generally  understood 
as  an  inconsistent  statement,  a  ludi- 
crous contradiction,  often  partaking 
largely  of  the  nature  of  a  pun :  the 
term  was  current  long  before  the  form 
Irish  bull  is  met  with  (1642).  2.  A 
crown,  five- shilling  piece :  formerly 
bull's-eye  (q.v.)  (1812).  3.  Originally 
a  speculative  purchase  for  a  rise ;  i.e. 
a  man  would  agree  to  buy  stock  at  a 
future  day  at  a  stated  price  with  no 
intention  of  taking  it  up,  but  trusting 
to  the  market  advancing  in  value  to 
make  the  transaction  profitable :  bull 
is  the  reverse  of  bear  (q.v.) :  the  term 
is  now  more  frequently  applied  to 
persons,  i.e.  to  one  who  tries  to  en- 
hance the  value  of  stocks  by  speculative 
purchases  or  otherwise  ;  also  used  as 
a  verb  and  adjective  (1671) :  on  the 
French  Bourse  a  bull  is  haussier,  in 
Berlin  he  is  known  as  liebhaler ;  and 
in  Vienna  contremine.  4.  See  Bull  the 
cask  (or  barrel).  5.  A  teapot  with 
the  leaves  left  in  for  a  second  brew. 
6.  Prison  rations  of  meat,  an  allusion 
to  its  toughness  ;  also  generally  used 
for  meat  without  any  reference  to  its 
being  either  tough  or  tender:  Fr., 
bidoche.  7.  A  locomotive  :  sometimes 
buttgine.  8.  (Winchester  College). 
Cold  beef :  introduced  at  breakfast 
about  1873.  As  verb,  at  Dartmouth 
College,  to  recite  badly,  make  a  poor 
recitation.  Stale  bull,  stock  held  over 
for  a  long  period  with  profit.  To 
bull  the  cask  (or  barrel),  to  pour 
water  into  a  rum  cask  when  empty, 
with  a  view  to  keeping  the  wood 
moist  and  preventing  leakage ;  the 
water  after  some  time  is  very  intoxi- 
cating, and  the  authorities,  not  looking 
with  much  favour  upon  wholesale 
brewing  of  grog  hi  this  way,  sometimes 
use  salt  water  as  a  deterrant,  though 
even  this  salt  water  bull,  as  it  is  called, 
when  again  poured  out,  has  often 
proved  too  attractive  for  seamen  to 
resist :  again  it  is  common  to  talk  in  the 
same  way  of  Bulling  a  teapot,  coffee- 
pot, etc.  ;  that  is,  after  the  first  brew 
has  been  exhausted,  by  adding  fresh 


75 


Bidlace. 


Bui!'/. 


water,  and  boiling  over  again,  to  make 
a  second  brew  from  the  old  materials. 
Be  may  bear  a  bull  that  hath  borne  a 
calf,  after  little,  big  things  are  possible. 
A  bull  in  a  china  shop,  a  simile  of  reck- 
less destruction.  To  take  the,  butt  by 
the  horns,  to  meet  a  difficulty  with 
resolution  and  courage.  To  show  the 
butt  horn,  to  make  a  show  of  resist- 
ance. 

Bullace.     A  black  eye  ( 1659). 
Bull-and-cow.     A  row. 
Bull-back.     Pickaback   (q.v.) 
(1600). 

Bull -bait.  To  bully,  hector, 
badger. 

Bull -beef.  Hard,  stringy  meat; 
hence,  As  ugly  as  bull-beef  ;  As  big  as 
bull-beef  ;  Go  and  sell  yourself  for  bull- 
beef  (1579).  To  bluster  like  butt-beef, 
to  tear  round  like  mad. 

Bull-calf  (or  dog).  A  great  hulkey 
or  clumsy  fellow  (Orose). 

Bull-chin.  A  fat,  chubby  child 
(Orose). 

Bull -dance.  A  dance  in  which 
only  men  take  part:  cf.  Stag-dance, 
Gander-party,  Hen-party,  etc. 

Bull-dog.  1.  A  sheriffs  officer, 
bailiff  (1698).  2.  A  pistol;  in  the 
naval  service  a  main-deck  gun  (1700). 
3.  A  sugar-loaf.  4.  A  proctor's  assist- 
ant or  marshal  (1823).  5.  A  member 
of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge :  ob- 
solete. 

Bull-dog  Blazer.  A  revolver. 
Bull-dose.  A  severe  castigation 
or  flogging.  As  verb,  to  thrash,  in- 
timidate, bully ;  a  term  of  Southern 
political  origin,  originally  referring 
to  an  association  of  negroes  formed 
to  insure,  by  violent  and  unlawful 
means,  the  success  of  an  election : 
now  in  general  use,  to  signify  the 
adoption  and  use  of  coercive  measures 
(1876). 

Bull-doser.  1.  A  bully,  braggart, 
swaggerer.  2.  A  pistol :  spec,  one 
carrying  a  bullet  heavy  enough  to 
destroy  human  life  with  certainty. 

Bullet.  To  give  the  bullet,  to  dis- 
charge an  employe,  give  the  bag  (or 
sack)  (1841).  Full  bullet,  full  size. 
Every  bullet  has  its  billet  (or  lighting- 
place):  see  Billet.  Bullet  in  mouth, 
ready  for  action. 

Bullet-head.  1.  A  person  with  a 
round  head  like  a  bullet  2.  An 
obstinate  fellow,  pig-headed  fool,  dull 
silly  fellow  (B.  E.). 


Bullfinch.  1.  A  stupid  fellow.  2. 
A  high  thick  hedge  ;  one  difficult  to 
jump  or  rush  through:  most  authorities 
agree  that  this  term  is  a  corruption  of 
bull-fence,  i.e.  a  fence  capable  of  pre- 
venting cattle  from  straying.  As  verb, 
to  leap  a  horse  through  such  a  hedge 
(18201 

Bull-flesh.      Brag,  swagger  (1832). 

Bull -head.  1.  Hair  curled  and 
frizzled,  worn  over  the  forehead 
(1672).  2.  A  fool,  blockhead.  Bull- 
headed,  pig-headedly  impetuous,  block- 
headed. 

Bull-jine.     A  locomotive. 

Bull -nurse.  A  male  attendant  on 
the  sick. 

Bullock.  1.  A  cheat.  2.  A 
countryman  or  bushman  :  cf.  Bullock- 
puncher.  As  verb,  to  bully,  bounce 
over,  intimidate  (1716). 

Bullock's  Heart.    See  Token. 

Bullock's-horn.     To  pawn. 

Bull  Party.     A  party  of  men. 

Bull  -  puncher.  A  cow-puncher, 
(q.v.). 

Bull's  Eye.  1.  A  sweetmeat  of 
which  peppermint  is  an  important  in- 
gredient (1825).  2.  A  five-shilling 
piece,  a  bull  (q.v.)  (1696). 

Bull's  -  eye  Villas.  A  nickname 
given  to  the  small  open  tents  used  by 
the  Volunteers  at  their  annual  gather- 
ing. 

Bull's  Feather.  To  give  [or  yet] 
the  butt's  feather,  verbal  phr.  (old).  To 
cuckold.  Fr.,  planter  des  plumes  de 
6feu/(1600). 

Bull's -head.  A  signal  of  con- 
demnation, and  prelude  of  immediate 
execution,  said  to  have  been  anciently 
used  in  Scotland  (Jamieson). 

Bull's-noon.     Midnight  (1839). 

Bull -trap.  A  sham  police  con- 
stable. 

Bully,  subs.  (old). — 1.  A  fancy  man 
(q.v.)  (1706).  2.  (Eton  College).  A 
melee  at  football ;  the  equivalent  of 
the  Rugby  scrimmage  and  the  Win- 
chester hot.  3.  (nautical).  A  term 
of  endearment :  orig.  of  either  sex — 
sweetheart,  darling  :  now  of  men  only 
—  pal,  mate.  4.  A  weapon  formed 
by  tying  a  stone  or  a  piece  of  lead 
in  a  handkerchief:  used  knuckle- 
duster fashion.  5.  A  bravo,  hector, 
swashbuckler ;  now  spec,  a  tyran- 
nical coward.  As  adj.,  fine,  capital, 
crack,  spiff  (1681).  That's  butty  for 
you,  Grand,  fine,  all  right,  OK. 


76 


Bully  Beef. 


Bum  Fodder. 


Sully  boy  (or  bully  boy  with  tlie  glass 
eye),  a  good  fellow  (1815). 

Bully  Beef.  Tinned  meat:  iron 
ration  (q.v.) :  in  the  navy,  boiled  salt 
meat. 

Bully-boss.  The  landlord  of  a 
brothel  or  thieves'  den. 

Bully-cock.  1.  One  who  foments 
quarrels  in  order  to  rob  the  persons 
quarrelling  (Grose).  2.  A  low  round 
hat  with  broad  brim,  billy-cock  (q.v.). 

Bully-huff.     A  boasting  bully. 

Bullyrag  (or  Ballyrag).  To  revile, 
abuse,  scold  vehemently — usually  in 
vulgar  or  obscene  language ;  also  to 
swindle  by  means  of  intimidation. 

Bullyragging.  Scolding,  abuse, 
swindling. 

B  u  1 1  y  -  r  o  o  k  (or  Bully  -  rock). 
Originally  boon-companion ;  later,  a 
swaggerer,  bully,  bravo  (1596). 

Bully  Ruffian.  A  footpad  or 
highwayman,  who,  to  robbery,  added 
coarse  invective. 

Bully-scribbler.  A  bullying 
journalist  (1715). 

Bully  Trap.  A  man  of  mild  out- 
side demeanour  who  is  a  match  for  any 
ruffian  who  may  attack  him  (Grose). 

Bulrush.  A  simile  of  delusive 
strength.  To  seek  a  knot  in  a  bulrush, 
to  cavil,  find  difficulties  where  there 
are  none :  also  in  sarcasm,  to  take 
away  every  knot  in  a  bulrush. 

Bum.  1.  The  posteriors  (1387). 
2.  Bum  bailiff  (q.v.).  3.  A  birching, 
hiding,  tanning.  As  verb,  to  arrest. 
Cherry  bums,  the  llth  Hussars:  the 
obvious  reference  is  to  the  scarlet 
trousers  worn  by  this  branch  of  the 
service ;  a  similar  nickname  is  given 
to  the  French  Chasseurs,  culs  rouges. 
To  say  neither  ba  nor  bum,  to  say  not 
a  word. 

Bum-bailiff  (also  Bum-baily).  A 
bailiff  or  sheriff's  officer  (1602). 

Bum  Bass.     The  violoncello. 

Bumbaste.  To  flog,  thrash,  beat 
soundly  (1571). 

Bum  -  beating.  Jostling,  pushing 
others  off  the  pavement  (1616). 

Bumbee.     A  bailiff  (1653). 

Bum-blade.  A  large  sword 
(1632). 

Bumble.     A  beadle. 

Bum-card.   A  marked  playing-card. 

Bumble-crew.  Corporations, 
vestries,  and  other  official  bodies. 

Bumbledom.  Petty  officialism, 
red  tape,  fussiness,  pomposity  (1856). 


Bumble-bath  (or  broth).  A  mess, 
pickle,  confusion ;  as  adj.,  clumsy, 
unwieldy  (1595). 

Bumble-foot.    A  club-foot  (1861). 

Bumble  -  puppy.  Family  whist, 
Le.  unscientific  whist.  Also  applied, 
says  Hotten,  to  a  game  played  in 
public  houses  on  a  large  stone,  placed 
in  a  slanting  direction,  on  the  lower  end 
of  which  holes  are  made,  and  numbered 
like  the  holes  in  a  bagatelle-table.  The 
player  rolls  a  stone  ball,  or  marble, 
from  the  higher  end,  and  according  to 
the  number  of  the  hole  it  falls  into  the 
game  is  counted.  It  is  undoubtedly 
the  very  ancient  game  of  Trmde-in- 
madame. 

Bumbler.  1.  An  idle  fellow.  2. 
A  blunderer.  3.  A  Tyneside  artillery- 
man. 

Bumbles.  Coverings  for  the  eyes 
of  horses  that  shy  in  harness. 

Bumbo.  A  liquor  composed  of 
rum,  sugar,  water,  and  nutmeg  (Smol- 
lett) ;  brandy,  water,  and  sugar 
(Grose). 

Bum-brusher,  subs,  (schoolboys'). 
A  flogging  schoolmaster,  an  usher. 
English  synonyms,  flaybottom,  haber- 
dasher of  pronouns  (1704). 

Bum  Charter.  The  name  given 
to  bread  steeped  in  hot  water  by  the 
first  unfortunate  inhabitants  of  the 
English  Bastile,  where  this  miserable 
fare  was  their  daily  breakfast,  each 
man  receiving  with  his  scanty  portion 
of  bread  a  quart  of  boiled  water  from 
the  cook's  coppers  (Vaux). 

Bum-court.  The  Ecclesiastical 
Court  (1544). 

Bumclink.  In  the  Midland 
counties  inferior  beer  brewed  for  hay- 
makers and  harvest  labourers. 

Bum-creeper.  One  who  walks 
bent  almost  double. 

Bum  Curtain.  An  academical 
gown,  worn  scant  and  short ;  especially 
applied  to  the  short  black  gown  worn 
till  1835  by  members  of  Caius  College. 

Bumf.     Toilet  paper. 

Bumfeague  (Bumfeagle,  Bumfeg). 
To  flog,  thrash  (1589). 

Bumfhunt  (Wellington  College). 
A  paper-chase. 

Bum  Fiddle.     The  posteriors. 

Bum  Fidget.     A  restless  individual. 

Bum  Fodder.  1.  Low-class  worth- 
less literature  :  once  in  literary  use 
(1653).  2.  Toilet  paper,  curl  paper 
(q.v.)  (Grose). 


77 


Bummaree. 


Bundling. 


Bummaree.  A  Billingsgate  middle- 
man :  these  men,  who  are  not  recog- 
nised as  regular  salesmen  by  the 
trade,  are  speculative  buyers  of  fish 
(1786). 

Bummed.     Arrested. 

Bummer.  1.  A  bum-bailiff  (q.v.) 
2.  A  heavy  loss,  severe  pecuniary 
reverse.  3.  An  idler,  loafer,  sponger, 
looter  :  the  term  came  into  general  use 
at  the  time  of  the  Civil  War,  when 
it  was  specially  applied  to  a  straggler, 
hanger-on,  or  free-lance,  particularly 
in  connection  with  General  Sherman's 
famous  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea ; 
also  a  general  term  of  reproach,  as 
with  rascal,  black-leg,  etc. 

Bumming  (Wellington  College). 
A  thrashing,  licking. 

Bump.  When  one  boat  touches 
another  in  a  race  it  is  said  to  make 
a  bump,  and  technically  beata  its 
opponent :  see  Bumping  race.  As 
verb,  to  overtake  and  touch  an  op- 
posing boat,  thus  winning  the  heat  or 
race  (1849). 

Bumper.  1.  Anything  of  super- 
lative size — a  big  lie,  horse,  house, 
or  woman.  2.  A  full  or  crowded  house 
(1838).  3.  (cards).  When,  in  long 
whist,  one  side  has  scored  eight  before 
the  other  has  scored  a  point,  a  bumper 
is  the  result. 

Bum  -  perisher  (or  Bum-shaver). 
A  short- tailed  coat,  a  jacket. 

Bumping  Race.  Eight-oared 
inter-Collegiate  races,  rowed  in  two 
divisions  of  fifteen  and  sixteen  boats 
respectively,  including  a  sandwich 
boat  (q.v.),  i.e.  the  top  boat  of  the 
second  division,  which  rows  bottom  of 
the  first :  the  boats  in  each  division 
start  at  a  distance  apart  of  175  feet 
from  stern  to  stern  in  the  order  at 
which  they  left  off  at  the  last  preceding 
race,  and  any  boat  which  overtakes, 
and  bumps  another  (i.e.  touches  it  in 
any  part)  before  the  winning  post  is 
reached,  changes  place  with  it  for 
the  next  race. 

Bumpkin.     The  posteriors  (1658). 

Bumpology.  Phrenology.  Bump- 
otopher,  a  phrenologist. 

Bump-supper.  A  supper  to  com- 
memorate the  fact  of  the  boat  of  the 
college  having,  in  the  annual  races, 
bumped  or  touched  the  boat  of  another 
college  immediately  in  front. 

Bumpsy.     Drunk:  see  Screwed. 

Bumptious.      Arrogant,    self- 


sufficient,  on  good  terms  with  oneself 
(1803). 

Bumptiousness.  Self-assertiveness, 
arrogance,  self-conceit. 

Bum-roll.  A  pad  or  cushion  worn 
by  women  to  extend  the  dress  at  the 
back — the  equivalent  of  the  modern 
bustle  or  dress-improver  (1601). 

Bumsquabbled.  Discomfited, 
defeated,  stupefied  (1620). 

Bum-sucker.  A  sponger,  toady, 
lick-spittle,  hanger-on  :  Fr.,  lechc-cul. 

Bum-trap.     A  bailiff  (1750). 

Bun.  1.  A  sponger,  one  who 
cannot  be  shaken  off.  2.  A  knob  of 
hair  worn  at  the  back  of  the  head.  3. 
A  term  of  endearment  (1587).  To 
take  (or  yank)  the  bun,  to  take  first 
place,  obtain  first  honours  :  a  variant 
of  take  the  cake. 

Bunce  (Bunse  or  Bunt).  Originally 
money :  see  Rhino.  2.  Profit,  gain, 
anything  to  the  good. 

B  u  n  c  e  r.  One  who  sells  on 
commission. 

Bunch-of-fives.  The  hand  or  fist 
(1845). 

Bunco  (or  Bunco-game).  A 
swindling  game  played  either  with 
cards  or  dice,  not  unlike  three  card 
monte.  As  verb,  to  rob,  cheat,  or 
swindle  by  means  of  the  bunco  game  ; 
or  by  what  in  England  is  known  as  the 
confidence  trick,  etc. 

Bunco-steerer  (Bunko-steerer).  A 
swindler,  confidence-trick  man  : — The 
bunco-steerer  ....  will  find  you  out 
the  morning  after  you  land  in  Chicago 
or  St.  Louis.  He  will  accost  you — 
very  friendly,  wonderfully  friendly — 
when  you  come  out  of  your  hotel,  by 
your  name,  and  he  will  remind  you — 
which  is  most  surprising,  considerin' 
you  never  set  eyes  on  his  face  before — 
now  you  have  dined  together  in  Cin- 
cinnati, or  it  may  be  Orleans,  or  per- 
haps Francisco,  because  he  finds  out 
where  you  came  from  last ;  and  he  will 
shake  hands  with  you ;  and  he  will 
propose  a  drink ;  and  he  will  pay  for 
that  drink  ;  and  presently  he  will  take 
you  somewhere  else,  among  his  pals, 
and  he  will  strip  you  so  clean, that  there 
won't  be  felt  the  price  of  a  four-cent 
paper  to  throw  around  your  face  and 
hide  your  blushes.  In  London  .  .  . 
they  do  the  confidence  trick  (Besant 
and  Rice). 

Bundling  (or  Bundling  up).  Men 
and  women  sleeping  on  the  same  bed 


78 


Bung. 


Burn -crust. 


together  without  having  removed  their 
clothes. 

Bung  (Bong,  Boung).  1.  A  purse 
(1567).  2.  A  pickpocket:  also  Bung- 
nipper  (1598).  3.  A  brewer,  landlord 
of  a  public  house.  Hence  as  adj., 
tipsy,  fuddled ;  see  Screwed.  As  verb, 
(1)  generally  bung  up,  i.e.  to  close  or 
shut  up  the  eyes  by  means  of  a  blow 
that  causes  a  swelling  (1593);  (2)  to 
give,  pass,  hand  over,  drink,  to  per- 
form almost  any  action :  Bung  over 
the  rag,  hand  over  the  money  ;  (3) 
to  deceive  one  by  a  lie,  to  cram 
(q.v.). 

Bungay.  Oo  to  Bungay  I  Go  to 
the  deuce  ! 

Bung-eyed.  1.  Drunk,  fuddled: 
see  Screwed  (1858).  2.  Cross-eyed, 
unable  to  see  straight,  boss-eyed, 
squinny-eyed  (q.v.). 

Bung-hole.     The  anus  (1611). 

Bungfunger.  To  startle,  confuse : 
cf.  Bumbsquabbled :  also  used  as  adj., 
confounded  (1835). 

Bung- juice.     Beer. 

Bung-knife  (or  Boung-knife).  A 
cut-purse's  knife  (1592). 

Bung-nipper  (or  Boung-nipper). 
A  cut- purse,  sharper. 

Bung  Upwards.  Said  of  a  person 
lying  on  his  face. 

Bunk.  Hasty  departure.  As  verb, 
( 1 )  to  be  off,  decamp ;  (2)  (Wellington 
College),  to  expeL 

Bunker.     Beer  :  see  Drinks. 

Bunkum  (Buncombe,  Buncome). 
Talking  for  talking' s  sake,  claptrap, 
gas,  tall  talk  :  the  employment  of  the 
word  in  its  original  sense  of  insincere 
political  speaking  or  claptrap  is  ascribed 
to  a  member  of  Congress,  Felix  Walker, 
from  Buncombe  County,  North  Caro- 
lina, who  explained  that  he  was  merely 
talking  for  Buncombe,  when  his  fellow 
members  could  not  understand  why 
he  was  making  a  speech.  That's  oil 
buncombe,  That's  all  nonsense,  or,  an 
absurdity.  Also  used  attributively  ; 
for  example,  a  bunkum  proclamation, 
bunkum  logic,  bunkum  politicians, 
etc.  (1841). 

Bunky  (Christ's  Hospital).  Awk- 
ward, ill-finished. 

Bunnick.  To  settle,  dispose  of 
(1886). 

Bunny.  An  endearment :  of 
women  and  children  (1606). 

Bunny -grub  (Cheltenham  Col- 
lege). Green  vegetables,  such  as 


cabbage,  lettuce,  and  the  like  :  at  the 
Royal  Military  Academy  and  other 
schools,  grass  (q.v.). 

Bunse.     See  Bunce. 

Bun  -  struggle  (or  Bun  -  worry). 
A  tea :  see  Tea-fight. 

Bunt.     See  Bunce. 

B  u  n  t  e  r.  A  low  vulgar  woman, 
one  who  picks  up  rags  and  refuse  in 
the  street.  2.  A  woman  who  takes 
lodgings,  and  after  staying  some  time, 
runs  away  without  paying  the 
rent. 

Bunting.  An  endearment  to  a 
child :  as  in  Baby  bunting. 

Burden's  Hotel.  Whitecross  Street 
Prison,  of  which  the  Governor  was  a 
Mr.  Burden :  see  Cage. 

Burick  (or  Burerk).  A  woman; 
spec,  one  showily  dressed ;  for- 
merly a  thief's  term  for  a  prostitute 
(1819). 

Burke.  1.  To  murder  by  strangul- 
ation :  as  Burke  did  for  the  purpose  of 
selling  the  bodies  for  dissection.  2. 
To  hush  up,  smother  a  matter.  3.  To 
dye  the  moustache  and  whiskers. 

Burn.  To  cheat,  swindle.  To 
be  burned,  to  be  infected  with  venereal 
disease.  To  burn  the  parade,  to  warn 
more  men  for  a  guard  than  necessary, 
and  excusing  the  supernumeraries  for 
money :  this  practice  was  formerly 
winked  at  in  most  garrisons,  and  was 
a  considerable  perquisite  to  the  adju- 
tants and  sergeant-majors  ;  the  pre- 
tence for  it  was  to  purchase  coal  and 
candle  for  the  guard,  whence  it  was 
called  burning  the  parade.  Burn  my 
breeches !  A  mild  kind  of  oath.  To 
burn  the  ken,  to  live  at  an  inn  or  tavern 
without  paying  for  one's  quarters. 
His  money  burns  in  his  pocket,  he  is 
eager  to  spend  (1740).  To  burn  one's 
boats  behind  one,  to  cut  off  all  chance 
of  retreat.  To  burn  the  Thames,  to 
perform  some  prodigy.  To  burn  day- 
light, to  burn  candles  in  the  daytime. 
To  burn  fine  weather,  to  fail  to  turn  it 
to  advantage.  To  burn  the  candle  at 
both  ends :  see  Candle.  To  burn  the 
planks,  to  remain  long  sitting.  To 
burn  one's  fingers,  to  suffer  through 
meddling.  To  b  urn  a  stone,  to  displace 
by  accident. 

Burnand.  To  pilfer  plots  of  plays, 
novels,  etc. ) :  from  the  name  of  Mr.  F. 
Burnand,  the  editor  of  Punch. 

Burn-crust.  A  baker :  cf.  Master  of 
the  mint,  a  gardener ;  Bung,  a  brewer ; 


79 


Burner. 


Butcher. 


Ball  of  wax,  a  shoemaker;  Quill-driver, 
a  clerk  ;  Snip,  a  tailor,  etc. 

Burner.     A  card-sharper. 

Burr.  A  hanger  on,  dependant, 
sponger.  As  verb  (Marl borough  Col- 
lego),  to  fight,  scrimmage,  rag. 

Burst.  1.  A  spree,  drunken  frolic, 
big  feed,  blow  out  (q.v.) :  usually,  On 
the  burst.  2.  A  sudden  and  vigorous 
access  (or  display)  of  energy,  a  lively 
pace  or  spurt. 

Bursted.     Hard  up. 

Burster.  1.  A  heavy  fall,  cropper. 
2.  See  Buster. 

Bury.  Go  bury  yourself !  A 
Califoruianism  which  has  more  of  the 
fortitcr  than  the  auaviter  in  its  com- 
position :  equivalent  to,  Go !  hide  your 
diminished  head :  cf.  Carry  me  out 
and  bury  me  decently.  To  bury  (or  dig 
up)  the  hatchet :  amongst  Indian  tribes 
certain  symbolic  ceremonies  are  con- 
nected with  the  war- hatchet  or  toma- 
hawk, which  are  equivalent  to  a 
declaration  of  war,  or  a  compact  of 
peace  :  To  bury  the  hatchet  is  the  em- 
blem of  the  putting  away  of  strife  and 
enmity;  on  the  other  hand,  the  redskin, 
before  he  commences  hostilities,  digs  up 
afresh  the  fateful  symbol.  To  bury  a 
moll,  to  desert  a  wife  or  mistress.  To 
buryaQuaker,to  evacuate, ease  oneself. 
To  bury  a  vrife,  to  feast  and  make 
merry :  used  in  connection  with  the 
jollifications  frequently  indulged  in 
by  apprentices  on  the  completion  of 
their  term  of  indenture,  when  they 
became  full-blown  craftsmen. 

Bus  (or  Buss).  1.  Business 
(q.v.) :  pronounced  biz.  2.  Omnibus 
( 1 832).  As  verb,  to  punch  one's  head. 

Bush.  1.  To  camp  out  in  the  bush, 
get  lost  in  the  bush.  Hence,  2.  to 
be  in  a  mental  or  a  physical  difficulty, 
to  be  muddled.  To  beat  about  the 
bush,  to  prevaricate,  avoid  coming  to 
the  point,  go  indirectly  to  one's  object. 

Bushed.  Hard  up,  without 
money,  destitute  (1812). 

Bushed  On.     Pleased,  delighted. 

Bushwhacker.  A  free-lance:  during 
the  American  Civil  War  deserters  from 
the  ranks  of  both  armies  infested  the 
country,  making  raids  upon  defence- 
less houses  and  sacking  whole  towns. 

Bushy -park.  A  lark.  To  be  in 
bushy  park,  to  be  poor. 

Business.  Dramatic  action, 
bye-play  (1753).  To  do  one's  business 
for  one,  to  kill,  cause  one's  death. 


Business  End  [of  a  thing].  The 
practical  part. 

Busk.  To  busk  it,  to  sell  songs, 
books,  and  other  articles  at  bars  and 
tap-rooms  of  public  houses :  also  to 
work  public  houses  and  certain  spota 
as  an  itinerant  musician. 

Busker.     See  Busk. 

Busnapper.     See  Buz-napper. 

Buss  Beggar.  An  old  prostitute  of 
the  lowest  type,  a  beggar's  trull. 

Bust  1.  A  corrupted  form  of 
burst :  also  busting,  busted.  2.  A 
burglary.  3.  A  frolic,  spree,  drunken 
debauch :  cf.  to  go  on  the  bust.  4. 
A  failure,  fizzle.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to  burst, 
explode,  (2)  to  commit  a  burglary  ;  (3) 
to  inform  against  an  accomplice ;  (4) 
to  fail  in  business  or  transactions  of 
any  kind  ;  (5)  to  put  out  of  breath, 
wind ;  (6)  to  indulge  in  a  drunken 
frolic,  go  on  the  spree  ;  (7)  to  destroy, 
commit  suicide,  set  aside,  expose. 
Bust  me  \  A  mild  oath — Blow  me  ! 
Jigger  me ! 

Buster.  1.  A  new  loaf;  also  a 
coarse  cake  or  bun  of  large  size  that 
fills  or  blows  out  the  stomach  ( 1821).  2. 
A  burglar  :  see  Thief.  3.  Anything  of 
superior  size,  that  has  unusual  capa- 
city, that  causes  admiration,  a  spurt. 
To  come  a  buster,  to  fall  heavily,  to  come 
a  cropper.  In  for  a  buster,  prepared, 
ready  (or  determined)  for  a  spree 
(1852).  4.  A  heavy  storm  from  the 
south,  brick-fielder  (q.v.). 

Busting.  Informing  against  ac- 
complices, turning  King's  evidence. 

Bustle.  1.  A  pad,  roll,  or  wire 
contrivance  worn  by  women  at  the 
back  in  order  to  extend  the  dress,  and 
also  with  a  view  to  setting  off  the 
smallness  of  the  waist  (1788).  2. 
Money  :  see  Rhino.  As  verb,  to  con- 
fuse, confound,  perplex. 

Busy-head.     A  busybody. 

Busy-idler.  A  person  busy  about 
trifles. 

Busy-sack.  A  carpet-bag:  in 
America  a  grip-sack. 

Butch,  To  follow  the  trade  of  s 
butcher. 

Butcher.  1.  The  king  in  playing- 
cards  :  when  card-playing  in  public 
houses  was  common,  the  kings  were 
called  butchers,  the  queens  bitches, 
and  the  knaves  jacks:  Fr.,  boruf.  2. 
A  peripatetic  vendor  of  varieties  and 
'  notions  '  on  railway  cars — at  once 
a  convenience  and  a  terror.  3.  A 


80 


Butcher' s-bUl. 


Buz. 


prison  doctor.  4.  A  malevolent  critic. 
As  verb,  to  murder  a  reputation,  to 
mangle  an  author's  lines.  To  biitcher 
about  (Wellington  College),  to  make  a 
great  noise,  humbug. 

Butcher's-bill.  The  list  of  those 
killed  in  battle. 

Butcher's  Mourning.  A  white  hat 
with  a  black  mourning  hat-band. 

Butteker.     A  shop. 

Butter.  Fulsome  flattery, 
unctuous  praise,  soft  soap:  Fr., 
cirage  (1819).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
flatter  fulsomely,  indulge  in  rhodo- 
mantic  praise:  Fr.,  cirer  (1700);  (2) 
to  increase  the  stakes  every  throw  or 
every  game  (1696).  To  look  as  if 
butter  would  not  melt  in  one's  mouth,  a 
contemptuous  saying  of  persons  of 
simple  demeanour  (1475).  Will  cut 
butter  when  it's  hot,  said  of  a  knife 
when  blunt.  Butter  and  eggs,  going 
down  a  slide  on  one  foot  and  beating 
with  the  heel  and  toe  of  the  other  at 
short  intervals. 

Butter-bag  (or  Butter-box).  A 
Dutchman  (1600). 

Butter-boat.  To  empty  the 
butter-boat,  to  lavish  praise,  to  butter 
(q.v.). 

Buttercup.  A  pet  name  for  a 
child. 

Buttered.  1.  Whipped.  2.  Flat- 
tered. 

Butter-fingered.  Apt  to  let  things 
fall,  greasy  (or  slippery)  fingered. 
Butter-fingers,  one  who  lets  things  slip 
easily  from  a  hold  (1615). 

Butter-flap.  A  light  cart,  i.e.  a 
trap. 

Butterfly.  1.  A  river  barge.  2. 
The  guard  for  the  reins  affixed  to  the 
top  of  a  hansom  cab. 

Butternuts.  The  sympathisers 
with  the  South  in  the  North  and  the 
Middle  States  during  the  American 
Civil  War  ;  the  term  was  derived  from 
the  colour  of  the  uniforms  worn  in  the 
early  part  of  the  war  by  Confederate 
soldiers  in  the  West,  which,  being 
homespun,  were  dyed  brown  with  the 
juice  of  the  butternut. 

Butter-print.  A  child ;  usually 
when  illegitimate  (1620). 

Buttock.  A  common  prostitute 
(1674). 

Buttock  -  and  -  file.  A  prostitute 
and  her  companion  ;  sometimes  bulk 
and  file ;  occasionally  buttock  and 
file  is  used  of  a  single  individual — one 


who  unites  the  roles  of  a  thief  and 
prostitute  (1671). 

Buttock  -  and  -  tongue.  A  scold- 
ing woman,  shrew. 

Buttock-and-twang.  A  common 
prostitute,  but  who  is  no  thief. 

Button.  1.  A  shilling  :  formerly 
good  currency,  now  only  of  counter- 
feit coin :  see  Rhino.  2.  A  decoy  of 
any  kind,  whether  the  confederate  of 
confidence- trick  men,  or  a  sham  buyer 
at  an  auction.  As  verb,  to  decoy, 
act  as  confederate  in  swindles :  Fr., 
aguicher.  Not  to  care  a  button  (or  brass 
button),  to  care  nothing.  To  have  a 
button  on,  to  have  a  fit  of  the  blues 
(q.v.),  despondent.  To  button  up, 
when  a  broker  has  bought  stock  on 
speculation  and  it  falls  suddenly  on  his 
hands,  whereby  he  is  a  loser,  he  keeps 
the  matter  to  himself,  and  is  reluctant 
to  confess  the  ownership  of  a  share : 
this  is  called  buttoning  up. 

Button-burster  (or  Button-buster). 
A  low  comedian. 

Button-catcher.  A  tailor. 
English  synonyms:  snip,  cabbage 
contractor,  steel  -  bar,  driver,  goose 
persuader,  sufferer,  ninth  part  of  a 
man,  etc. 

Buttoner.  A  card  -  sharper's 
decoy  (1841). 

Button-pound.  Money :  generic : 
see  Rhino. 

Buttons.  A  page ;  sometimes 
boy  in  buttons  ( 1860).  Dash  my  buttons 
(wig,  etc.)  a  mild  oath;  also  employed 
to  express  vexation  or  surprise.  Not  to 
have  all  one's  buttons,  to  be  deficient 
in  intellect,  slightly  cracky,  to  have  a 
bee  in  one's  bonnet.  To  have  a  soul 
above  buttons,  to  be  above  one's  work 
or  duty,  to  think  one's  ability  superior 
to  one's  position.  To  make  buttons, 
to  look  sorry,  sad,  to  be  in  great  fear 
(1593). 

Butty.     A  comrade,  partner. 

Buvare.     Drink :  generic. 

Buy.  To  buy  a  prop,  a  term 
used  to  signify  that  the  market  has 
gone  flat,  and  that  there  is  no  one  to 
support  it. 

Buz  (or  Buzz).  A  parlour  game 
which  is  thus  described  by  Hotten, 
who,  however,  erroneously  limited  it 
to  public-houses  : — The  leader  com- 
mences saying  one,  the  next  on  the 
left  hand  two,  the  next  three,  and 
so  on  to  seven,  when  buz  must  be  said ; 
every  seven  and  multiple  of  7,  as  14, 


81 


Buz-bloke. 


Cabbage  Plant. 


17,  21,  27,  28  etc.,  must  not  be 
mentioned  bat  buz  instead  ;  whoever 
break  the  rule  pays  a  fine.  As  verb,  ( 1 ) 
some  uncertainty  exists  as  to  whether 
to  buz  signifies  to  drain  a  bottle  or 
decanter  to  the  last  drop,  or  whether 
it  means  to  share  equally  the  last  of 
a  bottle  of  wine,  when  there  is  not 
enough  for  a  full  glass  to  each  of  the 
party ;  (2)  to  pick  pockets ;  (3)  to 
search  for,  look  about  one. 

Buz-bloke,  Buz-cove,  Buz-gloak. 
See  Buz-napper. 

Buz -man.  1.  A  pickpocket.  2. 
An  informer. 

Buz-napper.  A  pickpocket: 
see  Thief  (1781). 

Buz-napper's  Academy. 
A  training  school  for  thieves :  figures 
were  dressed  up,  and  experienced 
tutors  stood  in  various  difficult  atti- 
tudes for  the  boys  to  practise  upon ; 
when  clever  enough  they  were  sent  on 
the  streets :  Dickens  gives  full  par- 
ticulars of  this  old  style  of  business 
in  Oliver  Twist. 

Buz-napper's  Kinchin.  A  watch- 
man. 

Buzzing  (or  Buz-faking).  Pocket- 
picking. 

By-blow.  An  illegitimate  child  : 
also  By-chop  and  By-slip  (1594). 

By  Cracky!  An  ejaculation  con- 
veying no  idea  beyond  that  of  general 
surprise. 

Bye  -  drink.     Liquid    refreshment 


taken  at  other  than  meal  -  time* 
(1766). 

By  George!  An  ejaculation  sig- 
nifying either  surprise,  or  anger,  or 
used  without  any  special  meaning 
(1731). 

By  Goldami  A  semi  -  veiled 
oath. 

By  Golly!  Euphemistic  for  By 
God  (1743). 

By  Gorram !     See  By  Goldam  ! 

By  Gosh  1     A  euphemistic  oath. 

By  Gum !  By  Gummy !  intj.  phr. 
Expletives  from  the  great  American 
Dictionary  of  Oaths  and  CUM  Words, 
compiled  by  descendants  of  the  Puri- 
tan Fathers. 

By  hook  or  by  crook.     See  Hook. 

By  Hooky.     A  veiled  oath. 

B  y  n  g,  B  i  n  g.  To  go.  Bynge- 
awaste,  to  go  away  (1567). 

By-scape  (or  slip).  A  bastard 
(1646). 

By  the  Ever  -  living  Jumping 
Moses!  An  effective  ejaculation 
and  moral  waste  -  pipe  for  interior 
passion  or  wrath  is  seen  in  the  ex- 
clamation, By  the  ever-living  jump- 
ing Moses  !  —  a  harmless  phrase, 
that  for  its  length  expends  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  fiery  anger. — 
HoUen. 

By  the  Living  Jingo  !  (or  By 
Jingo !)  See  Jingo. 

By  the  Wind.  Hard  up,  in  diffi- 
culties. 


Cab.  1.  An  adventitious  aid  to 
study,  a  crib,  a  pony  (q.v.).  As  verb, 
to  use  a  crib;  cf.  cabbage  (1853). 
2.  A  brothel  (1811).  3.  A  cavalier 
(17th  century) ;  cf.  Sp.,  caballero.  4. 
A  cabriolet :  also  any  vehicle  to  seat 
two  or  four  persons  plying  for  hire. 
Whence,  5.  A  cabman  (also  Cabby): 
e.g.  Call  a  cab  !  As  verb,  to  travel  by 
cat) :  cf.  foot  it,  hoof  it,  tram  it,  train 
it,  'bus  it.  Hence  cobber,  a  cab-horse  : 
cf.  Vanner,  Wheeler,  etc. 

Cabbage.  1.  Pieces  purloined  by 
tailors  ;  hence  any  small  profits  in  the 
shape  of  material.  [Johnson :  a  cant- 
ing term.]  As  verb,  to  purloin 
material,  to  take  toll  (q.v.).  Also,  cold- 
slaw  (American) :  cf.  Pigeon-skewings. 
Cabbage  is  stored  in  hell  (q.v.)  or  one's 


eye  (q.v.)  (1638).  2.  A  tailor,  also 
cabbager  and  cabbage  -  contractor 
(q.v.)  (1690).  3.  A  style  of  dressing 
the  hair :  similar  to  the  modern 
chignon:  Fr.,  kilo  (1690)  4.  A 
translation,  crib  (q.v.) ;  also  cab  (q.v.) 
5.  A  cigar:  Fr.,  feuille  de  platane, 
crapulos  (or  crapvlados) :  see  Weed. 

Cabbage  -  contractor.  See  Cab- 
bage. 

Cabbage  -  gelder.  A  greengrocer 
or  market  gardener. 

Cabbage-head.  A  fool,  soft-head, 
go-along  (q.v.) :  see  Buffle  (1682). 

Cabbage-leaf.  A  bad  cigar ;  also 
cabbage.  (A  popular  theory  of 
material.]  Fr.,  infectados.  See  Weed. 

Cabbage  Plant  An  umbrella, 
gamp  (q.v.),  brolly  (q.v.). 


Cabbager. 


Cody. 


Cabbager.     A  tailor. 

Cabbage-stumps.  In  pi.,  the 
legs :  see  Drumsticks. 

Cabbage  -  tree  Mob.  A  larrikin 
(q.v.).  [A  low-crowned  cabbage-palm 
hat  is  affected  by  this  section  of  Aus- 
tralian society.]  Also  Cabbagites. 

Cabby.  A  cabman :  Fr.,  hirondette 
and  maraudeur  (1852). 

Cable.  To  send  a  telegram  by 
ocean  (submarine)  wire  :  cf.  Wire.  To 
slip  or  cut  one's  cable,  to  die  ;  see  Hop 
the  twig. 

Cable-hanger.  An  oyster  dredger 
not  free  of  the  fishery. 

Cab-moll.     A  prostitute. 

Cabobbled.  Confused,  puzzled, 
perplexed. 

Caboodle.  A  crowd  ;  usually,  the 
whole  caboodle.  [Boodle  (q.v.)  was 
frequently  used  in  the  same  sense, 
which  is  indifferently  applied]  (1858). 

Caboose.  Convivial  quarters,  a 
bachelor's  snuggery,  a  den  (q.v.),  dig- 
gings (q.v.).  The  whole  caboose,  a 
variation  of  caboodle  (q.v.). 

Cacafuego.  A  spitfire,  braggart, 
bully  (1625). 

Cachunk!  An  exclamation  in- 
tended to  convey  an  imitation  of  the 
Bound  of  a  falling  body  :  onomatopoeic 
— the  bow-wow  word  of  Max  Miiller. 
Variants  are,  Caswash,  Cawhalux, 
Chewallop,  Casouse,  Cathump,  Ker- 
plunk, Katouse,  Katoose,  Kelumpus, 
Kerchunk,  Kerswosh,  Kerslosh, 
Kerswollop,  Kerblinkityblunk,  and 
Kerblam. 

Cackle.  1.  The  dialogue  of  a  play, 
spec,  a  clown's  patter  :  whence  cackle- 
chucker,  a  prompter  ;  cackle-merchant, 
a  dramatist ;  cockier  (or  cackling-cove), 
an  actor,  preacher,  or  lecturer  ;  cackle- 
tub,  a  pulpit.  2.  Idle  talk,  inconse- 
quent chatter,  a  short  spasmodic 
laugh ;  and  as  verb,  to  talk  idly,  fussily, 
or  loudly  of  petty  things,  as  a  hen  after 
laying  an  egg  :  see  Cackler  (1676). 

Cackler.  1.  A  fowl :  also  cackling 
cheat  (1672).  English  synonyms: 
beaker,  cackler,  margery  prater,  gal- 
eny,  partlet,  chickabiddy,  rooster, 
chuck-chuck,  chuckie.  French  syn- 
onyms :  becquant,  ornichon,  pigue-en- 
terre  (peck-the-ground),  estable  (or 
estaphle),  bruantez  (Breton).  Whence 
cackling-fruit,  an  egg,  and  cackler's- 
ken,  a  fowl-house.  2.  A  noisy  talker, 
blab  (q.v.)  (1400). 

Cackling  -  cove.     An  actor.     Eng- 


lish synonyms  :  mummery- cove,  mug- 
faker,  mummer,  mugger  (properly  an 
actor  who  makes  free  play  with  his 
face),  tragedy  or  comedy  merchant, 
pro,  stroller,  cackle  -  faker,  barn- 
stormer, surf. 

Cad.  A  term  of  contempt :  spec, 
an  offensive  or  ill-bred  person,  irrespec- 
tive of  social  position,  but  formerly 
of  underlings  and  others  performing 
menial  offices.  [0.  E.  D. :  apparently 
from  cadet  and  the  popular  forms 
cadee  and  caddie;  cadator  suggests  a 
collateral,  if  an  independent  origin.] 
The  vocable  has  passed  through  a 
variety  of  meanings.  1.  A  passenger 
taken  up  by  coach  drivers  for  their  own 
profit.  2.  A  chum  or  companion.  3. 
An  assistant.  4.  An  omnibus  con- 
ductor. 5.  A  messenger  or  errand  boy. 
6.  A  non-school  or  non-university  man. 
At  Cambridge,  snob  (q.v.),  the  word 
Thackeray  used,  has  long  been  a 
common  term  for  a  townsman  ;  now 
the  undergrad  says  Townee  or  Towner 
(q.v.)  (1831).  7.  A  vulgar,  ill-man- 
nered person,  a  blackguard,  i.e.  a 
person  incapable  of  moral  decency 
( 1 849).  Hence  caddish,  vulgar,  offens- 
ively bred. 

Cadator.  A  beggar  apeing  a 
decayed  gentleman  (1703). 

Caddie.     An  attendant  at  golf. 

Cade.  The  Burlington  Arcade :  cf. 
Zoo,  Proms,  Pops,  Cri. 

Cadge.  The  profession  of  cadging 
or  begging.  As  verb,  to  obtain  by 
begging,  to  beg  in  an  artful  wheedling 
manner.  Here  cadging  (or  on  the 
cadge),  on  the  make  (q.v.) ;  among 
intimates  to  cadge  a  dinner  or  supper 
is  often  used  without  implied  re- 
proach: see  Cadger  (1811).  English 
synonyms:  to  mump,  pike,  mouch, 
stand  the  pad,  maund,  tramp,  mike. 

Cadge-cloak  (or  Gloak).  A 
beggar  (1791). 

Cadger.  1.  Primarily  a  carrier, 
pedlar,  or  itinerant  dealer.  2.  A  whin- 
ing beggar,  sponger  (q.v.),  snide  (q.v.). 
Eng.  synonyms :  Abram  man,  croaker, 
Abraham  cove,  Tom  of  Bedlam,  Bed- 
lam beggar,  maunderer,  moucher, 
pikey,  traveller,  turnpike  or  dry- land 
sailor,  scoldrum,  shyster,  shivering 
James,  silver  beggar,  skipper-bird, 
mumper,  paper-worker,  goose-shearer, 
master  of  the  black  art,  durrynacker. 

C  a  d  y.  A  hat,  also  cadey  and 
caddy :  see  Golgotha. 


83 


Caffan. 


Calf-country. 


Caffan.     See  Caasan. 

Caffre's  Tightener.  A  full 
meal. 

Cage.  1.  A  petty  prison,  a  country 
lock-up  (1500).  English  synonyms 
(generic) :  academy,  boat,  boarding- 
house,  bower,  block  -  house,  bastille, 
bladhunk,  stone-jug,  jug,  calaboose, 
cooler,  coop,  downs,  clink,  jigger,  Irish 
theatre,  quod,  shop,  stir,  clinch,  steel, 
sturrabin,  mill,  toll-shop,  floating  hell, 
floating  academy,  dry  room,  House  that 
Jack  Built,  choakee.  Special  names 
for  particular  prisons  :  Bates' s  Farm  or 
Garden  (Cold  Bath  Fields),  Akerman's 
Hotel  (Newgate),  Castieu's  Hotel  (Mel- 
bourne Gaol,  Burdon's  Hotel  (White 
Cross  Street  Prison),  Ellenborough 
Lodge,  Spike  or  Park  (the  King's 
Bench  Prison,  to  which,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  every  Chief-Justice  stood  god- 
father), Campbell's  Academy  (the 
Hulks),  City  College  and  Whittington's 
College  (Newgate),  Tench,  Pen,  and 
Smith's  Hotel  (Edinburgh).  2.  A 
dress-improver,  bustle  :  see  Bird-cage 
3.  A  bed  ;  also  Breeding-cage.  4.  The 
Ladies'  Gallery  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  also  called  the  Chamber  of 
Horrors,  which,  however,  is  properly 
the  Peeresses'  Gallery  in  the  Upper 
House. 

Cagg.  A  term  used  by  private 
soldiers,  a  solemn  vow  or  resolution 
not  to  get  drunk  for  a  certain  time  ;  or, 
as  the  term  is,  till  their  cagg  is  out, 
which  vow  is  commonly  observed  with 
the  strictest  exactness  :  e.g.  '  I  have 
cagg'd  myself  for  six  months.  Excuse 
me  this  time,  and  I  will  cagg  myself 
for  a  year.'  Common  in  Scotland, 
where  the  vow  is  performed  with  divers 
ceremonies  (Groee). 

Cag  -  mag.  1.  A  tough  old  goose  ; 
hence,  2.  refuse,  rubbish,  scraps  and 
ends  (1769). 

Cain.  To  raise  Cain,  to  be  quarrel- 
some, make  a  disturbance :  also  to 
raise  hate,  hell  (or  hell  and  tommy), 
and  to  raise  Ned  (q.v.).  To  pay  the 
cain,  to  pay  the  penalty. 

Cain  and  Abel.     A  table. 

Cainsham-smoke.  The  tears  of  a 
wife- beaten  husband  (Dunton)  (1694). 

Cake  (or  Cakey).  1.  A  fool,  a 
dullard  :  see  Buffle  (Grose),  2.  A  stupid 
policeman.  3.  (Christ's  Hospital).  A 
stroke  with  a  cane  :  also  as  verb,  to 
take  the  cake,  to  rank  highest,  carry  off 
honours,  be  the  best  of  a  kind,  nil  the 


bill  (theatrical).  In  certain  section! 
of  the  U.S.A.  cake  walks  have  long 
had  a  vogue  among  the  coloured 
people.  The  young  bucks  '  get  them- 
selves up  regardless,'  and  walk 
from  one  end  of  a  hall  to  the  other, 
under  the  gaze  of  dusky  beauty  and 
the  critical  glance  of  judges.  The 
marking  is  done  on  a  scale  of  numbers, 
and  ties  are  walked  off  with  the  utmost 
finish  and  rare  attention  to  style.  The 
prize  is  a  cake,  and  the  winner  takes  it.] 
Also  to  take  (or  yank)  the  bun,  to  slide 
away  with  the  Banbury,  to  annex  the 
whole  confectioner's  shop :  cf.  to  take 
the  kettle,  to  take  the  prize  for  lying. 
Hurry  up  the  cakes  1  Look  sharp  ! 
[Buckwheat  and  other  oat  cakes  form  a 
staple  dish  at  many  American  tables.] 
Like  hot  cakes,  quickly,  with  energy  ;  a 
variant  of  like  winking,  or  one  o'clock. 
Phrases :  You  can't  eat  your  cake 
and  have  it ;  One's  cake  is  dough, 
one's  project  has  failed  ;  Every  cake 
has  its  mate,  make,  or  fellow. 

Cake -fiddler  (or  Fumbler).  A 
parasite. 

Cakes  and  Ale.  A  good  time : 
also  Cakes  and  cheese. 

Cakey-pannum  Fencer.  See  Pan- 
num-fencer. 

Calaboose.  A  common  gaol. 
[From  the  Sp.,  calabozo,  through  the 
French.]  Also  as  verb,  to  imprison 
(1840). 

Calculate.  To  think,  expect, 
believe,  intend  :  see  Guess  and  Reckon. 
Sometimes  (New  England)  cal'late 
(1830). 

Calends.     See  Greek  Kalends. 

Caleys.  Caledonian  Railway  Ordin- 
ary Stock. 

Calf.  1.  An  ignoramus,  dolt,  weak- 
ling :  cf.  Calf  lolly  (1653).  For 
synonyms,  see  Buffle.  2.  An  endear- 
ment :  cf.  Puss,  Ape,  Monkey,  etc. 
3.  See  Essex  calf.  To  eat  the  calf  in 
the  cow's  belly,  to  anticipate,  to  count 
one's  chickens  before  they  are  hatched 
( 1 748).  To  slip  the  calf,  to  suffer  abor- 
tion, to  be  brought  to  bed  :  properly 
of  cattle.  Calf-oed,  a  cow's  matrix  ; 
also  parturition :  cf.  Child- bed  and 
Bairn  s-bed  (q.v.). 

Calf  -  clinger.  In  pi.,  pantaloons, 
i.e.  close-fitting  trousers. 

Calf  -  country  (land  or  ground). 
One's  birthplace ;  the  scene  of  early 
life.  Also  Calf-time,  the  period  of 
youth. 


84 


Calf. 


Camp-stool  Brigade. 


Calf,  Cow,  and  Bull  Week. 
Before  the  passing  of  the  Factory  Acts 
it  was  customary  in  manufacturing  dis- 
tricts to  work  very  long  hours  for  three 
weeks  before  Christmas.  In  the  first, 
calf  week,  the  ordinary  hours  were  but 
slightly  exceeded ;  in  the  second,  cow 
week,  they  were  considerably  aug- 
mented ;  and  in  the  third,  or  bull 
week,  operatives  spent  the  greater 
portion  of  the  twenty-four  in  their 
•«  orkshop. 

Calf's  -  head.  A  stupid,  witless 
individual  (1600).  See  Buffle. 

Calf-lick.     See  Cow-lick. 

Calf -lolly.  An  idle  simpleton  ;  a 
generic  reproach  (1653). 

Calf-love.  A  youthful  fancy, 
romantic  attachment  (1823). 

Calfskin-fiddle.     A  drum. 

Calf  -  sticking.  Selling  worthless 
rubbish,  on  the  pretence  that  it  is 
smuggled  goods,  to  any  foolish  or 
unscrupulous  person  who  can  be  in- 
veigled into  purchasing  it. 

Calibogus.  A  mixture  of  rum  and 
spruce  beer,  an  American  beverage 
(Grose). 

Calico.  Thin,  wasted,  attenuated 
(Bailey,  1725). 

Calico  -  bally.  Somewhat  fast ; 
one  always  on  the  look-out  for  amuse- 
ment. 

Californian.  A  red  herring :  see 
Glasgow  Magistrate.  In  pi.,  generic 
for  gold  pieces. 

Californian  -  widow.  A  married 
woman  whose  husband  is  absent,  a 
grass- widow  (q.v.).  The  least  offensive 
sense.  [At  the  period  of  the  Californian 
gold  fever  many  men  went  West, 
leaving  their  wives  and  families  behind 
them.] 

Calk  (Eton).     To  throw. 

Call  (Eton).  The  time  when  the 
masters  do  not  call  Absence  (q.v. ).  To 
have  or  get  a  call  upon,  to  have  a  pre- 
ference, get  the  first  chance.  To  call 
a  go,  to  change  one's  stand,  alter  one's 
tactics,  give  in  at  any  game  or  business. 
See  Coals,  Put,  Spade,  Wigging. 

Calle.     A  cloak  or  gown  (Grose). 

Calp  (or  Kelp).  A  hat:  see  Gol- 
gotha. 

Cal vert's  Entire.  The  Fourteenth 
Foot.  [From  its  colonel's  name  ( 1 806- 
1826) :  three  entire  battalions  were 
kept  up  for  the  good  of  Sir  Harry, 
when  adjutant-general,  with  an  eye  on 
Calvert's  malt  liquors.  ] 


Calves.  Calves  gone  to  grass,  thin 
legs,  spindle-shanks.  There  are  many 
ways  of  dressing  calves'  heads,  many 
ways  of  saying  or  doing  a  foolish  thing, 
a  simpleton  showing  his  folly,  or, 
generally,  if  one  way  won't  do,  we 
must  try  another.  Calves'  heads  are 
best  hot,  a  sarcastic  apology  for  sitting 
down  to  eat  with  one's  hat  on. 

Calx  (Eton).  The  goal  line  at  foot- 
ball. [From  a  Latin  sense  of  calx,  a 
goal,  anciently  marked  with  lime  or 
chalk.]  As  Eton  calx  is  a  space  so 
marked  off  at  each  end  of  wall  (q.v.) ; 
good  calx  is  the  end  at  which  there  is 
a  door  for  a  goal ;  bad  calx  the  end 
where  part  of  an  elm  tree  serves  the 
purpose. 

Cambridge  -  oak.  A  willow:  of. 
Cotswold  lion,  Cambridgeshire  night- 
ingale, etc. 

Cambridgeshire  (or  Fen  Night- 
ingale). A  frog.  [The  county  is 
scored  with  canals  and  dykes.] 

Camd en-town.  A  halfpenny, 
brown  (q.v.) :  see  Rhino. 

Camel.     A  great  hulking  fellow. 

Camel's  Complaint.  Low  spirits, 
the  hump  (q.v.). 

Camese.  A  shirt,  chemise,  shimmy. 
[Sp.  camisa,  It.  camicia.~\  The  word  ap 
pears  in  various  forms  from  the  begin, 
ning  of  the  seventeenth  century,  e.g. 
camisa,  camiscia,  kemesa,  camise,  and 
in  a  more  genuinely  English  dress  as 
commission,  which  in  turn  is  shortened 
to  mish. 

Camister.  A  clergyman,  a 
blackgown  (1851). 

Camp.  To  go  to  camp,  to  go  to 
bed,  take  rest.  [In  early  settler  days 
a  camp  was  formed  whenever  a  halt  for 
the  night  was  called.]  To  take  into 
camp,  to  kill.  To  camp,  to  surpass, 
floor. 

Campbell's  Academy.  The  hulks, 
or  lighters,  on  board  which  felons  were 
condemned  to  hard  labour.  [Mr. 
Campbell  was  the  first  director.] 

Camp-candlestick.  1.  An  empty 
bottle, ;  2.  a  bayonet. 

Camp-fire.  A  military  social  gather- 
ing. 

Camp  -  follower.  A  prostitute, 
soldiers'  trull. 

Camp-stool  Brigade.  People  who 
wait  outside  a  place  of  entertainment 
for  hours  in  order  to  secure  seats. 
[Camp-stools,  now  prohibited  by  police 
order,  formed  part  of  the  outfit.] 


85 


Can. 


Canoe. 


Can.  1.  A  dollar  piece:  see  Rhino. 
2.  A  general  servant,  slavey  (q.v.). 

Canack,  Canuck,  Kanuck, 
K'nuck.  A  Canadian :  usually  K'nuck. 
[Obscure,  and  limited  in  application : 
within  the  Canadian  frontier  a  Canuck 
is  understood  to  be  a  French  Canadian, 
just  as  within  the  limits  of  the  Union 
only  New  Englanders  are  termed 
Yankees  ;  elsewhere  the  appellation  is 
used  indiscriminately.] 

Canary  (or  Canary-bird).  1.  A 
prisoner  (1678).  2.  A  mistress.  3. 
A  sovereign,  20s.  :  formerly  a  guinea. 
English  synonyms :  yellow  boy,  gold- 
finch,  yellow  hammer,  shiner,  gingleboy 
monarch,  couter,  bean,  foont,  James 
(from  Jacobus),  poona,  portrait,  quid, 
thick  'un,  skin,  skiv,  dragon,  goblin  :  a 
guinea  was  also  called  a  ^ned.  French 
synonyms  (twenty  franc  piece) :  jaunet 
sigue  (sigle,  sigotte  or  cig),  bonnet  jaune, 
bouion,  mcdtaise,  moule  a  boutons,  me- 
daille  for.  4.  A  female  watcher  or 
stall  (q.v.),  mollisher  (q.v.) :  cf.  Crow, 
a  male  watcher :  Fr.  marque  franche. 
5.  (Salvation  Army),  a  written  promise 
of  a  donation  or  subscription.  [At  some 
of  the  meetings  of  the  Army,  instead 
of  sending  round  the  plate,  the  officers 
distribute  slips  of  paper  on  which  those 
present  are  invited  to  record  their  in- 
tentions :  the  original  colour  of  the 
slips  was  yellow.] 

Cancer.  To  catch  or  capture  a 
cancer.  See  Crab.  (1857). 

Candle.  In  pi.,  mucus  at  the  nose. 
Phrases :  To  hold  a  candle  to  another, 
to  help  :  see  Devil ;  not  able  (or  fit)  to 
hold  a  candle  to,  useless,  nothing  to  be 
compared  to;  to  sell  (or  let)  by  the 
candle  (or  by  inch  of  candle),  to  sell  by 
candle-auction:  bids  are  received  whilst 
a  small  piece  of  candle  burns,  the  last 
bid  before  the  candle  goes  out  securing 
the  article ;  to  smell  of  the  candle,  to 
show  trace  of  study  or  night- work  :  cf. 
to  smell  of  the  lamp ;  the  game  (play, 
etc.)  is  not  worth  the  candle,  the  end  (or 
result)  does  not  justify  the  cost  or 
labour  expended  ;  to  light  (or  burn)  the 
candle  at  both  ends,  to  consume  (or 
waste)  in  two  directions  at  once :  cf. 
Fr.,  Le  jeu  ne  veut  pas  la  chandelle 
(Cotgrave).  Also  Proverbs  and  Pro- 
verbial sayings  :  Set  forth  the  bright- 
ness of  the  sun  with  a  candle ;  He  burns 
one  candle  to  seek  another :  losing  both 
time  and  labour  ;  To  set  a  candle  in  the 
sunshine  ;  They  grope  in  the  dark  that 


light  not  their  candle  at  once  ;  To  hold 
a  farthing  candle  to  the  sun  ;  To  hide 
one's  candle  under  a  bushel  (Biblical : 
Matt.  v.  15). 

Candle-end.  In  pi.,  a  thing  of 
little  value  (short  duration,  or  small  im- 
portance), trifle,  fragment.  To  drink 
off  (or  eat)  candle  ends,  a  romantic 
extravagance  in  drinking  a  lady's 
health,  by  which  gallants  gave  token 
of  their  devotion. 

Candle-keeper  (Winchester).  One 
of  eight  seniors  in  college  by  election 
who  are  not  prefects.  [Most  of  the 
privileges  of  prefects  are  enjoyed  with- 
out their  powers.]  (1840). 

Candlestick.  1.  (Winchester).  A 
candidate  (1840).  2.  (London).  In 
pi.,  the  fountains  in  Trafalgar  Square. 

Candle  -  waster.  1.  A  night-stu- 
dent :  whence  candle-icasting :  cf.  To 
smell  of  the  candle,  to  show  traces  of 
study  at  night.  2.  A  small  portion  of 
burning  wick  that,  falling  on  the 
candle,  causes  it  to  run. 

Candy.  Drunk :  see  Screwed 
(Grose). 

Candyman.  A  bailiff,  a  process 
server.  [In  1863,  during  a  strike  of 
miners  at  the  collieries  of  Messrs. 
Strakers  and  Love,  in  Durham  County, 
a  hawker  of  candy  and  sweetmeats  was 
employed  to  serve  writs  of  ejectment.] 

Canister.  1.  The  head :  see 
Crumpet  (1811).  2.  A  hat:  also 
canister-cap :  see  Golgotha. 

Cank.  Dumb,  silent.  [Curiously 
enough,  cank  also  signifies  to  chatter, 
cackle  as  a  goose ;  it  only  survives 
in  this  latter  sense.]  (1673). 

Cannibal  (Cambridge).  In  Bump- 
ing races  (q.v.)  a  college  may  be  repre- 
sented by  more  than  one  boat,  the  best 
talent  being  put  into  the  first ;  but  it 
has  sometimes  happened  that  the  crew 
of  the  second  have  disappointed  the 
prophets  and  bumped  the  first  of  ita 
own  college.  It  is  thus  termed  a 
cannibal,  having  eaten  up  its  own 
kind,  and  a  fine  is  exacted  from  it  by 
the  University  Boat  Club. 

Cannikin  (or  Canniken).  The 
plague  (1688). 

Cannis-cove.  A  dog-fancier. 
[Latin,  canis,  a  dog.] 

Cannon.     See  Canon. 

Cannon  -  balL  An  irreconcilable 
opponent  of  free  trade. 

Canoe.  To  paddle  one's  own  canoe, 
to  make  one's  own  way  in  life,  exhibit 


86 


Canon. 


Capetta. 


skill  and  energy,  succeed  unaided  :  of 
Western  American  origin,  but  now 
universal.  Also  to  bail  one's  own  boat ; 
Fr.,  il  conduit  or  U  mene  bien  sa  barque 
(1845). 

Canon  (or  Cannon).  Drunk  :  see 
Screwed. 

Canoodle.  1.  To  fondle,  bill  and 
coo.  2.  (Oxford).  To  paddle  a  canoe. 
3.  To  share  profits.  4.  To  coax. 

Canoodler.     See  Canoodle. 

Canoodling.     Endearments. 

Cant.  1.  The  secret  speech  or  jargon 
of  the  vagrant  classes — gipsies,  thieves, 
beggars,  etc.;  hence,  contemptuously, 
the  peculiar  phraseology  of  a  particular 
class  of  subject :  see  Thieves'  Latin, 
St.  Giles'  Greek,  Peddlars'  French, 
etc.  (q.v.).  Also  as  verb,  to  whine,  to 
speak  the  jargon  of  gipsies,  beggars, 
and  other  vagrants,  and  (generic),  to 
speak,  to  talk  (1567).  2.  A  blow  or 
toss.  3.  Food :  also  Kant,  but  cf. 
sense  4.  (1851).  4.  A  gift. 

Cantab.  A  student  at  Cambridge 
University :  i.e.  Cantabrigian  (1750). 

Cantabank.  A  common  ballad 
singer. 

Cantankerous.  Cross-grained,  ill- 
humoured,  self  -  willed,  productive  of 
strife.  Hence  cantankerously,  can- 
tankerousness,  cantankerate  (verb), 
and  cantankersome  (1773). 

Cante.     See  Canter. 

Canteen-medal.  A  stripe  for  the 
consumption  of  liquor. 

Canter.  A  vagrant,  beggar,  one 
who  cants  (q.v.)  or  uses  the  secret 
language  otherwise  called  Peddlars' 
French,  St.  Giles'  Greek,  etc. 

Canterbury.  In  derisive  allusion 
(old  Puritan)  to  the  see  of  Canterbury  : 
e.g.  Canterbury  -  tale  (or  story),  a 
tedious  yarn,  friars'  tale  or  fable,  cock- 
and-bull  story  (q.v.);  Canterbury- 
trick,  mean  dodge ;  Canterbury  pace 
(rack,  rate,  trot,  gallop),  the  pace  of 
a  pilgrim  on  his  way  to  the  shrine  of 
St.  Thomas  a  Becket,  a  half  gallop. 

Canticle.     A  parish  clerk  (Grose). 

Canting.  The  jargon  used  by 
beggars,  thieves,  gipsies,  and  vagrants : 
see  Cant  (1547). 

Canting  Crew.     See  Canter. 

Can't.  See  National  Intelligencer, 
Hole,  Ladder. 

Canuck.     See  Canack. 

Canvass.  To  receive  the  canvass, 
to  be  dismissed,  to  get  the  sack  (q.v.) : 
see  Bag  (1652). 


Canvasseens.  In  pi.,  sailors'  can- 
vas trousers  :  see  Kicks. 

Canvas-town.  The  Volunteer 
Encampment,  formerly  at  Wimbledon, 
now  at  Bisley,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
National  Rifle  Association :  also  any 
camp  or  baby-city. 

Cap.  1.  A  false  cover  to  a  tossing 
coin  ;  also  cover-down  :  the  cap  shows 
either  head  or  tail  as  it  is  left  on  or 
taken  off.  2.  The  proceeds  of  an  im- 
provised collection  :  cf.  to  send  round 
the  cap  or  hat  (1851).  3.  (West- 
minster). The  amount  of  the  collec- 
tion at  Play  and  Election  dinners. 
[The  College  cap  is  passed  round  on 
the  last  night  of  Play  for  contribu- 
tions.] As  verb,  (1)  To  stand  by  a 
friend,  take  part  in  any  undertaking, 
lend  a  hand.  (2)  To  take  off  (or  touch) 
one's  hat  in  salutation ;  also  to  cap  to, 
and  to  cap  it  (1593).  To  cap  one's 
lucky,  to  run  away  :  see  Bunk  ;  to  cap 
(or  cast)  one's  skin,  to  strip  naked  ;  to 
set  one's  cap  at,  to  set  oneself  to  gain 
the  affections  :  only  of  women  (1773); 
to  cap  a  quotation  (anecdote,  proverb, 
etc.),  to  fit  with  a  second  from  the 
same,  or  another,  author ;  to  go 
one  better,  in  the  way  of  anecdote 
or  legend  (1584) ;  to  pull  caps,  to 
wrangle  in  an  unseemly  way  :  only  of 
women  (1763) ;  to  cast  one's  cap  at,  to 
be  indifferent,  give  up  as  a  bad  job  ; 
to  come  (fall  under,  or  lie)  in  one's  cap, 
to  occur  to  mind,  run  in  the  head  ;  to 
put  on  one's  thinking  (or  considering) 
cap,  to  pass  under  review,  think  out ; 
the  cap  fits,  the  remark  or  description 
applies ;  to  have  enough  under  one's  cap, 
to  be  drunk :  see  Screwed ;  to  throw 
up  one's  cap,  to  manifest  pleasure  by 
throwing  one's  cap  in  the  air  ;  to  kiss 
caps  with  to  drink  out  of  the  same 
vessel :  hence  kiss  of  a  cap ;  to  drink 
cap  out,  to  empty ;  also  (proverbial), 
If  your  cap  be  of  wool ;  As  sure  as 
your  cap  is  of  wool ;  My  cap  is  better 
at  ease  than  my  head ;  Ready  as  a 
borrowed  cap. 

Cape  Cod  Turkey.  Salted  cod : 
also  Marblehead  turkey  :  cf.  Billings- 
gate pheasant,  Yarmouth  capon,  and 
Albany  beef  (1865). 

Capella.  A  coat  [Italian], 
English  synonyms :  benjamin,  cover- 
me-decently,  upper  benjamin  (a  great- 
coat), Joseph,  wrap-rascal,  claw-ham- 
mer, swallow-tail,  steel-pen  (all  three, 
a  dress  coat),  M.B.  coat,  panupetaston, 


87 


Cape  Nightingale. 


Card. 


rock-a-low,  reliever,  pygostole,  ulster, 
monkey-jacket :  see  Caster. 

Cape  Nightingale.  A  frog:  cf. 
Cambridgeshire  nightingale. 

Capeovi.     Sick,  seedy  (q.v.). 

Caper.  A  device,  idea,  perform- 
ance, occupation ;  in  America,  a 
racket  (q.v.),  e.g.  the  '  real  estate 
racket'  or  '  caper'  (1867).  To  cut  a 
caper  upon  nothing,  or  to  eat  caper 
sauce,  to  be  hanged :  see  Ladder. 
(1708). 

Caper-juice.     Whisky. 

Caper-merchant.  A  dancing 
master,  hop- merchant  (q.v.)  (Grose). 

Capital.  To  work  capital,  to  com- 
mit an  offence  punishable  with  death. 

Capivi  (or  Capivvy).  To  cry 
capiwy,  to  be  persecuted  to  the  death, 
or  very  near  it. 

Capon.  1.  A  red  herring ;  but 
applied  to  other  kinds  of  fish ;  herrings 
now  receiving  the  distinctive  cogno- 
men of  Yarmouth  capons  (1640).  2. 
A  term  of  reproach  —  dullard,  fool: 
Bee  Buffle(  1542).  3.  A  eunuch  (1594). 
4.  A  billet-doux  :  cf.  (Cotgrave)  Fr., 
povlet,  a  chicken,  also  a  love  letter,  or 
love  message  (1588). 

Capon-justice.  A  corrupt  judge 
(1639). 

Cappadochio  (Caperdochy,  or 
Caperdewsie).  A  prison  :  see  Cage. 
(1600). 

Capper.  1.  A  confederate ;  at 
cards  one  who  makes  false  bids  in 
order  to  encourage  a  genuine  player. 

2.  A  dummy  bidder  whose  function  is 
either  to  start  the  bidding  or  to  run  up 
the  price  of  articles  for  sale.  3.  A  per- 
son or  thing  who  caps,  or  beats,  all 
others ;   a  thing  which  beats   one's 
comprehension  (1790). 

Capper  -  clawing.  See  Clapper- 
clawing. 

Capsick,     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Captain.  1.  A  familiar  and  jesting 
address :  cf.  Governor,  Boss,  etc. 
(1598).  2.  A  gaming  or  bawdy-house 
bully  (1731).  Captain  is  also  a  fancy 
title  for  a  highwayman  in  a  good  way 
of  business :  Fletcher  uses  the  term 
copper-captain,  as  also  does  Washing- 
ton Irving,  for  one  who  has  no  right  to 
the  title,  and,  in  modern  athletics,  we 
have  the  captain  of  a  club  or  crew,  with 
the  corresponding  verb,  to  captain. 

3.  Money :  see  Rhino.     4.  A  glandered 
horse. 

Captain     Armstrong.      To     come 


Captain  Armstrong,  to  pull  a  horse 
and  prevent  him  from  winning.  Also 
Captain  Armstrong,  a  dishonest  jockey. 

Captain  Copperthorn's  Crew. 
All  officers :  of  a  company  where  every- 
one wants  to  be  first  in  command. 

Captain  Cork.  A  man  slow  in 
passing  the  bottle. 

Captain  Crank.  The  chief  of  a 
gang  of  highwaymen. 

Captain  Grand.  A  haughty, 
blustering  fellow  :  see  Furioso. 

Captain  Hackum.  A  hectoring 
bully  (Grose). 

Captain  Lieutenant  Meat 
neither  young  enough  for  veal,  nor  old 
enough  for  beef.  [Properly  a  brevet 
officer  who,  ranking  aa  captain,  re- 
ceives lieutenant's  pay  (Grose).] 

Captain  Queernabs.  A  shabby, 
ill-dressed  man  :  see  Guy. 

Captain  Quiz.     A  mocker. 

Captain  Sharp.  A  cheating  bully, 
one  whose  office  it  is  to  bully  a  'pigeon' 
refusing  to  pay  up  (Orose). 

Captain  Tom.  The  leader  of  a 
mob  ;  also  the  mob  itself  (Grose). 

Caravan.  1.  A  dupe,  gull,  subject 
of  plunder:  see  Bubble  (1676).  2.  A 
large  sum  of  money  (1690).  3.  A  train 
chartered  to  convey  people  to  a  prize 
fight.  [Early  in  the  present  century 
caravan,  now  shortened  to  van,  was 
applied  to  a  third  class  covered  railway 
carriage  ;  now  a  pleasure  party  is  so 
described  ;  also  a  gipsy's  cart ;  also 
the  wheeled  cages  of  a  travelling 
menagerie.] 

Caravansera.  A  railway  station  : 
thus :  The  scratch  must  be  toed  at 
sharp  five,  so  the  caravan  will  start  at 
four  from  the  caravansera  (Hotten). 

Card.  1.  A  device,  expedient,  or 
undertaking :  e.g.  a  good  card,  a 
strong  card,  a  safe  card,  a  likely,  or  a 
doubtful  card  (1537).  2.  A  character, 
odd  fish,  eccentric ;  generally  with 
knowing,  old,  queer,  downy,  rum, 
etc. :  cf.  Hamlet,  v.  ii.  (from  the 
card  table,  such  expressions  as,  a 
sure  card,  a  sound  card,  being  of 
very  ancient  use.  Osrio  tells  Hamlet 
that  Laertes  is  the  card  and  calendar 
of  gentry)  (1835).  3.  The  ticket 
(q.v.),  the  figure,  the  correct  thing. 
Hence  (American)  a  published  note, 
short  statement,  request,  explanation, 
or  the  like  ( Webster).  Phrases  :  To  give 
one  cards,  to  give  one  an  advantage, 
to  give  points :  Fr.,  fairt.  un  bauf ; 


88 


Cardinal. 


Carrion. 


on  the  cards,  within  the  range 
of  probability,  liable  to  turn  up : 
Dickens  popularised  the  expression 
(1749) ;  to  pack  (stock,  or  put  up)  the 
cards,  to  prepare  cards  for  cheating 
purposes ;  to  speak  by  the  card,  to 
speak  with  precision,  with  the  utmost 
accuracy  (1569) ;  to  face  (or  brag) 
it  out  with  a  card  of  ten,  to  put  on  a 
bold  front ;  a  cooling  card,  anything 
that  damps  one's  ardour,  a  wet  blanket 
(q.v.) ;  a  leading  card,  an  example, 
precedent ;  to  play  one's  best  card,  to 
stake  all,  do  one's  best ;  to  throw  (or 
fling)  up  one's  cards,  to  abandon  a  pro- 
ject ;  to  show  one's  cards,  to  make  a 
clean  beast,  full  explanation,  or  to 
reveal  the  extent  of  one's  resources  ;  to 
have  (or  go  in)  with  good  cards,  to  have 
good  grounds  for  expecting  success ;  to 
cast  (or  count)  one's  cards,  to  take  stack, 
reckon  chances  ;  a  house  (or  castle)  of 
cards,  an  unsecure  position,  scheme, 
etc. 

Cardinal.  1.  A  red  cloak :  worn  by 
ladies  circa  1740  and  later.  2.  Mulled 
red  wine  (1861).  3.  A  shoeblack. 
Some  London  brigades  wear  red  tunics : 
that  stationed  in  the  City  is  now  better 
known  as  the  City  Reds.  4.  A  lobster : 
from  its  colour  when  cooked  (Jules 
Janin  once  made  a  curious  blunder  and 
called  the  lobster  le  cardinal  de  la  mer) ; 
whence  cardinal  hash,  a  lobster  salad. 
6.  A  new  [1890]  variety  of  red. 

Cardinal's  -  blessing.  A  bene- 
diction carrying  with  it  no  further 
advantage  (1720). 

Care.  Not  to  care  or  be  worth  a 
fig,  pin,  rap,  button,  cent,  straw,  rush, 
or  hang,  similes  of  indifference ;  to 
care  not  even  so  much  as  the  value  of  a 
fig,  a  pin,  or  a  straw :  FT.,  s1  en  battre 
Pceil :  see  Worth  (1590).  /  don't  care 
if  I  do,  &  street  phrase  of  no  parti- 
cular meaning ;  also  a  form  of  accept- 
ing an  invitation  to  drink  :  Will  you 
peg  ?  I  don't  care  if  I  do. 

Careaway.  An  exclamation  of 
merriment  or  recklessness.  Care 
begone !  Away  with  care !  Hence, 
a  reckless  fellow,  roisterer,  anything 
that  drives  away  care  (with  a  pun  on 
caraway)  (1440). 

Care-grinder.  A  treadmill,  also 
vertical  care-grinder  (q.v.) :  see  Wheel 
of  life. 

Cargo  (Winchester).  A  hamper 
from  home  (1840) ;  the  word  is  still  in 
use. 


Carter.     A  clerk  :  see  Quill-driver. 
Carlicues.     See  Curlycues. 
Carney  (or  C  a  r  n  y).     Seductive 
flattery,  language  covering  a  design ; 
as  verb,  to  wheedle,  coax,  insinuate 
oneself,  act  in    a   cajoling    manner ; 
hence  carneying,  wheedling,  coaxing, 
insinuating. 

Carnish.  Meat.  [Ital.,  carne 
flesh:  through  the  Lingua  Franca.] 
Whence  carnish-ken,  a  thieves'  eating 
house,  prog-shop. 

Caroon.  A  five-shilling  piece :  see 
Rhino.  English  synonyms  :  bull  (or 
bull's  eye),  cartwheel,  coachwheel  (or 
simply  wheel),  tusheroon,  dollar,  thick 
'un(alsoasovereign),  case,  caser,decus. 

Carpet.  To  reprimand,  call  over 
the  coals,  give  a  wigging  (or  ear- 
wigging),  etc.  :  also  to  walk  the  carpet 
(1823).  As  adj.,  generic  for  luxury  and 
effeminacy  :  e.g.  carpet  consideration, 
friend,  gentry,  toy,  poet,  soldier,  knight 
(q.v.),  etc.  To  bring  on  the  carpet,  to 
bring  up  or  forward. 

Carpet-bagger.  A  political  adven- 
turer. [After  the  Civil  War,  numbers 
of  Northerners  went  south ;  they  were 
looked  upon  with  suspicion.  Originally 
a  wild-cat  banker  (q.v.)]. 

Carpet-bag  Recruit.  A  recruit  of 
better  than  ordinary  standing,  i.e.  one 
with  more  than  he  stands  upright 
in. 

Carpet  -  knight.  A  stay-at-home 
soldier,  a  shirker  of  practical  work,  a 
petticoat  dangler :  also  in  such  com- 
binations as  carpet  -  captain,  carpet- 
squire  ;  all  in  contempt. 

Carpet-swab.   A  carpet-bag  (1837). 

Carrier.  A  rogue  employed  to 
look  out,  and  watch  upon  the  roads,  at 
inns,  etc.,  in  order  to  carry  information 
to  their  respective  gangs,  of  a  booty  in 
prospect  (B.  E.). 

Carrier-pigeon.  1.  A  cheat,  spec, 
a  lottery  office  swindler  (1781).  [The 
sharper  attended  the  drawing  of  a  lot- 
lery  in  the  Guildhall,  and  as  soon  as  a 
number  or  two  are  drawn,  wrote  them 
on  a  card ;  a  confederate,  ready 
mounted,  rode  full  speed  to  some 
distant  insurance  office,  where  another 
of  the  gang,  commonly  a  decent- 
looking  woman,  insured  for  a  con- 
siderable sum,  thus  biting  the  biter 
(Grose).]  2.  A  peripatetic  commission 
agent,  a  kind  of  tout. 

Carrion.  The  human  body ;  for- 
merly a  corpse. 


89 


Carrion-case. 


("Won. 


Carrion-case.  A  shirt,  chemise: 
carrion,  the  human  body:  Bee  Flesh- 
bag. 

Carrion  Hunter.  An  undertaker 
(1785). 

Carrots.  In  pL,  red  hair:  also  a 
proper  name  (1685).  Take  a  carrot  I 
A  contemptuous  retort:  originally 
obscene. 

Carry.  To  carry  coals,  to  put  up 
with  insults,  endure  an  affront  or  in- 
jury (1593)  ;  to  carry  boodle, see  Boodle; 
to  carry  real  estate,  to  neglect  the  finger 
nails ;  to  carry  out  one's  bat,  see  Bat ; 
to  carry  corn,  to  bear  success  well  and 
equably :  of  a  man  who  breaks  down 
under  a  sudden  access  of  wealth,  or 
who  becomes  affected  and  intolerant,  it 
is  said,  He  doesn't  carry  corn  well ;  to 
carry  on,  to  make  oneself  conspicuous 
by  a  certain  line  of  behaviour,  conduct 
oneself  wildly  or  recklessly,  joke  or 
frolic  ;  also,  in  a  special  sense,  open  to 
flirt  openly :  whence  carryings  on, 
frolicsome  or  questionable  proceedings, 
a  course  of  conduct  that  attracts  atten- 
tion (1663);  carry  me  out  and  bury 
me  decently,  a  dovetail  to  an  incredible 
story,  or  something  displeasing  ;  varied 
by  Let  me  die  !  Good  -  night !  etc., 
as  also  by  Carry  me  home !  Carry 
me  upstairs  !  Carry  me  out  and  leave 
me  in  the  gutter !  (a  writer  in  Notes 
and  Queries  (2  S.,  iii.  387)  states  it  to 
have  been  in  use  circa  1780) ;  to 
carry  the  stick  :  see  Trip  up. 

Carry-castle.  An  elephant 
(1598). 

C  a  r  s  e  y.  A  house,  den,  or  crib. 
[Lingua  Franca  casa,  a  house.] 

Cart  To  defeat :  in  a  match,  fight, 
examination,  race,  etc. :  e.g.  we  carted 
them  home,  we  gave  them  an  awful 
licking.  In  the  cart  (or  carted),  an 
employee  is  said  to  put  an  owner  in  the 
cart,  when,  by  trick  or  fraud,  his  horse 
is  prevented  from  winning  :  also  in  the 
box ;  2.  in  the  know,  in  the  hunt ; 
3.  the  lowest  scorer  at  any  point  is 
said  to  be  in  the  cart ;  sometimes  on 
the  tailboard  ;  to  walk  the  cart,  to  walk 
over  a  racecourse ;  to  cart  off  (out  or 
away),  to  remove ;  to  set  (or  put)  the 
cart  before  the  horse,  to  reverse  matters 
(1520) ;  to  be  left  out  of  the  cart's  tail, 
to  suffer  loss  or  injury  through  care- 
lessness (1541) ;  to  keep  cart  on  wheels, 
to  peg  away,  keep  things  going. 

Cart  -  grease.  Butter,  spec,  bad 
butter.  English  synonyms:  cow-grease, 


Thames  mud,  cow-oil,  spread,  scrape, 
smear,  ointment,  sluter. 

Carts.  A  pair  of  shoes :  see  Trotter- 
cases. 

Cart  -  wheel.  1.  A  five-shilling 
piece,  also  coach-wheel,  and  wheel : 
see  Rhino.  2.  A  broad  hint.  3.  A 
continuous  series  of  somersaults  in 
which  the  hands  and  feet  alternately 
touch  the  ground,  the  appearance  pro- 
duced being  similar  to  the  spokes  of  a 
cart  wheel  in  motion ;  also  Catharine 
wheel  (1851). 

Carver  and  Gilder.  A  match- 
maker :  cf.  fingersmith,  a  midwife. 

Casa.     See  Case. 

Cascade.  1.  Tasmania  beer :  be- 
cause manufactured  from  '  cascade ' 
water :  cf.  Artesian.  2.  A  trundling 
gymnastic  performance  in  panto- 
mime. As  verb,  to  vomit  (1771). 

Case.  1.  A  certainty  in  fact,  an 
accentuated  or  abnormal  instance  in 
character.  When  two  persons  fall  in 
love,  or  are  engaged  to  marry,  it  is  said 
to  be  a  case  with  them.  An  eccentric 
person  is  a  case.  2.  A  bad  five-shilling 
piece.  Half  a  case,  a  bad  half-crown, 
cf.  Caser.  3.  A  house,  respectable  or 
otherwise :  spec,  a  brothel,  and,  by 
transference,  a  water-closet  (1678). 
4.  (Westminster  School).  The  discus- 
sion by  Seniors  and  Upper  Election 
preceding  a  tanning  (q.v.),  and  the 
tanning  itself.  A  case  of  crabs,  a 
failure ;  a  case  of  pickles,  an  incident, 
a  bad  breakdown,  a  break  up ;  a  case 
of  stump,  impecuniosity. 

Caseine.  A  variant  of  The  cheese 
(q.v.) :  cf.  Cassan.  (1856). 

Caser.  Five  shillings :  see  Case 
and  Caroon.  (1879). 

Case-vrow.     A  dress-lodger  (q.v.). 

Casey.     Cheese :  see  Cassan. 

Cash.  Equal  to  cash,  of  unquestion- 
able merit ;  to  cash  a  prescription,  to  get 
a  prescription  made  up  ;  cash  or  pass  in 
one's  checks,  to  die  (in  poker,  counters 
or  checks,  purchased  at  certain  fixed 
rates,  are  equivalent  to  coin) ;  to  cash 
up,  to  liquidate  a  debt. 

C  a  s  h  e  1  s.  Great  Southern  and 
Western  of  Ireland  Railway  Stock. 
[Said  to  be  derived  from  the  fact  that 
the  line  originally  had  no  station  at 
Cashel] 

Cask.  A  brougham,  pill-box  (q.v.) : 
Fr.,  bagniole. 

Cass.     See  Cassan. 

Cassan.     Cheese ;  also  cass,  casson, 


00 


Cast. 


Catamount. 


cassam,  cassom,  and  casey.  The  old- 
est form  is  cassan  (1567).  English 
synonyms  :  caz,  sweaty  -  toe,  choke  - 
dog. 

Cast.     See  Accounts,  Sheep's  Eyes. 

Castell.     To  see,  look  (1610). 

Caster.  1.  A  cloak  (1567).  2.  A 
cast-off  (1859). 

Castieu's  Hotel.  Melbourne  gaol : 
so  called  from  Mr.  J.  B.  Castieu  :  see 
Cage. 

Castle -rag.  A  fourpenny  piece, 
flag  :  see  Joey. 

Cast-off.  1.  In  pi.,  landsmen's 
clothes :  see  Togs.  2.  A  discarded 
mistress  :  see  Cast. 

Castor.  A  hat :  Latin,  castor,  a 
beaver :  hats  were  formerly  made  of 
beaver's  fur:  see  Golgotha.  (1640). 

Cat.  1.  A  prostitute  (1401).  2. 
A  shortened  form  of  Cat-o' -nine-tails 
(q.v.)  (1788).  3.  A  lady's  muff.  4. 
A  quart  pot :  pint  pots  are  Kittens : 
cat  and  kitten  sneaking,  stealing  pewter 
pots  (1851).  5.  See  Tame  cat.  6.  A 
fanciful  monster  infesting  lodging 
houses,  which  devours  with  equal 
readiness  cold  meat  and  coals,  spirits 
and  paraffin,  etc.,  etc.  (1827).  Fly- 
ing  cat,  an  owl  (1690).  To  jerk,  shoot, 
or  whip  the  cat  (or  to  cat),  to  vomit 
(1609).  To  whip  the  cat  (or  to  draw 
through  the  water  with  a  cat).  1.  To 
indulge  in  practical  jokes  (1614): 
hence  cat-whipping  or  whipping  the  cat : 
A  trick  often  practised  on  ignorant 
country  fellows,  vain  of  their  strength  ; 
by  laying  a  wager  with  them  that  they 
may  be  pulled  through  a  pond  by  a 
cat ;  the  bet  being  made,  a  rope  is 
fixed  round  the  waist  of  the  party  to 
be  catted,  and  the  end  thrown  across 
the  pond,  to  which  the  cat  is  also 
fastened  by  a  pack-thread,  and  three 
or  four  sturdy  fellows  are  appointed 
to  lead  and  whip  the  cat ;  these,  on  a 
given  signal,  seize  the  end  of  the  cord, 
and  pretending  to  whip  the  cat,  haul 
the  astonished  booby  through  the 
water  (Grose)  2.  To  work  at  private 
houses.  Phrases :  To  see  how  the 
cat  will  jump,  to  watch  events  and  act 
accordingly ;  also  (American)  to  sit  on 
the  fence  (1827) ;  you  kill  my  cat  and 
Ptt  kill  your  dog.  Ca'  me,  ca'  thee, 
an  exchange  in  the  matter  of  scratch- 
ing backs  :  FT.,  passez  moi  la  casse,  et 
je  t'envarrai  la  senne  ;  to  let  the  cat  out 
of  the  bag,  to  reveal  a  secret,  to  put 
one's  foot  in  it  (this  and  the  kindred 


phrase,  To  buy  a  pig  in  a  poke,  are 
said  to  originate  in  the  bumpkin's 
trick  of  substituting  a  cat  for  a  young 
pig  and  bringing  it  to  market  in  a  bag  : 
if  the  customer  were  wary  the  cat  was 
let  out  of  the  bag,  and  there  was  no 
deal) ;  who  ate  or  stole  the  cat  ?  a 
gentleman  whose  larder  was  frequently 
broken  by  bargees,  had  a  cat  cooked 
and  placed  as  a  decoy :  it  was  taken  and 
eaten,  and  became  a  standing  jest 
against  the  pilferers  ;  to  lead  a  cat  and 
dog  life,  to  quarrel  night  and  day ;  to 
turn  cat  in  the  pan,  to  '  rat,'  to  reverse 
one's  position  through  self-interest, 
to  play  the  turncoat  (the  derivation  is 
absolutely  unknown  :  the  one  gener- 
ally received  —  that  cat  is  a  corrup- 
tion of  cate  or  cake,  is  historically 
untenable)  (1559) ;  to  feel  as  though  a 
cat  had  kittened  in  one's  mouth,  to 
have  a  mouth,  after  drunkenness. 
Many  other  phrases  and  proverbial 
sayings  will  occur  to  mind  :  A  cat  may 
look  at  a  king,  a  retort  on  impertinent 
or  ill  -  placed  interference,  there  are 
certain  things  which  an  inferior  may 
do  in  presence  of  a  superior ;  care 
kitted  the  cat,  the  strongest  will  ulti- 
mately break  down,  even  though  one 
had,  like  the  proverbial  cat,  nine 
lives  ;  enough  to  make  a  cat  speak  (or 
laugh),  of  something  very  extraordin- 
ary or  facetious  (frequently  of  very 
good  drink) ;  to  fight  like  Kilkenny 
cats,  to  engage  in  a  mutually  destruc- 
tive struggle  ;  to  bell  the  cat :  see  Bell ; 
to  grin  like  a  Cheshire  cat.  Also  pro- 
verbial sayings,  Wisdom  is  great  if  the 
cat  never  touched  milk ;  The  cat 
winks  when  her  eye  is  out ;  The  cat 
likes  (or  will  eat)  fish,  but  she  will  not 
wet  her  feet  to  catch  them ;  In  the  dark 
(or  when  the  candle  is  out)  all  cats  are 
grey  ;  Cats  are  not  to  be  caught  with- 
out mittens  ;  The  cat  will  after  kind  ; 
Evil  will  abide  as  long  as  a  cat  is  tied 
to  a  pudding ;  As  like  as  a  cat  and  a 
cart  wheel ;  Not  room  enough  to 
swing  a  cat ;  A  cat  and  mouse  game. 

Catabaptist  A  denier  of  the  ortho- 
dox doctrine  of  baptism  :  16th  and 
17th  cent.  [Coined  by  Gregory  Naz- 
ianzen.] 

Catamarin.  A  vixenish  old  woman 
a  cross-grained  person  of  either  sex 
(1833). 

Catamount  (Catamountain,  or  Cat 
o'  Mountain).  A  shrew.  [Cf.  Cata- 
marin and  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's 


91 


Cat  and  Mouse. 


Cat-o>-nine-ta&8. 


use  of  the  word  for  a  wild  man 
from  the  mountains,  a  transferred 
sense  of  catamount,  a  leopard  or 
panther.] 

Cat  and  Mouse.     A  house. 

Catastrophe.  The  tail  or  latter 
end :  cf.  the  Falstaffian  I'll  tickle 
your  catastrophe. 

Catawampous  (Catawamptiously). 
With  aridity,  fiercely,  eagerly,  or 
violently  destructive  ( 1843).  As  subs, 
pi.,  vermin,  especially  those  that  sting 
and  bite. 

Catch.  A  man  or  woman  matri- 
monially desirable  ;  formerly  a  prize  or 
booty  ( 1593).  In  combination  anything 
that  catches  :  e.g.  catch-all,  catch-bit, 
catch-cloak,  catch-coin,  catch-credit, 
catch  -  fish,  catch  -  fool,  catch  -  penny 
(guinea,  shilling,  etc.)  and  so  forth. 
To  catch  (or  cut)  a  crab.  (1)  To  turn 
the  blade  of  the  oar,  or  feather,  under 
water  at  the  end  of  the  stroke,  and 
thus  be  unable  to  recover ;  (2)  to 
lose  control  of  the  oar  at  the  middle  of 
the  stroke  by  digging  too  deeply  ;  or 
(3)  to  miss  the  water  altogether, — also 
to  capture  a  cancer,  and  (American) 
to  catch  a  lobster ;  to  catch  a  tartar, 
to  unexpectedly  meet  with  one's 
superior,  to  fall  into  one's  own  trap, 
having  a  design  upon  another,  to  be 
caught  oneself :  also  to  catch  on  a 
snag  (q.v.)  (1682);  catch  that  catch 
may  (catch  as  catch  can,  etc.),  to  help 
oneself,  each  as  he  can  ;  catch  me  I  (or 
catch  me  at  it !),  an  emphatic  denial 
(1780) ;  to  catch  it,  to  get  a  thrashing 
or  scolding  (1835);  to  catch  on,  to 
understand,  grasp,  apprehend,  quickly 
seize  an  opportunity  ;  to  catch  the  eye, 
to  arrest  attention  ;  to  catch  fire,  to  be- 
come inflamed  with  passion,  inspired 
with  zeal,  etc.  ;  to  catch  on  a  snag,  to 
catch  a  tartar  (q.v.),  meet  with  one's 
superior  ;  to  catch  on  the  hop,  to  catch 
or  have  on  the  hip,  as  Gratiano  catches 
Shylock :  see  Hop ;  to  catch  the  wind 
of  the  world,  to  quickly  understand 
the  meaning  of  what  is  said.  See 
Twig. 

Catch-'em-alive  (or  alivo).  1. 
A  fly-paper.  2.  A  tooth  comb. 

Catch-fart     A  footman,  page-boy. 

Catch  -  pole.  A  warrant  -  officer, 
bum-bailiff :  formerly  in  respectable 
use,  but  employed  contemptuously 
from  the  sixteenth  century  (1377). 

Catchy.  Vulgarly  or  cheaply  at- 
tractive, of  a  quality  to  take  the  eye  or 


ear,  easily  caught  and  remembered 
(as  a  tune)  (1831). 

Caterpillar.  A  soldier:  see  Mud- 
crusher. 

Caterwaul.  To  make  a  noise  like 
cats  at  rutting  time,  woo,  make  love 
(1899). 

Catever.  A  queer  or  singular 
affair,  anything  poor  or  bad.  [Lingua 
Franca,  and  Ital.,  cattivo,  bad.] 

Catfish  death.  Suicide  by  drown- 
ing. 

Catgut  -  scraper.  A  fiddler :  also 
scraper  or  teaser  of  the  catgut,  rosin- 
tin-- how  (1633). 

Cat  -  harping  fashion.  Drinking 
cross  ways,  and  not  as  usual  over  the 
left  thumb  (Qrose). 

Cat  -  head.  In  pi.,  the  paps :  see 
Dairy. 

Cathedral  (Winchester).  A  high 
hat :  see  Golgotha ;  as  adj.,  old- 
fashioned,  antique  (1690).  [Because 
only  worn  when  going  to  the  Cathe- 
dral.] 

Catharine  Puritan.  A  member 
of  St.  Catharine's  Hall,  Cambridge.  [A 
pun  on  Catharine  and  Kadoipuv,  to 
purify.]  Also  Doves  (q.v.) 

Catherine  Hayes.  A  liquor  con- 
sisting of  claret,  sugar,  and  nutmeg 
(1856).  [The  derivation  may  presum- 
ably be  traced  to  the  immense  popu- 
larity of  the  Irish  singer  at  the  an- 
tipodes.] 

Cat's.  St.  Catharine's  Hall :  whence 
Cat's  men,  members  of  St.  Catharine's 
Hall. 

Catherine  Wheel.     See  Cartwheel 

Cat  -  lap.  Thin  potations  of  any 
sort,  especially  tea  (1785). 

Cat-market.  A  number  of  people 
all  talking  at  once :  e.g.  You  make  a 
row  like  a  cat- market,  a  general  cater- 
wauling. 

Cat  -  match.  When  a  rook  or 
cully  is  engaged  amongst  bad  bowlers 
(Grose). 

Catoller  (or  Catolla).  A  noisy, 
prating  fellow  :  a  foolish  betting  man 
(Egan). 

Cat  -  o'  -  nine  -  tails  (or  cat).  A 
nine-lashed  scourge  still  occasionally 
used  on  criminals,  but  until  1881  the 
authorised  means  of  punishment  in  the 
British  army  and  navy.  In  prison  par- 
lance the  cat-o' -nine- tails  is  Number 
one,  or  the  Nine- tailed  bruiser  (q.v.), 
the  birch  being  Number  two  (q.v.) 
(1665). 


92 


Cat-party. 


Caz. 


Cat-party  (Bitch  -  party).  A 
gathering  of  women. 

Cats.  Atlantic  Seconds  :  for  tele- 
graphic purposes. 

Cats  and  Dogs.  To  rain  cats  and 
dogs,  and  pitchforks  and  shovels,  to  rain 
heavily  (1738). 

Cat's-foot.  To  live  under  the 
cafs  foot,  to  be  under  petticoat  gov- 
ernment, hen  -  pecked :  cf.  Apron- 
string. 

Cat's  -  head  (Winchester).  The 
end  of  a  shoulder  of  mutton. 

Catskin  -  earls.  The  three  senior 
earls  in  the  House  of  Lords,  viz.  the 
Earls  of  Shrewsbury,  Derby,  and 
Huntingdon,  the  only  three  earldoms 
before  the  seventeenth  century  now 
existing,  save  those  that  (like  Arundel, 
Rutland,  etc.),  are  merged  hi  higher 
titles,  and  the  anomalous  earldom  of 
Devon  (1553),  resuscitated  in  1831. 

Cat's-meat.     The  lungs. 

Cat's  -  paw  (or  Cat's  -  foot).  A 
dupe,  tool.  [A  reference  to  the  fable 
(Bertrand  et  Baton)  of  a  monkey  using 
the  paw  of  a  cat,  dog,  or  fox,  to  pull 
roasted  chestnuts  off  the  fire,  current 
in  the  sixteenth  century,  but  varying 
considerably  in  details.  ]  ( 1 657 ). 

Cat-sticks.     Thin  legs  (1785), 

Cat's-water.     Gin. 

Cattie.  An  imperfect  or  smutty 
look  on  a  printed  sheet,  caused  by  an 
oily  or  unclean  roller. 

Cattle.  A  term  of  contempt : 
applied  to  human  beings :  e.g.  queer 
cattle,  kittle-cattle  (1577).  Cattle  is 
often  used  of  horses. 

Cattle-bug.     See  Bug. 

Caudge-pawed.  Left-handed 
(Grose). 

Caught.  Caught  on  the  fly,  caught 
hi  the  act,  on  the  hop,  or  hip. 

Cauliflower.  1.  A  clerical  wig 
supposed  to  resemble  a  cauliflower ; 
modish  in  the  time  of  Queen  Anne.  2. 
The  foaming  head  of  a  tankard  of 
beer.  In  Fr.,  linge  or  faux-col.  3.  In 
pi.  the  Forty-seventh  Regiment  of 
Foot :  from  its  white  facings. 

Caulk.  1.  Sleep  ;  as  verb,  to  sleep : 
also  subs.,  caulking  (1836).  2.  To 
cease  ;  shut  up  ;  i.e.  stop  one's  talk,  or 
leave  off  talking. 

Caulker.  1.  A  dram,  stiff  glass  of 
grog :  generally  a  finishing  bumper. 
When  this  happens  to  be  sherry  and 
follows  the  drinking  of  red  wines,  it  is 
called  a  whitewash  (q.v.)  (1808).  2. 


A  lie,  anything  surprising  or  in- 
credible :  see  Whopper. 

Caution.  Anything  out  of  the 
common,  wonderful,  staggering,  to  be 
avoided,  that  causes  surprise,  wonder, 
fear.  At  Oxford,  in  1865,  a  guy 
or  cure  (1835).  Whence  cautionary, 
that  which  is  a  caution. 

Cavaulting  -  school.  A  house  of 
ill-fame. 

Cave  (or  Cave  in).  To  give  way 
when  opposition  can  no  longer  be 
maintained,  break  up,  turn  up. 
English  synonyms :  to  knuckle  under, 
knock  under,  give  in,  sing  small,  turn 
it  up,  chuck  it  up,  jack  up,  climb  down 
(q.v.),  throw  up  the  sponge,  chuck  it, 
go  down,  go  out,  cut  it,  cut  the  rope 
(pugilistic),  etc.  ( 1 877).  Cave  !  (Eton). 
Beware !  a  byword  among  boys 
out  of  bounds  when  a  master  is  in 
sight. 

Caviare.  Obnoxious  matter 
blacked  out  by  the  Russian  press 
censor.  Every  foreign  periodical 
entering  Russia  is  examined  for  ob- 
jectionable references  or  irreligious 
matter,  the  removal  whereof  is  accom- 
plished in  two  ways.  If  the  items  or 
articles  are  bulky,  they  are  torn  or  cut 
out  bodily.  If  they  are  brief,  they  are 
blacked  out  by  means  of  a  rect- 
angular stamp  about  as  wide  as  an 
ordinary  newspaper  column,  and 
cross-hatched  in  such  a  way  that, 
when  hiked  and  dabbed  upon  the 
paper,  it  makes  a  close  network  of 
white  lines  and  black  diamonds.  The 
peculiar  mottled  or  grained  look  of  a 
page  thus  treated  has  suggested  the 
attributive  caviare  :  a  memory  of  the 
look  of  the  black  salted  caviare  spread 
upon  a  slice  of  bread  and  butter.  As 
verb,  to  black  out. 

Cavort.  To  prance,  frisk,  run  or 
ride  in  a  heedless  or  purposeless 
manner.  [Lingua  Franca,  cavolta, 
prancing  on  horseback.]  (1848). 

Cawbawn.     See  Cobbon. 

Caw  -  handed  (or  Caw  -  pawed). 
Awkward,  not  dexterous,  ready  or 
nimble  (Grose). 

Caxton.  A  wig.  [A  corruption  of 
caxon.] 

C  a  y  u  s  e.  A  nickname  given  by 
Mormon  girls  to  young  Latter  Day 
Saints :  the  Yahoos  of  the  Gentiles. 
[The  cayuse  is  properly  the  common 
Indian  pony.] 

Caz.     Cheese:  seeCassan.     (1812). 


93 


Cedar. 


Cedar  (Eton).  1.  A  pair -oared 
boat,  inrigged,  without  canvas,  and 
very  crank.  [From  the  material] 

2.  A  pencil. 

Celestial- poultry.     Angela. 

Celestial.  1.  In  pi.,  The  Ninety- 
seventh  Regiment  of  Foot.  2.  A 
turn  -  up  or  pug  nose :  see  Conk. 

3.  A  Chinaman.    [The  Chinese  Empire 
is  spoken  of  as  the  Celestial  Empire.] 

Cellier.  An  out-and-out,  unmiti- 
gated lie :  an  echo  of  the  Meal-tub 
plot  (1682).  Cf.  Burke,  Boycott, 
Bishop,  and  Salisbury. 

Cellar-flap.  A  step  or  dance 
performed  within  the  compass  of  (say) 
a  cellar-flap :  the  Whitechapel  artist 
achieves  as  many  changes  of  step  as 
possible  without  shifting  his  ground  : 
his  action  being  restricted  to  the  feet 
and  legs :  also  to  cut  capers  on  a 
trencher :  to  double-shuffle. 

Cent.     See  Worth. 

Cent-per-cent.     A  usurer  (Grose). 

Centurion.  A  batsman  scoring  a 
hundred  runs.  [From  Centurion,  the 
commander  of  a  '  century,'  in  the 
Roman  Army.] 

Century.  A  hundred  pounds ;  or 
at  cricket,  etc.,  a  score  of  a  hundred. 
[Originally  a  division  of  the  Roman 
Army  numbering  100  men.  In  Eng- 
lish it  was  and  is  in  common  use  to 
signify  a  group  of  a  hundred.] 

Cert.  A  certainty :  also  a  dead 
(or  moral)  certainty,  a  dead  'un,  and  a 
moral  (1859). 

Certainty.  An  infant  of  the  female 
aex :  see  Uncertainties. 

Chafe.  To  thrash  soundly,  warm 
(1093). 

C  h  a  ff .  1.  Ironical  or  sarcastic 
banter,  fooling,  humbug,  ridicule.  As 
verb,  to  banter,  jest,  gammon,  or  quiz 
(1821).  Chaffy,  full  of  banter.  2. 
(Christ's  Hospital).  A  small  article  or 
plaything,  e.g.  a  pocket  chaff ;  as 
adj.  (Christ's  Hospital),  pleasant,  glad : 
sometimes  chaffy.  As  intj.  (Christ's 
Hospital),  an  exclamation  signifying 
joy  or  pleasure.  Also  phrases  and 
proverbs :  neither  corn  nor  chaff, 
nondescript,  neither  one  thing  nor 
another  (1835) ;  To  sett  corn  and  eat 
chaff,  to  deny  oneself,  play  the  miser 
(1579) ;  A  grain  of  wheat  in  a  bushel  of 
chaff,  poverty  of  result,  much  cry  and 
little  wool. 

Chaff-cutter.  A  back-biter, 
slanderer. 


Chaffer.  1.  A  quizzer,  banterer 
(q.v.).  2.  The  mouth,  the  tongue 
( 1  v_'  1 ) ;  to  moisten  one's  chaffer,  to 
drink :  see  Lush. 

Chaffing-crib.  The  place  where  a 
man  receives  his  intimates ;  a  den, 
snuggery,  diggings  (1821). 

Chained  (or  Chain)  Lightning. 
Whisky  of  the  vilest  description : 
warranted  to  kill  at  forty  rods :  also 
forty-rod  lightning. 

Chain  -  gang.  Jewellers  ;  watch- 
chain  makers:  Fr.,  boguiste  and  chain- 
iste. 

Chair.  To  put  in  the.  chair,  to 
commit  to  prison  :  of  drivers  neglect- 
ing to  pay  hire  for  their  cabs. 

Chairmarking.  Inserting  the  date 
in  a  cab-driver's  licence  in  words  in- 
stead of  figures  :  or,  endorsing  it  in  an 
unusually  bold,  heavy  hand  :  a  hint 
to  possible  employers  that  the  holder 
is  undesirable.  In  other  trades  it  is 
understood  that  an  unexceptionable 
character,  with  the  adjectives  care- 
fully underlined,  is  to  be  read  as  imply- 
ing just  the  opposite  of  what'  it  appears 
to  say. 

Ch'aldese.  To  trick,  cheat,  take 
in  (1G84). 

Chalk.  1.  A  score,  reckoning ; 
whence,  by  chalks,  many  chalks,  long 
chalks,  etc.,  i.e.  degrees  or  marks  ;  also 
credit,  tick  (1529).  2.  A  scratch  or 
scar  (1846).  As  verb,  (1)  To  score 
up,  tick  off.  (2)  To  make  one  stand 
treat,  or  pay  his  footing ;  an  old 
hand  succeeds  in  chalking  the  shoes 
of  a  green  hand,  the  latter  has  to 
stand  drinks  all  round.  (3)  To  strike : 
cf.  chalkers,  sense  1  (1822).  Phrases: 
To  chalk  up  (or  chalk  it  up),  to  credit, 
take  credit,  put  to  one's  account 
( 1 597) ;  to  beat  by  long  (or  many)  chalks, 
to  beat  thoroughly,  show  appreciable 
superiority  (1857) ;  to  icalk  (or  stump 
one's  chalks),  to  move  or  run  away,  be 
off ;  to  be  able  to  walk  a  chalk,  to  be 
sober  (the  ordeal  on  board  ship  of 
trying  men  suspected  of  drunkenness 
is  to  make  them  walk  along  a  line 
chalked  on  the  deck,  without  deviating 
to  right  or  left) ;  making  chalks,  a 
term  connected  with  the  punishment 
of  boys  on  board  ship,  and  in  the  * 
Royal  Naval  School :  two  chalk  lines 
are  drawn  wide  apart  on  the  deck  or 
floor,  and  a  boy  to  be  punished  places 
a  foot  on  each  of  these  lines,  and 
stoops,  thereby  presenting  a  con- 


04 


Ckalker. 


Chappie. 


venient  section  of  his  person  to  the 
boatswain  or  master ;  to  chalk  the 
lamp-post,  to  bribe :  see  grease  the  palm 
(1857).  Other  expressions  connected 
with  chalk  are,  to  know  chalk  from 
cheese  ;  to  chalk  out,  etc. 

Chalker.  1.  In  pi.,  Men  of  wit 
in  Ireland,  who  in  the  night  amuse 
themselves  with  cutting  inoffensive 
passengers  across  the  face  with  a  knife. 
They  are  somewhat  like  those  facetious 
gentlemen,  some  time  ago  known  in 
England  by  the  title  of  sweaters  and 
mohocks  (Grose).  2.  A  milkman. 

Chalk  -  farm.  The  arm.  English 
synonyms:  bender,  hoop-stick,  fin, 
daddle. 

Chalk  -  head.  One  with  a  good 
head  for  figures :  spec,  a  waiter 
(1856). 

Cham  (or  Chammy).  Champagne, 
(q.v.),  boy. 

Chamber  of  Horrors.  1.  The 
Peeresses'  Gallery  in  the  House  of 
Lords  :  cf.  Cage,  sense  4.  2.  In  pi., 
sausages. 

Chance.  To  have  an  eye  to  the  main 
chance,  to  keep  in  view  that  which 
will  advantage  (1609).  To  chance  the 
ducks,  to  risk  what  one  may,  take 
every  chance :  also,  to  chance  the 
arm. 

Chance r.  A  liar;  also  an  in- 
competent workman :  i.e.  one  who 
chances  what  he  cannot  do. 

Changery.  In  chancery,  in  pugil- 
ism, the  head  under  the  left  arm  of 
an  opponent  so  that  he  can  pound 
away  at  it  with  his  right ;  also  fig.,  in 
a  parlous  case,  an  awkward  fix : 
FT.,  chancetterie  and  coup  de  chan- 
cetterie,  almost  literal  translations 
(1819). 

Chaney-eyed.  One-eyed :  cf. 
squinny-eyed. 

Change.  To  give  change,  to  pay 
out,  give  one  his  deserts ;  whence,  to 
take  one's  change  out  of,  to  get  even 
with,  give  tit  for  tat :  see  infra ;  to 
have  all  one's  change  about  one,  to  be 
clever,  quick-witted,  compos  mentis, 
with  twelve  pence  to  the  shilling  about 
one ;  to  put  the  change  on,  to  deceive 
mislead  (1667);  to  ring  the  changes, 
to  change  better  for  worse ;  also  to 
pass  counterfeit  money,  to  pitch  the 
snide  (q.v.) :  see  Ring  (1661) ;  to  take 
the  change  out  of  [a  person  or  thing], 
to  be  revenged,  take  an  equivalent,  get 
quid  pro  quo  :  e.g.  Take  your  change  out 


of  that  !  with  a  blow  or  other  rejoinder : 
cf.  Put  that  in  your  pipe  and  smoke 
it !  (1829);  quick  change  artiste,  a  per- 
former, male  or  female,  who  sings  one 
song  in  one  costume,  retires  for  a  few 
seconds  and  returns  to  sing  another  in 
another  guise,  and  so  on ;  to  change  one's 
note  (or  tune),  to  pass  from  laughter  to 
tears,  from  arrogance  to  humility,  to 
alter  one's  mode  of  speech,  behaviour, 
etc.  :  see  Breath.  (1578). 

Change-bags  (Eton).  Grey  flannel 
trousers  for  cricket,  and  knicker- 
bockers for  football. 

Chant  (or  Chaunt).  1.  A  song; 
to  throw  off  a  rum  chaunt,  to  sing 
a  good  song  (1882).  2.  A  cipher, 
initials,  or  mark  of  any  kind,  on  a 
piece  of  plate,  linen,  or  other  article ; 
anything  so  marked  is  said  to  be 
chanted ;  also  an  advertisement  in  a 
newspaper  or  handbill,  etc.  (1812). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  talk,  sing  praise,  cry, 
crack  up:  FT.,  pousser  la  goualante: 
street  patterers  and  vendors  chant 
their  songs  and  wares,  oftentimes  to 
an  extent  not  warranted  by  their  qual- 
ity. (2)  To  sell  a  horse  by  fraudulent 
representation:  Fr.,  enrosser  (1816). 
Hence  chanter  (generally  horse-clianter, 
(1)  a  fraudulent  horse-dealer  ;  and  (2) 
a  street  patterer :  commonly  spelt 
chaunter  (q-v-) ;  chanting,  selling 
unsound  or  vicious  horses  by  a  trick. 

Chantey  (or  Chanty).  A  song 
sung  by  sailors  at  their  work.  The 
music  is  to  a  certain  extent  tradi- 
tional, the  words  —  which  are  com- 
monly unfit  for  ears  polite  —  are 
traditional  likewise.  The  words  and 
music  are  divided  into  two  parts — the 
chanty  proper,  which  is  delivered  by 
a  single  voice,  with  or  without  a  fiddle 
obligato,  and  the  refrain  and  chorus, 
which  are  sung  with  much  straining  and 
tugging,  and  with  peculiar  breaks  and 
strange  and  melancholy  stresses,  by  a 
number  of  men  engaged  in  the  actual 
performance  of  some  piece  of  bodily 
labour. 

Chantie.     A  chamber-pot :  see  It. 

Chapel  (or  Chapel  of  ease).  A 
water-closet :  see  Mrs.  Jones. 

Chapel  of  little  ease.  The  police 
cells :  see  Little  ease. 

Chapped.  Parched,  dry,  thirsty 
(1673). 

Chappie  (or  Chappy).  The  latest 
variety  ( 1890)  of  a  man  about  town,  a 
dandy  :  a  term  of  intimacy. 


9o 


Character. 


Chaunter. 


Character.  A  man  or  woman 
exhibiting  some  prominent  (and 
usually  contemptible)  trait,  an  eccen- 
tric, a  case  (q.v.) :  generally  with 
low,  queer,  comic,  etc.  (1773). 

Charactered.  Burnt  in  the  hand, 
lettered  (q.v.)  (1785). 

Charing-Cross.    A  hone  ;  see  Prad. 

Chariot.  An  omnibus :  in  the 
sixteenth  century  a  vehicle  of  any 
kind,  and  in  the  eighteenth  a  light 
four-wheeled  carriage. 

Chariot- buzzing.  Picking  pockets 
in  an  omnibus. 

Charity.  Cold  as  charity,  lacking 
in  feeling,  perfunctory  ;  charity  begins 
at  home,  ties  of  family,  friendship,  etc., 
come  first. 

Charley  (or  Charlie).  1.  A 
night-watchman.  A  popular  name, 
prior  to  the  introduction  by  Sir  R. 
Peel,  in  1829,  of  the  present  police 
force ;  since  fallen  into  desuetude. 
The  Charlies  were  generally  old  men 
whose  chief  duty  was  crying  the  houron 
their  rounds.  Boxing  a  Charley  was 
a  favourite  amusement  with  young 
bucks  and  bloods  :  when  they  found  a 
night-watchman  asleep  in  his  box, 
they  would  overturn  it,  leaving  the 
occupant  to  escape  as  best  he  might. 
Charles  I.  reorganised  the  watch 
system  of  the  metropolis  in  1640.  2. 
A  small  pointed  beard,  fashionable  in 
the  time  of  Charles  I.  :  cf.  Imperial, 
Goatee.  3.  A  fox.  4.  A  watch.  5. 
(tailors')  The  nap  on  glossy-surfaced 
cloth,  also  a  round-shouldered  figure. 

Charley  Bates'  farm  (or  garden). 
See  Bates'  farm. 

Charley  -  Lancaster.  A  hand- 
kerchief. 

Charley-  pitcher.  A  sharper 
working  the  thimble-rig,  three-card 
trick,  prick  the  garter,  etc. 

Charley-Prescot     A  waistcoat 

Charley-wag.  To  play  the 
Charley-wag,  to  absent  oneself  from 
school  without  leave,  play  truant ; 
figuratively  to  disappear  :  Fr.,  tailler 
(or  caler)  Fecole. 

Charlies.  1.  The  paps :  see 
Dairy.  2.  (Winchester :  obsolete). 
Thick  gloves  made  of  twine.  [Intro- 
duced by  a  Mr.  Charles  Griffith.] 

Charm.  1.  A  picklock  (1785). 
2.  In  pi.,  the  paps:  Fr.,  lea  appas: 
once  in  literary  use,  but  now  impos- 
sible except  as  slang.  3.  In  pi., 
generic  for  money  :  see  Rhino. 


Charter.  To  charter  the  bar  (or 
grocery).  To  buy  all  the  liquor  in 
stock  and  stand  drinks  round  as  long 
as  it  lasts :  this  freak  was  not  infre- 
quent in  the  West  In  Australia  a 
similar  expression  is  to  shout  oneself 
hoarse  (q.v.). 

Chasing.  Exceeding  a  given  average 
standard  of  production. 

Chasse.  To  dismiss:  Fr.,  chaster 
(1847). 

Chat  1.  A  house.  2.  The  truth, 
real  state  of  a  case,  proper  words 
to  use,  correct  card  (1819).  3. 
Gabble,  chatter,  impudence ;  e.g. 
None  of  your  chat  As  verb,  to  hang : 
aeeChates. 

C hates.  1.  The  gallows:  also 
Chattes  and  Chats  (1567):  see 
Nubbing-cheat.  2.  In  pi.,  lice.  Eng- 
lish synonyms  :  active  citizens,  crabs, 
crumbs,  friends  in  need,  back  friends, 
grey  backs,  black  cattle,  Scots  Greys, 
gentleman's  companions,  creepers, 
gold  -  backed  'uns,  German  ducks, 
dicky-birds,  familiars,  saddle-backs, 
Yorkshire  Greys. 

Chat-hole.  A  hole  in  a  wall,  made 
to  carry  on  conversation  (prison). 

Chats.  1.  See  Chates.  2.  Seals, 
3.  London,  Chatham,  and  Dover  Rail- 
way Stock. 

Chatterbox.  An  incessant  talker  ; 
contemptuously  of  adults  and  play- 
fully of  children.  Also  chatter-basket, 
chatter-bones,  chatter-cart,  chatter- 
bladder,  chatter-bag,  chatter-pie,  etc. 
Chatter  -  broth  (or  water),  tea,  scandal 
broth  (q.v.).  Chitter  •  chatter  (or 
Chatter-chitter),  small  talk,  gossip. 
Chatter-house,  a  resort  for  women 
(1611). 

Chatterer.  A  blow  upon  the 
mouth,  or  a  blow  that  tells  (1827). 

Chatterers.  The  teeth  :  see 
Grinders. 

Ch  alter y.  Cotton  or  linen  goods 
(1821). 

Chatty.  A  filthy  man :  see  Chat 
As  adj.,  filthy,  lousy. 

Chatty-feeder.     A  spoon. 

Chaunt  See  Chant  To  chaunt 
the  play,  to  explain  the  tricks  and 
manoeuvres  of  thieves. 

Chaunter.  1.  A  street  ballad 
singer,  reciter  of  dying  speeches,  etc. 
Rarely  heard  now  except  in  the  poor- 
est neighbourhoods.  The  practice  is 
peculiar.  One  man  gets  as  far  as  he 
can,  and  when  his  voice  cracks  a  com- 


Chaunter -cove. 


Cheer. 


panion  takes  things  up.  2.  See 
Chanter,  sense  1. 

Chaunter-cove.     A  reporter. 

Chaunter-cull.  A  writer  of  bal- 
lads and  street  literature  for  the  use  of 
chaunters  (q.v.).  They  haunted  cer- 
tain well  -  known  public  houses  in 
London  and  Birmingham,  and  were 
open  to  write  ballads  to  order  on  any 
subject,  the  rate  of  remuneration 
varying  from  half-a-crown  to  seven- 
and-sixpence.  The  chaunter  having 
practically  disappeared,  his  poet  has 
gone  with  him  (1781). 

Chaunter  upon  the  Leer.  An 
advertiser. 

Chauvering  -  donna  (or  -  moll). 
A  prostitute :  see  Tart. 

Chaw.  1.  A  countryman,  yokel, 
bumpkin.  In  common  use  at  publio 
schools  (1856).  2.  A  mouthful,  gob-, 
bet,  what  can  be  crammed  in  the 
mouth  at  once,  e.g.  a  quid  of  tobacco, 
a  dram  of  spirits,  etc.  :  as  verb,  to  eat, 
chew  noisily,  and  roughly  bite :  once 
literary,  now  specifically  to  chew 
tobacco  (1749).  3.  A  trick,  device, 
sell ;  also  to  deceive.  Phrases :  To 
chaw  over,  to  create  ridicule  by  repeat- 
ing one's  words ;  to  chaw  up,  to  get  the 
better  of,  demolish,  do  for,  smash  or 
finish ;  chawed  up,  utterly  done  for 
(1843) ;  to  chaw  up  one's  words,  to 
retract  an  assertion,  to  eat  one's  words. 

Chawbacon.  A  countryman,  a 
bumpkin  (q.v.).  Other  nicknames  are 
bacon-slicer,  clod-hopper,  barn-door 
savage,  clod-pole,  cart-horse,  Johnny, 
cabbage-gelder,  turnip-sucker,  joskin, 
jolterhead,  yokel,  clod  -  crusher,  etc. 
(1811). 

Cheap.  On  the  cheap,  at  a  low  rate 
[of  money],  economically,  keeping  up  a 
showy  appearance  on  small  means  ; 
cheap  and  nasty,  of  articles  pleasing  to 
the  eye,  but  shoddy  in  fact :  cf.  Cheap 
and  nasty,  like  Short's  in  the  Strand, 
a  proverb  applied  to  the  deceased 
founder  of  cheap  dinners,  now  a  well- 
known  wine-bar  ;  to  feel  cheap,  to  have 
a  mouth  on,  suffering  from  a  night's 
debauch ;  dirt  cheap  or  dog  chaep,  in- 
expensive, as  cheap  as  may  be :  dog 
cheap  is  the  earliest  form  in  which 
this  colloquialism  appears  in  English 
literature  (1577),  dirt  cheap  not  being 
found  earlier  than  1837. 

Cheapside.  He  came  home  by  way 
of  Cheapside,  i.e.  he  gave  little  or 
nothing  for  it,  he  got  it  cheap. 


Cheat.  Generic  for  a  thing,  spec, 
the  gallows ;  also  the  Nubbing,  Top- 
ping, or  Treyning-cheat.  The  word 
is  variously  spelt — chet,  chete,  cheate, 
cheit,  chate,  cheat.  The  following  com- 
binations illustrate  its  use  :  —  Bdly- 
chete,  an  apron ;  Ueting-chete,  a  sheep 
or  calf ;  cackling-chete,  a  fowl ;  crashing- 
cheats,  the  teeth ;  grunting-chete,  a  pig ; 
hearing -chetes,  the  ears  ;  low1  ing -chete, 
a  cow ;  lullaby  -  chete,  an  infant ; 
mofling  -  chete,  a  napkin  ;  nubbing- 
cheat,  the  gallows ;  prattling -chete,  the 
tongue  ;  quacking -chete,  a  duck :  smell- 
ing-chete,  the  nose  ;  topping-cheat,  the 
gallows  ;  treyning-cheat,  the  gallows  ; 
trundling  -  cheat,  a  cart  or  coach  —  all 
of  which  see  (1567). 

Cheats.  Sham  cuffs  or  wristbands, 
half  sleeves :  cf.  Dicky  and  Sham 
(1688). 

Checks.  Generic  for  money,  cash 
[A  poker  term].  To  pass  (or  hand)  in 
one's  checks,  to  die  :  see  Hop  the  twig. 

Cheek.  1.  Insolence,  jaw ;  e.g. 
None  of  your  cheek,  None  of  your 
jaw.  Equivalents  are  lip,  chat, 
imperance,  mouth,  chin,  chirrup,  and 
nine  shillings  (nonchalance)  (1840). 
2.  Audacity,  confidence,  impudence, 
brass,  face.  Formerly  brow  was  used 
in  the  same  sense  (1642).  Also  as 
verb  in  both  senses.  To  one's  own 
cheek,  to  one's  own  share,  all  to  oneself 
(1841) ;  to  cheek  up,  to  answer  saucily. 

Cheek  -  ache.  To  have  the  cheek- 
ache,  to  blush,  to  be  abashed. 

Cheekiness.  Impudence,  effront- 
ery, cool  audacity  (1847). 

Cheekish  (or  Cheeky).  Audacious, 
impudent,  saucy. 

Cheeks.  1.  The  posteriors.  2.  An 
accomplice  (1857). 

Cheeks  and  Ears.  A  kind  of 
head-dress  (1600). 

Cheeks  the  Marine.  Mr.  Nobody : 
popularised  by  Captain  Marryat.  Also 
a  sarcastic  rejoinder  to  a  foolish  or 
incredible  story,  Tell  that  to  Cheeks 
the  marine  (1833). 

Cheer.  To  change  cheer,  to  exhibit 
emotion,  change  countenance  ;  to  make 
a  cheer,  to  assume  a  look  of  anger,  fear, 
shame,  etc.  ;  what  cheer  ?  how  are 
you  ?  with  good  cheer,  readily, 
gladly ;  to  be  of  good  cJieer,  to  be  hi 
good  fettle,  stout  of  heart,  courageous ; 
the  fewer  the  better  cheer,  the  fewer 
there  are,  the  more  there  is  for  each 
to  eat. 


97 


Chic. 


Cheese.  1.  The  cheese,  any  thing  first- 
rate  or  highly  becoming ;  the  expres- 
sion runs  up  and  down  the  whole 
gamut  of  cheese  nomenclature,  from 
the  Stilton,  Double  Gloster,  to  the 
pure  Limburger  (1835).  2.  An  adept, 
one  who  takes  the  shine  out  of 
another  :  at  Cambridge  an  overdressed 
dandy  is  a  howling  cheese.  Hard 
cheese,  what  is  barely  endurable,  hard 
lines,  bad  luck ;  tip-cheese,  probably 
Tip-cat  (q.v.);  cheese  it  I  leave  off! 
have  done  !  be  off  !  (1811).  To  make 
cheeses  (Fr.,  faire  des  fromages),  a 
schoolgirl's  amusement :  turning 
rapidly  round  and  round,  the  figure- 
maker  suddenly  sinks  to  the  floor, 
causing  the  petticoats  to  inflate  some- 
what in  the  form  of  a  cheese  :  also 
a  deep  curtsey  (1867).  See  Bread, 
Chalk,  Moon. 

Cheese-box.  A  Confederate  nick- 
name for  a  vessel  of  the  Monitor 
type  (1860-65):  cf.  Tinclad. 

Cheese  -  cutter.  1.  A  prominent, 
aquiline  nose :  see  Conk.  2.  A  large, 
square  peak  to  a  cap :  Fr.,  Zouave 
abatjour.  3.  In  pi.,  bandy-legs :  see 
Drumsticks. 

Cheese  -  knife.  A  sword :  also 
Cheese-toaster. 

Cheesemongers.  The  First  Life- 
guards. [Bestowed,  it  is  said,  on 
account  of  veterans  declining  to  serve 
when  the  corps  was  remodelled  in 
1788,  on  the  ground  that  the  ranks 
were  no  longer  composed  of  gentle- 
man, but  of  cheesemongers.]  Also 
The  cheeses. 

Cheeser.     An  eructation. 

Cheeses.     See  Cheesemongers. 

Cheese  -  toaster.  A  sword.  Eng- 
lish synonyms :  Toasting-fork,  toast- 
ing iron,  sharp,  knitting-needle,  iron, 
cheese-knife,  tool,  poker  (1785). 

Cheesy.  Fine,  showy:  the  reverse 
of  dusty  (q.v.)  (1858). 

Chemiloon.  Chemise  and  drawers 
in  one,  a  combination  (q.v.). 

Chepemens.  Cheapside  Market 
(1610). 

Cheque.  To  have  seen  the  cheque, 
to  know  positively,  be  possessed  of 
exact  knowledge  concerning  a  matter. 

Cherrilet     A  nipple  (1599). 

Cherry.  A  young  girl :  cf.  cherry 
ripe  and  rosebud. 

Cherry-breeches.     See  Cherubims. 

Cherry  -  coloured.  Either  red  or 
black ;  in  allusion  to  a  cheating  trick 


at  cards.  [When  cards  are  being  dealt, 
a  knowing  one  offers  to  bet  that  he 
will  tell  the  colour  of  the  turn-up  card. 
Done,  says  Mr.  Green.  The  sum 
being  named,  Mr.  Sharp  affirms  that 
it  will  be  cherry  -  colour ;  and  as 
cherries  are  either  black  or  red,  he  wins 
(Qrose).  Cherry -coloured  cat,  one  either 
black  or  white  in  colour  (1785). 

Cherry-  merry.  1.  Convivial, 
slightly  inebriated:  see  Screwed 
(1602).  2.  A  present  of  money. 
Cherry-merry-bamboo,  a  beating. 

Cherry-pickers.     See  Cherubims. 

Cherry-pie.     A  girl. 

Cherry-ripe.  1.  A  woman :  also 
cherry-pipe.  2.  A  Redbreast  (q.v.), 
Bow  Street  runner.  A  scarlet  waist- 
coat formed  part  of  the  uniform.  3. 
A  footman  in  red  plush.  4.  A  pipe. 

Cherubims  (vulgo,  Cherry-bums). 
1.  The  Eleventh  Hussars.  [From  the 
crimson  overalls.]  Also  Cherry- 
breeches  and  Cherry  -  pickers.  2. 
Peevish  children  :  an  allusion  to  the  Te 
Deum,  To  Thee  cherubin  and  seraphin 
continually  do  cry.  3.  Chorister  boys. 
To  be  in  the  cherubims,  to  be  in  good 
humour,  in  the  clouds,  unsubstantial, 
fanciful  (1542). 

Cheshire  -  cat  To  grin  lite  a 
Cheshire  cat  [chewing  gravel,  eating 
cheese],  to  laugh  broadly,  all  over  one's 
face  (1782). 

Chest.  To  chuck  out  one's  chest, 
to  pull  oneself  together,  stand  firm, 
keep  a  stiff  upper  lip. 

Chestnut.  A  stale  joke  or  story, 
an  old  '  Joe,'  something  frequently 
said  or  done  before. 

Chete.     See  Cheat 

Chew.     A  small  portion  of  tobacco, 
a  quid.     To  chew  oneself,  to  get  angry  ; 
to  chew  the  cud,  to  chew  tobacco  ;  also 
to  think,  to  turn  over  in  one's  mind 
to  chew  the  rag  (or  fat),  to  grumble. 

Chewallop  !  Onomatopoeia :  re- 
presenting, it  is  thought,  the  sound  of 
an  object  falling  heavily  to  the  ground 
or  into  water:  see  Cachunk  (1835). 

Chewre.    To  steal. 

Chic.  Finish,  elegance,  spirit,  dash 
style — any  quality  which  marks  a  per- 
son or  thing  as  superior.  [Originally  a 
French  slang  term  of  uncertain  origin, 
Littre  being  inclined  to  trace  it  to  chic- 
ane, tact  or  skill.  The  French  chic 
originally  signified  subtlety,  cunning, 
skill ;  and,  among  English  painters,  to 
chic  up  a  picture,  or  to  do  a  thing  from 


98 


Chickabiddy. 


Chippy. 


chic,  to  work  without  models  and  out 
of  one's  own  head]  (1856).  As  adj., 
stylish,  elegant,  up  to  Dick. 

Chickabiddy.  A  young  girl :  cf. 
Chick-woman  (Much  Ado,  i.  iii.). 

Chickaleary-cove  (or  bloke).  An 
artful  member,  a  downy  cove  (q.v.). 

Chicken.  A  pint  pot :  cf.  hens 
and  chickens,  and  cat  and  kittens 
(1851).  No  chicken,  elderly  (1720); 
to  count  one's  chickens  before  they  are 
hatched,  to  reckon  beforehand  upon 
a  successful  issue  (the  Latins  said, 
Don't  sing  your  song  of  triumph 
before  you  have  won  the  victory 
— ante  victoriamcanere  triumphum) 
(1579). 

Chicken  -  butcher.  A  poulterer  ; 
also  (sporting),  any  one  shooting  im- 
mature game  (1811). 

Chicken-fixings.  Properly  a  hash, 
stew,  or  fricassee  of  chicken,  but  the 
term  is  now  applied  to  any  fare  out 
of  the  common  ;  also  to  show  of  any 
kind  :  Fr.,  gueulardise :  cf.  common 
doings. 

Chicken-flesh.     Goose-flesh   (q.v.). 

Chicken-pecked.  Governed  by  a 
child  :  cf.  hen-pecked. 

Chicken-thief.     A  petty  thief. 

Chi-ike  (or  Chy-ack).  A  street 
salute,  a  word  of  praise  (1869).  Also 
as  verb,  to  salute  or  hail,  and  (tailors') 
to  chaff  unmercifully.  To  give  chi-ike 
with  the  chill  off,  to  scold. 

Child.     See  This  child.     Also  in 

Eroverbs  and  proverbial  phrases,  The 
urnt  child  dreads  the  fire  (1400). 
The  child  unborn  (a  type  of  inno- 
cence. Children,  drunkards,  and  fools 
cannot  lie.  Once  an  old  man,  twice 
a  child.  Many  kiss  the  child  for  the 
nurse's  sake. 

Child-crowing.     Croup. 

Child-geared.     Childish,  silly. 

Child  -  queller.  A  severe  discip- 
linarian. 

Children' s-shoes.     See  Make. 

Chill  (or  take  the  chill  off). 
To  warm.  With  the  chill  off,  an  ex- 
pression of  (1)  dissent,  (2)  depreciation, 
or  (3)  disbelief  :  cf.  over  the  left  (q.v.). 

Chime.  To  praise,  extol,  puff, 
canoodle  (q.v.),  especially  with  a  view 
to  personal  advantage.  To  chime  in, 
to  agree,  endorse,  spec,  to  break  into 
an  argument  with  a  note  of  approval : 
also  to  chime  in  with  (1838). 

Chimney.  A  great  smoker :  Fr., 
locomotive. 


Chimney  -  chops.  A  negro  :  see 
Snowball. 

Chimney-pot.  The  silk  hat  worn 
by  men,  and  sometimes  by  women 
on  horseback :  beaver,  bell- topper, 
etc.,  but  see  Golgotha :  Fr.,  cheminee 
(1861). 

Chimney  -  sweep.  1.  A  black 
draught :  cf.  custom  -  house  officer. 
2.  A  clergyman :  vice  versa  sweep  = 
clergyman. 

Chin.  A  child.  As  verb,  to  talk, 
chatter :  spec,  to  talk  loudly,  impu- 
dently, or  abusively.  To  hold  up  by 
the  chin,  to  support,  encourage,  save 
from  disaster  (1562) ;  of  the  first  chin, 
with  sprouting  beard  ;  up  to  the  chin, 
deeply  engaged,  involved,  over  head 
and  ears. 

Chinas.  Eastern  Extension  Aus- 
tralasian and  China  Telegraph  Shares. 

Chin-chopper.  A  drive  under  the 
chin :  see  Dig. 

Chinese  -  compliment.  Seeming 
deference  to  others,  one's  mind  being 
already  made  up. 

Chink.  Generic  for  money,  ready 
cash :  also  chinkers,  or  jink :  see 
Rhino  (1557). 

Chinker.  In  pi.,  handcuffs :  see 
Chink. 

Chin  -  music.  Talk,  chatter,  ora- 
tory :  also  chin-wag :  Fr.,  casser  un 
mot.  Chinning,  talking,  chatting ; 
chinny,  talkative  :  see  Chin. 

Chin  qua   soldi.      Fivepence  :  Ital. 

Chinse     (Winchester).     A  chance. 

Chip.  1.  An  item  of  news  :  spec,  a 
local  (q.v.).  2.  A  reporter  who  col- 
lects chips.  3.  A  sovereign :  see 
Rhino.  As  verb,  to  understand  :  see 
Twig.  To  chip  in,  to  contribute  one's 
share  in  money  or  kind,  join  in  an 
undertaking,  interpose  smartly ;  not 
to  care  a  chip,  to  care  naught,  not 
even  the  value  of  a  counter  :  see  Cent, 
Fig,  Rap,  Straw,  etc.  ;  brother  chip, 
brother  smut,  one  of  the  same  trade 
or  profession  ;  chip  of  the  same  (or  the 
same  old)  block,  a  person  reproduc- 
ing certain  familiar  or  striking  char- 
acteristics ;  chip  in  porridge,  broth, 
a  thing  of  no  moment,  nonentity 
(1686).  Also  Chip,  &  man  or  thing : 
a  bloke,  cove,  cheat  (1628). 

Chipper.  Fit,  active,  ready  to 
chip  in. 

Chippy,  unwell,  seedy :  usually  of 
over-indulgence  hi  eating,  drinking, 
etc. 


99 


Chips. 


Cftop. 


Chips.  1.  A  carpenter  (1785).  2. 
Counters  used  in  games  of  chance  :  cf. 
checks.  3.  Cards.  4.  Money.  5. 
( Wellington  College).  A  kind  of  grill : 
from  its  hardness.  To  hand  in  one't 
chips,  to  die. 

Chirp.  To  talk  :  spec,  to  inform 
(thieves). 

Chirper.  1.  A  singer.  2.  A  glass 
or  tankard  ( 1 802).  3.  The  mouth  :  see 
Potato  trap.  4.  A  stage  door  black- 
mailer: if  money  be  refused  them,  they 
go  into  the  auditorium  and  hoot,  hiss, 
and  groan  at  the  performer. 

Chirping-merry.  Exhilarated  with 
liquor  (Grose). 

Chirpy.     Cheerful,  likely  (1837). 

Chirrup,  verb  (music-hall).  To 
cheer  or  applaud  a  public  singer, 
speaker,  etc.,  for  a  consideration  :  FT., 
daguer.  Hence  chirruper  and  chirrup- 
ing. 

Chisel  (Chizzle,  or  Chuzzle). 
To  cheat,  defraud,  swindle  ( Jamieson) 
(1808).  Hence,  chiselling,  cheating. 
To  go  full  chisel,  to  go  full  speed,  or 
full  drive,  show  intense  earnestness, 
use  great  force,  go  off  brilliantly 
(1835). 

Chit  1.  A  letter  (1785),  corrup- 
tion of  a  Hindoo  word.  2.  An  order 
for  drinks :  in  clubs,  etc.  3.  A  girl : 
under  age  and  undersized.  4.  Food 
eaten  in  the  hand :  aa  a  thumber 
(q.v.),  a  workman's  lunch,  and  a 
child's  piece  (q.v.). 

Chit-chat  Chatter,  familiar  con- 
versation :  cf.  tittle  -  tattle,  bibble- 
babble,  etc.  [Johnson:  only  used  in 
ludicrous  conversation.] 

Chitterlings.  Shirt  frills  :  cf. 
Ger.,  Gekrose. 

Chitty.  An  assistant  tailor's  cutter 
or  trimmer. 

Chitty  -  faced.  Thin,  weazened, 
baby-faced  (1601). 

Chiv.     See  Chive. 

Chive  (or  Chiv).  A  knife.  Eng- 
lish synonyms :  Arkansas  toothpick 
(a  bowie  knife),  cabbage  -  bleeder, 
whittle,  gully,  jockteleg  (a  clasp  knife  : 
a  corruption  of  Jacques  de  Liege) 
snickersnee  (nautical),  cuttle,  cuttle- 
bung,  pig-sticker  (1674).  As  verb,  to 
stab,  to  knife  (q.v.) 

Chive  -  fencer.  A  street  hawker 
of  cutlery. 

C  h  i  v  e  y  (or  Chivvy).  A  shout, 
greeting,  cheer :  cf.  Chi-ike.  As 
verb,  to  guy  (q.v.),  chase  round, 


hunt  about,  throw  or  pitch  about 
(1831). 

Chiving-lay.  Cutting  the  braces  of 
coaches  behind,  whereupon,  the  coach- 
man quitting  the  box,  an  accomplice 
broke  and  robbed  the  boot  Also 
cutting  through  the  back  of  the  coach 
to  snatch  the  large  and  costly  wigs 
then  fashionable  (Grose). 

Chivy  (or  Chevy).  The  face.  As 
verb,  to  scold,  bullyrag. 

Choakee.     See  Chokey. 

Chock.  To  strike  a  person  under 
the  chin. 

Checker.  A  man :  generally  old 
checker,  but  not  necessarily  in  con- 
tempt 

Chocolate.  To  give  chocolate  with- 
out sugar,  to  reprove  (Grose). 

Choke-  doe.  Cheese  ;  especially 
hard  cheese  made  in  Devonshire. 

Choke.  To  choke  off,  to  get  rid  of, 
put  a  stop  to,  run  contrary  to.  English 
synonyms,  to  shut  off,  shunt,  fub  off, 
rump,  cold  shoulder  (1818). 

Choker.  1.  A  cravat ;  spec,  the 
large  neckerchief  once  worn  high  round 
the  neck  ;  also  white  choker  (q.v.),  the 
neckgear  peculiar  to  evening  dress. 
English  synonyms :  neckinger,  tie  (now 
technical,  but  formerly  slang),  crum- 
pler  (1845).  2.  An  all-round  collar: 
cf.  all-rounder.  3.  A  garotter ;  see 
Wind-stopper.  4.  Prison,  lock  up, 
quod  :  see  Chokey.  5.  The  hangman  s 
rope,  squeezer,  halter.  White-choker, 
a  parson. 

Chokey  (Choky,  Chokee,  or 
Checker).  1.  A  prison.  Queen's  (or 
King's)  Chokey,  the  Queen's  (or  King's) 
Bench  Prison  :  obe.  2.  A  cell :  spec, 
a  punishment  cell. 

Chonkey.  A  species  of  mince-meat 
cake  (1851). 

Chop.  1.  A  blow  :  once  (sixteenth 
and  seventeenth  centuries)  literary, 
and  still  respectable  in  some  senses: 
e.g.  a  chopping  (i.e.  beating)  sea,  2. 
An  exchange,  barter,  and  as  verb,  to 
barter,  buy  and  sell,  change  tactics, 
veer  from  one  side  to  the  other, 
vacillate  :  see  Chop,  verb  (1485) ;  e.g. 
to  chop  logic,  to  give  argument  for 
argument ;  to  chop  stories,  to  cap  one 
anecdote  with  another.  3.  To  change 
quarters :  e.g.  the  wind  chopped 
round  to  the  north  (1554).  4.  To  eat 
a  chop  (1841).  Chop  and  change,  ups 
and  downs,  vicissitudes,  changes  of 
fortune  (1759) ;  to  chop  the  whiners,  to 


100 


Chop-chop. 


Cinch. 


say  prayers  :  FT.,  manger  sa  paillasse. 
See  First  chop,  Second  chop. 

Chop-chop.  Immediately, 
quickly. 

Chopper.  1.  A  blow,  struck  on  the 
face  with  the  back  of  the  hand.  Men- 
doza  claims  the  honour  of  its  inven- 
tion, but  unjustly ;  he  certainly  re- 
vived, and  considerably  improved  it. 
It  was  practised  long  before  our  time 
— Brougham  occasionally  used  it ;  and 
Slack,  it  also  appears,  struck  the 
chopper  in  giving  the  return  in  many 
of  his  battles.  2.  A  sausage  maker. 
To  have  a  chopper  (or  button)  on,  to  be 
miserable,  down  in  the  dumps,  in  a  fit 
of  the  blues. 

Chopping.     Wanton,  forward. 

Chopping  -  block.  A  man  who 
takes  an  immense  amount  of  punish- 
ment (q.v.)  in  fight  without  the  science 
or  the  strength  to  return  it. 

Chops.  To  lick  the  chops,  to  anti- 
cipate a  matter  with  zest  or  relish 
(1655) ;  down  in  the  chops  (or  mouth), 
Bad,  melancholy  :  see  Chopper  (1830). 

Chortle.  To  chuckle,  laugh  in 
one's  sleeve,  snort.  [Introduced  by 
Lewis  Carroll  in  Through  the  Looking 
Qlass.] 

Chosen  Twelve.     See  Apostles. 

Chuck-farthing  (Chuck,  Chuck- 
and  -  toss,  or  Pitch  -  and  -  toss).  A 
game  played  with  money,  which  is 
pitched  at  a  line,  gathered,  shaken  in 
the  hands,  and  tossed  up  into  the  air  so 
as  to  fall  heads  and  tails  until  the 
stakes  are  guessed  away :  a  parish 
clerk  was  formerly  named  chuck-far- 
thing (1690). 

Chucking-out.     Ejection. 

Chucks.  A  boy's  signal  on  a 
master's  approach.  Fr.,  Vesse  I 

Chuff  it.     Be  off  !  Take  it  away  ! 

Chum.  1.  A  close  companion,  a 
bosom  friend,  intimate.  Formerly  a 
chamber-fellow  or  mate.  [Johnson  : 
a  term  used  in  the  Universities.] 
(1684).  English  synonyms:  gossip, 
pal,  pard  (American),  marrow  (north- 
country),  cully  (theatrical),  cummer, 
ben  cull,  butty,  bo'  (nautical),  mate  or 
matey,  ribstone,  bloater.  2.  A 
brother-in-arms.  As  verb,  to  occupy  a 
joint  lodging,  or  share  expenses,  on 
the  closest  terms  of  intimacy  with 
another,  to  be  '  thick  as  thieves,'  or 
'  thick  as  hops ' :  Fr.,  etre  dans  la 
chemise  de  quelqu'un,  du  dernier  bien 
avec  quelqu'un  (1730).  New  chum, 


a  new  arrival  in  a  colony,  greenhorn, 
tenderfoot  (q.v.)  (1861). 

Chummage.  Money  procured  by 
chumming  together ;  but  various  ex- 
tensions of  meaning  appear  to  have 
been  in  vogue  at  different  periods. 
Thus  (1)  quartering  two  or  more 
collegians  in  one  room,  and  allowing 
the  richest  to  pay  his  companions  a 
stipulated  sum  to  go  out  and  find 
quarters  elsewhere.  (2)  Money  paid 
by  the  richer  sort  of  prisoners  in  the 
Fleet  and  King's  Bench  to  the  poorer 
for  their  share  of  a  room  ...  A 
prisoner  who  can  pay  for  being  alone, 
chooses  two  poor  chums,  who  for  a 
stipulated  price,  called  chummage,  give 
up  their  share  of  the  room  (Grose). 

Chummery.  Chumhood ;  also 
quarters  occupied  by  chums. 

Chummy.  1.  A  chimney-sweep's 
climbing  boy.  [A  corruption  of 
chimney  through  chumley]  (1635). 

2.  A    diminutive     form     of     chum 
(q.v.)     3.   A  low-crowned  felt    hat: 
see    Golgotha.      As    adj.,    very    inti- 
mate, friendly,  sociable  :  Fr.,  chouette, 
chouettard,  chouettaud. 

Chump.  1.  A  blockhead.  2.  A 
variant  of  chum  :  Fr.,  vieitte  branche. 

3.  The  head  :  spec,  in  the  phrase  off 
one's    chump    (q.v.) :    see    Crumpet. 
Chump  of  wood,  no  good  :  also  a  block- 
head ;  off  one's  chump,  insane  ;  to  get 
one's  own  chump,  to  earn  one's  own 
living. 

Chunk.  1.  A  thick  piece,  lump  : 
of  wood,  bread,  coaL  etc.  (1691).  2. 
school-board  officer. 

Church.  To  take  out  the  works  of 
a  watch  and  substitute  another  set,  so 
that  identification  is  impossible  ( 1859). 
To  talk  church  :  see  Talk  ;  to  talk  shop, 
see  Shop ;  to  go  to  church,  to  get  married. 

Churchwarden.  A  clay  pipe  with 
a  long  stem.  English  synonyms, 
alderman,  steamer,  yard  of  clay. 

Churl.  To  put  a  churl  upon  a 
gentleman :  see  Gentleman. 

Cider.  Att  talk  and  no  cider,  pur- 
poseless loquacity,  much  cry  and  little 
wool,  much  ado  about  nothing. 

Cider-and.  Cider  mixed  with  some 
other  ingredient :  cf.  cold  without, 
hot  with,  etc.  (1742). 

Cig.     A  cigar  :  see  Weed. 

Cinch.  To  get  a  grip  on,  corner, 
put  the  screw  on  :  also,  in  the  passive 
sense,  to  come  out  on  the  wrong  side 
in  speculations. 

101 


Cincinnati-olive. 


CJfcu*. 


Cincinnati-  olive.  A  pig.  [A 
spurious  olive  oil  is  manufactured 
from  lard,  and  Cincinnati  is  one  of  the 
largest  centres  of  the  pork  -  packing 
industry  in  America.]  Cincinnati 
oyster,  a  pig's  trotter. 

Cinder.  1.  Any  strong  liquor,  as 
brandy,  whisky,  sherry,  etc.,  mixed 
with  a  weaker,  as  soda-water,  lemon- 
ade, water,  etc.,  to  fortify  it.  2.  A 
running  path  or  track. 

Cinder  -  gar  bier.  A  female  ser- 
vant (Grose).  English  synonyms :  mar- 
chioness, slavey,  cinder-grabber,  cin- 
derella,  can  (Scots),  piss-kitchen,  Julia. 

Circle.  To  give  the  lie  in  circle,  to 
lie  indirectly,  circuitous! y  (1610). 

Circling- boy.  A  swindler,  rook. 
[Nares  :  a  species  of  roarer  ;  one  who 
in  some  way  drew  a  man  into  a  snare, 
to  cheat  or  rob  him.] 

Circs.     Circumstances. 

Circumbendibus.  A  roundabout, 
spec,  a  long-winded,  story  (1681). 

Circumlocution  -  office.  A  centre 
of  red-tape,  a  roundabout  way.  A 
term  invented  by  Charles  Dickens  and 
applied  at  first  in  ridicule  to  public 
offices,  where  everybody  tries  to 
shuffle  off  his  responsibilities  upon 
some  one  else.] 

Circumslogdologize.  See  Stock- 
dollagize. 

Circumstance.  Not  a  circum- 
stance, etc.,  not  to  be  compared  with, 
a  trifle,  of  no  account — unfavourable 
comparison.  To  whip  [something] 
into  a  circumstance,  to  surpass. 

Circus- cuss.     A  circus-rider. 

Citizen.  A  wedge  for  prising 
open  safes  :  used  before  the  alderman 
(q.v.)  or  jemmy  (q.v.)  are  brought 
into  play.  Whence  citizen's- friend,  a 
smaller  wedge  than  the  citizen.  The 
order  in  which  the  tools  are  used  is 
(1)  citizen's  friend,  (2)  citizen,  (3)  the 
alderman  (i.e.  a  jemmy),  and  some- 
times (4)  a  Lord  mayor. 

City  College.  Newgate  ;  in  New 
York,  The  Tombs  :  see  Cage. 

City-stage.  The  gallows :  for- 
merly in  front  of  Newgate  :  see  Nub- 
bing  cheat. 

Civil  Reception.  See  House  of 
Civil  Reception. 

Civil-rig.  A  trick  to  obtain  alms 
by  a  profuse  show  of  civility  and 
obsequiousness. 

Civvies.  Civilian  clothes,  as 
opposed  to  regimentals. 


Clack.  1.  Idle  or  loquacious  talk, 
gossip,  prattle  (1440).  As  verb,  to 
gabble.  2.  The  tongue.  A  more 
ancient  form  was  clap,  dating  back  to 
1225.  English  synonyms:  glib,  red- 
rag,  clapper,  bubber,  velvet,  jibb, 
quail  -  pipe.  Hence,  clack  -  box,  (1) 
the  mouth :  see  Potato-trap.  (2)  A 
chatterbox. 

Clack-loft     A  pulpit 

Claim.  To  steal :  see  Prig.  To 
jump  a  claim,  to  take  forcible  posses- 
sion, to  defraud  :  specifically  to  seize 
land  which  had  been  taken  up  and 
occupied  by  another  settler,  or  squat- 
ter (1846). 

Clam.  1.  A  blockhead  :  cf.  Shakes- 
peare (Much  Ado,  ii.  iii.),  'Love  may 
transform  me  to  an  oyster ;  but  I'll 
take  my  oath  on  it,  till  he  hath  made 
an  oyster  of  me,  he  shall  never  make 
me  such  a  fool.'  2.  The  mouth  or 
lips  :  also  clam-shell :  Shut  your  clam- 
shell, shut  your  mouth.  The  padlock 
now  used  on  the  United  States  mail- 
bags  is  called  the  clam-shell  padlock. 
See  Potato-trap.  (1825). 

Clam- butcher.  A  man  who  opens 
clams  ;  the  attendant  at  an  oyster  bar 
is  an  Oyster  butcher. 

Clink.  A  pewter  tankard  :  for- 
merly a  silver  one  (1785). 

Clinker.  1.  A  great  lie  (Grose): 
see  Whopper.  2.  Silver  plate  :  whence 
clink-napper,  a  thief  whose  speciality 
was  silver  plate. 

Clap  (or  Clapper).  1.  The 
tongue  ( 1225).  2.  To  dap  eyes  on,  to  get 
a  sight  of,  spot  (q.v.) ;  to  clap  on,  to 
apply  oneself  with  energy,  set  to,  peg 
away. 

Clapper  -  dudgeon.  A  whining 
beggar  (1567). 

Clap-of-thunder.  A  glass  of  gin  : 
see  Flash  of  lightning  (1821). 

Clap-shoulder.  A  sheriffs  officer, 
bum-bailiff  (1630). 

Claras.  Caledonian  Railway  De- 
ferred and  Ordinary  Stock. 

Claret  Blood  :  variants  are  bad- 
minton, bordeaux,  and  cochineal-dye : 
FT.,  vermeil  (or  vermois)  (1604).  To 
tap  one's  claret,  to  draw  blood.  Hence, 
claret  jug,  the  nose. 

Clarian  (Cambridge  University). 
A  member  of  Clare  Hall,  Cambridge  : 
see  Greyhound. 

Class.  The  highest  quality  or  com- 
bination of  highest  qualities  among 
athletes.  He's  not  class  enough,  i.e. 

102 


Claw. 


Clip. 


not  good  enough.  There's  a  deal  of 
class  about  him,  i.e.  a  deal  of  quality. 

Claw.  A  lash  of  the  cat-o'-nine- 
tails :  hence  clawed  off,  severely  beaten ; 
daws  for  breakfast,  a  bout  of  the  cat 
(q.v.). 

Claw-hammer.  A  dress  coat :  also 
steel-pen  coat  and  swallow-tail. 

Clay.  A  clay  pipe :  cf.  Yard  of 
clay.  To  moisten  (soak  or  wet)  one's 
day,  to  drink  (1718). 

Clean.  1.  Entirely,  altogether,  e.g. 
clean  gone,  clean  broke,  etc.  2.  Expert, 
smart.  To  dean  out,  to  exhaust,  strip, 
rack,  or  ruin  :  Fr.,  se  faire  lessiver. 

Clean  -  potato.  The  right  thing  : 
of  an  action  indiscreet  or  dishonest,  it 
is  said  that  It's  not  the  clean  potato. 

Clean-straw  (Winchester  College). 
Clean  sheets.  [Before  1540  the  beds 
were  bundles  of  straw  on  a  stone  floor. 
At  that  date  Dean  Fleshmonger  put 
in  oaken  floors,  and  provided  proper 
beds,  such  as  existed  in  1871  in  Third, 
and  later  in  the  case  of  the  Prefect  of 
Hall's  unused  beds  in  Sixth.  The 
term  has  never  been  used  in  reference 
to  mattresses  of  any  kind,  straw  or 
other.] 

Clean- wheat.  Ifs  the  dean  wheat, 
i.e.  the  best  of  its  kind  :  see  Al. 

Clear.  (1)  Thick  with  liquor.  [Ap- 
parently on  the  lucus  a  non  lucendo 
principle.]  (1688).  Clear  as  mud, 
not  particularly  lucid  ;  to  dear  out  (or 
off),  to  depart  (1825) ;  (2)  to  rid  of 
cash,  ruin,  clean  out  (1849). 

Clear  -  crystal.  White  spirits,  as 
gin  and  whisky,  but  also  extended  to 
brandy  and  rum. 

Clear-grit.  1.  (Canadian).  A 
member  of  the  colonial  Liberal  party. 
2.  (American).  The  right  sort,  having 
no  lack  of  spirit,  unalloyed,  decided. 

Cleave.     To  wanton. 

Clegg.     A  horse-fly. 

Clencher.     See  Clincher. 

Clergyman.  A  chimney  -  sweep : 
see  Chimney-sweep.  St.  Nicholas'  derk 
(or  dergyman),  a  highwayman  (1589). 

Clerked.  Imposed  upon,  sold 
(q.v.)  (1785). 

Clerk's  blood.  Red  ink :  a  com- 
mon expression  of  Charles  Lamb's. 

Clever-shins.  One  who  is  sly  to 
no  purpose. 

Cleyme.  An  artificial  sore  :  made 
by  beggars  to  excite  charity. 

Click.  A  blow :  also  a  hold  in 
wrestling  (1819).  As  verb,  to  stand 


at  a  shop-door  and  invite  customers 
in,  as  salesmen  and  shoemakers  do 
(Dycke).  To  dick  a  nab,  to  snatch 
a  hat. 

Clicker  (or  Klicker).  1.  A  shop- 
keeper's tout.  [Formerly  a  shoe- 
maker's doorsman  or  barker  (q.v.), 
but  in  this  particular  trade  the  term 
is  nowadays  appropriated  to  a  fore- 
man who  cuts  out  leather  and  dis- 
penses materials  to  workpeople ;  a 
sense  not  altogether  wanting  from 
the  very  first]  (1690).  2.  A  knock- 
down blow.  3.  One  who  apportions 
the  booty  or  '  regulars.' 

Clift.     To  steal :  see  Prig. 

Climb.  To  dimb  down,  to  abandon 
a  position  :  as  subs.,  downward  or  re- 
trograde emotion,  the  act  of  surrender. 

Clinching.  A  prison  cell :  hence  to 
get  (or  kiss)  the  dinch  (or  dink),  to  be 
imprisoned. 

Clincher  (or  Clencher).  1.  That 
which  decides  a  matter :  spec,  a 
retort  which  closes  an  argument,  a 
finisher,  settler,  corker  (1754).  2. 
An  unsurpassed  lie,  stopper-up :  see 
Whooper. 

Cling-rig.     See  Clink-rig. 

Clink.  1.  A  prison,  lock-up ;  spec, 
applied,  it  is  thought,  to  a  noted  gaol 
in  the  borough  of  Southwark  ;  subse- 
quently to  places — like  Alsatia,  the 
Mint,  etc. — privileged  from  arrests  ; 
and  latterly,  to  a  small  dismal  prison, 
or  a  military  guard  room  (1525) :  see 
Cage.  2.  Silver  plate :  also  Clinch 
(1781).  3.  Money:  cf.  Chink  (1724). 
4.  A  very  indifferent  beer  made  from 
the  gyle  of  malt  and  the  sweepings  of 
hop  bins,  and  brewed  especially  for  the 
benefit  of  agricultural  labourers  in 
harvest  time  :  also  barn  -  clink.  To 
kiss  the  dink,  to  be  imprisoned 
(1588). 

Clinker.  1.  In  pi.,  fetters  (1690). 
2.  A  crafty,  designing  man  (1690).  3. 
A  chain  of  any  kind  :  fetter  or  watch 
chain.  4.  A  well  -  delivered  blow,  a 
hot-'un.  5.  Any  thing  or  person  of 
first  -  rate  and  triumphant  quality  : 
also  clincher,  a  settler  (1733).  6.  A 
lie  :  see  Whooper. 

Clinkerum.     See  Clink. 

Clinking.  First-rate,  extra  good, 
about  the  best  possible  :  cf.  clipping, 
thumping,  whooping,  rattling,  etc. 

Clink-rig  (or  Cling-rig).  Stealing 
silver  tankards  (1681). 

Clip.     A  smart  blow :  e.g.  a  clip 


103 


Clipe. 


Clumperton. 


in  the  eye.  As  verb,  to  move  quickly 
(1833). 

Clipe.  To  tell  tales,  split,  to 
preach  (q.v.). 

Clipper.  A  triumph  in  horses, 
men,  or  women  (1836). 

Clipping  (or  Clippingly).  Excel- 
lent, very  showy,  first-rate.  See  Al. 
(1643). 

Cloak.     A  watch  case. 

Cloak-twitcher.  A  cloak  thief :  Fr., 
tirelaine  (i.e.  wool-puller) :  see  Thief. 
(1785). 

Clobber.  Primarily  old,  but  now 
applied  to  clothes  of  any  kind.  As 
verb  (or  to  clobber  up)  (1)  to  patch, 
revive,  or  '  translate '  clothes.  Old 
clothes  that  are  intended  to  remain  in 
this  country  have  to  be  tutored  and 
transformed.  The  clobberer,  the  re- 
viver, and  the  translator  lay  hands 
upon  them.  The  duty  of  the  clob- 
berer is  to  patch,  to  sew  up,  and  to 
restore  as  far  as  possible  the  gar- 
ments to  their  pristine  appearance.  (2) 
To  dress  smartly,  rig  oneself  out  pre- 
sentably  (1879).  To  do  clobber  at  a 
fence,  to  sell  stolen  clothes  :  Fr.,  laver 
let  harnais. 

Clock.  A  watch.  A  red  dock, 
a  gold  watch ;  a  while  clock,  a  silver 
watch :  usually  red  'un  and  white 
'un.  To  know  who? a  o'clock,  to  be  on 
the  alert,  in  full  possession  of  one's 
senses,  a  downey  cove :  generally 
knowing  (q.v.).  Also  to  know  the 
timeo'  day  (1835). 

Clod-crusher.  1.  A  clumsy  boot. 
2.  A  large  foot.  3.  A  country  yokel : 
see  Clodhopper. 

Cloister  -  roush  (Winchester  Col- 
lege :  obsolete).  There  were  some 
singular  customs  at  the  commence- 
ment of  Cloister  time.  Senior  part 
and  Cloisters,  just  before  the  entrance 
of  the  Masters  into  School,  used 
to  engage  in  a  kind  of  general 
tournament ;  this  was  called  Cloister 
roush. 

Clootie.    The  DeviL 

Cloots.     Hooves  (1786). 

Close.  Close  as  toax,  miserly, 
niggardly,  secretive. 

Close  -  file.  A  person  secretive  or 
close ;  not  open,  or  communica- 
tive. 

Cloth.  The  cloth,  generic  for 
clergymen,  also  the  members  of  any 
particular  profession. 

Clothes-line.      Able  to  sleep  upon 


a  clothes -line,  capable  of  sleeping  any- 
where or  in  any  position  :  of  those 
able  and  willing  to  rest  as  well  upon 
the  roughest  shake  -  down  as  upon 
the  most  comfortable  bed.  [Cf.  Two- 
penny-rope and  Plank-bed.]  Also 
in  a  transferred  sense,  a  synonym  for 
general  capacity  and  ability. 

Clothes  -  pin.  That's  the  sort  of 
clothes-pin  I  am,  that's  the  sort  of 
man  I  am  :  also  of  women  :  That's  the 
tort  of  hair-pin  (q.v.). 

Cloth-market.  A  bed  :  FT.,  haUe, 
aux  drops  (1710). 

Cloud.     See  Blow  a  cloud. 

Cloud-cleaner.  An  imaginary  sail 
jokingly  assumed  to  be  carried  by 
Yankee  ships  :  cf.  Angel's  footstool 

Clout.  1.  A  blow,  a  kick,  whence 
clouting,  a  beating,  basting,  tanning 
(q.v.) :  see  Bang,  Dig,  and  Wipe  (1783). 
2.  A  pocket-handkerchief  (1621).  3. 
A  woman's  under-clothes,  from  the 
waist  downwards :  also  her  complete 
wardrobe,  on  or  off  her  person.  4.  A 
woman's  '  bandage,'  diaper,'  or 
'  sanitary.'  As  verb,  ( 1)  to  strike :  Fr., 
jeter  une  mandole  (1576) ;  (2)  to  patch, 
tinker. 

Clouter.  A  pickpocket :  spec,  a 
handkerchief  thief.  Also  as  verb,  to 
prig  a  wipe  (q.v.). 

Clover.  In  clover,  well-off,  com- 
fortable, like  a  horse  at  grass  in  a 
clover  field. 

Clow  (Winchester  College).  Pro- 
nounced do  :  a  box  on  the  ear.  Also  as 
verb,  to  box  the  ear  :  it  was  customary 
to  preface  the  actiou  by  an  injunction 
to  Hold  down. 

Clowe.     A  rogue  (Grose). 

Cloy  (Cligh,  or  Cly).  To  steal: 
see  Prig  (1610).  As  subs.,  a  thief  :  cf. 
Clow.  Cloying,  stealing. 

Cloyer.  A  thief  who  intruded  on 
the  profits  of  young  sharpers,  by 
claiming  a  share  (1611). 

Club.  In  manoeuvring  troops,  so 
to  blunder  the  word  of  command  that 
the  soldiers  get  into  a  position  from 
which  they  cannot  extricate  them- 
selves by  ordinary  tactics. 

Clump.  A  blow  :  spec,  a  thumper 
with  the  hand.  As  verb,  to  strike, 
give  a  heavy  blow  t  Fr.,  faire  du  bi fleck. 

dumper.  1.  A  thick,  heavy  boot 
for  walking :  see  Clump,  verb,  and 
Clumping.  2.  One  that  clumps,  a 
basher. 

Clumperton.    A  countryman. 


104 


Clumping. 


Cob. 


Clumping.  Walking  heavily  and 
noisily  :  as  in  hobnails  or  in  clogs. 

C 1  y.  LA  pocket,  purse,  sack,  or 
basket  (1714).  2.  Money :  old  cant 
(1748).  As  verb,  to  take,  have,  re- 
ceive, pocket,  to  cop  (q.v.)  (1567). 
To  dy  off,  to  carry  off  :  spec,  in  a  sur- 
reptitious manner  (1656).  To  dy  the 
jerk  (or  gerke),  to  get  a  whipping  ( 1567). 

Cly-faker.  A  pickpocket :  see  Cly 
and  Fake. 

Clyster-  pipe.  An  apothecary 
(1785). 

Co.  1.  A  man  (Old  Cant).  2. 
Short  for  Company,  County. 

Coach.  1.  A  private  tutor  ;  also 
in  a  transferred  sense  one  who  trains 
another  in  mental  or  physical  ac- 
quirements, e.g.  in  Sanskrit,  Shakes- 
peare, cricket,  or  rowing :  analogous 
terms  are  crammer,  feeder,  grinder, 
etc.  (1850).  Also  as  verb,  to  prepare 
for  an  examination  by  private  instruc- 
tion, to  train  :  in  general  use  both  by 
coacher  and  coachee  (1846).  Coach- 
ing, special  instruction,  training, 
grinding  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  barbe.  2.  The 
people  in  a  coach.  To  drive  a  coach 
and  four  (or  six)  through  an  Act  of 
Parliament,  to  make  the  law  a  dead 
letter,  take  the  law  into  one's  own 
hands  (1700). 

Coachee.  A  coachman  :  cf.  Cabby. 
See  Coach.  (1790). 

Coach  -  fellow.  A  companion, 
mate  (1598). 

Coaching.  1.  (Rugby  School).  A 
flogging :  obsolete.  2.  See  Coach.  3. 
(commercial).  Putting  up  to  pretended 
auction,  thereby  hoping  to  receive 
fancy  prices  by  fictitious  bidders. 

Coachman.     A  fly-fisher's  rod. 

Coach-wheel.  A  crown-piece,  five 
shillings :  also  (B.  E.)=2s.  6d.  :  see 
Cartwheel  (1785).  To  turn  coach 
wheels  (see  Cartwheels). 

Coach-whip.  1.  A  long  thin  strap. 
Also,  2.  in  pi.,  shreds,  tatters. 

Coal.  See  Cole.  To  take  in  one's 
coals  (or  winter  coals),  to  contract 
venereal  disease.  Precious  coal  I  an 
obsolete  exclamation  (1596) ;  to  carry 
(or  bear)  coals,  to  do  dirty  work ;  to 
haul  over  the  coals,  to  reprimand  ;  to 
carry  coals  to  Newcastle,  to  do  the 
superfluous  ;  black  as  a  coal,  as  black 
as  may  be  (1000) ;  to  heap  (cast,  etc.) 
coals  of  fire,  to  produce  remorse  by 
returning  good  for  evil  (Rom.  xli.  20) ; 
to  blow  the  coals,  to  fan  the  passions  ; 


to  blow  hot  coals,  to  rage  ;  to  stir  coals, 
to  excite  strife  ;  to  blow  at  a  cold  coal, 
to  undertake  a  hopeless  task. 

Coal  -  blower.  An  alchemist,  or 
quack :  in  contempt. 

Coal  -  box.  A  chorus  :  obviously 
'  music-hally  '  or  '  circussy  '  :  a  cross 
between  rhyming  slang  and  a  clown's 
wheeze  (q.v.)  (1809). 

Coal-  carrier.  A  low  dependant 
(1565) ;  cf.  to  carry  coals. 

Coaley.     A  coal-heaver,  or  porter. 

Coaling  (or  Coally).  Among '  pros,' 
a  coally  or  coaling  part  is  one  that  is 
acceptable  to  the  player. 

Coal-  scuttle.  A  poke  bonnet : 
once  modish,  later  reserved  for  old- 
fashioned  Quakeresses,  and  now  ob- 
solete except  with  Hallelujah  Lasses 
(1838). 

Coarse-account.  To  make  of  coarse 
account,  to  slight  (1579). 

Coat.  Cloth  (q.v.),  profession, 
party :  common  hi  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. See  Tread.  To  get  the  sun  into 
a  horse's  coat,  to  improve  its  condition 
by  feeding,  exercise,  etc.  ;  a  trainer's 
term,  to  express  fitness.  Phrases,  etc. : 
To  baste  (coil,  or  pay)  one's  coat,  to 
thrash,  tan  (1530) ;  to  be  in  any  one's 
coat,  in  any  one's  place,  stand  in  one's 
shoes  (1569) ;  to  cut  the  coat  according 
to  the  doth,  to  adapt  oneself  to  circum- 
stances ;  to  turn  one's  coat :  see  Turn- 
coat ;  to  wear  the  king's  coat,  to  serve 
as  a  soldier.  To  sit  on  one's  own  coat- 
tail,  to  live  or  do  anything  at  one's  per- 
sonal expense ;  Who'll  tread  on  the 
tail  of  my  coat  ?  (attributed  to  Irishmen 
at  Donnybrook  Fair),  to  purposely 
assume  a  position  in  which  some  one 
may  intentionally  or  unintentionally 
afford  a  pretext  for  a  quarrel,  provoke 
attack  so  as  to  get  up  a  row  ;  /  would 
not  be  in  some  of  (heir  coats  for  (any 
definite  or  indefinite  sum),  proverbial : 
cf.  (modern)  I  would  not  stand  in 
So-and-so's  shoes  (1549) ;  Near  is  my 
coat,  but  nearer  is  my  shirt  (or  skin), 
proverbial  (1539). 

Coax.  1.  To  dissemble  in  the 
shoes  the  soiled  or  ragged  parts  of  a 
pair  of  stockings  (Grose).  2.  Orig. 
to  befool,  whence  to  gull  by  petting, 
wheedle,  flatter.  [Johnson :  A  low 
word.]  As  subs.  (1)  a  wheedler  :  also 
coaxer ;  (2)  wheedling. 

Cob.  1.  A  punishment  cell :  see 
Clinch.  2.  In  pi.,  generic  for  money: 
spec,  a  Spanish  coin  formerly  current 


105 


Cockalorum. 


in  Ireland,  worth  about  4s.  8d :  also 
the  name  still  given  at  Gibraltar  to  a 
Spanish  dollar  (1805).  3.  (Winchester 
College).  A  hard  hit  at  cricket :  of 
modern  introduction :  cf.  Barter.  4. 
A  chief,  a  leader.  5.  A  wealthy  man  : 
hence  a  miser.  6.  A  huge  lumpish 
person.  7.  A  testicle.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to 
hit  hard:  cf.  Cobb ;  (2)  To  detect, 
catch,  etc.  (3)  To  humbug,  deceive, 
gammon  (q.v.) :  whence,  cobbled, 
caught,  spotted  (q.v.). 

Cobb.  To  spank,  smack  the  pos- 
teriors with  (say)  a  tailor's  sleeve- 
board,  fives- bat,  etc.  (1830). 

Cobber.  A  prodigious  falsehood, 
a  thumper,  a  whopper  (q.v.). 

Cobble  -  colter.  A  turkey  :  Fr., 
orne  de  batte,  J (suite  (1785). 

Cobblcrs'-knock  (or  Knock  at  the 
Cobbler's  Door).  A  sort  of  fancy 
sliding  in  which  the  artist  raps  the 
ice  in  triplets  with  one  foot  while  pro- 
gressing swiftly  on  the  other  (1836). 

Co  b  biers' -marbles.  A  corrupt 
pronunciation  of  Cholera  morbus,  or 
Asiatic  cholera. 

Cobbler's-thumb.  The  bull-head,  a 
small  fish  which  in  England  is  called 
the  Miller's  thumb. 

Cobble-text.  A  prosy  person, 
ignorant  preacher. 

Coblative.     Cobbled,  patched  up. 

Cobweb-morning.  A  misty  morn- 
ing. 

Cobweb  -  throat.  A  dry  parched 
throat,  hence  to  have  a  cobweb  in  the 
throat,  to  feel  thirsty. 

Cocard.  An  old  fool,  a  simple- 
ton. Cocardy,  folly. 

Cochineal-dye.  Blood :  see 
Claret  (1853). 

Cock.  1.  A  chief  or  leader ;  spec, 
in  such  phrases  as  Cock  of  the  walk, 
school,  etc.  ;  orig.  a  victor  (1711). 
Hence,  to  cry  cock,  to  acclaim  a  victor, 
acknowledge  a  chief,  etc.  2.  A  familiar 
address :  e.g.  Old  cock,  or  Jolly  old 
cock:  Fr.,  mon  vieux  zig,  mon  lapin 
( 1 639).  3.  A  horse  not  intended  to  win 
the  race  for  which  it  is  put  down,  but 
kept  in  the  lists  to  deceive  the  public. 
4.  A  fictitious  narrative  in  verse  or 
prose  of  murders,  fires,  etc.,  produced 
for  sale  in  the  streets.  [Famous 
manufactories  of  cocks  were  kept  by 
'  Jemmy  '  Catnach  and  Johnny  Pitts, 
called  the  Colburn  and  Bentley  of 
the  paper  trade :  hence  anything 
fictitious  or  incredible.]  6.  Cockney 


(q.v.).  6.  In  gambling  or  playing 
with  '  quads,'  a  cock  is  when  one  (or 
more)  of  the  nine  pieces  does  not  fall 
flat,  but  lodges  crosswise  on  another : 
the  player  is  then  given  another 
chance.  7.  A  night  watchman,  and  fig. 
a  parson.  8.  Good  cock  (or  poor  cock), 
a  good  (or  bad)  workman.  As  adj., 
chief,  first  and  foremost  (1676).  As 
verb,  to  smoke.  To  cock  the  eye,  to 
shut  or  wink  one  eye,  leer,  look  in- 
credulous :  Fr.,  cligner  desceUlets:  cf. 
Cock-eyed  :  also  to  cock  the  chin  :  Fr., 
a'aborgner  (literally,  to  make  oneself 
blind  of  one  eye  by  closing  it)  (1751) ; 
to  cock  up  one's  toes,  to  die  ;  That  cock 
won't  light,  that  will  not  do  (or,  go 
down) ;  of  things  problematical  or 
doubtful ;  knocked  a  •  cock,  knocked 
'  all  of  a  heap,'  or '  out  of  time.'  Also 
proverbs  and  proverbial  phrases : 
Every  cock  is  king  on  his  own  midden 
(1225);  The  young  cock  learneth  to 
crow  of  the  old  (1509) :  also,  as  the  old 
cock  crows  so  does  the  chick  (1589). 

Cock-a-doodle-do.  A  conventional 
representation  of  the  crow  of  the  cock  ; 
a  name  for  this,  and  hence,  a  nursery 
or  humorous  name  for  the  cock  (also 
Cock-a-doodle).  Also  as  verb. 

Cock-a-doodle  Broth.  Eggs  beat 
up  in  brandy  and  a  little  water  (1856). 

Cock-a-hoop  (or  Cock -on,  or 
-in)  a-hoop.  Strutting ;  triumphant ; 
high  -  spirited  ;  uppish.  To  set  (the) 
cock  on  (the)  hoop,  cock  a  hoop,  (1)  to 
drink  without  stint,  make  good  cheer 
with  reckless  prodigality  ;  also  (2)  as 
intj.,  an  exclamation  of  reckless  joy 
or  elation,  to  abandon  oneself  to  reck- 
less enjoyment,  cast  off  restraint, 
become  reckless,  give  a  loose  to  all 
disorder,  set  all  by  the  ears. 

Cockalare.  A  comic  or  ludicrous 
representation,  a  satire  lampoon,  a 
disconnected  story,  discourse,  etc. 

Cockaloft.  Affectedly  lofty, 
stuck  up. 

Cockall.  One  that  beats  all,  the 
'  perfection.' 

Cockalorum  or    Cockylorum. 

1.  A  contemptuous  address  of  any- 
thing undersized  and  self-important. 

2.  A  rough  -  and  -  tumble  game  :   the 
players  divide  into  two  opposing  bands 
of  from  twelve  to  fourteen  each — in 
fact,  the  more  the  merrier.     One  side 
'  goes  down,'  so  as  to  constitute  a  long 
'  hogsback ' — the   last  boy  having  a 
couple  of  pillows  between  himself  and 


108 


Cock-and-breeches. 


Cockle. 


the  wall,  and  each  boy  clasping  his 
front-rank  man,  and  carefully  tucking 
his  own  '  cocoa-nut '  under  his  right 
arm,  so  as  to  prevent  fracture  of  the 
vertebrae.  When  the  hogsback  is  thus 
formed,  the  other  side  comes  on,  leap- 
frogging on  to  the  backs  of  those  who 
are  down,  the  best  and  steadiest 
jumpers  being  sent  first.  Sometimes 
the  passive  line  is  broken  quite  easily 
by  the  ruse  of  a  short  high  jump, 
coming  with  irresistible  impulse  on  a 
back  not  expecting  weight.  Some- 
times a  too  ambitious  leap-frogger 
ruins  his  party  by  overbalancing  and 
falling  off.  It  is,  however,  as  the  last 
two  or  three  leap-froggers  come  on 
that  the  real  excitement  more  gener- 
ally begins.  There  is  absolutely  no 
back  -  space  belonging  to  the  other 
party  left  to  them ;  and  they  are 
obliged  to  pile  themselves  one  upon 
another — Pelion  on  Ossa,  as  it  is 
called.  When  the  last  man  is  up  it  is 
his  duty  to  say,  '  High  cockalorum 
jig  Jig  jig— nigh  cockalorum  jig  jig  ijg 
— high  cockalorum  jig  jig  jig — off,  off, 
off,'  and  then  alone  is  it  permissible  to 
fall  in  one  indistinguishable  heap  to 
the  ground.  The  repeater  of  the 
shibboleth  often  falls  off  himself  as  he 
is  uttering  the  above  incantation — 
thus  losing  the  victory  for  his  side. 

Cock  -  and  -  breeches.  A  sturdy, 
under- sized  man,  or  boy. 

Cock-and-bull-story,  subs,  (collo- 
quial). An  idle  or  silly  story.  [Pre- 
sumably from  some  old  legend  of  a 
cock  and  a  bull,  a  propos  to  which  it 
should  be  noted  that  the  French 
equivalent  is  coq-d-l'dne,  a  cock-and- 
ass]  (1603).  Hence,  disconnected, 
misleading  talk,  incredible  story,  a 
canard. 

Cock  -  and  -  hen  -  club,  subs,  (com- 
mon). 1.  A  free  and  easy  (q.v.),  a 
sing  -  song,  where  females  are  ad- 
mitted as  well  as  males  (1819).  2.  A 
club  for  both  sexes  ;  e.g.  the  Lyric. 

Cock-and- pinch.  The  old-fashioned 
beaver  of  forty  years  since. 

Cockapert.  Impudent,  saucy.  As 
subs.,  a  saucy  fellow. 

Cockatoo  -  farmer  (or  Cockatoo). 
In  Victoria  and  New  South  Wales  a 
small  farmer  or  selector  :  in  contempt, 
and  used  by  large  holders  of  agri- 
cultural squatters  with  small  capital 
(1865). 

Cockatrice.      1.   A   common  pro- 


stitute ;  also  a  mistress  or  '  keep ' 
(1600).  2.  A  baby. 

Cock-a-wax.  1.  A  cobbler :  see 
Snob.  2.  A  familiar  address. 

Cock-  bawd.  A  male  brothel  keeper 
(Grose). 

Cock-brain.  A  lighthearted, 
foolish  person.  Also  cock  -  brained, 
thoughtless,  silly. 

Cockchafer.  The  treadmill :  see 
Wheel  of  life. 

Cocked.  Half  -  cocked,  full-cocked, 
etc.  Various  degrees  of  drunken- 
ness :  see  Screwed. 

Cocked-hat.  Knocked  into  a 
cocked  hat.  Limp  enough  to  be 
doubled  up  and  carried  flat  under  the 
arm  [like  the  cocked  hat  of  an  officer]. 
Also,  fig.  stupefied,  speechless.  Syno- 
nyms :  doubled  up  ;  knocked  into  the 
middle  of  next  week ;  spifflicated ; 
beaten  to  a  jelly ;  knocked  a-cock ; 
wiped  out ;  sent  all  of  a  heap  ;  bottled 
up ;  settled  ;  full  of  beans,  or  snuff  ; 
sent,  done,  or  smashed  to  smithereens. 

Cocker.  A  pugilist,  quarrel- 
some, contentious  man,  wrangler. 
According  to  Cocker,  according  to  rule  ; 
properly,  arithmetically,  or  correctly 
done.  [Old  Cocker  was  a  famous 
writing  master  in  Charles  II. 's  time, 
and  the  author  of  a  treatise  on 
arithmetic  :  probably  popularised  by 
Murphy's  The  Apprentice  (1756),  in 
which  the  strong  point  of  the  old 
merchant  Wingate  is  his  extreme 
reverence  for  Cocker  and  his  arith- 
metic.] In  America,  according  to 
Gunter  (q.v.). 

Cockerel.     A  pert  young  man. 

Cockerer.     A  wanton. 

Cock-eye.  A  squinting  eye.  Cock- 
eyed, squinting,  boss-eyed  (q.v.). 

Cock-fighting.  That  beats  cock- 
fighting,  phr.  (common).  A  general 
expression  of  approval — up  to  the 
mark  ;  Al  ;  That  surpasses  everything 
else.  [From  the  esteem  in  which  the 
sport  was  held.]  (1659).  To  live 
like  fighting-cocks,  to  have  the  best 
food  and  plenty  of  it,  be  supplied  with 
the  best. 

Cock-horse.  Triumphant;  in  full 
swing ;  cock-a-hoop. 

Cock-laird  (Scots).  A  small 
farmer  or  proprietor  cultivating  his 
own  land,  a  yeoman. 

Cockle.  Whimsical.  Hence, 
cockle-brained  (headed,  etc.),  flighty, 
fanciful,  whimmy. 


107 


Cockles  of  the  Heart. 


Cock-up. 


Cockles  of  the  Heart.  A  jocose 
vulgarism  encountered  in  a  variety  of 
combinations ;  e.g.  that  will  rejoice, 
or  tickle,  or  warm,  the  cockles  of  your 
heart,  etc.  [It  is  suggested  (N.  and  Q. , 
7  8.,  iv.  26)  that  a  hint  as  to  its  origin 
may  be  found  in  Lower,  an  eminent 
anatomist  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
who  thus  speaks  in  his  Tractates  de 
Corde  (1669),  p.  25,  of  the  muscular 
fibres  of  the  ventricles :  '  Fibre  quidem 
rectis  hisce  exteri  oribus  in  dextro 
ventriculo  proxime  subject*  oblique 
dextrorsum  ascendentes  in  basin  cordis 
terminantur,  et  spirali  suo  ambitu 
helicein  sive  cochleam  satis  apte 
refcrunt.'  The  ventricles  of  the 
heart  might,  therefore,  be  called 
cochlea  cordis,  and  this  would  easily 
be  turned  into  Cockles  of  the  heart.] 
Fr.,  Ifcheras  la  face  (that'll  rejoice 
the  cockles  of  your  heart)  (1671). 
To  cry  cockles,  to  be  hanged :  see 
Ladder. 

Cockloche.  A  mean  fellow,  silly 
coxcomb:  a  generic  reproach  (1611). 

Cock-loft.  The  head:  cf.  old 
proverb,  All  his  gear  is  in  his  cock- 
loft ;  i.e.  All  his  wealth,  work,  or 
worth  is  in  his  head  (1642). 

Cock-mate.  A  familiar,  intimate, 
best  friend. 

Cockney,  subs,  (colloquial). 
One  born  within  the  sound  of  Bow- 
bells.  [The  origin  of  cockney  has 
been  much  debated ;  but,  says  Dr. 
Murray,  in  the  course  of  an  exhaustive 
statement  (Academy,  May  10,  1890, 
p.  320),  the  history  of  the  word,  so  far 
as  it  means  a  person,  is  very  clear  and 
simple.  We  have  the  senses  (1) 
'  cockered  or  pet  child,'  '  nestle-cock,' 
1  mother's  darling,'  '  milksop,'  the 
name  being  applicable  primarily  to  the 
child,  but  continued  to  the  squeamish 
and  effeminate  man  into  which  he 
grows  up.  (2)  A  nickname  applied  by 
country  people  to  the  inhabitants  of 
great  towns,  whom  they  considered 
milksops,'  from  their  daintier  habits 
and  incapacity  for  rough  work.  York, 
London,  Perugia,  were,  according  to 
Harman,  all  nests  of  cockneys.  (3) 
By  about  1600  the  name  began  to  be 
attached  especially  to  Londoners,  as 
the  representatives  par  excellence  of 
the  city  milksop.  One  understands 
the  disgust  with  which  a  cavalier 
in  1641  wrote  that  he  was  '  obliged 
to  quit  Oxford  at  the  approach 


of  Essex  and  Waller,  with  their  pro- 
digious number  of  cockneys.']  Hence, 
Cockney-shire,  London. 

Cockpecked.  Masculine  home- 
rule  :  spec,  of  a  tyrannical  kind :  cf. 
Hen-pecked. 

Cock  quean.  A  man  who  interest* 
himself  in  women's  affairs  :  a  common 
form  is  cotquean. 

Cock-robin.  A  soft,  easy  fellow 
(Grose). 

Cock-robin  Shop.  A  small  printing 
office :  a  place  where  the  cheapest 
work  is  done  at  the  lowest  price :  cf. 
Slop  shop. 

Cock's  -  comb.  1.  A  cap  as  worn 
by  a  buffoon  or  professional  fool.  2. 
The  head.  3.  A  fop,  conceited  fool 

Cock's-egg.  To  send  one  for  a  cock's 
egg.  To  send  on  a  fool's  errand ; 
to  gammon  (q.v.) :  cf.  pigeon's  milk, 
oil  of  strappum,  strap  oil,  the  squad 
umbrella,  etc. 

Cock  -  shy.  1.  A  mark,  butt,  or 
target ;  any  person  or  thing  that  is 
the  centre  of  jaculation  (1834).  2.  The 
establishment  of  a  strolling  proprie- 
tor, where  sticks  may  be  thrown  at 
coconuts  or  the  like,  for  payment. 

Cocksure.  Confidently  certain ; 
arrogantly  sure.  [Probably  a  corrup- 
tion of  cocky  sure.'  Shakespeare 
(  I  Henry  IV.,  n.  L)  employs  the 
phrase  in  the  sense  of  Sure  as  the 
cock  of  a  firelock.  We  steal  as  in  a 
castle,  cocksure:  and  still  earlier 
usages  imply  its  derivation  from  the 
fact  that  the  cock  was  much  surer 
than  the  older  -  fashioned  match.] 
(1549). 

Cocksy.  Impudent,  bumptious, 
saucy:  cf.  Cocky. 

Cocktail.  1.  A  prostitute ;  a 
wanton.  2.  A  coward.  3.  An  up- 
start, one  aping  gentility.  4.  (Ameri- 
can). A  drink  composed  of  spirits 
(gin,  brandy,  whisky,  etc.),  bitters, 
crushed  ice,  sugar,  etc.,  the  whole 
whisked  briskly  until  foaming,  and 
then  drunk  'hot.'  As  adj.,  (1)  under- 
bred, wanting  in  'form'  (chiefly  of 
horses).  (2)  Fresh,  foaming:  of  beer 
(see  subs.  4).  (3)  (army).  Unsoldier- 
like;  anything)  unworthy  of  the 
regular  army,  e.g.  at  one  time  the 
Volunteer  auxiliaries  were  described 
as  a  cocktailed  crew. 

Cock-up  (printers').  A  superior ; 
e.g.  the  smaller  letters  in  the 
following  examples :  Yc  Limt*- 


108 


Cocky. 


Cold-cco"k. 


Compy-  ;  Jno-  Smith,  Sen'-  ;  N°  ; 
London'  :  also  a  large  -  type  initial 
letter. 

Cocky  (or  Cocking).  1.  Pert,  saucy, 
forward,  coolly  audacious,  over  con- 
fident, 'botty'  (1711).  2.  (Stock 
Exchange).  Brisk,  active.  As  subs, 
(old),  a  term  of  endearment :  see  also 
Cockatoo-farmer. 

Cockyolly-bird.  A  nursery  endear- 
ment :  of  birds ;  cf.  dickey  -  bird, 
chickabiddy. 

Cocoa-nut.  The  head  :  Fr.,  coco  : 
see  Crumpet  (1834).  That  accounts 
for  the  milk  in  the  cocoa-nut,  a  rejoinder 
upon  having  a  thing  explained.  No 
milk  in  the  cocoa  •  nut,  insane,  silly, 
cracked. 

Cocum  (Kocum).  1.  Shrewdness, 
ability,  luck,  cleverness.  [Yiddish.] 
2.  (publishers').  A  sliding  scale  of 

Cfit.  [Publishers  sometimes  issue 
ks  without  fixing  the  published 
price,  leaving  the  retailer  to  make 
what  he  can.]  To  fight  or  play  cocum, 
to  play  double,  be  wary,  cunning, 
artful  (1857). 

Cod.  1.  Apparently  orig.  generic 
for  a  man  :  cf.  bloke,  cove,  fellow,  etc. 
Hence  in  several  specialised  senses  : 
e.g.  2.  A  fool,  a  humbug,  an  imposi- 
tion (B.  E.),  and  as  verb,  to  hoax, 
chaff,  take  a  rise  out  of.  3.  A  pal,  or 
friend  ;  generally  prefixed  to  a  sur- 
name ;  at  Charterhouse,  a  pensioner 
(see  Thackeray,  Newcomes,  ii.  333). 
[Here  cod  probably  = '  codUn,'  an  old 
endearment.]  4.  A  purse  ;  a  cod  of 
money,  a  large  sum  of  money.  [A.S. 
cod  or  codd,  a  small  bag.] 

Coddam  (or  Coddom).  A  game 
played  three,  four,  or  more  a  side. 
The  only  '  property '  required  is  a 
coin,  a  button,  or  anything  which  can 
be  hidden  in  the  clenched  hand.  The 
principle  is  simplicity  itself — '  Guess 
whose  hand  it's  in.'  If  the  guesser 
'  brings  it  home,'  his  side  takes  the 

S'eoe,  and  the  centre  man  works  it. 
the  guess  be  wrong,  a  chalk  is  taken 
to  the  holders,  who  go  on  again. 

Codding.  Nonsense,  humbug, 
chaff :  see  Cod. 

Codger.  A  familiar  address, 
especially  old  codger,  a  curious  old 
fellow,  odd  fish,  rum  character ;  a 
precise,  and  sometimes  mean  or 
miserly  man  (1760). 

C  o  d  1  a  n  d.  Newfoundland  :  cf. 
Cod-preserves. 


Codling.     A  raw  youth. 

Cod- preserves.     The  Atlantic. 

Cod's-head.  A  stupid  fellow,  a  fool : 
see  Buffle  (1675). 

Cofe.     See  Cove. 

C  o  ff  e  e.  Beans.  Greased  coffee, 
pork  and  beans. 

Coffee  -  house  (or  Coffee  -  shop). 
1.  A  water-closet.  2.  In  India,  a  place 
at  which  the  residents  of  a  station 
(esp.  in  Upper  India)  meet  to  talk  over 
a  light  breakfast  of  coffee,  toast,  etc., 
at  an  earlier  hour  than  the  regular 
breakfast  of  the  day  ;  the  name  is  also 
applied  to  the  gathering,  and  so  the 
halt  of  a  regiment  for  refreshment  on 
an  early  march,  etc. 

Coffee-mill.  The  mouth  ;  a 
grinder  itself,  and  furnished  with 
grinders. 

Coffee-milling  Grinding  (q.v.); 
working  hard.  Also  taking  a  '  sight ' 
by  putting  the  thumb  of  one  hand  to 
the  nose  and  grinding  the  little  finger 
with  the  other,  as  if  working  an  imag- 
inary coffee  mill  (1837). 

C  o  ffi  n  s.  1.  A  piece  of  live  ooal 
thrown  out  explosively  from  a  fire,  and 
supposed  to  represent  a  coffin  and 
presage  death :  cf.  Winding-sheet, 
Thief,  etc.  2.  An  ill-found  unsea- 
worthy  vessel.  3.  In  pi.  (Stock  Ex- 
change), the  Funeral  Furnishing 
Company's  Shares.  A  nail  in  one's 
coffin :  see  Nail. 

Cog.     A  tooth. 

Coke.  Qo  and  eat  coke,  a  contemp- 
tuous retort. 

Coker.    A  lie  (Grose) :  see  Whopper. 

Colchester-clock.     A  large  oyster. 

Cold.  To  leave  out  in  the  cold,  to 
neglect,  shut  out,  abandon. 

Cold- blood.  A  house  licensed  for 
the  sale  of  beer,  not  to  be  drunk  on 
the  premises. 

Cold-coffee.  1.  A  sell,  hoax, 
trumpery  affair.  2.  Misfortune,  ill- 
luck  :  also  cold  gruel ;  to  have  one's 
comb  cut,  to  experience  a  run  of  ill- 
luck  :  Fr.,  etre  abonne  au  guignon.  3. 
A  snub  for  proffered  kindness. 

Cold- comfort.  An  article  sent  out 
on  approval  and  returned. 

Cold-cook.  An  undertaker. 
English  synonyms :  carrion  hunter, 
body  snatcher,  death  hunter,  black 
worker  (see  Black  work).  Hence, 
cold-cookshop,  an  undertaker's  work- 
shop. Cold  meat,  a  corpse :  cf. 
pickles  (q.v.),  specimens  direct  from 


109 


ObU-ctak 


Colt. 


the  subject.  To  make  cold  meat  of  one, 
to  kill.  Cold  -  meat  box,  a  coffin. 
Cold-meat  cart,  a  hearse.  Cold-meat 
train,  a  funeral  train  to  Brook  wood 
and  other  cemeteries  :  but  specifically 
a  late  night  train  to  reach  Aldershot 
in  time  for  morning  duty  :  properly 
a  goods  train,  but  a  carriage  is  attached 
which  is  known  as  the  Larky  Sub- 
altern '  :  this  particular  train  carries 
nothing  more  dreadful  than  a  portion  of 
the  beef  and  mutton  for  the  morning 
ration  to  the  troops  in  camp  ;  and,  as 
stated,  a  few  belated  officers. 

Cold-deck.  A  prepared  pack  of 
cards:  also  a  good  hand  obtained  on 
first  dealing,  and  without  drawing 
fresh  cards. 

Cold  Pig.  To  give  cold  pig,  to 
waken  a  sleeper  by  sluicing  him  with 
cold  water,  or  by  suddenly  stripping 
him  of  bed-clothes  (1818).  As  subs., 

1.  A  person  robbed  of  his  clothing. 

2.  A    corpse.     3.    The    empty    re- 
turns sent  back  by  rail  to  wholesale 
houses. 

Cold  -  shivers.  The  effect  of  ill- 
ness, intense  fear,  or  violent  emotion  : 
also  cold  shake,  which  may  refer  alike 
to  a  period  of  cold  weather,  or  an 
attack  of  fever  and  ague. 

Cold  Shoulder.  Studied  coldness, 
neglect,  or  contempt  (1816). 

Cold- tea.     Brandy  (1690). 

Cold-water  Army.  The  world  of 
total  abstainers. 

Cold  -  without.  Spirits  and  cold 
water  without  sugar :  cf.  Cider  and, 
Hot  with,  etc.  (1837). 

Cole  (or  Coal).  Money :  generic :  see 
Rhino  (1671).  To  post  or  tip  the  cole, 
to  hand  over  money,  shell  or  fork 
out. 

Colfabias  (or  Colfabis).  A  Latinized 
Irish  phrase  signifying  the  closet  of 
decency,  applied  as  a  slang  term  to  a 

B'ace  of  resort  in  Trinity  College, 
ublin  (Hotten). 

C  o  1  i  a  n  d  e  r  (or  Coliander  Seeds). 
Money  :  generic  (Orose) :  see  Rhino. 

Collar.  To  seize,  appropriate, 
steal.  To  cottar  the  bun  (cake,  Ban- 
bury,  or  confectioner' a  shop),  to  be 
easily  first,  to  surpass.  Out  of  cottar, 
out  of  work,  of  cash,  training.  Con- 
versely, in  collar,  in  work,  comfort- 
able circumstances,  fit  or  in  form. 
Against  collar,  uphill,  working  against 
difficulties,  against  the  grain.  To  be 
put  to  the  pin  of  the  cottar,  to  be  driven 


to  extremities,  come  to  the  end  of 
one's  resources.  To  wear  the  cottar,  to 
be  subject  to  control  not  altogether 
to  one's  liking :  the  antithesis  of,  to 
have  the  whip  hand,  and,  to  wear  the 
breeches ;  etc. 

Collar.     See  Big  Bird. 

Collar-and-elbow.  A  peculiar  style 
of  wrestling — the  Cornwall  and  Devon 
style. 

Collar  -  day.  Hanging  day  :  also 
Wry-neck-day  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  jour  de  la 
St.  Jean  Baptiste. 

Collared.  Unable  to  play  one's 
usual  game  owing  to  temper,  funk, 
or  other  causes. 

Collared  Up.  Kept  close  to  busi- 
ness :  cf.  Out  of  collar. 

Collar-work.     Laborious  work. 

Collector.  A  highwayman  or 
footpad. 

College.  A  prison ;  the  inmates 
are  called  Collegians  or  Collegiates 
(q.v.) ;  Newgate  was  formerly  called 
the  City  College  (1703).  Ladies' 
College,  a  brothel :  see  Nanny-shop. 

Colleger.  A  square  cap,  a  mortar- 
board (q.v.) :  see  Golgotha. 

Collogue.  To  confer  confidenti- 
ally and  secretly,  conspire,  wheedle, 
flatter  (1596). 

Colly-molly.  Melancholy :  cf. 
Solemoncholy  and  (Dr.  Marigold's 
Prescriptions)  Lemonjolly. 

Colly-wobbles.  The  stomach- 
ache, flatulency. 

Colour.  1.  A  handkerchief  worn  as 
a  badge  by  prize-fighters  and  other 
professional  athletes.  Each  man 
chose  his  own,  and  it  was  once  a 
practice  to  sell  them  to  backers  to  be 
worn  at  the  ring-side :  see  Billy.  In 
racing  circles  the  colours  are  the 
owner's,  and  are  shown  in  the  jockeys' 
caps  and  jackets.  2.  Payment :  e.g. 
I  have  not  seen  the  colour  of  his 
money = I  have  not  received  payment 
Coloured  on  the  card,  having  the  colours 
in  which  a  jockey  is  to  ride  inserted 
on  the  card  of  the  race.  Off  colour, 
exhausted,  run  down,  seedy.  To 
colour  one's  meerschaum,  to  get  brandy- 
faced,  to  drink  one's  nose  into  a  state 
of  pimples  and  scarlet. 

Colquarron.     The  neck:  see  Scrag. 

Colt.  1.  One  new  to  the  office,  the 
exercise  of  any  art,  etc.  :  e.g.  a  pro- 
fessional cricketer  during  his  first 
season,  a  first- time  juryman,  a  thief 
in  his  novitiate.  2.  A  rope,  knotted  at 


UO 


Colt's  Tooth. 


Come-down. 


one  end,  and  whipped  at  the  other.  3. 
A  thief's  billy  (q.v.).  4.  A  burglar's 
livery  -  stable  keeper  :  a  colt  -  man 
(Grose).  5.  An  attendant  on  a  ser- 
jeant  at  his  making.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  thrash :  colting,  a  thrashing.  (2) 
To  cause  a  person  to  stand  treat  by 
way  of  being  made  free  of  a  new 
place,  to  make  one  pay  one's  footing. 
Hence,  collage,  the  footing  paid  by 
colts  on  their  first  appearance. 

Colt's  Tooth.  To  have  a  colt  (or 
coifs  tooth),  to  be  fond  of  youthful 
pleasures ;  in  the  case  of  elderly 
persons,  to  have  juvenile  tastes  ;  to  be 
of  wanton  disposition  and  capacity. 
[In  allusion  to  a  supposed  desire  to 
shed  the  teeth  and  see  life  over  again.] 
(1500). 

Columbine.     A  prostitute. 

Columbus.  Failure.  A  regular 
Columbus,  an  utter  failure,  a  '  dead 
frost'  :  Fr.,  II  pleut/=the  play  is  a 
failure. 

Comb.  To  comb  one's  hair,  to  take 
to  task,  scold,  keep  in  order.  Some- 
times to  thrash,  and  generally  ill-treat : 
also  to  comb  down,  to  comb  one's  noddle 
with  a  three-legged  (or  joint)  stool  ( 1593). 

Comb  -  brush.  A  lady's  maid 
(1750). 

Combie.  A  Combination  room, 
the  parlour  in  which  college  dons 
drink  wine  after  Hall :  also  see  Com- 
bination. 

Combination.  A  woman's  under- 
garment, shift  and  drawers  in  one. 
Also  Combie,  and  (American)  Chemi- 
loon  (chemise  and  pantaloon). 

Come.  1.  To  practise,  understand, 
act  the  part  of :  cf.  Come  over  and 
Come  tricks.  2.  To  lend  :  e.g.  Has 
he  come  it  ?  To  make  drunk  come, 
to  become  intoxicated  :  see  Screwed. 
To  come  about  one,  to  circumvent :  cf. 
Come  over  and  Come  round.  To  come 
down  from  the  walls,  to  abandon  a 
position.  To  come  it,  (1)  to  proceed 
at  a  great  rate,  to  make  a  splash  and 
dash  (in  extravagance),  to  cut  a 
figure.  (2)  To  inform;  (3)  to  show 
fear ;  (4)  to  succeed  :  spec,  in  You 
can't  come  it,  i.e.  you  cannot  succeed. 
To  come  it  strong,  to  exaggerate,  lay 
it  on  thick,  carry  to  extremes.  To 
come  John  (or  Lord  Audley),  see  John 
Audley.  To  come  off,  to  happen, 
occur,  result  from  (1609).  Come  off 
the  grass  (or  the  tall  grass),  None  of  your 
airs  !  Don't  put  it  on  so  1  Don't  tell 


any  more  lies  !  Fr.,  As-tu  fini  tes 
manieres  (or  magnes)  ?  ne  fais  done 
pas  ta  Sophie,  and  ne  fais  done  pas  ton 
fendart.  To  come  out  (1)  to  make  -an 
appearance,  display  oneself,  express 
oneself  vigorously,  make  an  impress- 
sion  :  sometimes  in  an  intensified  form. 
to  come  out  strong  :  cf.  Come  it  strong 
(1637);  (2)  to  turn  out,  result:  e.g. 
How  did  it  come  out  ?  (3)  to  make  a 
first  appearance  in  society.  To  come 
out  of  the  little  end  of  the  horn,  to  fare 
badly.  To  come  over,  to  influence, 
overreach,  cheat.  To  come  the  old 
soldier  (or  any  person  or  thing)  over 
one,  to  imitate,  overbear,  wheedle, 
rule  by  an  assumption  of  authority  : 
Fr.,  essay -er  de  monter  un  bateau  d 
quelqu'un ;  or  monter  le  coup  or  un 
battage  (1713).  To  come  round,  to 
influence,  circumvent,  persuade :  cf. 
Come  over  and  come  about,  sense  1. 
To  come  the  gum  game,  to  over-reach 
by  concealment.  To  come  through  a 
side  door,  to  be  born  illegitimately. 
To  come  to  stay,  to  be  endowed  with 
permanent  qualities.  To  come  to  (or 
up  to)  time,  to  answer  the  call  of 
'  Time  !  '  after  the  thirty  seconds' 
rest  between  round  and  round,  hence 
by  analogy,  to  be  on  the  alert,  ready. 
To  come  up  smiling,  to  laugh  (or  grin) 
at  punishment ;  hence  (generally)  to 
be  superior  to  rebuff  or  disaster,  face 
defeat  without  flinching.  To  come 
up  to  the  chalk  :  see  Scratch.  To  come 
the  artful,  to  essay  to  deceive ;  To 
come  the  heavy,  to  affect  a  vastly 
superior  position  ;  To  come  the  ugly,  to 
threaten  ;  To  come  the  nob  (or  the  don), 
to  put  on  airs ;  To  come  the  lardy-dardy, 
to  dress  for  the  public  and  '  look  up  to 
your  clobber  ' ;  To  come  the  serjeant, 
to  issue  peremptory  orders ;  To  come 
the  spoon,  to  make  love ;  To  come  the 
gipsy,  to  try  to  defraud  ;  To  come  the 
Rothschild  to  pretend  to  be  rich  ;  and 
To  come  the  Traviata  (prostitutes,  now 
obsolete),  to  feign  consumption,  to  put 
on  '  the  Traviata  cough  '  (q-v.)  with 
a  view  to  beguiling  charitable  males. 
Come-down.  A  fall,  whether  of 
pride  or  worldly  prospects,  an  aban- 
donment of  something  for  something 
else  of  less  value  or  moment.  As  verb, 
used  either  independently  or  in  com- 
bination :  e.g.  To  come  down,  to  come 
down  handsome,  or  to  come  down  with 
the  dust,  dues,  dibs,  ready,  oof,  shiners, 
blunt,  needful,  (1)  to  pay,  i.e.  to 


111 


Comedy-merchant. 


Condog. 


part  * ;  or  to  lay  down  (as  in  pay- 
ment) ;  to  fork  out :  see  Shell  out 
(1701) ;  (2)  to  abate  prices. 

Comedy-merchant.  An  actor :  see 
Cackling-cove. 

Comflogisticate.  To  embarrass,  put 
out  of  countenance,  confuse,  hoax,  of. 
Bamblustercate. 

Comf  oozled.  Overcome,  exhausted 
(1836). 

Comfortable-importance  (or  Com- 
fortable-impudence). A  wife ;  also 
a  mistress  in  a  wife's  position :  Fr., 
gouvernement :  see  Dutch. 

Comical.  A  napkin.  To  be  struck 
comical,  to  be  astonished. 

Coming.  Wanton,  forward,  sexual 
(1750). 

Commercial.  1.  A  tramping  rogue 
or  vagabond :  cf.  Traveller.  2.  A 
commercial  traveller. 

Commission  (or  Mish).  A  shirt. 
[From  the  Italian.] 

Commister.  A  clergyman :  also 
camister  (q.v.). 

Common-doings.  Every-day  fare: 
cf.  chicken-fixings.  [A  phrase  of 
Western  origin,  at  first  restricted  in 
its  meaning,  but  now  including  ordi- 
nary transactions  as  compared  to 
those  either  large  or  peculiarly  profit- 
able ;  applied  to  men,  actions,  and 
things.  What  shall  we  do  ?  '  says 
a  poor  frontiersman's  wife,  when  she 
hears  of  a  Federal  officer  who  is  to 
take  up  his  quarters  at  her  cabin  for 
a  day ;  '  I  can't  give  him  common- 
doings.'] 

Commoner-grub  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). A  dinner  formerly  given  by 
Commoners  to  College  after  cricket 
matches.  [Commoners  are  boys  not  on 
the  foundation.] 

Commoney.  A  clay  marble :  cf. 
Alley. 

Common- jack.     A  prostitute. 

Common  •  plug.  An  ordinary 
member  of  society. 

Commonsensical.  Marked  with 
common  sense. 

Common- sewer.  A  drink,  dram  ; 
or  '  go.'  [From  common  sewer,  a 
drain.] 

Communicator.  To  agitate  the 
communicator,  to  ring  the  bell. 

C  o  m  p.  A  compositor.  [An  ab- 
breviated form  of  companion  now 
peculiar  to  compositors,  but  originally 
applied  to  pressmen  who  work  in 
couples,  as  well  as  to  compositors  who 


work  in  a  companionship,  or  ship 
(q.v.).] 

Company.  To  tee  company,  to 
live  by  prostitution. 

Competition  -  wallah.  One  who 
enters  the  Indian  Civil  Service  by 
examination. 

C  o  m  p  o.  A  sailor's  monthly  ad- 
vance of  wages. 

Compy  -  shop.  A  truck  shop. 
[Probably  a  corruption  of  company- 
shop  :  workmen,  before  the  passing  of 
certain  Truck  Acts  (q.v.),  having  been 
frequently  compelled  to  make  their 
weekly  purchases  at  shops  either  kept 
by,  or  worked  to  the  profit  of,  their 
employer.] 

don  (Winchester  College).  A  rap 
on  the  head  with  the  knuckles,  or 
anything  hard,  such  as  a  cricket  ball. 
As  verb,  to  rap  with  the  knuckles. 
[The  derivation  formerly  accepted  at 
Winchester  was  from  Kovlv\ov=s* 
knuckle,  but  the  editors  of  the  Wyke- 
hamist suggest  its  origin  in  the  North 
Country  con, '  to  fillip,"  with  which  the 
French  se  cogner  exactly  corresponds.] 

Concaves  and  Convexes.  Cards 
prepared  for  cheating.  All  from  the 
eight  to  the  king  are  cut  convex,  and 
all  from  the  deuce  to  the  seven,  con- 
cave ;  so  that  by  cutting  the  pack 
broadwise  you  cut  convex,  and  by 
cutting  them  lengthwise  you  cut 
concave.  Sometimes  they  are  shaped 
the  reverse  way,  so  that,  if  suspicion 
arises,  a  pack  so  treated  may  be  sub- 
stituted for  the  other  to  the  same 
effect  In  this  trick  the  sharper  has 
less  in  his  favour  than  in  others,  be- 
cause the  intended  victim  may  cut  in 
the  usual  way,  and  so  cut  a  low  card 
to  the  dealer.  But  the  certainty  of 
being  able  to  cut  or  deal  a  high  or  low 
card  at  pleasure,  gives  him  an  advan- 
tage against  which  skill  is  of  none 
avail.  Other  modes  of  sharping  are  by 
means  of  Reflectors  (q.v.) ;  Longs  and 
shorts,  (q.v.);  Pricked  Cards  (q.v.); 
The  Bridge  (q.v.) ;  Skinning  (q.v.) ; 
Weaving  (q.v.) ;  The  Gradus  (or  Step) 
(q.v.);  Palming  (q.v.);  and  The 
Telegraph  (q.v.). 

Concerned.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 
(1686). 

Concher.    A  tame  or  quiet  beast. 

Condiddle.  To  purloin  or  steal 
(1825). 

Condog.  To  agree  with :  of. 
concur. 


112 


Confab. 


Continental. 


Confab.  Familiar  talk  (1778). 
As  verb,  to  talk  in  a  familiar  manner, 
to  chat. 

Confectionery.  A  drinking  bar :  cf . 
Grocery,  and  Lush-crib. 

Confidence  Trick  (Dodge,  or 
Buck).  A  process  of  swindling, 
obtaining  trust  with  the  deliberate 
intention  of  betraying  it  to  one's  own 
advantage.  A  greenhorn  meets  (or 
rather  is  picked  up  by)  a  stranger  who 
invites  him  to  drink.  The  stranger 
admires  him  openly,  protests  his 
confidence  in  him,  and  to  prove  his 
sincerity  hands  him  over  a  large  sum 
of  money  [snide,  q.v.)]  or  valuables 
[bogus,  q.v.]  with  which  to  walk  off 
and  return.  The  greenhorn  does  both, 
whereupon  the  stranger  suggests  that 
it  is  his  turn  next,  and  being  favoured 
with  certain  proofs  of  confidence, 
which  in  this  case  are  real,  decamps, 
and  is  no  more  seen.  This  is  the  sim- 
plest form  of  the  trick,  but  the  confid- 
ence man  is  inexhaustible  in  devices. 
In  many  cases  the  subject's  idiosyn- 
crasy takes  the  form  of  an  idiotic 
desire  to  overreach  his  fellows ;  i.e. 
he  is  only  a  knave,  wrong  side  out,  and 
it  is  upon  this  idiosyncrasy  that  the 
operator  works.  He  offers  a  sham 
gold  watch  at  the  price  of  a  nickel  one  ; 
he  calls  with  presents  from  nowhere 
where  none  are  expected  ;  he  writes 
letters  announcing  huge  legacies  to 
persons  absolutely  kinless  ;  and  as  his 
appeal  is  addressed  to  the  sister  pas- 
sions of  greed  and  dishonesty,  he 
seldom  fails  of  his  reward.  FT., 
mener  en  bateau  un  pante  pour  le  re- 
fair  e=to  stick  a  jay  and  flap  him. 

Conflab  berated.  Bothered,  up- 
set, flummoxed  (q.v.). 

Conflabberation.  A  confused 
wrangle,  a  hullabaloo. 

Confounded.  Excessive,  odious, 
detestable,  e.g.  a  confounded  nuisance, 
lie,  humbug,  etc.  :  cf.  Awful,  Beastly, 
and  other  '  strumpets  of  speech ' 
(1767). 

Confubuscate.  To  confuse, 
perplex,  astonish  :  cf.  Confusticate. 

Coniacker.  A  counterfeiter, 
smasher,  (q.v.),  'queer -bit'  faker. 
[Obviously  a  play  upon  coin,  money, 
and  hack,  to  mutilate.]  Fr.,  un 
tnornifteur  tarte. 

Conish.     Genteel  (1830). 

Conk.  The  nose.  English  syno- 
nyms: boko  (or  boco),  proboscis, 


smeller,  bowsprit,  claret- jug,  gig, 
muzzle,  cheese-cutter,  beak,  snuff- 
box, snorter,  post-horn,  paste-horn, 
handle,  snout,  nozzle,  smelling-cheat, 
snotter,  candlestick,  celestial,  snottle- 
box,  snuffler,  trumpet,  snorer,  peak. 

Conoodle.     See  Canoodle. 

Conscience.  A  kind  of  association 
in  a  small  theatrical  company  for  the 
allotment  of  shares  in  the  profits,  etc. 
The  man  who  is  lucky  enough  to  have 
a  concern  of  his  own,  generally  a  very 
small  affair,  however  badly  he  may 
act,  must  be  the  leading  man  or  first 
low  comedian,  perhaps  both.  He 
becomes  the  manager,  of  course,  and 
thus  has  one  share  for  '  fit-up,'  one  for 
scenery,  one  and  a  half  for  manage- 
ment, one  for  wardrobe,  one  and  a 
half  as  leading  man ;  and  the  same  is 
given  to  the  wife,  who,  of  course,  will 
not  play  anything  but  the  juvenile 
lead,  but  who  at  any  other  time  would 
be  glad  to  play  first  old  woman. 

Considerable  Bend.  To  go  on  the 
considerable  bend,  to  go  in  for  a  bout 
of  dissipation. 

Consonant- choker.  One  that  clips 
his  G's  and  muffles  his  R's. 

Constable.  To  out-  (or  over-run) 
the  constable,  to  live  beyond  one's 
means  and  get  into  debt ;  also,  in  a 
figurative  sense,  to  escape  from  a  bad 
argument,  to  change  the  subject, 
to  talk  about  what  is  not  understood 
(1663). 

Constician.  A  member  of  an 
orchestra. 

Constitutional.  A  walk  undertaken 
for  the  sake  of  health  and  exercise 
[i.e.  for  the  benefit  of  the  constitu- 
tion] :  Fr.,  tronchiner  (1850). 

Contango  (Stock  Exchange). 
A  fine  paid  by  the  buyer  to  the  seller 
of  stock  for  carrying  over  the  en- 
gagement to  another  settling  day,  and 
representing  a  kind  of  interest  for  a 
fourteen  days'  extension.  [Thought 
to  be  a  corruption  of  continuation.] 
(1853.) 

Content.  Dead  :  see  Hop  the 
twig. 

Continent  (Winchester  College). 
Ill ;  on  the  sick  list.  [From  continent 
cameram  vel  lectum,  keeping  one's 
room  or  bed.]  See  Abroad. 

Continental.  To  care  (or  be  worth) 
not  a  continental  or  continental  damn, 
to  be  worthless ;  to  care  not  in  the 
least  degree. 


113 


Continuations. 


Cop. 


Continuations.  Trousers:  see  Kick*. 
[Of  analogous  derivation  to  inexpres- 
sibles ;  unmentionables  ;  mustn't- men- 
tion'ems  ;  untalkabou  tables,  etc.] 
(1841). 

Contraptions.  Small  articles,  tools, 
and  so  forth  (1838). 

Convenience.  A  water-closet  or 
chamber-pot. 

Convenient     A  mistress  (1676). 

Convexes.     See  Concaves, 

Convey.  To  steal  (1596).  Hence 
conveyance,  a  theft  (1592).  Convey- 
ancer, a  thief :  also  conveyer.  Con- 
veyancing, thieving. 

Cony  (or  Tom  Cony).  A  simpleton. 

Conycatch.  To  cheat,  deceive, 
trick,  bite  (q.v.)  (1593).  Hence, 
cony-catcher,  a  cheat,  sharper,  trick- 
ster. Cony-catching,  cheating,  trickery, 
swindling  after  the  manner  of  Cony- 
catchers  (q.v.). 

Coo-e-e-e  or  Coo-ey.  A  signal  cry 
of  the  Australian  blackfellow,  adopted 
by  the  invading  whites.  The  final 
'  e  '  is  a  very  high  note,  a  sort  of  pro- 
longed screech,  that  resounds  for 
miles  through  the  bush,  and  thus 
enables  parties  that  have  lost  each 
other  to  ascertain  their  relative 
positions. 

Cook.  1.  To  tamper  with,  garble,  or 
falsify :  accounts  are  cooked  when  so 
altered  as  to  look  better  than  they  are ; 
pictures  are  cooked  when  dodged-up 
for  sale ;  painters  say  that  a  picture 
will  not  cook  when  it  is  so  excellent  as 
to  be  beyond  imitation  (1751).  2. 
To  swelter  with  heat  and  sweat.  To 
cook  one1 8  goose,  to  settle,  worst,  kill, 
ruin.  English  synonyms :  to  anodyne, 
to  put  to  oed,  to  snuff  out,  to  give  (or 
cook)  one's  gruel,  to  corpse,  to  cooper 
up,  to  wipe  out,  to  spiflicate,  to  settle 
(or  settle  one's  hash),  to  squash,  to 
shut  up,  to  send  to  pot,  to  smash,  to 
finish,  to  do  for,  to  put  one's  light  out, 
to  stop  one's  little  game,  to  stop  one's 
galloping,  to  put  on  an  extinguisher,  to 
clap  a  stopper  on,  to  bottle  up,  to 
squelch,  to  play  hell  with,  to  rot,  to 
squash  up,  to  stash,  to  give  a  croaker. 
For  synonyms  in  the  sense  of  circum- 
vention :  see  Floored. 

Cookeyshine.  An  afternoon 
meal  at  which  cookies  form  a  staple 
dish :  cf.  Tea-fight,  Muffin-worry. 

Cook-ruffian.  A  bad  or  indifferent 
cook,  one  '  who  would  cook  the  devil 
in  his  feathers.' 


Cool.  1.  Impertinent,  audacious, 
calmly  impudent  2.  (In  refer- 
ence to  money ;  e.g.  a  cool  hun- 
dred, thousand,  etc.).  Commonly 
expletive ;  but  sometimes  used  to 
cover  a  sum  a  little  above  the  figure 
stated  (1750).  As  verb  (Eton  Col- 
lege).  To  kick  hard.  Hence,  Cool- 
kick,  when  a  Behind  (q.v.),  or  back, 
gets  a  kick  with  no  one  up  to  him. 
Cool  as  a  cucumber,  without  heat ;  also, 
metaphorically,  calm  and  composed. 
To  cool  one's  coppers,  to  allay  the 
morning's  thirst  after  a  night  of  drink. 

Cool-crape.  A  shroud,  or  winding 
sheet  (Grose)  (1742). 

Cooler.  1.  A  woman  (1742). 
2.  A  prison :  see  Cage.  3.  Ale  or 
stout  after  spirits  and  water :  some- 
times called  Putting  the  beggar  on 
the  gentleman ;  also  Damper  (q.v.) 
(1821). 

Cool-lady.  A  female  camp  fol- 
lower who  sells  brandy  (Grose). 

Cool-nantz.     Brandy:   see  Drinks. 

Coon.  1.  A  man.  2.  A  nigger,  e.g. 
a  coons'  bawdy  house,  house  where 
none  are  kept  but  girls  of  colour. 
Oone  coon,  one  in  a  senous  or  hopeless 
difficulty.  To  go  the  whole  coon,  to  go 
the  whole  hog. 

Coon's  -  age.  A  long  time,  a  blue 
moon. 

Coop.  A  prison:  see  Cage.  Hence, 
Cooped  up,  imprisoned. 

Cooper  (or  Cooper  up).  1.  To 
destroy,  spoil,  settle,  or  finish.  2. 
To  forge.  3.  To  understand.  Hence, 
Coopered,  hocussed,  spoiled,  ruined, 
e.g.  a  house  is  said  to  be  coopered 
when  the  importunity  of  many  tramps 
has  caused  its  inmates  to  cold-shoul- 
der the  whole  fraternity  ;  a  coopered 
horse  is  a  horse  that  has  been  '  got  at ' 
with  a  view  to  prevent  its  running. 

Coored.  Whipped  (D.  Haggart, 
Life,  Glossary,  p.  171  [1821].) 

Coot  A  stupid  fellow ;  generally 
a  silly,  or  mad,  old  coot :  stupid 
as  a  coot  is  a  common  English  pro- 
vincialism :  see  Buffle. 

Cooter.     See  Couter. 

Cop.  A  policeman.  As  verb.  1. 
To  seize,  steal,  catch,  take  an  unfair 
advantage  in  a  bet  or  bargain.  [Cop 
has  been  associated  with  the  root  of 
the  Latin  cap-io,  to  seize,  to  snatch ; 
also  with  the  Gipsy  tap  or  top  =  to 
take  ;  Scotch  kep  ;  and  Gallic  ceapan. 
Probably,  however,  its  true  radix  ia 


1U 


Copbusy. 


Corner. 


to  be  found  in  the  Hebrew  eop=a 
hand  or  palm.  Low-class  Jews  em- 
ploy the  term,  and  understand  it  to 
refer  to  the  act  of  snatching.]  Cop 
like  Chuck  (q.v.),  is  a  sort  of  general 
utility  verb  :  thus  to  cop  the  needle,  to 
get  angry ;  to  cop  the  bullet  (or  the 
door),  to  get  the  sack ;  and  to  cop  the 
brewer,  to  be  drunk.  2.  To  arrest, 
imprison,  betray,  ensnare.  English 
synonyms :  to  give  the  clinch,  to  make 
one  kiss  the  clink,  to  accommodate,  to 
nobble,  to  bag,  to  box,  to  fist  (old), 
to  scoop,  to  take  up,  to  victimize,  to 
run  in,  to  give  (or  get)  one  the  boat, 
to  buckle,  to  smug,  to  nab,  to  collar,  to 
pinch,  to  nail,  to  rope  in,  to  snake, 
to  pull  up. 

Copbusy.  To  hand  over  booty  to 
a  confederate. 

Copper.    A  policeman. 

Copperheads.  A  nickname  applied 
to  different  sections  of  the  American 
nation  ;  first  to  the  Indian  ;  then  to 
the  Dutch  colonist  (see  Irving,  Knicker- 
bocker) ;  lastly,  during  the  Civil  War, 
to  certain  Northern  Democrats  who 
sympathised  with  the  South. 

Copperman.     A  policeman. 

Copper-nose.  A  swollen,  pimply 
nose,  a  jolly  or  bottle  nose ;  Fr., 
bette-rave,  piton  passe  d  I 'encaustiqw  : 
of.  Grogblossom  (1822). 

Copper's-nark.  A  police  spy,  one 
in  the  pay  of  the  police. 

C  o  p  u  s.  A  wine  or  beer  cup  : 
commonly  imposed  as  a  fine  upon 
those  who  talked  Latin  in  hall  or  com- 
mitted other  breaches  of  etiquette. 
Dr.  Johnson  derives  it  from  episcopus, 
and  if  this  be  correct  it  is  doubtless  the 
same  as  bishop. 

Copy- of  -  countenance.  A  sham, 
humbug,  pretence  (1579). 

Core  (C  o  r  e  i  n  g).  Picking  up 
small  articles  in  shops  (1821). 

Corinth.  A  brothel  (1609). 
Hence,  Corinthian.  1.  A  rake,  loose 
liver,  sometimes  specifically,  a  fashion- 
able whore.  Shakespeare  has  it,  '  a 
lad  of  mettle,'  but  in  another  place 
he  uses  Corinth  as  above.  2.  A  dandy, 
specifically  applied  in  the  early  part 
of  the  present  century  to  a  man  of 
fashion ;  e.g.  Corinthian  Tom,  hi 
Pierce  Egan's  Life  in  London. 

Cork.  1.  A  bankrupt.  2.  A 
general  name  in  Glasgow  and  neigh- 
bourhood for  the  head  of  an  establish- 
ment, e.g.  of  a  factory,  or  the  like.  To 


draw  a  cork,  to  draw  blood  ;  to  tap 
one's  claret  (1818). 

Cork-brained.  Light  headed, 
foolish. 

Corker.  1.  That  which  closes  an 
argument,  or  puts  an  end  to  a  course 
of  action  ;  a  settler  ;  a  finisher  (q.v.) ; 
specifically  a  lie :  cf.  Whopper.  2, 
Anything  unusually  large,  or  of  first- 
rate  quality ;  remarkable  in  some 
respect  or  another ;  e.g.  a  heavy 
blow ;  a  monstrous  lie.  To  play  the 
corker,  to  indulge  in  the  uncommon, 
exhibit  exaggerated  peculiarities  of 
demeanour  :  specifically  in  school  and 
university  slang  to  make  oneself  ob- 
jectionable to  one's  fellows. 

Corks.  1.  A  butler:  cf.  Burn- 
crust,  a  baker ;  Master  of  the  mint,  a 
gardener;  Cinder-garbler,  a  maid-of- 
all-work,  etc.  2.  (nautical).  Money  : 
see  Rhino. 

Corkscrewing.  The  straggling, 
spiral  walk  of  tipsiness. 

Corkscrews.  Very  stiff  and  formal 
curls,  once  called  Bottle-screws. 

Corky.  Sprightly,  lively.  Shakes- 
peare uses  it  in  King  Lear,  m.  vii. 
Com.,  Bind  fast  his  corky  arms ;  but 
with  him  (1605)  it  =  withered. 

Corn.  1.  Food,  sustenance,  grub 
(q.v.).  2.  An  abbreviated  form  of 
corn -juice  (q.v.),  i.e.  whisky  (1843). 
To  acknowledge  the  corn  :  see  Acknow- 
ledge. 

Corned.  1.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed 
(1785).  2.  (sailors'),  pleased. 

Corner.  1.  Tattersall's  Subscrip- 
tion Rooms,  once  situate  at  the  top  of 
Grosvenor  Place,  near  Hyde  Park 
Corner  ;  now  removed  to  Albert  Gate, 
but  still  known  by  the  old  nickname. 
2.  Short  for  Tattenham  Corner,  a 
point  on  the  Derby  course  on  Epsom 
Downs.  3.  A  share  ;  an  opportunity 
of  standing  in  for  the  proceeds  of  a 
robbery.  As  verb,  to  get  control  of  a 
stock  or  commodity  and  so  mono- 
polize the  market ;  applied  to  persons, 
to  drive  or  force  into  a  position  of 
difficulty  or  surrender,  e.g.  in  an 
argument ;  also  as  subs.,  a  monopoly, 
a  controlling  interest.  Fr.,  etre  en  fine 
pfgr&ne,  and  se  mettre  sur  les  fonts  de 
bapteme.  Tailors  speak  of  a  man  as 
cornered  who  has  pawned  work  en- 
trusted to  him,  and  cannot  redeem  it. 
To  be  round  the  corner,  to  get  round 
or  ahead  of  one's  fellows  by  dishonest 
cuts,  doublings,  twists,  and  turns.  To 


115 


Corner-man. 


Counter-jumper. 


turn  the  corner,  to  get  over  the  worst, 
begin  to  mend  in  health  and  fortune. 
To  be  cornered,  to  be  in  a  fix :  Fr., 
etre  dans  le  lac, 

Corner-man  (or  Cove).  1.  A  loafer; 
literally  a  lounger  at  corners  (1851). 
2.  The  '  Bones  '  and  '  Tambourine  '  in 
a  band  of  negro  minstrels. 

Corn-in- Egypt  Plenty  of  all  kinds. 
[Biblical.] 

Cornish-duck.  A  pilchard:  cf. 
Yarmouth  capon. 

Corn- juice.     Whisky  :  see  Drinks. 

Cornstalk.  Generic  (Australian) 
for  persons  of  European  descent, 
but  especially  applied  to  girls.  The 
children  of  Anglo  -  Australians  are 
generally  taller  and  slighter  in  build 
than  their  parents.  Originally  a  native 
of  New  South  Wales ;  now  general. 
Cf.  Bananalander. 

Cornstealers.     The  hands. 

Corny-faced.  Red  and  pimply  with 
drink 

Coroner.     A  severe  fall. 

Corporation.  A  protuberant 
stomach  :  see  Bread-basket  (1785). 

Corpse.  A  horse  in  the  betting  for 
market  purposes  alone  ;  otherwise  a 
stiff  un.  Verb,  1.  To  confuse,  queer, 
blunder,  and  so  put  out  one's  fellows, 
to  spoil  a  scene.  2.  To  kill  (literally 
to  make  a  corpse  of  one).  Fr.,  parier 
sur  quelqu'un. 

Corps  e- provider.  A  doctor  or 
physician :  see  Crocus. 

Corpse-reviver.     A  mixed  drink. 

Correct  (or  K'rect  Card).  See  Card. 

Corroboree.  A  disturbance. 
[Properly  a  tremendous  native  dance.] 
Verb,  to  boiL 

Gorsican.  Something  out  of  the 
common ;  a  buster.  [A  Burnand- 
ism.] 

Corybungus.    The  posteriors. 

Cosh.  A  '  neddy,'  a  life-preserver ; 
a  short,  loaded  bludgeon.  Also  a 
policeman's  truncheon. 

Cossack.     A  policeman. 

Costard.  The  head.  [Properly  an 
apple.]  See  Crumpet  (1534). 

Cotch.  To  catch.  [A  corruption.] 
Also  ppL  adj.,  Co tohed. 

Cot  (Christ's  Hospital).  A  shoe- 
itring. 

Cotsold  (or  Cotswold  Lion).  A 
iheep  :  see  Wool-bird  (1615). 

Cotton.  To  take  a  fancy  to,  unite 
with,  agree  with.  In  the  last  sense  it  is 
found  occasionally  in  the  Elizabethan 


writers,  and  is  American  by  survival" 
To  die  with  cotton  in  one's  tars :  Many 
of  the  most  hardened  and  desperate 
offenders,  from  the  kindness,  attention, 
and  soothing  conduct  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cotton  [the  chaplain  at  Newgate, 
1821],  who  is  indefatigable  in  admin- 
istering consolation  to  their  troubled 
minds,  have  become  the  most  sincere 
penitent*  (Egan,  Tom  and  Jerry). 
This  was  by  no  means  the  only  instance 
of  a  popular  punning  allusion  to  the 
name  of  Cotton.  The  Jesuit  Father 
Coton,  having  obtained  a  great 
ascendency  over  Henri  IV.,  it  was 
remarked  by  that  monarch's  subject* 
that,  unfortunately,  hi*  ears  were 
stuffed  with  cotton. 

Cotton-lord  (or  king).  A  wealthy 
cotton  manufacturer. 

Cottonopolis.  Manchester :  cf. 
Albertopolis,  Cubitopolis,  Hygeia- 
polis. 

Cottons  (Stock  Exchange).  Con- 
federate Bonds.  [From  the  staple  of 
the  Southern  States.] 

Cotton  -  top.  A  woman  loose  in 
fact,  but  keeping  up  some  sort  of 
appearance.  [In  allusion  to  cotton 
stockings  with  silk  feet.] 

Couch.  To  couch  a  hogshead,  to  lie 
down  and  sleep  (1569). 

Councillor  of  the  Pipowder  Court. 
A  pettifogging  lawyer.  [The  Pi- 
powder  Court  was  one  held  at  fairs 
where  justice  was  done  to  any  injured 
person  before  the  dust  of  the  fair  was 
off  his  feet ;  the  name  being  derived 
from  the  French  pie  poudrf.  Some, 
however,  think  that  it  had  its  origin 
in  pied-poiddreux,  a  pedlar,  and 
signifies  a  pedlars'  court. 

Council-of-ten.  The  toes  of  a  man 
who  walks  Duck- footed  (q.v.) :  cf. 
Ten  commandments  :  Fr.,  arpiom. 

Counsellor.  A  barrister:  Fr., 
gerbier. 

Count.     A  man  of  fashion,  a  swell. 

Counter.  To  strike  while  parry- 
ing. Figuratively,  to  oppose,  to  cir- 
cumvent. Another  lie  nailed  to  the 
counter :  see  Another. 

Counterfeit-cranke.  '  These  that  do 
coimterfet  the  cranke  be  yong  knavea 
and  yonge  harlots,  that  deeply  dis- 
semble the  falling  sickness  '  (Harmon). 
Hence,  a  cheat. 

Counter-jumper  (or  skipper). 
A  draper's  assistant,  a  shopman  :  Fr., 
chevalier  du  metre :  see  Knight  of  the 


116 


Count. 


Cows-and-kisses. 


yard  :  also  Counter- jump,  to  act  as  a 
shop-assistant,  and  Counter- jumping, 
verbal  subs.  (1855). 

Count.     See  Noses. 

Country.  That  part  of  the  ground 
at  a  great  distance  from  the  wicket ; 
thus,  a  fielder  at  deep-long-off,  or 
long-on  is  said  to  be  in  the  country, 
and  a  ball  bit  to  the  far  boundary,  is 
hit  into  the  country. 

Country- put.  An  ignorant,  country 
fellow:  see  Joskin.  (1717). 

County-crop.  The  hair  cut  close 
to  the  skull ;  a  mode  once  common  to 
all  prisoners,  but  now  to  convicts  only  : 
also  prison-crop. 

Couple  (or  Buckle)  beggar.  A 
celebrant  of  irregular  marriages — as 
the  Chaplain  of  the  Fleet ;  a  hedge 
priest  (1737). 

Coupling- house.     A  brothel. 

Couranne.    See  Caroon. 

Court-card.     A  beau,  swell. 

Court  Holy  Water  (or  Court  Pro- 
mises). Fair  speeches  without  per- 
formance. 

Cousin  Betty.  A  half-witted 
person :  see  Buffle. 

Cousin-trumps.  One  of  a  kind, 
Brother  smut,  Brother  chip. 

Couter  (or  Cooter).  A  sovereign  : 
see  Rhino. 

Cove  (Covey,  Cofe,  Cuffing,  and, 
in  the  feminine,  Covess).  1.  A 
person ;  a  companion.  Cove  enters 
into  many  combinations :  e.g.  Cross- 
cove,  a  robber  ;  Flash-cove,  a  thief  or 
swindler  ;  Kinchin-cove,  a  little  man  ; 
Flogging-cove,  a  beadle ;  Smacking- 
cove,  a  coachman  ;  Narry  -  cove,  a 
drunkard  ;  Topping-cove,  a  highway- 
man ;  Abram-cove,  a  beggar ;  Queer- 
cove,  a  rogue ;  Nubbing-cove,  the 
hangman  ;  Gentry-cove,  a  gentleman  ; 
Downy-cove,  shrewd  man  ;  Rum-cove, 
a  doubtful  character  ;  Nib  -  cove,  a 
gentleman,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.,  all  which 
see.  English  synonyms :  boy,  chap, 
cull,  cully,  customer,  kiddy,  homo  (or 
omee),  fish,  put,  bloke,  gloak,  party, 
cuss,  codger,  buffer,  gaffer,  damber, 
duck,  chip.  [For  examples  of  the 
use  of  Covey  and  Covess,  see  same.] 
2.  In  up  -  country  Australian,  the 
master,  boss,  or  gaffer  of  a  sheep 
station.  Cove  of  dossing-ken,  the  land- 
lord of  a  common  lodging-house  :  Fr., 
marchand  de  sommeti. 

Covent  Garden.  A  '  farden  '  or 
farthing. 


Covent  -  garden  Abbess.  A  pro- 
curess. [Covent  Garden  at  one  time 
teemed  with  brothels  :  as  Fielding's 
Covent  Garden  Tragedy  (1751-2)  sug- 


Covent-garden  Ague.     A  venereal 


Covent  -  garden  Nun.  A  pro- 
stitute. 

Coventry.  To  send  one  to  (or  to 
be  in)  Coventry,  to  exclude  from  social 
intercourse,  or  notice;  to  be  in  dis- 
grace. 

Cover.  A  pickpocket's  confed- 
erate :  one  who  '  fronts,'  i.e.  distracts 
the  attention  of,  the  victim  ;  a  stall 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  1.  To  act  as  a  pick- 
pocket's confederate.  2.  To  drink : 
see  Lush. 

Cover-arse  Gown.  A  gown  with- 
out sleeves  (1803). 

Cover-down.  An  obsolete  term  for 
a  false  tossing  coin  :  see  Cap. 

Cover- me -decently.  A  coat 
(1821). 

Covess.  A  woman :  see  Cove.  (1789). 

Covey.  A  man :  a  diminutive  of 
cove  (q.v.). 

Cow.  1.  A  woman.  The  term  is 
now  opprobrious ;  but  in  its  primary 
and  natural  sense  the  usage  is  ancient. 
Howell  [1659]  says  :  '  There  are  some 
proverbs  that  carry  a  kind  of  authority 
with  them,  as  that  which  began  in 
Henrie  the  Fourth's  time.  "  He  that 
bulls  the  cow  must  keep  the  calf."  ' 
2.  A  prostitute.  3.  A  thousand  pounds : 
see  Rhino.  To  talk  the  hind  leg  off  a 
cow  (or  dog) :  see  Talk.  Tune  the  cow 
died  of :  see  Tune. 

Cowan.     A  sneak,  a  Paul  Pry. 

Cow- and- calf.    To  laugh. 

Coward's- castle  (or  Corner).  A 
pulpit. 

Cowcumber.  A  corruption  of 
cucumber. 

Cow-grease  (or  Cow-oil).  Butter : 
see  Cart-grease. 

Cow- juice.     Milk. 

Cow-lick.  A  lock  of  hair,  greased, 
curled,  brought  forward  from  the  ear, 
and  plastered  on  the  cheek :  once 
common  amongst  costermongers  and 
tramps  :  see  Aggerawators. 

Cow-oil.     Cow-grease. 

Cow-puncher.  A  cowboy  or  herds- 
man. 

Cow- quake.     The  roar  of  a  bull. 

Cows-and-kisses.  The  missus,  or 
mistress  ;  also  women  generally. 


117 


Cow'a-baby. 


Cracksman. 


Cow's  -  baby  (or  babe)  A  calf, 
Bleating-cheat  (q.v.). 

Cow-shooter  (Winchester  College). 
A  deerstalker  hat :  only  worn  by  prse- 
fecte  and  candle-keepers. 

Cow's-spouse.     A  bull  (Orose). 

Cow  -  with  -  the  -  iron  -  tail.  A 
pump ;  the  source  of  the  '  cooling 
medium  '  for  '  regulating  '  milk  :  also 
Black  -  cow,  One  -  armed  man,  and 
Simpson's  oow  (q.v.). 

Coxy.  Stuck  up,  conceited,  im- 
pudent (1856). 

Coyduck.  To  decoy.  [A  blend  of 
conduct  *nd  decoy.]  (1829). 

Cozza.     Pork. 

Crab.  1.  The  same  as  bonnet  (q.v.) 
subs.,  sense  1.  2.  In  pi.,  the  feet. 

3.  A  pair  of  aces,  or  deuce-ace — the 
lowest  throw  at  hazard  ( 1 768).     Verb, 
to  expose,  inform,  offend,  insult ;  and 
especially  to  interrupt,  to  get  in  the 
way  of,  to  spoil.     To  turn  out  crabs 
(or  a  case  of  crabs),  a  matter  turns  out 
crabs  when  it  is  brought  to  a  dis- 
agreeable   conclusion.      To    catch    a 
crab  (to  cut  a  crab,  to  catch  or  cut  a 
cancer  or  lobster),   there  are  various 
ways  of  catching  a  crab,  as,  for  ex- 
ample ( 1 )  to  turn  the  blade  of  the  oar 
or     feather '  under  water  at  the  end 
of  the  stroke,  and  thus  be  unable  to 
recover  ;  (2)  to  lose  control  of  the  oar 
at  the  middle  of  the  stroke  by  dig- 
ging too  deeply ;   or  (3)  to  miss  the 
water  altogether. 

Crab-louse.  The  pulex  pubis,  the 
male  whereof  is  called  a  cock,  the 
female  a  hen  (Grose). 

Crabshells.     Shoes. 

Crack.  1.  A  crazy  person :  soft- 
head :  see  Buffle  (1609).  2.  A  pro- 
stitute (1698).  3.  A  lie  :  also  Cracker. 

4.  A  burglary.     5.  A  burglar  (1749). 

6.  An  approach  to  perfection  (1825). 

7.  A  racehorse  eminent  for  speed,  and 
(hunting),     a    famous    '  mount.'     8. 
Dry    firewood.      Adj.,      approaching 
perfection :   used   in   a  multitude  of 
combinations.     A   crack  hand   is   an 
adept  or  dabster;    a  crack  corps,  a 
brilliant  regiment ;  a  crack  whip,  good 
coachman;    etc.    (1836).       Verb,    1. 
To   talk   to,   boast.     [The   verb   was 
once  good  English,  and  in  the  sense  of 
to  talk  or  gossip  is  still  good  Scots. 
The  modern  form  to  crack  up,  is  well 
within  the  borderland  between  literary 
and  colloquial  English  (1597).     2.  To 
force  open,  to  commit  a  burglary.     3. 


To  forge  or  utter  worthless  paper.  4. 
To  fall  to  ruin,  to  be  impaired  (1631). 
5.  To  inform ;  to  peach  (q.v.).  To 
crack  a  bottle  (or  a  quart),  to  drink 
(1598).  To  crack  a  crib  (sway,  or  ken),  to 
commit  a  burglary ;  to  break  into  a 
house.  English  synonyms  :  to  stamp 
a  ken  or  crib,  to  work  a  panny,  to 
jump  a  house  (also  applied  to  simple 
robbery  without  burglary),  to  do  a 
crack,  to  practise  the  black  art,  to 
screw,  to  bust  a  crib,  to  flimp,  to  buz, 
to  tool,  to  wire,  to  do  a  ken-crack-lay. 
To  crack  a  crust,  to  rub  along  in  the 
world:  a  superlative  fordoing  very  well 
is,  to  crack  a  tidy  crust.  To  crack  a  whid, 
to  talk.  To  crack  on,  to  put  on  speed, 
increase  one  s  pace.  To  crack  up,  to 
praise,  eulogize :  a  superlative  is  to 
crack  up  to  the  nines :  Fr.,  faire  F article, 
and  faire  son  boniment  (or  son  petit 
boniment).  The  crack  (or  all  the  crack), 
the  go  (q.v.),  the  thing,  the  kick,  the 
general  craze  of  the  moment.  In  a 
crack,  instantaneously,  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye  (1725). 

Cracked  (or  Cracked-up).  1. 
Ruined,  bust  up,  gone  to  smash  (or 
to  pot).  2.  Crazy.  3.  Deflowered : 
also  Cracked  in  the  ring. 

Cracker.  Anything  approaching 
perfection  :  used  in  both  a  good  and 
bad  sense ;  e.g.  a  rattling  pace,  a 
large  sum  of  money,  a  bad  fall,  an 
enormous  lie,  a  dandy  (male  or  female) 
of  the  first  magnitude,  and  so  forth. 

Cracky.     See  Crickey. 

Crack  -  halter  (or  Crack  -  rope). 
A  vagabond ;  an  old  equivalent  of 
jail-bird:  cf.  Hemp-seed  (1566). 

Cracking.     House-breaking. 

Crackish.  Wanton,  said  only  of 
women  :  cf.  Coming. 

Crack-jaw  Words  (Names,  etc.). 
Long  words  difficult  to  pronounce. 

Crackle  (or  Crackling).  The  velvet 
bars  on  the  gowns  of  the  Johnian 
'hogs'  (q.v.). 

Crackmans  (or  Cragmans).  A 
hedge  (1610). 

Crack  for  Break)  One's  Egg  (or 
Duck.  To  begin  to  score.  [To 
make  no  run  is  to  lay,  or  make,  a 
duck's  egg ;  to  make  none  in  either 
innings  is  to  get  a  double-duck,  or 
to  come  off  with  a  pair  of  spectacles.] 

Crack- pot.  A  pretentious,  worth- 
less person. 

Crack-rope.     See  Crack-halter. 

Cracksman.     A  housebreaker. 


118 


Cradle. 


Creeper*. 


Cradle,  Altar,  and  Tomb  Column. 
The  births,  marriages,  and  deaths 
column  in  a  newspaper:  also  Hatch, 
Match,  and  Dispatch  column. 

Crag.      See  Scrag. 

Cram.  1.  A  lie  ;  also  Crammer.  2. 
Hard,  forced  study.  3.  One  who 
prepares  another  for  an  examination, 
a  coach,  a  grindstone.  4.  An  adven- 
titious aid  to  study,  a  translation, 
a  crib.  Verb,  1.  To  study  at  high 
pressure  for  an  examination :  also  to 
prepare  one  for  examination  (1803). 
2.  To  lie,  deceive  (1794). 

Crammer.  1.  A  liar,  one  who  tells 
Crams  (q.v.).  2.  A  lie ;  the  same  as 
cram.  3.  One  who  prepares  men  for 
examination,  a  coach,  grinder  (q.v.) 
(1812). 

Cramming.  The  act  of  studying 
hard  for  an  examination. 

Cramped  (or  Crapped).  Hanged  ; 
also  killed. 

Cramping-cull.     The  hangman. 

Cramp  in  the  Hand.  Meanness, 
stinginess. 

Cramp  -  rings.  Bolts,  shackles, 
fetters.  [Properly  a  ring  of  gold  or 
silver,  which  after  being  blessed  by 
the  sovereign,  was  held  a  specific  for 
cramp  and  f ailing-sickness.  ]  (1 609 ). 

Cramp  -  words.  1.  Hard,  unpro- 
nounceable vocables,  Crackjaw  words 
(q.v.)  (1748).  2.  Sentence  of  death 
(1748). 

Cranberry-eye.  A  blood-shot  eye ; 
the  result  of  alcoholism. 

Crank.  1.  '  These  that  do  coun- 
terfet  the  cranke  be  yong  knaues  and 
yonge  harlots,  that  deeply  dissemble 
the  falling  sicknes.  For  the  crank  in 
their  language  is  the  fallinge  evill ' 
(Harmari).  Also  Cranke  and  Crank- 
cuffin.  2.  Gin  and  water  (Orose).  3. 
An  eccentric,  a  crotcheteer.  Adj., 
Easily  upset :  e.g.  The  skiff  is  very 
crank. 

Crank- cuffin.  One  of  the  canting- 
crew  whose  specialty  was  to  feign 
sickness :  see  Crank. 

Cranky.  Crotchetty,  whimsical, 
ricketty,  not  to  be  depended  upon, 
crazy.  English  synonyms :  dicky, 
maggotty,  dead-alive,  yappy,  touched, 
chumpish,  comical,  dotty,  rocketty, 
queer,  faddy,  fadmongering,  twisted, 
funny. 

Crao.  1.  Money;  sometimes  crop  : 
see  Rhino.  2.  The  gallows :  see 
Nubbing  Cheat.  3.  Type  that  has  got 

119 


mixed ;  technically  known  as  '  pi.' 
Verb,  1.  To  hang ;  to  be  cropped,  to 
be  hanged.  2.  To  ease  oneself  by 
evacuation  :  see  Mrs.  Jones. 

Crapping  -  casa  (case,  castle,  or 
ken).  A  water-closet. 

Crapping  -  castle.  A  night  stool : 
see  previous  entry. 

Crash.  1.  Entertainment:  prob- 
ably a  cant  word  (Nares).  2.  The 
machine  used  to  suggest  the  roar  of 
thunder ;  a  noise  of  desperate  (and 
unseen)  conflict ;  an  effect  of  '  alarums 
excursions'  generally.  Verb,  to  kill. 

Crashing  -  cheats  (or  chetes). 
1.  The  teeth  (1567).  2.  '  Appels, 
peares,  or  any  other  fruit '  (Harmon). 

Crater  (Cratur,  or  Creature). 
Formerly,  any  kind  of  liquor,  now, 
Irish  whisky.  [Fuller  speaks  of 
water  as  '  a  creature  so  common  and 
needful,'  and  Bacon  describes  light  as 
'  God's  first  creature.'  Transition  is 
easy.]  The  skin  of  the  creature,  the 
bottle  :  see  Drinks  (1598). 

Crawl.  A  workman  who  curries 
favour  with  a  foreman  or  emp  )oyer,  a 
lickspittle. 

Crawler.  1.  A  cab  that  leaves  the 
rank  and  '  crawls  '  the  street  in  search 
of  fares.  2.  A  term  of  contempt, 
lickspittle. 

Crawthumper.  1.  Roman 
Catholic,  '  the  Pope's  cockrels ' 
(1629) :  also  Brisket-beaters  and,  col- 
lectively, the  Breast  -  fleet.  2.  In 
America  an  Irishman  or  Dick,  i.e.  an 
Irish  Catholic  (1782). 

Cream  Cheese.  To  make  believe  the 
moon  is  made  of  cream  (or  green)  cheese, 
to  humbug,  to  deceive,  to  impose  upon. 

Cream  -  jugs  (Stock  Exchange). 
1.  Charkof  -  Krementschug  Railway 
Bonds.  2.  The  paps. 

Cream  -  of  -  the  -  valley,  (also  Cold 
Cream).  Gin :  cf.  Mountain  Dew, 
whisky. 

Creamy.  Excellent,  first-rate  :  see 
Al. 

Creation.  To  beat  (or  lick)  creation, 
to  overpower,  excel,  surpass,  be  in- 
comparable. 

Creeme.  To  slip  or  slide  anything 
into  the  hands  of  another  (Orose). 

Creeper.  One  who  cringes  and 
curries  favour,  a  skunk,  a  snide  (q.v.). 

Creepers.  1.  The  feet.  English  syn- 
onyms: dew-beaters,  beetle-crushers, 
understandings,  trotters,  tootsies, 
stumps  (also  the  legs),  everlasting 


Creeps. 


Crocus. 


•hoes,  hocks,  boot-trees,  pasterns, 
arda  (Old  Cant  now  used  as  an  adj.  = 
hot),  double- breasters,  daisy-beaters, 
kickers,  crabs,  trampers,  hockles, 
hoofs,  pudseys.  2.  Lice :  see  Chates. 

Creeps.  The  peculiar  thrill  re- 
sulting from  an  undefinable  sense  of 
dread :  Goose  -  flesh,  Cold  shivers, 
Cold  water  down  the  back  (1836). 

Crevecosur.      See    Heart  -  breaker. 

Cxi.  The  Criterion,  theatre  and 
restaurant,  at  Piccadilly  Circus. 

Crib.  1.  The  stomach  (1656).  2. 
Generic  for  a  place ;  e.g.  a  house, 
place  of  abode,  apartments,  lodgings, 
shop,  warehouse,  den,  diggings,  or 
snuggery  (1598).  3.  A  situation,  place, 
or  berth*.  4.  A  literal  translation  sur- 
reptitiously used  by  students ;  also  a 
theft  of  any  kind ;  specifically,  any- 
thing copied  without  acknowledg- 
ment (1841).  5.  A  bed.  Verb,  (1) 
to  steal,  pilfer ;  used  specifically  of 
petty  thefts  :  see  Prig  (1748).  (2)  To 
use  a  translation ;  to  cheat  at  an 
examination  ;  to  plagiarise.  To  crack 
a  crib,  see  Crack. 

Cribbage  -  face  (and  Cribbage- 
faced).  Pock  -  marked  and  like  a 
cribbage-board,  Colander-faced,  Crum- 
pet -  faced,  Pikelet  -  faced,  Mockered 
(q.v.)  (1785). 

Crib  her.     A  grumbler. 

Cribbeys  (or  Cribby  -  Islands). 
Blind  alleys,  courts,  and  bye-ways. 

Cribbing.  1.  Food  and  drink,  grub 
and  booze  (1656).  2.  Stealing,  pur- 
loining, using  a  translation. 

Crib- biter.  An  inveterate  grum- 
bler. [Properly  a  horse  that  worries 
his  crib,  rack,  manger,  or  groom,  and 
at  the  same  time  draws  in  his  breath 
so  as  to  make  the  peculiar  noise 
called  wind-sucking.]  FT.  gourgousseur, 
un  rcme,  rendcleur,  and  renaudeur. 

Crib-cracker.     A  housebreaker. 

Crib-cracking     Housebrcaking. 

Crikey!  (Cracky!  or  Cry!)  For- 
merly, a  profane  oath  ;  now  a  mere 
expression  of  astonishment.  [A  cor- 
ruption of  '  Christ.'] 

Crimini  (Criminey,  or  Crimes!) 
See  Crikey.  [Possibly  influenced  by 
crimen  meum,  my  fault]  (1700). 

Crimson.  To  make  things  look 
crimson,  to  go  on  a  drunken  frolic, 
paint  the  town  red  (q.v.). 

Crincle  -  pouch.  A  sixpence  :  see 
Bender  (1593). 

Crinkums.     A  venereal  disease. 


Crinoline.     A  woman. 

Cripple.  1.  A  '  snid  '  (Scots)  or 
sixpence:  see  Rhino  (1785).  2.  An 
awkward  oaf,  a  dullard  :  Fr.,  mala- 
patte.  Go  it,  you  cripple*  I  A  sarcastic 
comment  on  strenuous  effort ;  fre- 
quently used  without  much  sense  of 
fitness ;  e.g.  when  the  person  ad- 
dressed is  a  capable  athlete.  Wooden 
legs  are  cheap,  is  sometimes  added  as 
an  intensitive. 

Crisp.     A  banknote  :  see  Rhino. 

Crispin.  A  shoemaker.  [From 
Saints  Crispin  and  Crispianus,  the 
patrons  of  the  '  gentle  craft,'  Le.  shoe- 
making.]  8t.  Crispin's  lance,  an  awL 
Crispin's  holiday,  Monday :  spec.  25th 
of  October,  being  the  anniversary  of 
Crispinus  and  Crispianus. 

Croak.  A  dying  speech,  especially 
the  confession  of  a  murderer.  Also 
the  same  as  printed  for  sale  in  the 
streets  by  a  flying  stationer  (q.v.). 
Verb,  to  die :  see  Hop  the  Twig. 

Croaker.  1.  A  sixpence  :  see  Rhino. 
2.  A  beggar.  3.  A  dying  person.  4. 
A  corpse.  6.  The  flesh  of  an  animal 
which  has  died  a  natural  death.  6. 
A  doctor.  7.  A  person  who  sees 
everything  en  noir,  and  whose  con- 
versation is  likened  to  that  of  the 
raven,  the  bird  of  ill-omen  :  see  Gold- 
smith's Good  Natured  Man.  Fr.,  glas. 

Croakumshire.  Northumberland. 
[Grose  :  from  the  particular  croaking 
in  the  pronunciation  of  the  people  of 
that  county,  especially  about  New- 
castle and  Morpeth,  where  they  are 
said  to  be  born  with  a  burr  in  their 
throats,  which  prevents  their  pro- 
nouncing the  letter  '  r.'] 

Crock.  A  worthless  animal,  a 
fool,  rotter. 

Crocketts  (Winchester  College). 
A  kind  of  bastard  cricket,  sometimes 
called  '  small  crochette.'  Five  stumps 
are  used  and  a  fives  ball,  with  a  bat 
of  plain  deal  about  two  inches  broad, 
or  a  broomstick.  To  get  crocketts,  to 
fail  to  score  at  cricket,  to  make  a 
duck's  egg. 

Crocodile.  A  girl's  school  walk- 
ing two  and  two. 

Crocus  (Crocu  s-  metallorum 
or  Croakus).  A  doctor  ;  specifically, 
a  quack.  English  synonyms:  pill, 
squirt,  butcher,  croaker,  corpse-pro- 
vider, bolus,  clyster,  gallipot.  [Several 
of  these  terms  also=an  apothecary.] 
(1785). 


120 


Crocus-chovey. 


Crow. 


Crocus-chovey.     A  doctor's  shop. 

Crocus- pitcher.  A  quack  ambulant. 

Crocussing-rig,  subs.  (old). 
Travelling  from  place  to  place  as  a 
quack  doctor. 

Crone.     A  clown  or  buffoon. 

Crook.  1.  A  sixpence  :  see  Rhino. 
2.  A  thief,  swindler,  one  who  gets 
things  on  the  crook.  On  the  crook,  the 
antithesis  of  on  the  straight  (q.v.) :  cf. 
Cross.  To  crook  (or  cock)  the  elbow  (or 
the  little  finger),  to  drink.  [Fr.,  lever 
le  coude ;  a  hard  drinker  is  un  adroit 
du  coude.}  See  Lush. 

Crook-back.  A  sixpenny  piece, 
many  of  the  slang  names  of  which 
suggest  a  bashed  and  battered  ap- 
pearance ;  e.g.  bender,  cripple,  crook  : 
see  Rhino. 

Crooked.  Disappointing,  the 
reverse  of  straight  (q.v.),  pertaining 
to  the  habits,  ways,  and  customs  of 
thieves.  Crooked  as  a  Virginia  (or 
snake)  fence,  uneven,  zig-zag,  said  of 
matters  or  persons  difficult  to  keep 
straight.  To  make  a  Virginia  fence, 
to  walk  unsteadily,  as  a  drunkard. 
Virginia  fences  zigzag  with  the  soil. 

Crooky.  To  hang  on  to,  lead,  walk 
arm-in-arm,  court,  or  pay  addresses 
to  a  girL 

Crop.     See  Crap. 

Cropped.  Hanged :  see  Ladder, 
and  Topped  (1781). 

Cropper.  A  heavy  fall  or  failure 
of  any  kind  ;  generally  '  to  come  a 
cropper.'  [Originally  hunting.] 

Croppie  (or  Croppy).  Originally 
applied  to  a  criminal  cropped  in  ears 
and  nose  by  the  public  executioner ; 
subsequently  to  convicts,  in  allusion  to 
closely  cropped  hair  ;  hence  any  person 
with  hair  cut  close  to  the  head  ;  e.g. 
the  Puritans  and  the  Irish  Rebels  of 
1789. 

Croppled.  To  be  croppled  (Winches- 
ter College),  to  fail  in  an  examination  ; 
to  be  sent  down  at  a  lesson. 

Croppy.     See  Croppie. 

Crops.  To  go  and  look  at  the  crops, 
to  consult  Mrs.  Jones  (q.v.). 

Cross.  1.  A  pre-arranged  swindle. 
In  its  special  sporting  signification  a 
cross  is  an  arrangement  to  lose  on  the 
part  of  one  of  the  principals  in  a  fight, 
or  any  kind  of  match.  When  both 
principals  conspire  that  one  shall  win, 
it  is  called  a  Double  cross  (q.v.). 
[Obviously  a  shortened  form  of  Cross- 
bite.  2.  A  thief;  also  Cross -man, 


Cross-cove,  Cross-chap,  squire  (knight, 
or  lad)  of  the  cross,  etc.  Literally  a 
man  on  the  cross  (see  sense  1).]  As 
verb,  to  play  false  in  a  match  of  any 
kind.  Hence  to  thwart,  baffle,  spoil 
(1709).  Cross  in  the  air,  a  rifle  carried 
butt-end  upwards.  To  shake  the  cross, 
to  quit  the  cross  (sense  1)  and  go  on 
the  square  (q.v.).  To  be  crossed,  thus 
explained  in  a  University  Guide  : — 
For  not  paying  term  bills  to  the  bur- 
sar (treasurer),  or  for  cutting  chapels, 
or  lectures,  or  other  offences,  an 
undergrad  can  be  crossed  at  the  but- 
tery, or  kitchen,  or  both,  i.e.  a  cross  is 
put  against  his  name  by  the  Don,  who 
wishes  to  see  him,  or  to  punish  him. 
On  the  cross,  the  opposite  of  on  the 
square  (q.v.):  cf.  On  the  crook. 

Cross- belts.  The  Eighth  Hussars. 
[The  regiment  wears  the  sword  belt 
over  the  right  shoulder  in  memory  of 
the  battle  of  Saragossa,  where  it  took 
the  belts  of  the  Spanish  cavalry. 
This  privilege  was  confirmed  by  the 
King's  Regulations  of  1768. 

Cross- bite.  See  Cross- biting.  As 
verb,  to  cheat,  scold,  hoax.  [Nares 
thinks  it  a  compound  of  cross  and 
bite.  It  has  suffered  a  double  ab- 
breviation, both  its  components  being 
used  substantively  and  verbally  in  the 
same  sense.]  See  Stiff  (1581). 

Cross  -  biter.  A  cheat,  swindler, 
hoaxer  :  Fr.,  goureur  (1592). 

Cross- biting.  A  deception,  cheat, 
hoax  (1576). 

Cross- buttock.  A  throw  in  wrest- 
ling. Also  as  verb  and  verbal  subs. 
(1690). 

Cross  -  crib.  A  thieves'  dossing- 
ken  (q.v.) :  or  Lush-crib  (q.v.) :  also 
Cross-drum. 

Cross- fan  (or  Cross- f am).  Robbery 
from  the  person  done  with  one  hand 
(fam)  across,  dissembling  the  action 
of  the  other.  As  verb,  to  rob  from 
the  person. 

Cross  -  kid  (or  Cross- quid).  To 
question,  cross-examine  :  Fr.,  faire  la 
jactance,  also  faire  saigner  du  nez. 

Cross-patch,  subs,  (colloquial). 
An  ill-natured,  ill-tempered  person : 
cf.  old  nursery  rhyme  :  '  Cross-patch, 
draw  the  latch,  Sit  by  the  fire  and 
spin'  (1785). 

Crow.  1.  A  confederate  on 
watch  whilst  another  steals  :  generally 
a  man,  but  occasionally  a  woman : 
the  latter  is  also  called  a  Canary  (q.v.). 


121 


Crou-<L 


Cry. 


2.  A   piece  of  unexpected   luck ;   a 
duke :     generally     a     regular     crow. 
[Originally   billiards,    in  which   it<=a 
hazard  not  played  for,  i.e.  a  fluke  ;  no 
doubt  a  corruption  of  the  Fr.,  raccroc.] 

3.  A  parson.     To  eat  crow  :  see  Broiled 
crow.     A  crow  to  pluck  (putt,  or  pick) 
with  one,  something  demanding  ex- 
planation :     a    misunderstanding    to 
clear  ;  a  disagreeable  matter  to  settle  : 
sometimes,  a  bone  to  pick  (1593). 

Crowd.     A  fiddle. 

Crowder.  1.  A  large  audience. 
2.  A  fiddler. 

Crow-eater.  A  lazybones  who  pre- 
fers subsisting  upon  what  he  can  pick 
up,  as  crows  do,  to  putting  himself  to 
the  trouble  of  working  for  it. 

Crow- fair.  A  gathering  of  clergy- 
men. 

Crown.  To  inspect  a  window  with 
a  view  to  burglary. 

Crown-office.     The  head  (1785). 

Crow's  -  foot.  The  Government 
broad  arrow ;  also  (in  pi.)  wrinkles  at 
the  outside  corners  of  the  eyes. 

Cruel  (or  Cruelly).  Extremely, 
very,  great  (1662). 

Cruelty  -  van  for  Booby  -  hutch). 
A  four-wheeled  chaise. 

Crug  (Christ's  Hospital).  1.  At 
Hertford,  a  crust ;  in  the  London 
school,  crust  and  crumb  alike  (1820). 
Hence,  2.  a  Blue  (q.v.):  especially  an 
old  boy. 

Cruganaler  (Christ's  Hospital).  A 
biscuit  given  on  St.  Matthew's  Day. 
[Orthography  dubious.  Blanch  in- 
clines to  the  following  derivation : 
'  The  biscuit  had  once  something  to  do 
with  those  nights  when  bread  and  beer, 
with  cheese,  were  substituted  for 
bread-and-butter  and  milk.  Thence 
the  term  "  crug  and  aler."  The  only 
argument  against  this  is  the  fact  that 
the  liquid  was  never  dignified  with  the 
name  of  ale,  but  was  invariably  called 
"  the  swipes."  By  another  deriva- 
tion="  hard  as  nails."  It  is  then 
spelt  Cruggy-nailer.'] 

C  r  u  g  g  y  (Christ's  Hospital). 
Hungry. 

Cruisers.  1.  Beggars,  or  highway 
spies  :  those  who  traversed  the  road 
(Grose)  to  give  intelligence  of  a 
booty ;  also,  rogues  ready  to  snap 
up  any  booty  that  may  offer.  2.  In 
sing.,  a  street- walker. 

Crumb.  A  pretty  woman:  cf. 
Crummy. 


Crumb-and-crust  Man.  A  baker: 
cf.  Burn-crust  and  Master  of  the 
rolls  :  FT.,  marchand  de  larton. 

Crummy.  1.  Fat,  plump,  well- 
developed  :  especially  said  of  high- 
bosomed  and  full  -  figured  women  : 
e.g.  a  crummy  piece  of  goods. 
Fr.,  fort  en  mie  (an  almost  literal 
translation)  (1748).  2.  (American), 
comely.  3.  Lousy.  Hence,  Crummy- 
dost,  a  lousy  bed.  4.  (thieves'). 
Plump  in  the  pockets. 

Crump  (Winchester  College). 
A  hard  hit,  a  fall :  as  a  verb,  to  cob 
(q.v.). 

Crumpet.  The  head.  English 
synonyms :  brain-pan,  nut,  chump, 
jazey,  steeple,  tib  or  tibby,  weather- 
cock, turnip,  upper  extremity,  top 
end,  twopenny,  upper  storey,  canister, 
attic,  garret,  costard,  sconce,  bonce, 
nob,  lolly,  lobb,  knowledge-box,  block, 
cocoa-nut,  Crown  -  Office,  calabash, 
top-knot,  crust,  chimney-pot,  onion, 
chevy,  cockloft,  top-fiat,  gable,  pump- 
kin, hat-peg,  billiard  ball,  upper-orust, 
mazzard,  cabaza,  dome.  Balmy  in 
one's  crumpet :  see  Balmy. 

Crumpet-face.  A  pock-pitted  face, 
a  cribbage-face  (q.v.). 

Crumpet- scramble.  A  tea  party, 
tea-fight,  muffin-worry,  muffin-fight, 
bitch-party,  or  cooky-shine  (q.v.). 

C  rum  pier.     1.  A  cravat     2.  A  falL 

Crush.  A  large  social  gathering 
(1854).  As  verb,  to  run  away,  de- 
camp: see  Bunk.  To  crush  down 
sides,  to  keep  tryst,  also  to  run  to  a 
place  of  safety.  To  crush  (or  burst) 
a  pot  (cup,  or  bottle)  to  drink  in  com- 
pany. 

Crusher.  1.  A  policeman :  cf. 
Crush  !  once  a  favourite  signal  of  the 
pea,  thimble,  and  other  race-course 
sharps  warning  of  the  approach  of  the 
police.  2.  Anything  large,  fine,  or 
extraordinary :  cf.  Whopper,  Stinger, 
Corker,  Bouncer,  etc.  (q.v.). 

Crushing.     Excellent,  first-rate. 

Crust  (or  Upper  Crust).  The 
head :  see  Crumpet.  Upper-crust  (q.v.). 

Crusty- beau.  One  that  uses  paint 
and  cosmetics  to  obtain  a  fine  com- 
plexion (Grose). 

Cry.  A  large  number,  a  quantity. 
[From  cry,  a  pack  of  dogs.]  Great 
cry  and  little  wool,  much  ado  about 
nothing.  The  original  text  of  the 
proverb  was,  Great  cry  and  little  wool, 
as  the  devil  said  when  he  sheared  the 


122 


C.T.A. 


Curbstone- sailor. 


hogs.  Hudibras  alters  it  into  All 
cry  and  no  wool.  To  cry  carrots  and 
turnips,  a  term  which  rogues  use  for 
whipping  at  the  cart's  arse  (Johnson, 
1747).  To  cry  (or  call)  a  go,  to  give  in, 
as  one  unable  to  proceed.  An  ex- 
pression borrowed  from  cribbage  signi- 
fying that  the  player  who  makes  use 
of  it  has  nothing  playable  in  his  hand, 
and  is  compelled  to  cry  a  go.  To 
cry  cupboard,  to  be  famished,  hungry, 
banded  (q.v.) :  FT.,  rien  dans  le  cornet, 
le  buffet  vide,  and  danser  devant  le 
buffet.  Cry  matches  !  an  exclamation 
of  surprise.  [Variously  derived:  (1) 
a  corruption  of  '  Crime  hatches  ' ;  (2) 
cry=XPI  or  Christ,  no  suggestion 
being  offered  to  account  for '  matches' ; 
and  (3)  a  conversion  of  the  FT.  ere 
matin,  presumably  Canadian :  cf. 
Crimini.]  To  cry  off,  to  retreat,  back 
out  from  an  engagement.  See  Stink- 
ing fish. 

C.T.A.  (Circus  and  showmen's). 
The  police. 

Cub  (or  Unlicked-cub).  An  awk- 
ward, e^lky  girl;  a  mannerless,  uncouth 
lout  of  a  boy.  [In  allusion  to  the 
supposed  shapelessness  of  bear  cubs 
till  their  dam  has  '  licked  them  into 
shape.'] 

Cubitopolis.  The  Warwick  and 
Eccleston  Square  districts.  [From  the 
name  of  the  builders.]  Cf.  Alberto- 
polis,  Mesopotamia,  Asia  Minor,  The 
New  Jerusalem,  Slopers'  Island,  etc. 
(q.v.). 

Cuckoo.  1.  A  fool:  see  Buffle. 
(1598).  2.  A  cuckold  (1594).  3.  In 
pi.,  generic  for  money :  see  Rhino. 
(1612). 

Cucumber-time.  The  dull  season. 
[A  correspondent  of  Notes  and  Queries 
says  it  is  of  German  origin,  and 
originated  among  London  tailors  of 
German  nationality.  The  German 
phrase  is  die  saure  Ourken  Zeit  (pickled 
gherkin-time).  Hence,  it  is  said,  the 
expression  '  Tailors  are  vegetarians,' 
because  they  live  now  on  '  cucumber  ' 
and  now  on  '  cabbage']  (Orose). 

Cud.  A  chew  of  tobacco,  a  quid. 
As  adj.,  (Winchester  College).  1. 
Pretty,  handsome.  2.  (Christ's  Hos- 
pital), severe :  see  Cuddy. 

Cuddie.     A  donkey. 

Cuddling.     Wrestling. 

Cuddy  (Christ's  Hospital). 
Hard,  difficult,  said  of  a  lesson.  Also 
Hertfordic6  for  Passy  (q.v.). 


Cue.     To  swindle  on  credit. 

Cuff.  1.  A  foolish  old  man.  Prob- 
ably a  contraction  of  Cuffin  (q.v.) 
(1678).  2.  (tailors').  A  religious  man. 
To  cuff  Anthony :  see  Anthony.  To 
beat  or  cuff  Jonas  :  see  Beat. 

Cuff  er.  1.  A  lie,  an  exaggerated 
and  improbable  story.  Hence,  to 
spin  cuffers,  to  yarn,  draw  the  long 
bow  (q.v.).  2.  A  man  :  see  Cove. 

C  u  ffi  n  (C  u  ff  e  n,  or  Cuffing).  A 
man  (Harmon,  1567).  Queer-cuffin,  a 
magistrate  (1609). 

Cuff  -  shooter.  A  beginner,  one 
who  gives  himself  airs ;  literally  one 
who  shoots  his  cuffs  :  having  a  greater 
regard  for  the  display  of  his  linen  than 
for  his  work. 

Cule  (Cull,  Culing,  Culling). 
To  purloin :  eepec.  from  the  seats  of 
carriages  ;  the  act  of  snatching  hand- 
bags and  other  articles.  [Probably  an 
abbreviation  of  reticule.] 

Cull  (or  Cully).  A  man,  com 
panion,  partner.  Specifically,  a  fool, 
one  tricked  or  imposed  upon.  Grose 
seems  to  make  a  distinction,  for  he 
quotes  cull  = '  a  man  honest  or  other- 
wise,' and  cuDy  = '  a  fop,  fool,  or  dupe 
to  women,'  in  which  sense  it  was  cur- 
rent in  the  seventeenth  century.  Hum 
cull,  the  manager  of  a  theatre ;  also 
a  Cully-gorger. 

Culls.     The  testes  ( 1 600). 

Culminate.  To  mount  a  coach-bol 
(1803). 

Cummer.     An  intimate. 

Cup-and-saucer  Player.  A  term  of 
derision  applied  to  players  of  the  late 
T.  W.  Robertson's  comedies. 

Cupboard-love.  Interested  affec- 
tion :  cf.  old  saw,  The  way  to  a  man's 
heart  is  through  his  stomach  (1661). 

Cups.  In  one's  cups,  drunk :  cf. 
Cup-shot  and  Screwed  (1593). 

Cup-tosser.     A  juggler. 

Curate.  A  small  poker,  or 
tickler  (q.v.),  used  to  save  a  better 
one ;  also  a  pocket-handkerchief  in 
actual  use  as  against  a  flimsy  one  worn 
for  show.  The  better  article  is  a 
Rector.  Similarly  when  a  tea-cake 
is  split  and  buttered,  the  bottom  half, 
which  gets  the  more  butter,  is  the 
Rector,  and  the  upper  half  the  Curate. 

Curb.     To  steal :  see  Prig.     (1615). 

Curbstone  -  broker.  See  Gutter- 
snipe. 

Curbstone- sailor.  A  prostitute :  see 
Tart. 


123 


Cure. 


Cut. 


Cure,  subs,  (common).  An  eccen- 
tric, fool,  funny  fellow.  Originally 
applied  in  many  connections,  we 
Punch,  xzxL  201  (1856). 

Curious.  To  do  curious,  to  act 
strangely. 

Curl.  Out  of  curl,  out  of  aorta ; 
out  of  condition.  To  curl  up,  to  be 
silent,  '  shut  up.'  To  curl  one's  Jiair, 
to  administer  chastisement,  '  go  for  ' 
one.  To  curl  one's  liver  (or  to  have 
one's  liver  curled),  to  make  one  feel 
intensely. 

Curie.  Clippings  of  money 
(Grow). 

Curl-paper.  Paper  for  the  W.C., 
toilet  paper,  '  wipe  -  bummatory  ' 
(Urquhart),  or  '  sanitary '  paper, 
bumfodder,  bumf,  ammunition. 

Curly  cues  (or  Carlicues).  Fantastic 
ornaments  worn  on  the  person  or  used 
in  architecture ;  also,  by  implication, 
a  strange  line  of  conduct. 

Currants  -  and  -  plums.  A  three- 
penny bit,  thrums  (q.v.). 

Currency.  A  colonist  born  in 
Australia,  those  of  English  birth  being 
sterling  (q.v.). 

Curse.  Not  to  care  (or  be  worth)  a 
curse,  to  care  (or  be  worth)  little— or 
nothing  at  all  (1362). 

Curse-of-God.  A  cockade  (Lexicon 
Balatronicum). 

Curse  of  Scotland.  The  nine  of 
diamonds.  The  suggested  derivations 
are  inconclusive.  [The  locution  has 
nothing  to  do  with  Culloden  and  the 
Duke  of  Cumberland,  for  the  card  was 
nicknamed  the  Justice-Clerk,  in  al- 
lusion to  the  Lord  Justice-Clerk 
Ormistone,  who,  for  his  severity  in 
suppressing  the  Rebellion  of  1715,  was 
called  the  Curse  of  Scotland.  Other 
suggestions  are  :  ( 1 )  That  it  is  derived 
from  the  game  of  Pope  Joan,  the  nine 
of  diamonds  there  (being  called  the 
'pope,'  of  which  the  Scotch  have 
always  stood  in  horror.  (2)  The 
word  '  curse '  is  a  corruption  of  cross, 
and  the  nine  of  diamonds  is  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  form  a  St.  Andrew's 
Cross.  (3)  That  it  refers  to  the  arms 
of  Dalrymple,  Earl  of  Stair  (viz.  or, 
on  saltire  azure,  nine  lozenges  of  the 
field),  who  was  held  in  abhorrence  for 
the  massacre  of  Glencoe  ;  or  to  Colonel 
Packer,  who  attended  Charles  I.  on  the 
scaffold,  and  had  for  his  arms  nine 
lozenges  conjoined,  or  in  the  heraldic 
language,  gules,  a  cross  of  lozenges. 


These  conflicting  views  were  discussed 
at  length  in  Notes  and  Queries,  1  8., 
L  61,  90 ;  iii.  22,  253,  423,  483  ;  v. 
619 ;  3  S.,  xii.  24,  96 ;  4  S.,  vi.  194, 
289 ;  also,  see  Chambers'  Encyclopaedia.] 

Cursitor  (or  Cursetor).  A  tramp  or 
vagabond. 

Curtain  -  raiser.  A  short  '  piece  ' 
to  bring  up  the  curtain :  Fr.,  lever  de 
rideau. 

Curtail  (or  Curtail).  A  vagabond 
or  thief  :  '  A  curtail  is  much  like  to  the 
Vpright  man,  but  hys  authority  is  not 
fully  so  great.  He  vseth  commonly  to 
go  with  a  short  cloke,  like  to  grey 
Friars,  and  his  woman  with  him  in  like 
liuery,  which  he  calleth  his  altham  if 
she  be  hys  '  (Awddey,  1560).  '  Thieves 
who  cut  off  pieces  of  stuff  hanging  out 
of  shop  windows  ;  the  tails  of  women's 
gowns,  etc.  ;  also  thieves  wearing 
short  jackets  '  (Grose,  1785).  As  verb, 
to  cut  off. 

Cuse  (Winchester  College).  A 
book  in  which  a  record  is  kept  of  the 
'  marks  '  in  each  division  :  its  name  to 
dons  is  '  classicus  paper  '  ;  also  used 
for  the  weekly  order. 

Cushion.  To  hide,  conceal,  Stall 
off  (q.v.),  Stow  (q.v.),  Slum  (q.v.). 
To  deserve  the  cushion,  on  the  birth  of 
a  child  a  man  was  said  to  deserve  the 
cushion ;  i.e.  the  symbol  of  rest  from 
labour. 

Cushion  -  smiter  (or  -  thumper). 
A  clergyman. 

Cuss.  A  man,  Cove  (q.v.),  or  Cull 
(q.v.) :  generally,  but  not  necessarily, 
disparaging.  To  cuss  out,  to  talk 
down,  flummox  by  the  lip  (q.v.). 

Cussedness.  Generally  in  such 
phrases  as,  pure  cussedness,  the  cus- 
sednees  of  things,  etc.  Mischievous- 
ness,  or  resolution,  or  courage  may 
be  implied  ;  but  in  the  Coventry  plays 
cursyanesse  signified  sheer  wickedness 
and  malignity. 

Customer.  A  man,  fellow,  cove, 
cuss,  or  chap :  with  a  certain  qualifi- 
cation, e.g.  an  ugly  customer  =  a 
dangerous  opponent ;  a  queer  customer 
=a  suspicious  person,  one  to  be  sus- 
pected ;  a  rum  customet  =  an  odd 
fish. 

Custom-house  Officer.  An 
aperient  piU  :  cf.  Chimney-sweep. 

Cut.  1.  A  stage  or  degree :  e.g. 
a  cut  above  one.  2.  A  refusal  to 
acknowledge  acquaintance,  or  to 
associate  with  another  person  ;  a  snub. 


124 


Cut. 


Cutting. 


A  cut  direct  (or  dead  cut)  is  a  conspicu- 
ous non-acknowledgment  of  an  ac- 
quaintance. 3.  Mutilation  of  the 
book  of  a  play,  opera,  etc.  (1779). 
As  adj.,  tipsy  ;  on  the  cut,  on  the  spree  : 
see  Screwed  (1748).  As  verb,  1.  To  talk 
(1567):  To  cut  benle,  to  speake 
gentle  ;  to  cut  bene  whydds,  to  speake 
or  give  good  words ;  to  cutte  quyer 
whyddes,  to  geue  euil  words  or  evil 
language.  2.  To  disown,  ignore,  or 
avoid  associating  with,  a  person : 
sometimes  cut  dead.  An  article  in 
the  Monthly  Magazine  for  1798  cites 
cut  as  a  current  peculiarity  of  ex- 
pression, and  says  that  some  had  tried 
to  change  it  into  '  spear,'  but  had 
failed.  3.  To  depart  more  or  less 
hurriedly  and  perforce.  Also  to  cut 
and  run,  cut  it,  cut  one's  lucky,  cut 
one's  stick,  cut  off,  cut  away,  etc. 
[Originally  nautical — to  cut  the  cable 
and  run  before  the  wind.]  (1570). 
4.  To  compete  in  business  ;  to  under- 
sell. A  cutting  trade  is  one  where 
profits  are  reduced  to  a  minimum. 
Also  cut  under.  5.  To  excel.  Also 
cut  out.  6.  To  strike  out  portions  of 
a  dramatic  production,  so  as  to  shorten 
it  for  representation.  7.  To  avoid, 
absent  oneself  from.  Thus,  to  cut 
lecture,  to  cut  chapel,  to  cut  hall,  to  cut 
gates  (1794)  are  common  phrases.  To 
cut  a  caper  or  capers,  to  play  a  trick  or 
prank,  behave  boisterously  or  fan- 
tastically ( 1 692).  To  cut  a  dash,  splash 
(or  shine),  to  make  a  show,  attract  at- 
tention through  some  idiosyncrasy  of 
manner,  appearance,  or  conduct.  In 
the  United  States  to  cut  a  splurge  (or 
a  swathe),  Fr.,  flamber,  faire  du  flafla, 
and  faire  flouer  (1771).  To  cut  a 
figure,  to  make  an  appearance,  good 
or  bad  (1759).  To  cut  and  come  again, 
to  have  plenty  :  i.e.  if  one  cut  does 
not  suffice,  plenty  remains  to  come 
at  again  (1738).  To  cut  (or  cut  up) 
didoes  (shindies,  shines,  etc.),  to  play 
pranks  or  tricks,  to  cut  capers.  To 
cut  dirt  (or  cut  one's  stick,  lucky),  to 
make  off,  escape.  To  cut  fine,  to 
narrow  down  to  a  minimum.  To  cut 
in,  to  join  in  suddenly  and  without 
ceremony,  intrude,  chip  in  (q.v.). 
Also  substantively  (1819).  To  cut 
into  (Winchester  College),  originally 
to  hit  one  with  a  '  ground  ash.'  The 
office  was  exercised  by  Bible-clerks 
upon  a  '  man  '  kicking  up  a  row  when 
'  up  to  books.'  Now  generally  used  in 


the  sense  of  to  correct  in  a  less  formal 
manner  than  Tunding  (q.v.).  To 
cut  it,  to  move  off  quickly,  run  away, 
cut  dirt  (q.v.).  As  intj.,  Cease ! 
Stow  it!  Stash  it!  A  forcible 
injunction  to  desist  and  be  off.  Also 
cut  that  !  or  simply  cut  I  To  cut  it  fat, 
to  show  off,  make  a  display,  come  it 
strong,  put  on  side,  cut  a  dash  (q.v.). 
To  cut  mutton,  to  partake  of  one's 
hospitality,  to  break  bread  with  one. 
To  cut  off  one's  head  (American  polit- 
ical) used  of  an  official  when  his  term 
of  office  has  come  to  an  end  through 
change  of  Government,  or  superces- 
sion  in  other  ways.  The  cut  of  one's 
jib,  the  general  appearance.  To  cut 
one's  cart,  to  expose  a  trick.  To  cut 
one's  comb,  to  snub,  lower  conceit 
(1593).  To  cut  one's  eyes,  to  get 
suspicious.  To  cut  one's  eye  (or  wis- 
dom) teeth,  to  learn  what's  what.  To 
cut  one's  own  grass,  to  get  one's  own 
living,  paddle  one's  own  canoe.  To 
cut  out,  to  debar,  deprive  of  advan- 
tage, supersede  (1779).  To  cut  out  of, 
to  do  out  of.  To  cut  saucy  :  see  Saucy. 
To  cut  short  (generally  cut  it  short !)  a 
common  injunction  not  to  be  prolix, 
Stow  it !  To  cut  the  line  (rope,  or 
string),  to  cut  a  story  short,  stop 
yarning.  To  cut  the  painter  (1)  to 
decamp,  make  off — secretly  and  sud- 
denly. (2)  To  die  :  see  Hop  the  twig. 
To  cut  up,  to  run  down,  to  mortify 
(1759).  (2)  To  come  up,  turn  up, 
become,  show  up.  (3)  To  divide 
plunder,  to  share,  to  nap  the  regulars 
(1779).  (4)  To  behave.  To  cut  up 
fat,  to  leave  a  large  fortune  ( 1 824).  To 
cut  up  rough  (rusty,  savage,  stiff,  ugly), 
to  become  quarrelsome  or  dangerous. 
To  be  cut  up,  to  be  vexed,  hurt,  de- 
jected :  sometimes  simply  cut.  For- 
merly, to  be  in  embarrassed  circum- 
stances (1821). 

Cut-away.  A  morning  coat.  [As 
compared  with  a  frock  coat.] 

Cute.  Sharp,  clever,  '  fly  to  wot's 
wot.'  Fr.,  avoir  le  nez  creux  (1748). 

Cuts.  Scissors.  8matt-cuts=s 
button-hole  scissors. 

Cutter.  A  thief,  bully.  This 
ancient  cant  word  now  survives  in 
the  phrase,  to  swear  like  a  cutter 
(1589). 

Cutting.  1.  The  process  of  under- 
selling ;  competition  of  the  keenest 
kind.  2.  Disowning  or  ignoring  a 
person. 

125 


Cutde. 


Daisy-cutter. 


Cuttle 
A  knife 
(1692). 

Cutty  -  eyed. 
leering. 


(or    Cuttle- bung), 
used      by     cut  -  purses 


Suspicious  looking, 


Cutty.  A  short  pipe,  a  nose- 
warmer (q.v.). 

C  u  z.  A  workman  free  of  the 
*  chapel.' 

Cymbal.    A  watch. 


D.  1.  A  penny,  or  (in  pi.)  pence  ; 
e.g.  two  d,  three  d,  etc.,=two-pence, 
three- pence,  etc.  2.  A  detective ; 
among  thieves,  any  policeman.  To 
use  a  big  d,  to  swear  ;  the  d  stands  for 
damned.  The  two  fa,  army  regula- 
tions enact  that  a  soldier's  pay  must 
not  be  so  docked  in  fines  as  to  leave 
him  less  than  two  -  pence  a  day. 
Hence,  if  a  man,  from  any  cause,  is 
put  on  short  pay,  he  is  said  to  be  on 
the  tun  fs. 

Dab.  1.  An  expert,  a  dabster. 
[Thought  to  be  a  corruption  of  adept 
(Latin  odeptus)  a  dep  ;  a  dap  ;  a  dab.] 
Cf.  dabbler,  one  who  meddles 
without  mastery ;  a  superficial  med- 
dler. Fr.,  dob,  dobe,  or  dode  (1733). 
2.  A  bed,  bug-walk,  kip.  3.  The 
drowned  corpse  of  an  outcast  woman. 
4.  A  trifle  (1745).  As  adj.,  1.  Clever, 
skilled,  expert.  2.  Bad.  A  dobheno, 
a  bad  market,  day,  or  sale.  Doogheno 
=a  good  day,  etc.  ;  dob  frcw=.bad 
sort.  JRum-dobe,  the  same  as  doh, 
subs.,  sense  1  :  see  Rum.  To  dob 
down,  to  pay,  hand  over,  poet, 
shell  out.  To  dob  it  up,  to  pair  off ; 
to  agree  to  cohabitation. 

Dabster.     An  ex  pert  or  ddb(  q.v.). 

Dace.  Two-pence  ;  in  America, 
two  cents.  [From  deuce.] 

Dacha-saltee.  A  franc;  ortenpence 
English.  [From  the  Italian  died 
MML] 

Dad  binged  (also  -  blamed,  -fetched) , 
gasted,  -goned,  -rotted,  or  -snatched 
(American),  half-veiled  oaths,  '  whips 
to  beat  the  devil  round  the  stump. 

Dad-dad,  (Mum-mum  or  Daddy- 
mammy).  A  beginner's  practice  on  the 
drum. 

Daddle.  The  hand  ;  or  fist.  To 
tip  the  doddle,  to  shake  hands.  English 
synonyms :  chalk-farm,  claw,  clutch, 
cornstealer,  duke,  fam,  famble,  feeler, 
fin,  flapper,  flipper,  forceps,  forefoot, 
fork,  grappling-iron  (or  hook),  goll 
(old),  oar,  paddle,  palette,  paw,  pber, 
shaker,  wing,  Yarmouth  mitten. 


Daddy.  1.  The  superintendent  of  a 
casual  ward  ;  generally  an  old  pauper. 
2.  A  stage  manager.  3.  A  confederate 
of  workers  of  mock  raffles,  lotteries, 
etc.  ;  generally  the  person  selected  to 
receive  the  prize. 

Daddyism.  (American).  Pride  of 
birth. 

Daffy  (or  Daffy's  Elixir).  Gin. 
[From  a  popular  medicine  sold  as 
early  as  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth 
century. 

Daffy  -  down  -  dilly.  A  dandy, 
one  '  got  up  regardless.' 

Dagen.     An  artful  member. 

Dagger  -  cheap.  Dirt  cheap. 
[From  an  ordinary  of  low  repute  in 
Holborn,  notorious  for  the  coarseness 
of  its  entertainment  (see  Johnson's 
Alchemist,  v.  2,  and  Devil  is  an  Ass,  i. 

1). 

Dags.  A  feat,  performance,  work, 
e.g.  1 11  do  your  dags=.&r\  incitement 
to  emulation. 

Daily  Levy  (The}.  The  Daily  Tde- 
graph.  [This  London  daily  is  the 
property  of  Mr.  Edward  LevyLawson.] 

Dairy.  The  paps.  To  air  the 
dairy=to  expose  the  breast.  Eng- 
lish synonyms:  bubs  (or  bubbles), 
charlies,  blubber,  butter-boxes,  but- 
ter-bags, berkeleys,  cat-heads,  diddies, 
globes,  dugs,  milk-walk,  milk-shop, 
milky  way,  dumplings,  udder  (Brown- 
ing), '  Nature's  founts  ',  feeding  bot- 
tles, charms,  hemispheres,  apple- 
dumpling  shop,  meat  market,  poonts, 
titties,  cabman's  rests  (rhyming), 
baby's  bottom. 

Daisies.  Boots :  also  Daisy- 
roots.  To  turn  up  one's  toes  to  the 
daisies,  to  die  :  see  Hop  the  twig. 

Daisy.  A  man  or  thing  first-rate 
of  a  kind.  As  adj.,  first-rate,  Al. 

Daisy- beat.     See  Beat 

Daisy- beaters.     See  Creepers. 

Daisy-cutter.  1.  A  horse,  good  or 
bad  :  also  daisy-kicker  :  Fr.,  rase  tapis 
(1785).  2.  A  ball  bowled  to  travel 
more  than  half  the  pitch  along  the 


126 


Daisy -kicker. 


Dandy. 


ground  without  rising,  a  sneak, 
and  (Wykehamice),  a  ramrod. 

Daisy-kicker.  1.  A  horse.  2.  An 
ostler  (1781). 

Daisy  -  roots.      Boots.     To  pick  a 

lisy,  to  evacuate  in  the  open. 

Daisyville.  The  country,  the 
monkery  :  also  Deuseaville  (1622). 

Dakma.     To  silence. 

Darn.  To  care  or  be  worth  not  a 
dam,  to  care  or  be  worth  nothing. 

Damage.  The  cost  of  anything, 
the  sum  total  in  the  sense  of  recom- 
pense. What's  the  damage  (or 
swindle)  ?  What's  to  pay  ?  (1800). 

Damaged.  Drunk,  Screwed  (q.v.). 

Damber.  A  man,  Cove,  or  Cull,  in 
the  fraternity  of  vagabonds. 

Damme  (Dammy  or  Dammy-boy). 
A  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  century 
roysterer,  a  blusterer. 

Dam  -  nasty  Oath  (American).  A 
corruption  of  amnesty  oath.  [South- 
erners, at  the  close  of  the  Civil  War, 
were  required,  as  an  outward  sign  of 
submission  to  the  Union,  to  subscribe 
to  certain  conditions,  upon  which  a 
free  pardon  was  granted.  The  terms 
were  deemed  unpalatable.] 

Damned  -  soul.  A  Custom  House 
clearing  clerk.  [To  avoid  perjury  he 
was  alleged  to  have  taken  a  general 
oath  never  to  swear  truly  in  making 
declarations.]  (Lexicon  Balatroni- 
cum,  1811). 

Damp  (generally  Something  damp). 
A  drink,  go  (q.v.).  To  damp  one's 
mug,  to  drink :  see  Lush.  To  damp 
the  sawdust,  to  crack  a  bottle  with 
friends  for  luck  on  starting  a  new 
house. 

Damper.  1.  A  till,  Lob  (q.v.). 
Drawing  a  damper,  robbing  a  till, 
Lob-sneaking.  2.  A  sweater ;  one  who 
takes  as  much  as  possible  out  of  work- 
men for  a  minimum  of  pay.  3.  He  or 
that  which  damps,  chills,  or  dis- 
courages. 4.  Ale  or  stout  after  spirits 
and  water,  a  Cooler  (q.v.).  5.  A 
snack  between  meals.  6.  A  suet 
pudding  served  before  meat.  7.  Un- 
leavened bread  made  of  flour  and 
water  and  baked  in  thin  cakes,  in  a 
frying  pan  or  on  a  flat  stone  in  wood 
ashes  (Australian). 

Damp- pot.  The  sea  ;  specifically 
the  Atlantic. 

Damson-pie.  A  Birmingham 
and  '  black  country '  term  for  '  Bil- 
Ungsgatry.' 


Dance.  A  staircase,  flight  of  steps : 
a  contraction  of  the  older  form — 
Dancers.  As  verb,  1.  To  be  hanged  : 
also  to  dance  upon  nothing,  and  to 
dance  the  Paddington  frisk :  see 
Ladder.  2.  Type  dances  if  letters 
drop  out  when  the  forme  is  lifted. 
To  dance  Barnaby,  see  Barnaby. 

Dance  of  Death.     Hanging. 

Dancers.  1.  Stairs,  flight  of 
steps:  Fr.,  les  grimpants  (1671).  2. 
(sing.)  Also  dancing  master.  A  thief 
whose  speciality  is  prowling  about  the 
roofs  of  houses  and  effecting  an 
entrance  through  attic  and  upper 
storey  windows  ;  a  garreteer  (q.v.) : 
also  dancing -master. 

Dancing-master.  1.  A  species  of 
Mohock  or  dandy,  temp.  Queen  Anne. 
[Who  made  his  victims  caper  by 
running  his  sword  through  the  legs ; 
for  detailed  description,  see  Spectator 
(1712),  No.  324.]  2.  See  Dancers, 
sense  2.  3.  The  hangman,  Jack 
Ketch  (q.v.). 

D-and-D.   Drunk  and  disorderly. 

Dander.  Anger.  To  raise  one's 
dander  (or  get  one's  dander  up,  or  riz), 
to  make  or  get  angry.  Hence  Dan- 
dered,  angry,  mad. 

D  a  n  d  o.  A  great  eater,  glutton, 
wolfer  ;  specifically  a  sharper  who  sub- 
sits  at  the  expense  of  hotels,  restaur- 
ants, or  oyster  bars.  [From  one 
Dando,  a  bouncing,  seedy  swell, 
hero  of  a  hundred  ballads,  notorious 
for  being  charged  at  least  twice  a 
month  with  bilking.] 

Dandy  (formerly  slang,  now  re- 
cognized). 1.  A  fop,  coxcomb,  man 
who  pays  excessive  attention  to  dress. 
The  feminine  forms,  '  dandilly  '  and 
'  dandizette,'  did  not  catch  on. 
Dandy  was  first  applied  half  in  admira- 
tion, half  in  derision  to  a  fop  about  the 
year  1816.  John  Bee  (Slang  Diet., 
1823)  says  that  Lord  Petersham  was 
the  chief  of  these  successors  to  the 
departed  Macaronis,  and  gives,  as 
their  peculiarities,  '  French  gait, 
lispings,  wrinkled  foreheads,  killing 
king's  English,  wearing  immense 
plaited  pantaloons,  coat  cut  away, 
small  waistcoat,  cravat  and  chitter- 
lings immense,  hat  small,  hair  frizzled 
and  protruding.'  In  common  English 
dandy  has  come  to  be  applied  to  such 
as  are  neat  and  careful  in  dress- 
ing according  to  fashion.  English 
synonyms :  beau,  blade,  blood,  buck, 


127 


Dandy-matter. 


Davy. 


chappie,  corinthian,  count,  court-card, 
cheese,  daffy-down-dilly,  dancing- 
master,  dude,  dundreary,  exquisite, 
flasher,  fop,  gallant,  gommy,  gorger, 
Jemmy  Jessamy,  Johnny,  lounger, 
macaroni,  masher,  mohawk,  nerve, 
nicker,  nizzie,  nob,  oatmeal,  scourer, 
smart,  spark,  sweater,  swell,  toff,  tip- 
topper,  tumbler,  yum-yum.  2.  A 
base  gold  coin.  [In  allusion  to  its 
careful  make  and  composition,  this 
coin  containing  a  certain  proportion 
of  pure  gold.]  3.  A  '  small  whisky.' 
4.  Anything  first-rate;  a  Daisy  (q.v.). 
Also  used  adjectively.  The  Dandy,  all 
right,  your  sort,  the  ticket :  a  north- 
country  song  has  the  line,  '  The  South 
Shields  lasses  are  The  Dandy  0 1 ' 

Dandy-master.  The  head  of  a  gang 
of  counterfeiters,  one  who  makes  the 
coin  but  does  not  himself  attempt  to 
pass  it :  see  Dandy  2. 

Dandypratt  for  Dandipratt).  Prim- 
arily a  dwarf,  page ;  by  implica- 
tion a  jackanapes.  In  all  likelihood, 
the  etymon  of  the  modern  '  dandy,' 
erroneously  derived  from  the  French 
dandin,  a  fool,  as  in  Moliere,  Georges 
Dandin  (1580). 

Dang  it  I  A  euphemism  for  Damn 
it !  Also  Dang  my  buttons  I  and 
Dang  me  I 

Danglers.     A  bunch  of  seals. 

Dan  Tucker.     Butter. 

Darbies.  1.  Handcuffs.  English 
synonyms :  black-bracelets,  buckles, 
Father  Derbie's  bands,  ruffles,  wife, 
snitchers,  clinkers,  government  se- 
curities, twisters,  darbies  and  Joans 
( =  fetters  coupling  two  persons).  2. 
Sausages,  bags  of  mystery,  chambers 
of  horrors  (q.v.). 

D  a  r  b  1  e.  The  devil.  [A  corrup- 
tion of  French  diable.] 

Darby.  Ready  money.  [One 
Derby  is  supposed  to  have  been  a 
noted  sixteenth  century  usurer.] 

Darby  Allen  (Lancashire).  Ca- 
jolery, chaff,  gammon. 

Darby  -  roll.  A  gait  peculiar  to 
felons  of  long  standing  :  the  result  of 
shackles- wearing. 

Darby's  -  dyke.  The  grave  ;  also 
death. 

Darby's-fair.  The  day  of  removal 
from  one  prison  to  another  for  trial. 

Dark.  To  get  the  dark,  to  be  con- 
fined in  the  punishment  cell. 

Dark-cull  (or  -cully).  A  married 
man  with  a  secret  mistress  (Orose). 


Dark-horse  (or  Dark'un).  A  horse 
whose  pace  is  unknown  to  the  backers ; 
figuratively,  one  about  whom  little  is 
known. 

Dark-house,  subs.  (old).  A  mad- 
house. Shakespeare  (Alfa  Well,  etc., 
n.  iii.)  used  it  to  denote  the  seat  of 
gloom  and  discontent. 

Darkmans  (Darks,  Darky).  The 
night,  twilight  (1567).  English  syno- 
nyms: blackmans,  bund,  blindman's 
holiday  (twilight). 

Darkman's  -  budge.  A  burglar's 
confederate :  he  slips  into  a  house 
during  the  day,  hides  there,  and  opens 
the  door  at  night  (Grose). 

Darky  (or  Darkey).  1.  A  dark 
lantern,  bull's  eye.  2.  The  night, 
twilight:  also  (nautical)  Darks.  3, 
A  negro  :  see  Snowball. 

Darn  (Darned).  Euphemistic  for 
damn  and  damned ;  used  to 
avoid  '  cussing  bar' -foot.'  Also  Dor- 
nation,  Dangnation,  Darn  burn  it, 
and  Darn  (or  Dash)  my  buttons  (or 
wig). 

Dart.     A  straight-armed  blow. 

D.A.'s.  The  menstrual  flux:  an 
abbreviation  of  Domestic  afflictions 
(q.v.) 

Dash.  1.  A  tavern  waiter.  2.  (com- 
mon). A  small  quantity,  a  drink ; 
a  go  (q.v.).  Also  a  small  quantity 
of  one  fluid  to  give  a  flavour  to  another 
e.g.  a  lemon  and  a  dash,  a  bottle  of 
lemonade  with  just  a  suggestion  of 
bitter  beer  in  it.  As  verb,  to  adulterate 
Dash  it  I  (or  dash  my  buttons,  wig, 
timbers,  etc.)  Expletives  employed 
euphemistically,  i.e.  to  damn.  To 
cut  a  dash :  see  Cut.  To  have  a  dash 
on,  to  speculate  largely  or  wildly,  to 
go  it  strong. 

Dasher.  1.  A  showy  prostitute. 
(1790).  2.  An  ostentatious  or  extra- 
vagant man  or  woman,  an  impetuous 
person,  a  clipper ;  also  latterly,  a 
man  or  woman  of  fashion,  a  person  of 
brilliant  qualities,  mental  or  physical : 
Fr.,  genreux-se. 

Daub.  1.  An  artist  2.  A  bad 
picture. 

David.  1.  See  Davy.  2.  (Ameri- 
can). A  torpedo. 

David's  Sow.  Drunk  as  David's 
(or  Davy's)  sow,  beastly  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Davy.  1.  An  affidavit:  e.g.  So 
help  (or  s'wdp)  me  davy,  or  Alfred 
Davy  (q.v.):  Fr.,  Je  fen  foiu  mon 


128 


Davy's-dust. 


Dead-head. 


billet  or  mon  petit  turlututu,  I'll  take 
my  davy  on  it  (1764).  Davy  Jones, 
Davy,  or  Old  Davy,  the  spirit  of  the 
sea,  specifically  the  sailor's  devil 
(1751).  Whence,  Davy  Jones'  locker, 
the  ocean,  specifically,  the  grave  of 
them  that  perish  at  sea.  The  popular 
derivation  (  =  a  corruption  of  Jonah's 
locker,  i.e.  the  place  where  Jonah 
was  kept  and  confined,  and  by  im- 
plication the  grave  of  all  gone  to  the 
bottom,  drowned  or  dead)  is  con- 
jectural. Davy  putting  on  the  coppers 
for  the  parsons,  the  indications  of  a 
coming  storm.  Davy  Jones'  natural 
children,  smugglers,  sea-rovers,  pirates. 
Davy's-dust.  Gunpowder.  3^ 
Dawb  (or  Daub).  To  bribe. 
Daylight.  A  glass  that  is  not  a 
bumper,  skylight  (q.v.):  obsolete. 
To  burn  daylight,  to  use  artificial 
light  before  it  is  really  dark,  to  waste 
time  (1595).  To  let  (or  knock)  day- 
light into  one  (into  the  victualling  de- 
partment, or  into  the  luncheon  reservoir), 
to  stab  in  the  stomach,  and,  by  im- 
plication, to  kill :  Fr.,  bayafer. 

Daylights.  1.  The  eyes.  To 
darken  one's  daylights,  to  give  a  black 
eye,  sew  up  one's  sees  (1752).  2.  In 
sing.,  the  space  in  a  glass  between 
liquor  and  brim :  inadmissible  in 
bumpers  at  toasts :  the  toast-master 
cries  '  no  daylights  nor  heeltaps  !  ' 

Deacon.  To  pack  fruit,  vegetables, 
etc.,  the  finest  on  the  top  :  cf.  Yankee 
proverb,  All  deacons  are  good,  but 
there  is  odds  in  deacons.  To  deacon 
a  calf,  to  kill.  To  deacon  land,  to 
filch  land  by  gradually  putting  back 
one's  fences  into  the  highway  or  other 
common  property.  To  deacon  off,  to 
give  the  cue,  lead  in  debate.  [From 
a  custom,  once  universal  but  now 
almost  extinct,  in  the  New  England 
Congregational  churches.  An  im- 
portant function  of  the  deacon's 
office  was  to  read  aloud  the  hymns 
given  out  by  the  minister  one  line  at  a 
time,  the  congregation  singing  each 
line  as  soon  as  read.  This  was  called 
deaconing  off.] 

Deacon  -  seat.  In  log  cabins  the 
sleeping  apartment  is  partitioned  off 
by  poles.  The  bed  is  mother  earth, 
the  pillow  is  a  log,  the  foot-board  a 
long  pole  six  feet  from  the  fire  and  in 
the  centre  of  the  cabin.  The  deacon 
seat  is  a  plank  fixed  over  and  running 
parallel  with  the  footboard  so  as  to 


form  a  kind  of  settee  in  front  of  the 
fire.  [Probably  in  allusion  to  the 
seats  round  a  pulpit,  facing  the  con- 
gregation, reserved  for  deacons.] 

Deacon's  Hiding-place.  A  private 
compartment  in  oyster  saloons  and 
cafes  ;  Fr.,  cabinet  particulicr. 

Dead.     An    abbreviation    of   dead 
certainty.      As  adj.,  stagnant,  quiet 
(of  trade),  flat  (as  of  beer  or  aerated 
waters   after   exposure),    cold,    good, 
thorough,  complete  (1602).     Dead  as 
a  door  nail  (mutton,  a  herring,  a  tent- 
peg,  Julius  Ccesar,  etc.),  utterly,  com- 
pletely dead.     Dead  as  a  door-nail  is 
found   in  Langland's  Piers  Plowman 
[1362] ;  all  other  forms  are  modern. 
In  dead  earnest,   without   doubt,   in 
very  truth.     Dead  against,  decidedly 
opposed   to.      Dead   alive  (or  Dead- 
and-alive),  dull,   stupid,   mopish,  for- 
merly  deadly  -  lively.      Dead  -  amiss, 
incapacitated    through    illness    from 
competing  in  a  race :  of  horses.     Dead- 
beat,   a  sponger,   loafer,   sharper.     2. 
A  pick-me-up  compounded  of  ginger, 
soda,    and    whisky.      As     verb,    to 
sponge,    loaf,    cheat.     As    adj.,    ex- 
hausted.    Dead  broke,  utterly  penni- 
less, ruined  :  also  flat  (or  stone)  broke  ; 
used  verbally,  to  dead  break.     Eng- 
lish synonyms:    wound    up,    settled, 
coopered,  smashed  up,  under  a  cloud, 
cleaned  out,  cracked  up,  done  up,  on 
one's   back,   floored,   on   one's   beam 
ends,  gone  to  pot,  broken-backed,  all 
U.   P.,  in  the  wrong  box,  stumped, 
feathered,     squeezed,     dry,     gutted, 
burnt  one's  fingers,  dished,  in  a  bad 
way,   gone  up,   gone   by  the   board, 
made  mince  meat  of,  broziered,  wil- 
lowed,  not  to  have  a  feather  to  fly 
with,    burst,    fleeced,    stony,    pebble- 
beached,   in   Queer   Street,   stripped, 
rooked,   hard  up,   broke,  hooped-up, 
strapped,  gruelled. 

Dead-cargo.  Booty  of  a  disappoint- 
ing character. 

Dead-certainty.  That  which  is  sure 
to  occur ;  usually  contracted  to  Dead 
or  Cert,  both  of  which  see.  Dead  cut, 
see  Cut. 

Dead-duck.  That  which  has  depre- 
ciated to  the  verge  of  worthlessness. 

Deader.  1.  A  funeral,  black  -  job 
(q.v.).  2.  A  corpse. 

Dead  -  frost.  A  fiasco,  Columbus 
(q.v.) :  Fr.,  four  noir, 

Dead-head  (Dead-beat  or  Dead- 
hand).  One  who  obtains  some* 


129 


Dead-heat. 


Dean. 


thing  of  commercial  value  without 
special  payment  or  charge ;  spec,  a 
person  who  travels  by  rail,  visits 
theatres,  etc.,  by  means  of  free  paaiei. 
Also  as  verb. 

Dead-heat  A  race  with  an  equal 
finish  :  formerly  dead  (1635). 

Dead-horse.  1.  Work,  the  wages  for 
which  have  been  paid  in  advance ; 
by  implication,  distasteful,  or  thank- 
less labour :  Fr.,  bijouterie.  To  pull 
the  dead  horse,  to  work  for  wages  al- 
ready paid  :  Fr.,  manger  du  soli  ( 1651 ). 
2.  (West  Indian).  A  shooting  star. 
Among  Jamaican  negroes  the  spirits 
of  horses  that  have  fallen  over  pre- 
cipices are  thought  to  re-appear  in 
this  form.  To  flog  the  dead  hone,  to 
work  to  no  purpose,  dissipate  one's 
energy  in  vain,  make  much  ado 
about  nothing. 

Dead-letter.  Anything  that  has 
lost  its  force  or  authority  by  lapse  of 
time  or  other  causes  (1775). 

Deadlights.     The  eyes. 

Dead  -  lurk.  The  art  of  entering 
dwelling-houses  during  divine  service 
(May  hew). 

Deadly.  Very,  extremely,  ex- 
cessively :  e.g.  So  deadly  cunning 
a  man  (Arbuthnot). 

Deadly-lively.  Jovial  against  the 
grain  and  to  no  purpose. 

Deadly-nevergreen.  The  gallows, 
The  leafless  tree,  The  tree  that  bears 
fruit  all  the  year  round :  see  Nubbing- 
cheat. 

Dead-man.  1.  An  emply  bottle: 
said  to  bear  Moll  Thompson's  mark 
(i.e.  M.T.=empty).  English  syno- 
nyms :  camp-candlestick,  fellow-com- 
moner, corpse,  dummy,  dead  marine, 
dead  recruit,  dead  'un.  2.  A  loaf, 
over-ch  irged,  or  marked  down  though 
not  delivered.  In  London,  dead  'un 
is  a  popular  term  for  a  half-quartern 
loaf.  Also,  by  implication,  a  baker 
(1819).  3  (tailors').  In  pL,  Misfits ; 
hence,  a  scarecrow. 

Dead  man's  -  lurk.  Extortion  of 
money  from  the  relatives  of  deceased 
persons. 

Dead  -  meat.  A  corpse.  English 
synonyms :  cold  meat,  pickles  (medical 
students'  :  for  specimens  direct  from 
the  subject),  croaker,  stiff,  stiff  'un, 
dustman,  cold  pig.  See  Cold-meat 
train. 

Dead  -  m  e  n's  -  shoes.  A  situa- 
tion, property,  or  possession  formerly 


occupied  or  enjoyed  by  a  person 
who  is  dead  and  buried.  Waiting  for 
dead  men's  shoes,  looking  forward  to 
inheritances  (1584). 

Dead-nap.  A  thorough-going 
rogue. 

Dead  -  nip.  A  plan  or  scheme  of 
little  importance  which  has  turned  out 
a  failure. 

Dead-oh.  In  the  last  stage  of  intoxi- 
cation :  see  Screwed. 

Dead  -  on  (or  Dead  nuts  on). 
Originally,  having  some  cause  of 
complaint  or  quarrel ;  also,  very  fond 
of,  having  complete  mastery  over, 
sure  hand  at 

Dead-set  A  pointed  and  persist- 
ent effort  or  attempt  (1781). 

Dead  Sow's-eye.  A  badly  worked 
button-hole. 

Dead-stuck.  Said  of  actors  who 
break  down  in  the  midst  of  a  perform- 
ance through  sudden  lapse  of  memory. 

Dead-swag.  Dead  stock,  or  dead 
cargo  (q.v.) ;  plunder  that  cannot  be 
disposed  of. 

Dead-to-rights.  Certain,  without 
doubt. 

Dead-'un.  1.  An  uninhabited 
house.  The  cracksman  who  confines 
his  attentions  to  '  busting '  of  this 
kind  is,  in  Fr.,  un  nourrisseur.  2.  A 
half -quartern  loaf.  3.  A  horse  des- 
tined to  be  scratched  or  not  intended 
to  win,  and  against  which  odds  may 
be  safely  laid;  a  safe  'un  (q.v.).  4. 
An  empty  bottle.  5.  An  unpaid 
super. 

Dead-unit  for  (or  against).  Collec- 
tive advocacy  of  (or  opposition  to)  a 
subject,  principle,  or  line  of  action. 

Dead- wo  od  earnest  Quite  earnest, 
dead  on. 

Dead  Wrong-'un.     See  Wrong  'un. 

Deady  (or  Dead-eye).  Gin ;  a 
special  brand  of  full  proof  spirit,  Stark- 
naked  (q.v.).  [From  Deady,  a  well- 
known  gin-spinner.]  (1819). 

Deal.  There's  a  deal  of  glass  about, 
said  of  men  and  things  ;  used  as  a 
compliment^ showy,  it's  the  thing. 
To  wet  the  deal,  to  ratify  a  bargain  by 
drinking,  to  '  shake.'  To  do  a  deal,  to 
conclude  a  bargain. 

Deal-suit  A  coffin  ;  especially  one 
supplied  by  the  parish. 

Dean  (Winchester  College).  A 
small  piece  of  wood  bound  round  a 
Bill-brighter  (q.v.);  that  securing  a 
faggot  is  called  a  Bishop. 


130 


Deaner. 


Deuce. 


Deaner.     A  shilling  :  see  Rhino. 

Death.  To  be  death  on,  very  fond 
of,  thoroughly  master  of — a  metaphor 
of  completeness ;  the  same  as  Dead 
on,  Mark  on,  or  Some  pumpkins  on. 
To  dress  to  death,  to  attire  oneself  in 
the  extreme  of  fashion.  In  America 
to  dress  within  a  inch  of  one's  life ;  to 
dress  up  drunk,  and  to  dress  to  kill.  An 
old  Cornish  proverb  has  dressed  to 
death  like  Sally  Hatch  (N.  and  Q.,  3 
ser.,  vi.  6). 

Death  hunter.  1.  A  vendor  of  the 
last  dying  speeches,  or  confessions  of 
criminals ;  a  running  patterer  or 
stationer  (1738).  2.  An  undertaker. 

Death  or  Glory  Boys.  See  Bing- 
ham's  Dandies. 

Debblish.     A  penny  :  see  Rhino. 

Decent  (Decently,  Decentish). 
Moderate,  tolerable,  passably,  fairly 
good. 

Decoy-bird  (or  duck).  One  em- 
ployed to  decoy  persons  into  a  snare  ; 
a  Buttoner  or  Bug-hunter  (q.v.) :  FT., 
allumeur,  chatouilleur,  or  arrangeur. 

D  e  c  u  s.  A  crown  piece  :  see 
Rhino.  [From  the  Latin  motto, 
Decus  et  tutamen  on  the  rims  of  these 
coins.]  (1688). 

Dee.  1.  A  pocket-book  or  reader. 
2.  A  detective ;  also  'tec  (q.v.).  3. 
See  D,  sense  2. 

Deeker.  A  thief  kept  in  pay 
by  a  constable  (Haggart). 

Deep.  Artful,  e.g.  a  deep  one: 
cf.  Wide  (1672). 

Deerstalker.  A  felt  hat :  see  Gol- 
gotha. 

Deferred-stock.     Inferior  soup. 

Degen  (Degan,  or  Dagen).  A 
sword  (1785). 

Delicate.  A  lurker's  (q.v.)  false 
subscription  book. 

Dell.  A  young  girl,  virgin, 
young  wanton  :  later,  a  mistress  :  cf. 
Doxy  (1567). 

Delog.     Gold  :  see  Rhino. 

Delo-nammow.     An  old  woman. 

Delve.  To  delve  it,  to  hurry  with 
one's  work,  head  down  and  sewing  fast. 

Demaunder  for  Glymmar.  '  These 
Demaunders  for  Glymmar  be  for  the 
moste  parte  wemen ;  for  glymmar  in 
their  language,  is  fyre.  These  goe 
with  fayned  lycences  and  counter- 
fayted  wrytings,  hauing  the  hands  and 
seales  of  suche  gentlemen  as  dwelleth 
nere  to  the  place  where  they  fayne 
them  selues  to  haue  bene  burnt,  and 


their  goods  consumed  with  fyre.  They 
wyll  most  lamentable  demaunde  your 
charitie,  and  wyll  quicklye  shed  salte 
teares,  they  be  so  tender  harted. 
They  wyll  neuer  begge  in  that  Shiere 
where  their  losses  (as  they  say)  was ' 
(Barman). 

Demi -doss.     A  penny  sleep. 

Demi-rep.  A  woman  of  doubtful 
repute.  [A  contraction  of  demi- 
reputation.  ]  ( 1 750). 

Demnition  Bow-wows.  The 
'  dogs '  which  spell '  ruin.'  Originally  a 
Dickensism. 

Demon  (Australian  prison).  1. 
A  policeman.  2.  An  adept ;  e.g. 
the  demon  bowler— Mr.  Spofforth ; 
the  demon  /oc&ez/— Fordham  or  Fred 
Archer,  and  so  forth. 

Den.  A  place  where  intimates  are 
received ;  one's  diggings,  or  snug- 
gery. 

Dennis.     A  small  walking  stick. 

Dep.  1.  A  deputy;  specifically  the 
night  porter  or  chamberlain  at  padding 
or  doss-kens.  2.  (Christ's  Hospital). 
A  deputy  Grecian,  i.e.  a  boy  in  the 
form  below  the  Grecians. 

D  e  r  r  e  y.  An  eyeglass.  To  take 
the  derrey,  to  quiz,  ridicule. 

Derrick.  The  gallows.  [A  cor- 
ruption of  Theodoric,  the  name  of  the 
public  hangman  at  the  end  of  the 
sixteenth  and  the  beginning  of  the 
seventeenth  centuries.]  Now  the  name 
of  an  apparatus,  resembling  a  crane. 
Also  as  verb,  to  hang  (1600):  see 
Nubbing-cheat. 

Derwenter.  A  convict.  [From  the 
penal  settlement  on  the  banks  of  the 
Derwent,  Tasmania.] 

Despatchers.  False  dice  with  two 
sides,  double  four,  five,  and  six. 

Desperate  (and  Desperately), 
generic    for    excessiveness ;   e.g.   des 
perately  mashed,  over  head  and  ears 
in  love. 

Detrimental.  An  ineligible  suitor ; 
also  a  male  flirt. 

Detrimental-club.  The  Reform 
Club. 

Deuce  (Dewce,  or  Deuse).  1.  The 
devil ;  perdition.  Also  used  as  an 
ejaculation,  e.g.  the  deuce  !  what  the 
deuce  !  who  the  deuce  I  deuce  take  you  I 
etc.  2.  Twopence  :  see  Rhino  (1714). 
3.  The  two  at  dice  or  cards.  To  play 
the  deuce  (or  devil)  with,  to  send,  or 
be  sent,  to  rack  and  ruin.  The  deuce 
to  pay,  unpleasant  or  awkward  con- 


131 


DevU-dodger. 


sequences  to  be  faced :  see  Devil  to 
pay. 

Deuced.  Devilish,  excessive,  con- 
founded. Also  adverbially. 

Deusea  -  ville.  The  country :  see 
Daisyville. 

Deusea-ville  Stampers.  Country 
carriers. 

Devil.  1.  Formerly,  a  barrister 
who  devils,  or  gets  up,  a  case  for  a 
leader;  as  in  A  Tale  of  Two  Cities, 
Sydney  Carton  for  Mr.  Stryver.  Now 
common  for  any  one  hacking  for 
another.  2.  An  errand  boy  or  young 
apprentice ;  in  the  early  days  of  the 
craft,  the  boy  who  took  the  printed 
sheets  as  they  came  from  the  press : 
Fr.,  attrape-acienee  (1754).  3.  A  kind 
of  sharpened  anchor,  at  the  bows  of  a 
trawler,  for  cutting  the  nets  of  drifters 
in  the  North  Sea.  4.  A  firework 
(1742).  5.  Gin  seasoned  with  capsi- 
cums. 6.  A  grilled  bone  seasoned  with 
mustard  and  cayenne.  7.  A  sand- 
storm. 8.  A  species  of  firewood 
soaked  in  resin.  The  (or  a)  devil  of  [a 
thin*}],  an  indefinite  intensitive :  e.g. 
devil  of  a  mess,  of  a  woman,  of  a 
row,  etc.  (1602).  American  devil,  a 
steam  whistle  or  hooter :  used  in 
place  of  a  bell  for  summoning  to 
work.  Blue  devils:  see  ante.  Little 
(or  young)  devil,  a  half  playful,  half 
sarcastic,  address ;  a  term  of  endear- 
ment ;  e.g.  You  little  deviL  As  verb, 

1.  To  act  as  a  Devil  (q.v.),  to  perform 
routine  or  regular  work  for  another. 

2.  To   victimize.     What   who,    when, 
where,  or  how  the  devil,  an  expletive  of 
wonder,   vexation,   etc.     To  play  the 
devil   with,    to   ruin   or    molest.     To 
pull  the  devil  by  the  tail,  to  go  headlong 
to  ruin ;  also  to  be  reduced  to  one's 
last  shift.     To  whip  the  devil  round 
the  stump,   to   enjoy   the   sweets   of 
wickedness  and  yet  escape  the  penalty. 
Haul  devil,  putt  baker,  to  contend  with 
varying  fortunes.     And  the  devU  knows 
what  (or  who),  a  term  used  vaguely 
and    indefinitely    to    include    details 
not  specifically  mentioned  or  known 
(1717).     To  go  to  the  devil,  to  go  to 
rack  and  ruin.  Go  to  the  devil  I  Begone  ! 
a  summary  form  of  dismissal  with  no 
heed  as  to  what  may  become  of  the 
person  who  is  sent  about  his  business. 
To  hold  a  light  or  candle  to  (or  burn  a 
candle  before)  the  devil,  to  propitiate 
through  fear,  to  assist  (or  wink  at) 
wrongdoing.    Shakespeare  ('  Merchant 


of  Venice,'  act  n.  sc.  vi.),  employs 
'  What !  must  I  hold  a  candle  to  my 
shame,'  in  much  the  same  sense.  Not 
fit  to  hold  a  candle  to  the  devil,  a  simile 
of  inferiority.  To  hold  a  candle  to 
another,  to  assist  in,  occupy  a  sub- 
ordinate position,  or  to  compare  to 
another  (1461).  The  devil  (or  the 
devil  and  all)  to  pay,  a  simile  of  fruit- 
less effort ;  awkward  consequences 
to  be  faced.  [Nautical :  originally, 
There's  the  devil  to  pay  and  no  pitch 
hot ;  the  devil  being  any  seam  in  a 
vessel,  awkward  to  caulk,  or  in  sailor's 
language  '  to  pay.'  Hence  by  con- 
fusion, The  deuce  to  pay  (q.v.).] 
(1711).  Talk  of  the  devil  and  you'll 
see  his  horns  or  tail,  said  of  a  person 
who,  being  the  subject  of  conversation, 
unexpectedly  makes  an  appearance. 
Fr.,  parlez  des  anges  et  vous  en  voyez 
les  ailes  (1664).  Devil  may  care, 
rollicking,  reckless,  rash  (1822).  DevU 
take  (fetch,  send,  snatch,  or  fly  away 
with)  you,  me,  him  I  an  imprecation 
of  impatience.  Fr.,  le  boulanger 
fentrotte  en  son  pasclin.  There's  the 
devil  among  the  tailors,  a  row  is  going 
on.  [Edwards : — Originating  in  a 
riot  at  the  Haymarket  when  Dow- 
ton  announced  the  performance,  for 
his  benefit,  of  a  burlesque  entitled 
'  The  Tailors  :  a  Tragedy  for  Warm 
Weather.'  Many  thousands  of  jour- 
neymen tailors  congregated,  and 
interrupted  the  performances.  Thirty- 
three  were  brought  up  at  Bow  Street 
next  day. — See  Biographica  Drama- 
tica  under  '  Tailors.']  When  the 
devil  is  blind,  never,  i.e.  in  a  month 
of  Sundays  ;  said  of  anything  unlikely 
to  happen  :  see  Greek  Kalends. 

Devil -dodger.  A  clergyman :  also, 
by  implication,  any  one  of  a  religious 
turn  of  mind  (1791).  English  syno- 
nyms :  devil  catcher  (driver,  pitcher, 
or  scolder),  snub  devil,  bible  pounder, 
duck  that  grinds  the  gospel  mill,  corn- 
mister,  camister,  sky-pilot,  chimney- 
sweep, rat,  rum  (Johnson),  pan  tiler, 
cushion  smiter  (duster,  or  thumper), 
couple  (or  buckle)  beggar,  rook,  gospel 
grinder,  earwig,  one-in-ten  (tramps  = 
a  tithe-monger),  finger-post,  parish 
prig,  parish  bull,  holy  Joe,  green 
apron,  black  cattle  (collectively), 
white  choker,  patrico,  black  coat, 
black  fly,  glue  pot,  gospel  postilion, 
prunella,  pudding-sleeves,  puzzle-text, 
schism  -  monger,  cod,  Black  Bruns- 


132 


Devil-drawer. 


Dew-beaters. 


wicker,  spiritual  flesh-broker,  head- 
clerk  of  the  Doxology  Works,  Lady 
Green,  fire-escape,  gospel  sharp,  padre 
(Anglo-Indian),  pound-text. 

Devil-drawer.  An  indifferent 
artist. 

Devilish.  Used  intensively :  cf. 
Awfully,  beastly  (1755). 

Devil's  Bed-posts  (or  Four- 
poster).  The  four  of  clubs ;  held 
to  be  an  unlucky  '  turn  up.' 

Devil' s-bones.  Dice  ;  also  Devil's 
teeth,  Devil's  books  (1664). 

Devil's-books.  Cards.  [Of  Pres- 
byterian origin  ;  in  reproof  of  a  syno- 
nym —  King's  books,  or  more  fully, 
The  History  of  the  Four  Kings  (Fr., 
lime  des  quatre  row).]  Also  Books  of 
Briefs  (Fr.,  la  cartouchiere  d  parties) 
(1729). 

Devil's-claws.  The  broad  arrow  on 
convict  dress. 

Devil's-colours  (or  livery).  Black 
and  yellow. 

Devil's-daughter.     A  shrew. 
Devil's-delight.      To  kick   up  the 
devil's  delight,  to  make  a  disturbance 
(1854). 

Devil'  s-d  o  z  e  n.  Thirteen  ;  the 
original  of  baker's  dozen  (q.v.). 
[From  the  number  of  witches  sup- 
posed to  sit  down  together  at  a  '  Sab- 
bath.' Fr.,  boulanger  =  the  devil.] 

Devil's -dung,  subs.  (old).  Asa- 
f  oetida  :  the  old  pharmaceutical  name 
(1604). 

Devil' s-dust.  1.  Old  cloth  shredded 
for  re-manufacture.  [In  twofold  al- 
lusion to  the  swindle  and  to  the  '  dust ' 
or  '  flock  '  produced  by  the  disinteg- 
rating machine  called  a  '  devil.'  The 
practice  and  the  name  are  old.  Lati- 
mer,  in  one  of  his  sermons  before  Ed- 
ward the  Sixth,  treating  of  trade 
rascality,  remarked  that  manufac- 
turers could  stretch  cloth  seventeen 
yards  long,  into  a  length  of  seven-and- 
twenty  yards :  '  When  they  have 
brought  him  to  that  perfection,'  he 
continues,  '  they  have  a  pretty  feat 
to  thick  him  again.  He  makes  me  a 
powder  for  it,  and  plays  the  pothicary. 
They  call  it  flock-powder,  they  do  so 
incorporate  it  to  the  cloth,  that  it  is 
wonderful  to  consider ;  truly  a  good 
invention.  Oh  that  so  goodly  wits 
should  be  so  applied  ;  they  may  well 
deceive  the  people,  but  they  cannot 
deceive  God.  They  were  wont  to 
make  beds  of  flocks,  and  it  was  a  good 


bed  too.  Now  they  have  turned 
their  flocks  into  powder,  to  play  the 
false  thieves  with  it.'  Popularised  by 
Mr.  Ferrand  in  a  speech  before  the 
House  of  Commons,  March  4,  1842 
(Hansard,  3  S.,  Ixi.  p.  140),  when  he 
tore  a  piece  of  cloth  made  from  devil's 
dust,  into  shreds  to  prove  its  worth- 
lessness.]  Also  Shoddy  (q.v.)  (1840). 
2.  Gunpowder. 

Devil's-guts.  A  surveyor's  chain 
(1785). 

Devil's  Own  (The).  1.  The  Eighty- 
Eighth  Foot.  [A  contraction  of  The 
Devil's  Own  Connaught  Boys,  a  name 
bestowed  by  General  Picton  for 
gallantry  in  action  and  irregularity  in 
quarters  during  the  Peninsular  War, 
1809-14.]  2.  The  Inns  of  Court 
Volunteers  [in  allusion  to  the  legal 
personnel]  (1864). 

Devil' s-paternoster.  To  say  the 
devil's  paternoster,  verb.  phr.  (old). 
To  grumble  (1614). 

Devil's-playthings.  Cards :  also 
Devil's  books. 

Devil's-sharpshooter.  A  cleric  who 
took  part  in  the  Mexican  War. 

Devil's  -  smiles.  April  weather, 
alternations  of  sunshine  and  rain. 

Devil's  -  tattoo.  Drumming  the 
fingers  or  tapping  the  floor  with  one's 
feet,  in  vacancy  or  impatience  (1817). 
Devil's-teeth.  See  Devil's-bones. 
[Also  to  note  in  this  connexion  are 
Devil's  own  boy,  a  young  blackguard  ; 
imp  of  the  devil,  idem ;  Devil's  own 
ship,  a  pirate ;  Devil's  own  luck,  un- 
common, or  inexplicable  good  fortune. 
To  lead  one.  the  devil's  own  dance,  to 
baffle  one  in  the  pursuit  of  any  object ; 
The  devil  a  bit,  says  Punch,  a  jocular 
yet  decided  negative  ;  and  Neat  but 
not  gaudy,  as  the  devil  said  when  he 
painted  his  bottom  pink  and  tied  up  his 
tail  with  pea  green,  a  locution  em- 
ployed of  aged  ladies  dressed  in  flam- 
ing colours.] 

Deviltry.  A  vulgarism  for 
devilry. 

D  e  v  o  r  (Charterhouse).  Plum 
cake.  [From  the  Latin.] 

Devotional  -  habits.  Said  of  a 
horse  that  is  apt  to  '  say  his  prayers,' 
i.e.  to  stumble  and  go  on  his  knees. 

Dew-beaters  (dusters,  or 
treaders).  1.  Pedestrians  out  early 
in  the  morning,  i.e.  before  the  dew 
is  off  the  ground  (1692).  2.  The 
feet :  see  Creepers.  3.  Shoes. 


Dew-bit. 


Dew-bit.  A  snack  before  break- 
(•-t. 

Dew -drink.  A  drink  before  break- 
fast :  Fr.,  goutte  pour  tutr  It  ver,  i.e. 
to  drown  the  maggot,  or,  to  crinkle 
the  worm.  Not,  of  course,  the  early 
worm  of  the  proverb,  but  his  spiritual 
cousin,  the  worm  that  never  dies. 

Dewitt.  To  lynch.  [The  two  De 
Witts,  opponents  of  William  of  Orange, 
were  massacred  by  the  mob  in  1672, 
without  subsequent  inquiry.]  Cf. 
Boycott,  Burke,  Cellier  (1690). 

Dewse-a-Vyle.  The  country :  see 
Daisyville(1567). 

Dewskitch.     A  thrashing. 

Dial  (or  Dial-plate).  The  face.  To 
turn  the  hands  on  the  dial,  to  disfigure 
the  face.  English  synonyms  :  frontis- 
piece, gills  (the  jaws),  chump  (also 
the  head),  phiz,  physog,  mug,  jib, 
chivy  (or  chevy),  roach  and  dace 
(rhyming),  signboard,  door  -  plate, 
front-window. 

Dials.  Convicts  and  thieves  hailing 
from  Seven  Dials. 

Diamond  -  cracking.  1.  Stone- 
breaking.  2.  Coal  mining.  Cf.  Black 
diamonds. 

Dibs  (or  Dibbs).  Generic  for  money : 
see  Rhino.  [Said  to  be  a  corruption 
of  diobs,  i.e.  diobolus,  a  classic  coin= 
2Jd.  Another  derivation  is  from  the 
hucklebones  of  sheep,  popularly  dibbs, 
used  for  gambling  ;  Scots  '  chuckies.'] 
To  brush  with  the  dibs,  to  abscond  with 
the  cash  ;  To  tip  over  the  dibs,  to  pay 
down  or  shell  out ;  To  flash  the  dibs, 
to  show  money,  etc. 

Dice.  To  box  the  dice,  to  carry  a 
point  by  trick  or  swindle. 

Dick.  1.  A  dictionary,  a  Richard 
(q.v.) ;  also,  by  implication,  fine 
language  or  long  words.  2.  A  riding 
whip.  3.  An  affidavit.  4.  An  Irish 
Catholic :  see  Crawthumper.  As  verb, 
to  look,  Pipe  (q.v.) ;  e.g.  the  bulky's 
dicking,  the  policeman  is  watching 
you :  Fr.,  gaffer :  see  Pipe.  Dick  in 
the  green,  weak,  inferior :  cf.  Dicky. 
In  the  reign  of  Queen  Dick,  never, 
when  two  Sundays  come  in  a  week : 
see  Greek  Kalends.  To  swallow  the 
Diet,  to  use  long  words  without  know- 
ledge of  their  meaning,  to  high  falute 
(American).  Up  to  Dick,  not  to  be 
taken  in,  artful,  fly,  wide  -  awake. 
Also,  up  to  the  mark,  i.e.  perfectly 
satisfactory. 

Dickens.      The  devil  (q.v.)  or 


deuce  (q.v.)  (1596),  used  interchange- 
ably. [A  corruption  of  nick  (q.v.).] 
For  synonyms,  see  Skipper. 

Dicker  (or  Dickering).  Barter, 
swap  (q.v.) :  generally  applied  to  trade 
in  small  articles. 

Dickey.  1.  A  woman's  under  pet- 
ticoat 2.  A  donkey  (1766).  3.  A 
sham  shirt  front,  formerly  a  worn-out 
shirt.  [Hotten  :  originally  tommy 
(from  the  Greek,  ropy,  a  section),  a 
word  once  used  in  Trinity  College, 
Dublin.]  Also,  by  implication,  any 
sham  contrivance  (1781).  4.  A  shirt 
collar  (De  Fere).  6.  A  ship's  officer 
or  mate ;  second  dickey,  i.e.  second 
mate.  6.  A  swell :  see  Dandy.  As 
adj.,  1.  Sorry,  inferior,  paltry  and  poor 
in  quality.  Dickey  domus  (theatri- 
cal), a  poor  house.  2.  Smart :  cor- 
ruption of  Up  to  dick  (q.v.).  Att 
dickey  with  [one'],  queer,  gone  wrong 
all  up  with  (1811). 

Dickey-bird.  1.  A  louse:  see 
Chates.  2.  (pi.)  Professional  singers 
of  all  grades.  3.  A  prostitute  ;  gener- 
ally naughty  dickey-bird. 

Dickey-diaper.    A  linen-draper. 

Dickey-dido.  An  idiot :  see 
Buffle. 

Dickey-lagger.    A  bird-catcher. 

Dickey-sam.  A  native  of  Liverpool. 

Diddies.     The  paps. 

Diddle.  1.  Gin :  see  Drinks.  2. 
A  swindle,  do.  As  verb,  1.  To 
cheat  (1811).  2.  (Scots  colloquial). 
To  shake. 

Diddle-cove.     A  landlord. 

Diddler.  A  cheat,  a  dodger.  [Cf. 
Jeremy  Diddler,  in  Kenny's  liaising 
the  Wind.}  Also  a  chronic  borrower. 

Didoes.  Pranks,  tricks,  fantastic 
proceedings. 

Die  (or  Dee).  A  pocket  book.  To 
die  in  one's  boots  (or  shoes).  1.  To  be 
hanged:  see  Ladder  (1653).  2.  To 
'  die  standing  ' :  at  work,  in  harness, 
in  full  possession  of  one's  faculties. 
See  Cotton. 

Die  -  by  -  the  -  Hedge.  The  flesh 
of  animals  deceased  by  accident  or  of 
disease  ;  hence,  inferior  meat. 

Die  -  Hards.  The  Fifty-Seventh 
Foot.  [From  the  rallying  call  at 
Albuera  (1811)  its  Colonel  (Inglis) 
calling  to  the  men, '  Die  hard,  my  men, 
die  hard,'  when  it  had  thirty  bullets 
through  the  King's  Colour,  and  only 
had  one  officer  out  of  twenty-four,  and 
one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  men  out 


134 


Dig. 


Dip. 


of  five  hundred  and  eighty-four,  when 
left  standing.] 

Dig.  1.  A  blow,  thrust,  punch,  or 
poke  ;  in  pugilism,  a  '  straight  left- 
hander '  delivered  under  the  guard  on 
the  'mark'  (1819).  Also  as  verb. 
English  synonyms :  auctioneer,  biff, 
bang,  buck-horse,  buster,  chatterer, 
chin  -  chopper,  chopper,  clip,  click, 
clinker,  clout,  cock,  cork,  comber, 
cuff,  cant,  corker,  dab,  downer,  douser, 
ding,  domino,  floorer,  ferricadouzer, 
fibbing,  facer,  flush  -  hit,  finisher, 
gooser,  hot  'un,  jaw-breaker,  lick, 
mendoza,  muzzier,  noser,  nobbier, 
nose-ender,  nope,  oner,  punch,  stock- 
dollager,  stotor,  spank,  topper,  twister, 
whack,  wipe.  2.  A  diligent  student : 
(by  implication  from  the  verb  (q.v.) ; 
also  study ;  e.g.  to  have  a  dig  at  Caesar 
or  Livy ;  as  verb,  to  work  hard ;  especi- 
ally to  study.  To  dig  a  day  under  the 
skin,  to  make  one  shave  serve  two 
days.  To  dig  up  the  hatchet :  see  Bury. 

Digester.     See  Patent  digester. 

Digged.     See  Jigged. 

Diggers.  1.  Spurs,  persuaders 
(1789).  2.  The  spades  suit:  also 
Diggums.  Big  digger,  ace  of  spades. 
3.  The  finger  nails. 

Diggers' -delight.  A  wide-brimmed 
felt  hat :  see  Golgotha. 

Diggings.  A  place  of  residence  or 
employment.  [First  used  at  the 
Western  lead  mines  in  the  U.S.A.  to 
denote  whence  ore  was  dug.]  Eng- 
lish synonyms  :  birk,  box,  case,  crib, 
chat,  den,  dry-lodgings,  drum,  place, 
pig-sty,  pew,  cabin,  castle,  chafimg- 
crib,  caboose,  sky-parlour,  shop,  ken, 
dossing  -  ken,  hole,  rookery,  hutch, 
hang-out. 

Diggums.  1.  A  gardener.  2. 
The  suit  of  spades  ;  also  Diggers  (q.v.). 

Dilberries.  Fcecal and  seminal 
deposits :  clinkers. 

Dilly.  A  night  cart ;  formerly 
a  coach.  [Fr.,  diligence.} 

Dilly-bag.     A  wallet,  scran-bag. 

Dilly  -  dally.  To  loiter,  hesitate, 
trifle  (1740). 

D  i  m  b  e  r.  Pretty,  neat,  lively, 
scrumptious,  natty.  Fr.,  batif,  fignole, 
girofte.  Dimber  cove,  a  sprightly  man, 
a  gentleman.  Dimber  mort,  a  pretty 
girl. 

Dimber  -  damber.  A  captain  of 
thieves  or  vagrants. 

Dimmock.  Generic  for  money :  see 
Rhino. 


Dinahs.  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow 
Railway  Ordinary  Stock. 

Dinarly  (or  Dinali)  Money  :  gen- 
eric :  see  Rhino.  Nantee  (or  Nanti 
Dinarly),  no  money :  Sp.,  dinero ; 
Lingua  Franca,  niente  dinaro,  not  a 
penny. 

Dine.  To  dine  out,  to  go  dinnerless. 
To  dine  with  Duke  Humphrey,  Take  a 
Spitalfields  breakfast  (or  an  Irishman's 
dinner),  go  out  and  count  the  railings. 
Fr.,  Se  coucJier  bredouUle  (to  go  to  bed 
supperless) ;  oiler  voir  de  filer  lea  dragons 
(to  go  and  watch  the  dragoons  march 
past) ;  diner  en  ville  (to  dine  in  town  : 
i.e.  to  munch  a  roll  in  the  street  or  to 
eat  nothing),  lire  le  journal. 

Ding.  To  knock,  strike  down, 
pound,  or  give  way :  also  to  get  rid 
of,  pass  to  a  confederate,  steal  by  a 
single  effort.  To  ding  a  castor,  to 
snatch  a  hat  and  run  with  it :  the 
booty  being  dinged  if  it  has  to  be 
thrown  away.  Going  upon  the  ding,  to 
go  on  the  prowl.  Ding  the  tot !  run 
away  with  the  lot !  (1340). 

Ding-bat.     Money  :  see  Rhino. 

Ding-boy.     A  rogue,  bully  (Grose). 

Ding-dong.  To  go  at  it  (or  to  it) 
ding-dong,  to  tackle  with  vigour,  or  in 
right  good  earnest.  Formerly,  helter- 
skelter  (Grose,  1785). 

Dinge  (Royal  Military  Academy). 
A  picture  or  painting. 

Dinged.  Darned  (damned),  some- 
times Ding-goned. 

Dinger.  1.  A  thief  who  throws 
away  his  booty  to  escape  detection  : 
see  Ding.  2.  In  pi.,  cups  and  balls ; 
Fr.,  gobdets  et  muscades. 

Ding-fury.     Huff,  anger. 

Ding-goned.     See  Dinged. 

Dingle.  Hackneyed,  used  up 
(1786). 

Dining  -  room.  The  mouth  :  see 
Potato  -  trap.  Dining  -  room  chairs, 
the  teeth  ;  also  Dinner-set  (q.v.) :  see 
Grinders. 

Dining-room  Post.  Petty  pilfering 
by  sham  postmen. 

Dink.     Dainty,  trim  ( 1 794). 

Dinner-set.  The  teeth.  Your 
dinner-set  wants  looking  to,  you  need 
to  go  to  the  dentist. 

Dip.  1.  A  pickpocket ;  also  Dip- 
per and  Dipping-bloke :  see  Stook- 
hauler.  2.  A  stolen  kiss,  especially 
one  snatched  in  the  dark.  3.  (West- 
minster School).  A  pocket  inkstand- 
4.  A  candle  made  by  dipping  the  wick 


135 


Dipe. 


Do. 


in  tallow.  As  verb  ( 1 )  To  pick  pockets 
To  dip  a  lob,  to  rob  a  till :  also  to  go  on 
the  dipe,  to  go  pocket-picking :  see 
Frisk.  (2)  To  pawn,  mortgage  ( 1 093). 
(3)  To  be  convicted,  get  into  trouble. 
To  dip  one's  beak,  to  drink  :  see  Lush. 

Dipe.    See  Dip. 

Dipped.  Dipped  in  the  wing. 
Worsted. 

Dipper.  1.  A  baptist  (Grose).  2. 
See  Dip. 

Dipping-bloke.     See  Dip. 

Dips.  1.  A  purser's  boy.  2.  A 
grocer. 

Dipstick.     A  gauger. 

Dirt.  Money :  generic  :  see  Rhino. 
To  eat  dirt,  to  submit  to  insult,  eat 
broiled  crow,  or  humble  pie  (q.v.) ;  to 
retract.  To  fling  dirt  (or  mud),  to 
abuse,  vituperate  (1689).  To  cut 
dirt.  See  Cut. 

Dirt-baillie.  An  inspector  of 
nuisances. 

Dirt  -  scraper.  An  advocate  who 
rakes  up  unpleasant  facts  in  a  witness's 
past. 

Dirty -dishes.     Poor  relations. 

Dirty  Half-Hundred.  The  Fiftieth 
Foot.  [From  the  fact  that,  in  action, 
during  the  Peninsular  War,  the  men 
wiped  their  faces  with  their  black  fac- 
ings.] Also  the  Blind  Half- Hundred. 

Dirty-puzzle.     A  slut  (Orose). 

Dirty -shirt  March.  On  Sunday 
mornings  the  male  population  of  Drury 
Lane,  Whitechapel,  and  other  crowded 
districts  loaf  about  the  streets,  before 
attiring  themselves  in  their  Sunday 
clothes.  This  promenade  is  called  a 
Dirty-shirt  march. 

Dirty-shirts.  The  Hundred 
and  First  Foot.  [They  fought  in 
their  shirt-sleeves  at  Delhi  in  1867.] 

Disgruntled.  Offended :  colloquial 
in  U.S.A.  Undisgruntled,  unoffended. 

Disguised.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed 
(1622). 

Dish.  To  cheat,  circumvent,  dis- 
appoint, to  ruin  (1798). 

Dish-clout.  A  dirty-puzzle, 
slattern.  To  make  a  napkin  of  one's 
dish-clout,  to  marry  one's  cook,  con- 
tract a  mesalliance  (Orose). 

Dished.  Said  of  electrotypes  when 
the  centre  of  a  letter  is  lower  than 
its  edges. 

Dismal-ditty.  A  psalm  sung  by  a 
criminal  at  the  gallows. 

Dispar  (Winchester  College).  See 
Cat's-head. 


Dispatches.  False  dice;  con- 
trived always  to  throw  a  nick.  See 
Doctor. 

Dissecting  -  job.  Garments  re- 
quiring extensive  alterations. 

Distiller.  A  man  easily  vexed, 
and  unable  to  dissemble  his  condition. 

Ditto-blues  (Winchester  College). 
A  suit  of  clothes  all  of  blue  cloth : 
cf.  Dittoes. 

Ditto  Brother  (or  Sister)  Smut. 
See  Brother  Smut. 

Dittoes.  A  complete  suit  of  clothes 
of  tLe  same  material.  Fr.,  un  com- 
plet.  Occasionally  applied  to  trousers 
only. 

Ditty-bag.  A  handy  bag,  used  by 
sailors  as  a  '  huswife.'  [Deft,  Dight 
=  neat,  active,  handy.] 

Dive.  A  drinking  saloon  ;  also  a 
brothel.  As  verb,  to  pick  pockets : 
see  Frisk.  Diving,  picking  pockets 
(1631).  To  dive  into  one's  sky,  to  put 
one's  hands  into  one's  pockets.  To 
dive  into  the  woods,  to  conceal  oneself. 

Diver  (or  Dive).  A  pickpocket  (as 
Jenny  Diver  in  '  The  Beggar's  Opera  ') 
dip  (q.v.):  see  Thief  (1608). 

Divers.     The  fingers :  see  Forks. 

Divide.  To  divide  the  house  with 
one's  wife,  to  turn  her  out-of-doors. 

Diving-bell.  A  cellar- tavern  :  cf. 
Dive  :  and  see  Lush-crib. 

Do.  1.  A  fraud  (1812).  2.  One'* 
duty,  a  success,  performance  of  what 
one  has  to  do;  once  literary  (1663). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  cheat:  see  Gammon 
(1789).  2.  To  punish  (q.v.).  3.  To 
visit  a  place ;  e.g.  to  do  Italy,  to  do 
the  Row,  to  do  the  High  (at  Oxford), 
etc.  Fr.,  faire  is  used  in  the  same 
sense ;  faire  ses  Acacias,  i.e.  to  walk 
or  drive  in  the  AUee  des  Acacias.  4. 
To  perform,  to  come  (q.v.) ;  to  do  the 
polite,  to  be  polite ;  to  do  a  book,  to  write 
one  ;  to  do  the  heavy  (the  grand,  or  the 
genttel),  to  put  on  airs  (1767).  6.  To 
utter  base  coin  or  Queer  (q.v.).  Do 
as  I  do,  an  invitation  to  drink.  See 
Drinks.  To  do  a  beer  (or  a  bitter,  a 
drink,  or  a  drop),  to  take  a  drink.  To 
do  a  bilk.  See  Bilk.  To  do  a  bill, 
to  utter  an  acceptance  or  bill  of  ex- 
change. To  do  a  bishop,  to  parade  at 
short  notice.  To  do  a  bit,  to  eat  some- 
thing :  cf.  to  do  a  beer.  To  do  a 
bunk  (or  shift),  to  ease  nature :  see 
Bury  a  quaker,  and  Mrs.  Jones.  Also, 
to  go  away.  To  do  a  crib,  to  break 
into  a  house,  to  burgle  :  Fr.,  maquiUcr 


136 


Do. 


Dodder. 


une  cambriole  :  see  Crack  a  crib.  To 
do  a  guy  (1)  to  run  away,  make  an 
escape.  (2)  To  absent  oneself  when 
supposed  to  be  at  work.  To  do  a  nob, 
to  make  a  collection.  To  do  a  pitch  : 
see  Pitch.  To  do  a  rush,  see  Rush. 
To  do  a  snatch :  see  Snatch.  To  do 
a  star  pitch,  to  sleep  in  the  open  air : 
Fr.,  loger  d  la  belle  ctoUe :  see  Hedge 
Square.  To  do  a  brown :  see  Brown 
and  Bamboozle  :  also  to  do  brown  and 
to  do  it  up  brown.  To  do  for  (1)  to 
ruin:  also  to  kill  (1650).  (2)  To 
attend  on  (as  landladies  on  lodgers). 
(3)  To  convict,  sentence.  Done  for, 
convicted.  To  do  or  play  gooseberry  : 
see  Gooseberry.  To  do  gospel,  to  go  to 
church.  To  do  the  handsome  (or  the 
handsome  thing),  to  behave  extremely 
well  to  one.  To  do  it  away,  to  dispose 
of  stolen  goods  :  also  To  do  the  swag 
(q.v.),  Fence  (q.v.).  To  do  it  on  the 
B.  H.,  to  perform  with  ease.  To  do 
it  up,  to  accomplish  an  object  in  view, 
obtain  one's  quest.  To  do  it  up  in 
good  twig,  to  live  an  easy  life  by  one's 
wits.  To  do  one  proud,  to  flatter : 
e.g.  Will  you  drink  ?  You  do  me 
proud.  To  do  out,  to  plead  guilty  and 
exonerate  an  accomplice.  To  do  over 
(1)  to  knock  down,  persuade,  cheat, 
ruin  (1789).  (2)  To  search  a  victim's 
pockets  without  his  knowing  it :  cf. 
run  the  rule  over.  To  do  potty,  to 
pick  oakum  in  gaol.  To  do  one's 
business,  to  kill :  see  Cook  one's  goose. 
Also  (vulgar),  to  evacuate.  To  do  the 
downy  to  lie  in  bed.  Downy  flea  pas- 
ture, a  bed.  To  do  the  swag,  to  sell 
stolen  property  :  Fr.,  laver  la  camelote 
or  les  fourgueroles.  To  do  the  trick,  to 
accomplish  one's  object.  To  do  time, 
to  serve  a  term  of  imprisonment.  To 
do  to  death,  to  repeat  ad  nauseam.  To 
do  to  tie  to,  to  be  fit  to  associate  with  ; 
trustworthy.  To  do  up,  to  use  up, 
finish,  quiet.  Done  up,  tired  out, 
ruined,  sold  up:  see  Floored  (1594). 
For  the  rest,  do,  like  Chuck  and  Cop, 
is  a  verb-of-all-work,  and  is  used  in 
every  possible  and  impossible  connec- 
tion. Thus,  To  do  reason  and  To  do 
right,  to  honour  a  toast ;  To  do  a  bit  of 
stiff,  to  draw  a  bill ;  To  do  a  chuck,  to 
eject,  or  to  go  away ;  To  do  a  sip 
(back  slang),  to  make  water  ;  To  do  a 
cat,  to  vomit ;  To  do  a  hall  (or  a 
theatre),  to  visit  a  music  hall  or  a  play- 
house ;  To  do  a  fluff  (theatrical),  to 
forget  one's  part ;  To  do  a  pitch  (show- 


man's or  street  artists'),  to  go  through 
a  performance  ;  To  do  a  mouch  (or  a 
mike),  to  go  on  the  prowl ;  To  do  a 
grouse,  to  go  questing  for  women  ;  To 
do  a  doss,  to  go  to  sleep ;  To  do  a 
cadge,  to  go  begging ;  To  do  a  scrap, 
to  engage  in  combat ;  to  do  a  rural,  to 
'  rear  '  by  the  wayside  ;  etc.  Do  tell  ! 
intj.  A  useful  interjection,  for  lis- 
teners who  feel  that  some  remark  is 
expected ;  equivalent  to  the  English 
Really  ?  and  Indeed  ?  A  similar 
phrase  in  the  South  is  the  old  English, 
You  don't  say  so  ?  which  a  Yankee 
will  vary  by,  I  want  to  know  !  Do 
tell  is  also  used  with  inexperienced 
Munchausens  who  by  its  means  may 
often  be  lured  to  repeat  themselves 
(1824). 

Doash.     A  cloak  :  see  Capella. 

Dobbin.  Ribbon.  Dobbin  rig, 
stealing  ribbon. 

Dock.  1.  The  weekly  work  bill  or 
Pole  (q.v.).  2.  The  hospital.  Aa 
verb,  (1)  (Winchester  College),  to 
scratch  out,  tear  out  (as  from  a  book) ; 
also  to  strike  down.  To  go  into  dock, 
to  undergo  salivation. 

Docker.  1.  A  brief  handed  to 
counsel  by  a  prisoner  in  the  dock. 
Legal  etiquette  compels  acceptance  if 
'  marked '  with  a  minimum  fee  of 
£1,  3s.  6d.  2.  A  dock  labourer. 

Dock -walloper.  A  loafer ;  one  who 
loiters  about  docks  and  wharves  ;  also 
an  unemployed  emigrant. 

Dockyarder.  A  skulker :  cf.  Straw- 
yarder  (q.v.). 

Dockyard-horse.  An  officer  better 
at  correspondence  than  at  active 
service. 

Doctor.  1.  A  false  die  ;  sometimes 
a  manipulated  card.  To  put  the 
doctor  on  one,  to  cheat.  2.  An  adulter- 
ant. To  keep  the  doctor,  to  make  a 
gractice  of  adulterating  liquor.  3. 
rown  sherry.  [Because  a  doctored 
(q.v).  wine.]  4.  A  ship's  cook.  6. 
(Winchester  College).  The  head 
master.  6.  The  last  throw  of  dice  or 
ninepins.  As  verb,  (1)  to  patch,  adul- 
terate, falsify,  cook.  (2)  To  poison  a 
horse. 

Doctor  Draw-fart.  A  wandering 
quack. 

Doctored.  Patched,  adulterated, 
falsified,  cooked. 

Dod-burn  it  I  A  euphemistic  oath ; 
on  the  model  of  Dadbinged  (q.v.). 

Dodder.      Burnt  tobacco  taken 


137 


Dodderer. 


Dog's-eared. 


from  the  bottom  of  a  pipe  and  placed 
on  the  top  of  a  fresh  plug  to  give  a 
stronger  flavour. 

Dodderer.  A  meddler;  always  in 
contempt.  Sometimes  doddering  old 
sheep's  head,  which  also=a  fool. 

D  o  d  d  y.  In  Norfolk  a  person  of 
low  stature.  Sometimes  hodmandod 
and  hoddy-doddy,  '  all  head  and  no 
body.'  Dodman  (dialect),  a  snail. 

Dodfetched.  A  euphemistic  oath. 
Most  of  its  kind  have  originated  in 
New  England,  where  the  descend- 
ants of  the  Puritans  form  the  largest 
portion  of  the  population. 

Dodgasted.    See  Dodfetched. 

Dodge.  To  trick,  swindle,  elude. 
Used  in  various  combinations :  The 
pious  dodge,  a  pretence  of  piety  ;  The 
tidy-dodge,  begging  in  the  streets  with 
tidily  but  poorly  dressed  children, 
etc.  Also,  Nart  (1708) :  see  Lay. 

Dodger.  1.  A  trickster :  e.g.  the 
'  Artful  Dodger '  (Dickens,  Oliver 
Twist,  ch.  viii.) :  FT.,  etre  ficelle,  to  be 
a  dodger  (1611).  2.  A  dram;  pro- 
vincially,  a  nightcap :  see  Go.  3.  A 
hard-baked  cake  or  biscuit :  usually 
corn  -  dodger,  or  when  mixed  with 
beef,  beef-dodgers.  4.  A  handbill. 

Dodo.     A  stupid  old  man. 

Dodrotted.     A  euphemistic  oath. 

Does.  Does  it  ?  A  sarcastic 
retort.  Does  your  mother  know  you're 
out  ?  A  popular  locution,  vague  as 
to  meaning  and  inexact  in  application 
— an  expression  expressive  of  con- 
tempt, incredulity,  sarcasm,  anything 
you  please.  English  variants:  Has  your 
mother  sold  her  mangle  ?  Not  to- 
day, or  it  won't  do,  Mr.  Ferguson  ! 
Sawdust  and  treacle  !  Draw  it  mild  ! 
And  the  rest !  Who  are  you  T  All 
round  my  hat !  Go  it,  ye  cripples  ! 
Shoo,  fly  !  How  does  the  old  thing 
work  ?  Well,  you  know  how  it  is 
yourself !  How's  your  poor  feet  ? 
Why,  certainly !  I'll  have  your 
whelk  !  Not  to-day,  baker,  call  to- 
morrow, and  we'll  take  a  crusty  one  ! 
Do  you  see  any  green  in  my  eye  ? 
Put  that  in  your  pipe  and  smoke  it ! 
Where  are  you  going  on  Sunday  T 
Go  to  Putney  !  Who  stole  the  donkey : 
the  man  in  the  white  hat !  Cough, 
Julia  !  Over  the  bender  !  There  you 
go  with  your  eye  out !  etc.,  etc. 

Dog.  1.  A  man;  sometimes  used 
contemptuously  (cf.  Cat,  a  woman), 
but  more  frequently  in  half-serious 


chiding ;  e.g.  a  sad  dog,  gay  dog,  old 
dog,  etc. :  see  Cove.  Sometimes 
adjectively™  male ;  An  old  dog  at 
it,  expert,  or  accustomed  to  (1596). 
2.  A  burglar's  iron :  see  Jemmy.  To 
go  (or  throw)  to  the  dogs,  see  Go  and 
Demnition  Bow-wows.  Hair  of  the 
dog  that  bit  you  :  see  Hair.  To  blush 
like  a  blue  dog  :  see  Blush.  Dog  biting 
dog,  said  of  actors  who  spitefully 
criticise  each  others'  performance. 
Dog  in  a  blanket,  a  pudding  of  pre- 
served fruit  spread  on  thin  dough, 
rolled  up,  and  boiled  ;  also  Roly-poly 
and  Stocking.  Like  a  dog  in  shoes,  a 
pattering  sound  ;  as  the  noise  of  a 
brisk  walk.  Dog  in  the  manger,  a 
selfish  churl ;  who  does  not  want 
himself,  yet  will  not  let  others  enjoy. 
[From  the  fable.]  (1621).  To  go  to 
the  dogs  :  see  Go.  To  let  sleeping  dogs 
lie  :  see  Sleeping  dogs. 

Dogberry.  A  magistrate  or  stupid 
constable :  see  Beak  and  Copper. 
[From  Much  Ado  about  Nothing.] 

Dog-cheap.  Very  cheap,  of  little 
worth,  foolish.  [Skeat :  from  Swed., 
dog,  very  ;  Latham  :  the  first  syllable 
is  god  =  good,  transposed  +  cheap, 
from  chapman,  a  merchant — hence, 
a  good  bargain.]  Fr.,  bon  marchc 
(1598). 

Dog-collar.  A  stand-up  shirt 
collar,  an  all-rounder  (q.v.). 

Dog-drawn  (old),  adj.,  phr.  Said 
of  a  bitch  from  which  a  dog  baa  been 
removed  by  force. 

Dogger  (Charterhouse).  To 
cheat,  sell  rubbish. 

Doggery.  1.  Transparent  cheating : 
cf.  Dogger.  [Carlyle  in  Frederick  uses 
doggery  =  the  doings  of  a  scurvy  set  of 
soldiers.]  2.  A  low  drinking  saloon. 

Doggoned.    A  euphemistic  oath. 

Doggy.  A  batty  in  the  mining 
districts  is  a  middleman ;  a  doggy  is 
his  manager.  As  adj.,  (1)  Connected 
with,  or  relating  to  dogs.  (2)  Stylish. 

Dog  -  Latin.      Barbarous  or  sham 
Latin  ;  also  Kitchen,  Bog,  Garden,  or 
Apothecaries'  Latin. 
••    Dogs.   1.  Sausages;  otherwise  bags' 
of     mystery     (q.v.),     or     chambers 
of  horrors  (q.v.).     2.   Newfoundland 
Land  Company's  shares;  now  amal- 
gamated with  the  Anglo  -  American 
United,  and  called  Anglos. 
'    Dog's-body.     Pease  pudding. 

Dog's-eared.  Crumpled,  as  the 
leaves  of  a  page  with  much  reading. 


138 


Dog's-meaL 


Donkey. 


Dog's-meat.  Anything  worthless : 
as  a  bad  book,  a  common  tale,  a 
villainous  picture,  etc. 

Dog-shooter.  1.  A  volunteer.  2. 
(Royal  Military  Academy).  Cadets 
thus  term  a  student  who  accelerates, 
that  is,  who,  being  pretty  certain  of 
not  being  able  to  obtain  a  commission 
in  the  engineers,  or  not  caring  for  it, 
elects  to  join  a  superior  class  before 
the  end  of  the  term. 

Dog's -nose.  A  mixture  of  gin  and 
beer :  see  Drinks. 

Dog's  -  paste.  Sausage  or  mince- 
meat. 

Dog's  -  portion.  A  lick  and  a 
smell,  i.e.  next  to  nothing. 

Dog's-sleep.  The  lightest  possible 
form  of  slumber. 

Dog's-soup.  Water:  see  Adam's 
ale  and  Fish  broth. 

Dog's-tail.  The  constellation  of 
Ursa  minor  or  Little  Bear. 

Dog  -  stealer.  A  dog-dealer :  sar- 
castic. 

Doldrums.  Low  spirits;  the  dumps 
or  hump  (q.v.).  [Properly  parts  of 
the  ocean  near  the  Equator  abounding 
in  calms  and  light,  baffling  winds.] 

Dole  (Winchester  College).  A 
stratagem  or  trick.  [Latin  dolus.'] 

D  o  1  i  fi  e  r  (Winchester  College). 
One  who  contrives  a  trick.  See 
Dole. 

Dollar.  A  five-shilling  piece. 
Half-dollar,  half-a-crown,  or  two 
shillings :  see  Caroon. 

Dollop.  A  lot.  All  the  dollop,  the 
whole  thing.  In  Norfolk  to  dollop,  to 
dole  out ;  also  to  '  plank.'  Dolloping, 
throwing  down. 

Dolly.  1.  A  mistress.  2.  A  piece  of 
cloth  use  as  a  sponge.  As  adj . ,  silly. 

Dolly-mop.    A  harlot. 

Dolly  -  shop.  A  marine  store  : 
really  an  illegal  pawn-shop  and  fence 
(q.v.);  also  leaving-shop.  No  ques- 
tions are  asked  ;  all  goods  are  received 
on  the  understanding  that  they  may 
be  repurchased  within  a  given  time  ; 
so  much  per  day  is  charged ;  no 
duplicalo  is  given ;  and  no  books  are 
kept.  From  the  sign  of  the  Black 
Doll  (q.v.).] 

Dome.    The  head  :  see  Crumpet. 

Domestic-afflictions.  A  woman's 
flower-time. 

Dome-stick.    A  domestic  servant. 

Dominie.  A  clergyman  ;  also 
(modern  Scots),  a  pedagogue  or 


schoolmaster.     [Latin  dominus,  a  lord 
or  master.]     (1616). 

Dominie  Do-little.  An  impotent 
old  man. 

Domino  !  An  ejaculation  of  com- 
pletion :  e.g.  for  sailors  and  soldiers 
at  the  last  lash  of  the  flogging ;  and 
for  'bus  conductors  when  an  omnibus 
is  full  inside  and  out ;  also,  by  im- 
plication, a  knock-down  blow,  or  the 
last  of  a  series.  [From  the  call  at  the 
end  of  a  game  of  dominoes.] 

Domino  -  box.  The  mouth  :  see 
Potato-trap. 

Dominoes.  1.  The  teeth :  see 
Grinders.  To  sluice  one's  dominoes, 
to  drink.  2.  The  keys  of  a  piano. 

Domino-thumper.     A  pianist. 

Dommerar  (Dommerer,  or  Dum- 
merer).  A  beggar  feigning  to  be  deaf 
and  dumb;  also,  a  madman  (1567). 

Don.  An  adept ;  a  swell ;  also 
a  swaggerer,  a  man  putting  on 
side.  At  the  Universities  a  fellow 
or  officer  of  a  college  ;  whence  the 
vulgar  usage.  [Latin,  dominus,  a  lord, 
through  the  Spanish  title.]  (1665). 
As  adj.,  clever,  expert,  first-rate. 

Dona  (Donna,  Donny,  or  Doner). 
A  woman :  see  Petticoat. 

Donaker.     A  cattle-lifter  (1669). 

Done !  An  interjection  of  accept- 
ance or  agreement  (1602).  As  adj., 
exhausted,  ruined,  cheated,  convicted. 
[See  Do  in  most  of  its  senses.] 

Done-over.  Intoxicated :  see 
Screwed. 

Donkey.  1.  A  compositor;  press- 
men are  Pigs  (q.v.).  English  syno- 
nyms: ass,  moke,  galley-slave.  2.  A 
sailor's  chest.  3.  A  blockhead :  see 
Buffle.  A  penny  (twopence  or  three- 
pence) more,  and  up  goes  the  donkey, 
an  exclamation  of  derision.  [Street 
acrobats'  :  the  custom  was  to  finish  off 
the  pitch  by  balancing  a  donkey  at  the 
top  of  a  ladder  on  receipt  of  '  tuppence 
more  '  ;  which  sum,  however  often 
subscribed,  was  always  re-demanded, 
so  that  the  donkey  never  '  went  up ' 
at  all.]  Who  stole  the  donkey  ?  A 
street  cry  once  in  vogue  on  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  man  in  a  white  hat. 
With  a  similar  expression  Who  stole 
the  leg  of  mutton  ?  applied  to  the 
police,  it  had  its  rise  in  a  case  of 
larceny.  To  ride  the  donkey,  to  cheat 
with  weights  and  measures :  also 
Donkey-riding.  To  talk  the  hind  leg 
off  a  donkey :  see  Talk. 


139 


Donkey-drops. 


Mb, 


Donkey  -  drops.  Slow  roundhand 
bowling,  such  as  is  seldom  seen  in  good 
matches,  but  is  effective  against  boys, 
is  known  by  the  contumelious  desig- 
nation of  donkey-drops. 

Donkey's-ears.  An  old-fashioned 
shirt-collar  with  long  points. 

Donna.     See  Dona. 

Donnish  (Donnism,  Donnishness) 
(University).  Arrogant,  arrogance 
(1823). 

Donny.    See  Dona. 

Donovans.  Potatoes  :  cf.  Murphy. 
[Donovan,  like  Murphy,  is  a  common 
Irish  patronym.] 

Don's-week.  The  week  before  a 
general  holiday. 

Don't-name-'ems.  Trousers:  see 
Kicks. 

Don't.  Don't  you  insh  you  may  get 
it,  a  retort  forcible. 

Doodle.     A  dolt :  see  Buffle. 

Doodled.    Cheated,  done  (1823). 

Doodle  -doo  -man.  A  cockfighter  or 
breeder. 

Doog.     Good. 

D  o  o  k  i  e.  A  penny  show  or  un- 
licensed theatre :  cf.  Gaff. 

Dookin  (Dookering).  Fortune- 
telling  (1857).  Dookin-cove,  a  fortune 
teller. 

Door -nail.  Dead  as  a  door-nail : 
see  Dead. 

Doorsman.   See  Barker  and  Clicker. 

Doorstep.  A  thick  slice  of  bread 
and  butter  :  Fr.,  fondante. 

Dooteroomus  (or  Doot).  Generic 
for  money :  see  Rhino. 

Dope.  To  drug  with  tobacco :  also 
doping,  the  practice. 

Dopey.  1.  A  beggar's  trulL  2. 
(old).  The  podex. 

Dor  (Old  Westminster  School). 
1.  Leave  to  sleep  awhile  (Kersey, 
1715).  2.  An  affront. 

Doras.  South-Eastern  Railway 
Deferred  Ordinary  Stock,  sometimes 
applied  to  the  '  A  '  Stock. 

D  o  r  b  i  e.  An  initiate.  The  Dor- 
bie's  knock,  a  peculiar  rap  given  by 
masons  as  a  signal  amongst  themselves. 
It  may  be  represented  by  the  time  of 
the  following  notes : 

.  rc£;r! 

Dorcas.  A  sempstress  ;  especially 
one  employing  herself  for  charitable 


purposes. 
Dorse. 


BM  D.'---. 


Dose.  1.  A  sentence  of  imprison- 
ment ;  specifically  three  months'  hard 
labour.  English  synonyms :  spell, 
time,  drag,  three  moon,  length,  stretch, 
seven- pennorth,  sixer,  twelver,  lagging. 
2.  A  burglary.  3.  A  beating.  4.  As 
much  liquor  as  one  can  hold.  To  have 
a  dose  of  the  balmy,  to  do  a  sleep.  To 
take  a  grown  man's  dose,  to  take  a  very 
large  quantity  of  liquor. 

Doss  (or  Dorse).  A  bed,  lodging ;  also 
asleep,  or  lib  (q.v.)  (1789).  As  verb, 
to  sleep.  English  synonyms :  to  go  to 
the  arms  of  Murphy  (q.v.).  have  forty 
winks,  go  to  Bedfordshire,  take  a  little 
(or  do  a  dose)  of  the  balmy,  chuck  (or 
do)  a  doss,  snooze,  go  to  by- by,  read 
the  paper,  shut  one's  eyes  to  think, 
retire  to  the  land  of  Nod. 

Dosser.  One  who  frequents  a 
doss  -  house  (q.v.).  'Appy  dossers, 
houseless  vagrants  who  creep  in,  sleep 
on  stairs,  in  passages,  and  in  empty 
cellars.  The  dosser,  the  father  of  a 
family. 

Doss-house  (Dossing-crib  or  ken). 
A  common  lodging  -  house  :  Fr.,  baa- 
tengue  and  garno.  Doss  -  money,  the 
price  of  a  night's  lodging  (1838). 

Dossy.     Elegant,  spiff  (q.v.). 

Dot.  A  ribbon.  Dot-drag,  a  watch 
ribbon  (1821). 

Dot  -  and  -  Carry  -  (or  Go-)  one. 
1.  Properly,  a  man  with  a  wooden  leg  ; 
by  implication,  a  Hopping-giles  or 
Lira  ping- Jesus  (q.v.):  Fr.,  banban.  2. 
A  writing-master  or  teacher  of  arith- 
metic (Orose).  As  verb,  to  '  hirple  ' ; 
especially  applied  to  a  person  with 
one  leg  shorter  than  the  other,  or, 
with  an  uneven  keel. 

Dot.  1.  An  item  of  news.  2. 
Money :  see  Rhino. 

D  o  1 1  e  r.  A  reporter,  penny-a- 
liner  :  see  Dot. 

Dottle.    The  same  as  Dodder  (q.v.). 

Dotty.  1.  Feeble,  dizzy,  idiotic ; 
e.g.  Dotty  in  the  crumpet,  weak  in  the 
head  ;  Dotty  in  the  pins,  unsteady  on 
the  legs.  Also  2.  subs.,  a  fancy  man 
of  prostitutes  of  the  lowest  type. 

Doubite.     A  street. 

Double.  1.  A  trick.  2.  An  actor 
playing  two  parts  in  the  same  piece ; 
also  as  a  verb  (1825).  3.  A  turning. 
4.  Repetition  of  a  word  or  sentence. 
Double,  adj.  and  adv.,  is  also  used 
as  an  intensitive  in  many  obscene  or 
offensive  connotations :  e.g.  Double- 
arsed,  large  in  the  posteriors ;  Double- 


140 


Double-back. 


Down. 


duggs  (and  Double-dugged  or  diddied), 
heavy  breasted  ;  Double  -  guts  (and 
Double  -  gutted),  excessively  corpu- 
lent ;  Double-hocked,  abnormally  thick 
ankled  ;  Double  -  mouthed,  Mouth- 
almighty  (q.v.) ;  and  so  forth.]  To 
put  the  double  on,  to  circumvent.  To 
tip  (or  give)  the  double,  to  run  or  slip 
away  openly  or  unperceived ;  to 
double  as  a  hare  ;  formerly  to  escape 
one's  creditors.  Also  to  Tip  one  the 
Dublin  packet :  see  Amputate  (1781). 

Double-back.  To  go  back  upon 
oneself,  an  action,  an  opinion. 

Double-barrel.  A  field  or  opera 
glass. 

Double-bott  omed .  Insincere, 
saying  one  thing  and  meaning  another. 

Double-breasted  feet.  Club  feet : 
also  Double-breasters. 

Double-cross  (or  Double-double). 
Winning  or  doing  one's  best  to  win 
after  engaging  to  lose  or  Mike  (q.v.). 

Double-distilled.  Superlative :  e.g. 
a  double  -  distilled  whopper,  a  tre- 
mendous lie. 

Double  -  dutch.  Unintelligible 
speech,  jargon,  gibberish.  It  was  all 
Double  -  dutch  to  me,  I  didn't  under- 
stand a  word  of  it. 

Double-event.  Backing  a  horse  for 
two  races. 

Double  -  firm.  A  £10  note :  see 
Finn. 

Double-header.  A  false  coin  with  a 
head  on  the  obverse  and  reverse,  made 
by  soldering  two  split  coins. 

Double-juggs.  The  posteriors 
(Burton). 

Double-lines.  Ship  casualties:  from 
the  manner  of  entering  at  Lloyd's. 

Doubler.  A  blow  in  the  side  or 
stomach,  causing  a  man  to  bend  from 
pain  or  lack  of  wind. 

Double  -  ribbed.  Pregnant :  see 
Lumpy. 

Double-shotted.  Said  of  a  whisky 
(or  brandy)  and  soda,  containing 
twice  the  normal  quatity  of  alcohol. 

Double-shuffle.  1.  A  hornpipe  step 
in  which  each  foot  is  shuffled  twice  in 
succession,  the  more  rapidly  and 
neatly  the  better.  2.  A  trick  or  fake- 
ment. 

Double-slang.    See  Slangs. 

Doublet.  A  doctored  diamond 
or  other  precious  stone.  The  face  is 
real  and  this  is  backed  up  by  a  piece  of 
coloured  glass.  Cf.  Triplet. 

Double-thumber.   A  prodigious  lie. 


Double-tongued.  Mendacious, 
given  to  change  opinions  in  changing 
company. 

Double-tongued  squib.  A  double- 
barrelled  gun. 

D  o  u  b  1  e  -  u  p.  1.  To  punish. 
Doubled-up,  collapsed  (1819).  2.  To 
pair  off,  chum  with. 

Dough.      Pudding. 

Dough-baked.  Deficient  in  intel- 
lect. In  U.S.A.,  easily  moulded :  said 
of  politicians  (1675). 

Doughy.  A  baker :  see  Master  of 
the  rolls. 

Douse.     See  Dowse. 

Dover.  A  made-dish,  hash,  re- 
chauffe. 

Dovers.  South  Eastern  Railway 
Ordinary  Stock. 

Dove.  A  member  of  St.  Catharine's 
College,  Cambridge.  It  is  said  that 
the  members  of  St.  Catharine's  Hall 
were  first  of  all  called  Puritans, 
from  the  derivation  of  the  name  of 
their  patroness  from  KoQuipeiv.  The 
dove  being  the  emblem  of  purity, 
to  change  a  name  from  Puritans  to 
doves  was  but  one  short  step.  Soiled 
dove,  a  high-class  prostitute. 

Dove-tart.  A  pigeon-pie.  (Doo- 
tairt  is  excellent  Scots  for  the  same 
thing.)  Cf.  Snake-tart,  eel  pie. 

Dowlas.  A  draper.  [From  dowlas, 
now  a  kind  of  towelling,  but  mentioned 
by  Shakespeare  ('  1  Henry  IV.,'  m.  in'., 
1597)  as  a  material  for  shirts.  Popu- 
larised as  a  sobriquet  by  Colman's 
Daniel  Dowlas  in  The  Heir  at  Law. 

Dowling.  A  compulsory  game  of 
football.  [£ow\oe.  ] 

Down.  1.  Suspicion,  alarm,  a 
diversion.  There  is  no  down,  all  is 
quiet,  it  is  safe  to  go  on  (1821).  2. 
Small  beer.  Up,  bottled  beer.  As 
adv.  (1)  dispirited,  hard-up,  in  dis- 
grace. Found  in  various  combina- 
tions :  e.g.  Down  in  the  mouth  (or 
dumps),  dejected ;  Down  on  one's 
luck,  reduced  in  circumstances  ;  Down 
at  heel,  shabby  ;  Down  at  one's  back- 
seam,  out  of  luck ;  Down  to  bed- 
rock, penniless,  etc.,  etc.  (1608).  (2) 
acquainted  with,  Fly  (q.v.),  Up  to 
(q.v.).  Also  in  combination:  down 
to,  down  on,  and  down  as  a  hammer 
(1610).  (3)  Hang-dog.  As  verb,  to 
put  on  one's  back ;  whether  by  force  or 
by  persuasion.  To  be  down  a  pit, 
to  be  very  much  taken  with  a  part. 
To  be  (or  come)  down  upon  one,  to  be- 


141 


Dral. 


rate,  attack,  oppose.  Sometimes  with 
a  tag :  e.g.  like  a  thousand  (or  a  load)  of 
bricks  ;  like  one  o'clock ;  like  a  tom- 
tit on  a  horse  turd,  etc.  To  be  down 
pin,  to  be  out  of  sorts,  despondent. 
To  drop  down  on  one,  to  discover  one's 
character  or  designs.  To  put  a  down 
upon  one,  to  peach  so  as  to  cause  detec- 
tion or  failure.  To  put  one  down  to 
[a  thing],  to  apprize,  elucidate,  or 
explain  ;  to  coach  or  prime ;  to  let 
one  into  the  know.  To  take  down  a 
peg  :  see  Peg.  Down  the  road,  vulgarly 
showy,  flash.  Down  to  dandy :  see 
up  to  Dick.  Down  to  the  ground,  en- 
tirely, thoroughly,  to  the  last  degree 
(1642). 

Downed.  Tricked,  beaten,  sat 
upon. 

Downer.  1.  A  sixpence :  see 
Rhino.  In  U.S.A.,  a  five-cent,  piece. 
[Cf.  Deaner  (q.v.) ;  now  corrupted 
into  Tanner  (q.v.).]  2.  A  knock- 
down blow  :  cf.  Bender,  Doubler,  etc. 

Down-hills.  Dice  cogged  to  run 
on  the  low  numbers  (Grose). 

Downs.  Tothill  Fields  prison  :  see 
Cage. 

Downstairs.     HelL 

Downy.  A  bed  :  also  Downy  flea- 
pasture.  As  adj.,  artful,  knowing 
(q.v.)  (1823).  To  do  the  downy:  see 
Do. 

Downey-bit.     A  half-fledged  girl. 

Downy-cove  (or  bird).  A  clever 
rogue :  in  pi.,  the  downies.  English 
synonyms :  mizzler,  leary  bloke  or 
cove,  sly  dog,  old  dog,  nipper,  file, 
Greek,  one  that  knows  what's  o'clock, 
one  who  knows  the  ropes,  or  his 
way  about,  don,  dodger,  dab,  doll's 
eye-weaver,  dam  -  macker,  shaver, 
dagen,  chickalcary  -  cove,  ikey  bloke, 
artful  member,  one  that  is  up  to  the 
time  of  day,  fly  cove,  one  that's  in 
the  know,  one  that  has  his  eye-teeth 
skinned,  or  that  has  cut  his  wisdoms. 

Dowry.  A  lot,  a  great  deal ; 
dowry  of  parny,  a  lot  of  rain  or  water. 

Dowse  (or  Douse).  A  verb  of 
action :  e.g.  Dowse  your  dog  vane, 
take  the  cockade  out  of  your  hat ; 
Dowse  the  glim,  put  out  the  candle; 
Dowse  on  the  chops,  a  blow  in  the 
face. 

Dout.  Literally,  to  do  out ;  as 
Dup  (q.v.),  to  do  up,  and  Don,  to  do 
on.  See  Hamlet,  iv.  Then  up  he 
rose  and  donned  his  clothes,  and 
dupped  the  chamber  door. 


Doxology  -  works.  A  church  or 
chapel. 

Doxy.  A  mistress,  prostitute,  oc- 
casionally, a  jade,  a  girl,  even  a  wife. 
In  West  of  England,  a  baby  (1567). 

Dozing-crib.    A  bed  :  see  Kip. 

D.Q.  On  the  D.Q.,  on  the  dead  quiet : 
cf.  Strict  Q.T.,  etc. 

Drab.  1.  Poison;  also  medicine. 
Also  as  a  verb.  2.  A  strumpet. 
Drabbing,  strumming. 

Drabbut.  A  vague  and  gentle 
form  of  imprecation.  Drabbut  your 
back,  confound  you. 

Draft.  Draft  on  Aldgate  pump,  a 
fictitious  banknote  or  fraudulent  bill. 
See  N.  and  Q.,  7  S.,  i.  387-493 
(1760). 

Drag.  1.  A  cart  of  any  kind  ;  now 
usually  applied  to  a  four-horse  coach. 
2.  A  chain.  3.  A  street  or  road.  Back 
drag,  a  back  street.  4.  Three  months' 
imprisonment ;  also  Three  Moon  :  see 
Dose.  Done  for  a  drag,  convicted  of 
Dragging  (q.v.) :  see  Drag,  a  term  of 
imprisonment.  6.  Feminine  attire 
worn  by  men.  To  go  on  (or  flash)  the 
drag,  to  wear  women's  attire  for  im- 
moral purposes.  6.  A  lure,  trick, 
stratagem.  7.  A  fox  prepared  with 
herring  or  aniseed  and  brought  to 
covert  in  a  bag.  8.  See  Dragging. 
To  put  on  the  drag,  to  ease  off  or  go 
slow  ;  also  to  put  on  pressure.  To 
drag  the  pudding,  to  get  the  sack 
just  before  Christmas-time. 

Drag-cove.  A  carter  or  driver  of 
a  Drag  (q.v.). 

Dragging.     Robbing  vehicles. 

Drag  -  lay.  The  practice  of  rob- 
bing vehicles  (Grose). 

Dragon.  A  sovereign,  20s.  :  see 
Rhino.  To  water  the  dragon,  to  urinate, 
'  pump  ship,'  '  rack  off.' 

Dragsman.  A  coachman  ;  also  a 
Drag-sneak  (q.v.). 

Drag -sneak.  A  thief  who  makes  a 
speciality  of  robbing  vehicles  (1781). 

Drain.  1.  A  drink :  see  Go.  To 
do  a  drain  (wet,  or  common  sewer),  to 
take  a  friendly  drink  (1836).  2.  Gin. 
[From  its  diuretic  qualities.] 

Drains.  A  ship's  cook ;  The 
Doctor  (q.v.). 

Drammer.    See  Drummer. 

Draper.    See  Gammon  the  Draper. 

Drat  (Dratted).  A  mild  and  in- 
definite imprecation  of  contempt,  or 
impatience.  [A  corruption  of  God 
rot  it.] 


142 


Draught. 


Drinks. 


Draught.  A  privy :  see  Mrs.  Jones 
(1602). 

Draw.  1.  An  undecided  contest. 
[An  abbreviation  of  '  drawn  game.'] 
2.  An  attraction ;  e.g.  an  article, 
popular  preacher,  successful  play,  and 
so  forth.  3.  A  stroke  with  the  surface 
of  the  bat  inclined  to  the  ground.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  attract  public  attention. 
(2)  To  steal,  pick  pockets.  To  draw  a 
wipe  (or  ticker),  to  prig  a  handkerchief 
or  watch  ;  to  draw  a  damper,  to  empty 
a  till  (Grose).  (3)  To  tease  to  vexation, 
take  in,  make  game  of.  (4)  To  bring 
out,  cause  to  act,  write,  or  speak,  by 
flattery,  mis-statement,  or  deceit. 
Also,  to  draw  out ;  Fr.,  tirer  les  vers  du 
nez.  (5)  To  ease  of  money :  e.g.  I 
drew  him  for  a  hundred ;  She  drew 
me  for  a  dollar  !  To  draw  on  [a  man], 
to  use  a  knife.  To  draw  a  bead  on,  to 
attack  with  rifle  or  revolver.  To 
draw  a  straight  furrow,  to  live  up- 
rightly. To  draw  plaster,  to  fish  for 
a  man's  intentions.  To  draw  straws, 
to  be  almost  asleep,  drowsy.  To  draw 
teeth,  to  wrench  knockers  and  handles 
from  street  doors.  To  draw  the 
badger :  see  Badger.  To  draw  blanks,  to 
fail,  be  disappointed.  To  draw  the 
bow  up  to  the  ear  :  see  Bow.  To  draw 
(or  pull)  the  long  bow :  see  Bow.  To 
draw  the  cork,  to  make  blood  flow  ;  to 
tap  the  claret  (q.v.).  To  draw  the 
King's  (or  Queen's)  picture,  to  manufac- 
ture base  money.  To  draw  wool  (or 
worsted),  to  irritate  ;  foment  a  quarrel : 
cf.  Comb  one's  hair.  Draw  it  mild  ! 
an  interjection  of  (1)  derision  ;  (2)  in- 
credulity; (3)  supplication  :  cf.  Come 
it  strong.  Draw  boy,  a  superior 
article  ticketed  and  offered  at  a  figure 
lower  than  its  value. 

Drawer-on.  An  appetiser  :  used 
only  of  food,  as  Puller-on  (q.v.)  of 
drink.  Both  are  in  Massinger. 

Drawers.  Embroidered  stock- 
ings (1567). 

Draw-fart  (or  Doctor  Draw-fart). 
A  wandering  quack. 

Draw  -  latch.  A  thief ;  also  a 
loiterer  (1631). 

Draw  -  off.  To  throw  back  the 
body  to  strike ;  He  drew  off,  and 
delivered  on  the  left  peeper.  A  sailor 
would  say,  He  hauled  off  and  slipped 
in. 

Dreadful.  A  sensational  story, 
newspaper,  or  print :  see  Awful,  and 
Shilling  Shocker. 


Dredgerman.  A  river  thief  under 
pretence  of  dredging  up  coals  and  such 
like  from  the  bottom  of  the  river. 
They  hang  about  barges  and  other 
undecked  craft,  and  when  opportunity 
serves,  throw  any  property  they  can 
lay  their  hands  on  overboard:  in  order, 
slyly,  to  dredge  it  up  when  the  vessel 
is  gone.  Sometimes  they  dexterously 
use  their  dredges  to  whip  away  any- 
thing that  may  lie  within  reach.  Some 
are  mighty  neat  at  this,  and  the  ac- 
complishment is  called  Dry  dredging. 

Dress  (Winchester  College).  The 
players  who  come  next  in  order  after 
Six  or  Fifteen.  [So  called  because 
they  come  down  to  the  matches  ready 
dressed  to  act  as  substitutes  if  re- 
quired.] To  dress  a  hat,  to  exchange 
pilferings  :  e.g.  to  swap  pickings  from 
a  hosier's  stock  with  a  shoemaker's 
assistant  for  boots  or  shoes.  To 
dress  down,  to  beat,  scold  (1715).  To 
be  dressed  like  Xmas  beef :  see  Beef. 
To  dress  to  death  (within  an  inch  of 
one's  life,  or  to  kill),  to  dress  in  the 
extreme  of  fashion. 

Dress-house.  A  brothel :  cf.  Dress- 
lodger. 

Dressing  (or  Dressing -down). 
Correction,  manual  or  verbal ;  also 
defeat. 

Dress -lodger.  A  woman  boarded, 
fed,  and  clothed  by  another,  and  pay- 
ing by  prostitution. 

Dressy.     Fond  of  dress. 

Drilled.     Shot  through  the  body. 

Drinks.  The  subjoined  lists  will 
be  of  interest.  Invitations  to  drink — 
What'll  you  have  ?  Nominate  your 
pizen  !  Will  you  irrigate  ?  Will  you 
tod  ?  Wet  your  whistle  ?  How'll 
you  have  it  ?  Let  us  stimulate  ! 
Let's  drive  another  nail !  What's 
your  medicine  ?  Willst  du  trinken  ? 
Try  a  little  anti-abstinence  ?  Twy 
(zwei)  lager  !  Your  whisky's  wait- 
ing. Will  you  try  a  smile  ?  Will  you 
take  a  nip  ?  Let's  get  there.  Try  a 
little  Indian  ?  Come  and  see  your 
pa  ?  Suck  some  corn  juice  ?  Let's 
liquor  up.  Let's  go  and  see  the  baby. 
Responses  to  invitations  to  drink. — 
Here's  into  your  face  !  Here's  how  ! 
Here's  at  you  !  Don't  care  if  I  do. 
Well,  I  will.  I'm  thar !  Accepted, 
unconditionally.  Well,  I  don't  mind. 
Sir,  your  most.  Sir,  your  utmost. 
You  do  me  proud !  Yes,  sir-reo  ! 
With  you — yes  !  Anything  to  oblige. 


143 


Drinks. 


Drop. 


On  time.  I'm  with  you.  Count  me 
in.  I  subscribe.  Synonyms  for  a 
drink  [i.e.  a  portion],  generally,  or 
when  taken  at  specified  times. — Anti- 
lunch,  appetiser,  ball,  bullock's  eye 
(a  glass  of  port),  bead,  bosom  friend, 
bucket,  bumper,  big-reposer,  chit- 
chat, cheerer,  cinder,  corker,  cobbler, 
damper,  or  something  damp,  dannie, 
drain,  dram,  deoch-an-doras,  digester, 
eye-opener,  entr'acte,  fancy  smile, 
flash,  flip,  facer,  forenoon,  go,  gill, 
heeltap,  invigorator,  Johnny,  joram, 
morning  rouser,  modicum,  nip,  or 
nipperkin,  night  cap,  nut,  pistol  shot, 
pony,  pill,  quantum,  refresher,  rouser, 
reposer,  shout,  smile,  swig,  sleeve- 
button,  something,  slight  sensation, 
shant,  sparkler,  settler,  stimulant, 
soother,  thimble-full,  tift,  taste,  tooth- 
full,  Timothy  :  see  Go.  General  syn- 
onyms for  drink. — Breaky  -  leg,  bub, 
crater  ( also  =  whisky),  fuddle,  gargle, 
grog,  guzzle,  lap,  lush,  neck-oil,  nectar, 
poison,  slum-gullion,  swizzle,  stingo, 
tipple,  tittey,  toddy :  see  Tipple. 
Synonyms  for  beer  (including  stout). 
— Act  of  Parliament ;  artesian,  barley, 
belch,  belly-vengeance,  bevy  or  bevvy, 
brownstone,  bum-clink,  bung-juice, 
bunker,  cold-blood,  down  (see  Up) ; 
English  burgundy  (porter),  gatter, 
half-and-half,  heavy-wet,  John  Bar- 
leycorn, knock-down  or  knock- me- 
down,  oil  of  barley,  perkin,  ponge, 
pongelow,  or  ponjello,  rosin,  rot-gut, 
sherbet,  stingo,  swankey,  swipes, 
swizzle,  up  (bottled  ale  or  stout) :  see 
Swipes.  Synonyms  for  Brandy. — 
Ball  of  fire,  bingo,  cold-tea,  cold- 
nantz  ;  French  elixir  or  cream  :  see 
French  Elixir.  Synonyms  for  whisky. 
— Aqua  vitas,  bald  -  face,  barley  -  bree, 
breaky  -  leg,  bottled  -  earthquake, 
bum  -  clink,  caper  -  juice,  cappie, 
curse  of  Scotland,  family-disturbance, 
farintosh,  forty-rod  lightning,  grapple- 
the-rails,  hard  stuff,  hell-broth,  in- 
fernal compound,  kill  -  the  -  beggar, 
lightning,  liquid  fire,  moonlight,  moon- 
shine, mountain-dew,  old  man's  milk, 
pine  -  top,  railroad,  red  -  eye,  rotgut, 
screech,  Simon  pure,  sit  -  on  -  a  -  rock 
(rye  whisky)  soul  -  destroyer,  square 
face,  stone-fence,  tangle-foot,  the  real 
thing,  the  sma'  still,  white-eye :  see 
Old  man's  milk.  Synonyms  for  gin. 
Blue  ruin,  blue-tape,  Brian  O'Lynn 
(rhyming),  cat-water,  cream  of  the 
valley,  daffy,  diddle,  drain,  duke,  eye- 


water, frog's  wine,  juniper,  jackey, 
lap,  max,  misery,  old  Tom,  ribbon, 
satin,  soothing-syrup,  stark-naked, 
strip  •  me  -  naked,  tape,  white  satin, 
tape,  or  wine  :  see  Satin.  Synonyms 
for  champagne. — Cham  or  chammy, 
boy,  fiz,  dry,  bitches'  wine.  Synonyms 
for  port. — lied  fustian  (q.v.).  Syno- 
nyms for  sherry — Bristol  milk,  white 
wash.  Terms  implying  various  degrees 
of  intoxication :  eee  Screwed.  See 
also  lists  under  Elbow  -  crooker, 
Lush,  Lushcrib,  Lushington,  Gallon 
Distemper. 

Dripper.    A  gleet. 

Dripping.  A  cook  ;  especially  an 
indifferent  one :  FT.,  fripier  and 
daube  :  cf.  Doctor  and  Slushy  (q.v.),  a 
ship's  cook. 

Drive.  A  blow.  To  lei  drive,  to  aim 
a  blow,  strike.  Four  rogues  in  buck- 
ram let  drive  at  me. — Shakespeare, 
As  verb,  to  send  a  ball  off  the  bat  with 
full  force  horizontally.  To  drive  at, 
to  aim  at :  e.g.  What  are  you  driv- 
ing at  T  What  do  you  mean  T  (1697). 
To  drive  a  bargain,  to  conduct  a 
negotiation,  make  the  best  terms 
one  can,  dispute  a  condition  or  a  price, 
succeed  in  a  deal  (1580).  To  drive  a 
humming  (or  roaring)  trade,  to  do  well 
in  business  (1625).  To  drive  oneself 
to  the  wash,  to  drive  in  a  basket-chaise. 
To  drive  pigs  to  market,  to  snore.  Fr., 
jouer  d  la  ronfle  (or  de  Forgue),  also 
fumer.  To  drive  turkeys  to  market,  to 
reel  and  wobble  in  drink.  To  drive 
French  horses,  to  vomit.  From  the 
Hue  done  of  French  carters  to  their 
teams.] 

Driver's  pint.     A  gallon. 

Driz.  Lace:  Fr.,  miche  (in  allusion 
to  the  holes  in  a  loaf  of  bread). 

Driz-fencer.  A  street  vendor  of 
lace,  also  a  receiver  of  stolen  material. 
fc  Droddum.  The  posteriors  (1786). 

Dromaky.  A  prostitute :  north  of 
England,  particularly  N.  and  S. 
Shields.  [From  a  strolling  actress 
who  personated  Andromache.] 

Dromedary.  A  bungler ;  specifically 
a  bungling  thief :  also  Purple  drome- 
dary. 

Drop.     See  Drop  game.     As  verb, 

(1)  to  lose,  give,  or  part  with  (1812). 

(2)  To  relinquish,  abandon,  leave  :  e.g. 
to  drop  an  acquaintance,  to  gradually 
withdraw  from  intercourse :  cf.  Cut. 
To  drop  the  main  toby,  to  turn  out  of 
the  main  road  (1711).     (3)  To  knock 


144 


Drop-game. 


D.  Ts. 


down :  cf.  To  drop  into,  to  thrash.  (4) 
To  bring  down  with  a  shot.  To  drop 
anchor,  to  pull  up  a  horse.  To  drop 
one's  anchor,  to  sit  (or  settle),  down. 
To  drop  a  cog,  see  Drop-game.  To 
drop  one's  flag,  to  salute  ;  also  to  sub- 
mit, lower  one's  colours.  To  drop 
(hang,  slip,  or  walk)  into,  to  attack : 
also  cf.  Drop  on  to.  To  drop  off  the 
hooks,  to  die  :  see  Hop  the  twig.  To 
drop  one's  leaf,  to  die  :  see  Hop  the 
twig.  To  drop  on  one,  to  accuse  or 
call  to  account  without  warning.  Also 
to  thrash.  To  drop  the  scabs  in,  to 
work  button-holes.  To  drop  one's 
wax,  to  evacuate  or  '  rear.'  To  get 
(or  have)  the  drop  on,  to  hold  at  dis- 
advantage, forestall.  To  have  a  drop 
in  the  eye,  to  be  slightly  drunk :  see 
Screwed  (1738).  Drop  it\  Cease! 
Cut  it !  Cheese  it ! 

Drop -game.  A  variety  of  the  con- 
fidence trick :  The  thief  picks  out  his 
victim,  gets  in  front  of  him,  and  pre- 
tends to  pick  up  (say)  a  pocket-book, 
(snide)  which  he  induces  the  green- 
horn to  buy  for  cash.  The  object  is  a 
Cog,  and  the  operator  a  Dropper  or 
Drop-cove. 

Dropped-on.     Disappointed. 

Dropper.  A  specialist  in  the  Drop- 
game  (q.v.) :  also  Drop-cove  (1669). 

Dropping.  A  beating ;  I'll  give 
you  a  good  dropping,  i.e.  I'll  thrash 
you  severely. 

Droppings.  The  excrement  of 
horses  and  sheep. 

Drown.    See  Miller. 

Drudge.     Whisky  in  its  raw  state. 

Drug.  To  administer  a  narcotic. 
A  drug  in  the  market,  anything  so 
common  as  not  to  be  vendible. 

Drum.  1.  An  entertainment ;  now  a 
tea  before  dinner ;  a  Kettle-drum  (q.v.) 
(1750).  2.  A  road,  street,  or  highway. 
English  synonyms:  drag,  toby,  high  (or 
main)  toby,  pad,  donbite,  finger  and 
thumb  (rhyming).  3.  The  ear.  4.  A 
building  ;  Hazard  -  drum,  a  gambling 
hell ;  Flash  -  drum,  a  brothel ;  Cross- 
drum,  a  thieves'  tavern  ;  In  U.S.A.,  a 
drinking  place.  5.  A  bundle  carried 
on  tramp  ;  generally  worn  as  a  roll 
over  the  right  shoulder  and  under  the 
left  arm  :  also  Bluey  and  Swag  (q.v.). 
6.  A  small  workshop. 

Drummer.  1.  A  horse,  the  action  of 
whose  forelegs  is  irregular  (Grose).  2. 
A  thief,  who  before  robbing,  narcotises 
or  otherwise  stupefies  his  victim.  3. 


A  commercial  traveller ;  also  Ambas- 
sador of  Commerce  or  Bagman  (q.v.) ; 
Fr.,  gaudissart  or  hirondette.  See 
Drum,  a  road.  Old  -  time  pedlars 
announced  themselves  by  beating  a 
drum  at  the  town's  end.]  (1827).  4. 
A  trousers'  maker,  Kickseys' -builder 
(q.v.). 

Drumstick  -  cases.  Trousers  :  see 
Kicks. 

Drumsticks.  1.  The  legs — especially 
of  birds.  English  synonyms  :  cheese- 
cutters  (bandy-legs),  stumps,  cabbage- 
stumps,  pins,  gams,  notches,  shanks, 
stems,  stumps,  clubs,  marrow-bones, 
cat-sticks,  trap-sticks,  dripping-sticks, 
trams,  trespassers,  pegs,  knights  of  the 
garter. 

Drunk.  A  debauch  ;  by  implica- 
tion, a  drunkard,  i.e.  a  drunk  and 
disorderly  person.  On  the  drunk,  on 
the  drink,  i.e.  drinking  for  days  on 
end.  Drunk  as  Davy's  sow,  excessively 
drunk :  see  Screwed. 

Drunkard.  To  come  the  drunkard,  to 
feign  drunkenness  ;  also  to  be  drunk. 
To  be  quite  the  gay  drunkard,  to  be 
more  or  less  in  liquor. 

Drunken-chalks.  Good  conduct 
badges :  see  Chalk. 

Drury  -  Lane  Ague.  A  venereal 
disease  :  see  Ladies'  Fever. 

Drury-Lane  Vestal.     A  prostitute. 

Dry.     See  Lime-basket. 

Dry-boots.   A  dry  humorist  (Grose). 

Dry-hash.  A  miser  ;  also,  by  im- 
plication, a  loafer. 

Dry-land!  (rhyming).  '  You 
understand  ! ' 

Dryland  -  sailor.  See  Turnpike 
Sailor. 

Dry-lodging.  Accommodation 
without  board. 

Dry  -  nurse.  A  guardian,  bear- 
leader, tutor ;  a  junior  who  instructs 
an  ignorant  chief  in  his  duties  (1614). 

Dry-room.     A  prison  :  see  Cage. 

Dry  -  shave.  Rubbing  the  chin 
with  the  fingers  ;  also  as  a  verb.  The 
action  implies  a  certain  effrontery. 

Dry  -  up.  LA  failure,  Columbus 
(q.v.);  contrast  with  Draw,  sense  2. 
As  verb,  to  cease  talking,  abandon  a 
purpose  or  position,  stop  work.  As  an 
interjection,  Hold  your  jaw  ! 

Dry-walking.  A  hard-up  soldier's 
outing. 

D.  T's.  Delirium  tremens :  see  Jim- 
jams.  The  D.  T.,  The  Daily  Tele- 
graph. 


145 


Dub. 


Dugs. 


Dub.  1.  A  k  ey  ;  specifically  a  master 
key  :  see  Locksmith's  daughter  (1789). 
As  verb,  to  open.  Dub  your  mummer  • 
Open  your  mouth.  Dub  the,  jigger, 
open  the  door.  Also  by  confusion,  to 
shut  or  fasten  (1567).  Dub  at  a 
Knapping  Jigger,  a  turnpike  keeper. 
To  dub  up,  to  hand  over,  pay,  fork  out. 
FT.,  f oncer,  abouler.  Formerly,  to  lock 
up,  secure,  button  one's  pocket. 

Dub  her.  1.  The  mouth  or  tongue ; 
mum  your  dubber ;  hold  your  tongue. 
2.  A  picklock  (Grose). 

Dub-cove.     See  Dubsman. 

Dub-lay.     Using  picklocks. 

Dublin-dissector.    A  cudgel. 

Dubs  (Winchester  College). 
Double. 

Dub  mans  (or  Dubs).  A  turnkey, 
gaoler.  English  synonyms :  jigger- 
dubber,  screw. 

Ducats.  1.  Money :  see  Rhino. 
[Probably  from  Shylock  in  '  The  Mer- 
chant of  Venice.']  2.  Specifically  a 
railway  ticket ;  also  pawnbroker's 
duplicate,  raffle-card,  or  Brief  (q.v.). 
Also  Ducket. 

D  u  c  e.  Twopence  :  see  Rhino. 
[Latin.] 

Duck.  1.  Scraps  of  meat ;  other- 
wise Block-ornaments,  Stickings,  Fag- 
gots, Manablins,  or  Chuck  (q.v.). 

2.  (Winchester   College).     The   face. 
To  make  a  duck,  to  make  a  grimace. 

3.  A  draw  or  decoy.     [An  abbreviation 
of  decoy-duck.]    4.  A  term  of  endear- 
ment ;  also  used  in  admiration  ;  e.g. 
a  duck  of  a   bonnet.     Also  ducky : 
duck  of  diamonds  being  a  superlative. 
5.     A    metal-cased    watch ;    i.e.    old 
watch  movements  in  German  silver 
cases.     To  make  a  duck   (or  duck's 
egg),  to  make  no  score,  to  crack  one's 
egg,   get  a  pair  of  spectacles.     The 
duck  that  runs  (or  grinds)  the  gospel 
mill,  a  clergyman  :  see  Devil-dodger. 
Lame     duck     (q.v.     post).       Oerman 
duck  (q.v.  post).     To  do  a  duck,  to  hide 
under  the  seat  of  a  public  conveyance 
with  a  view  to  avoid  paying  the  fare. 

Ducket.     See  Ducat. 

Duck-footed.  Said  of  people  who 
walk  like  a  duck ;  i.e.  with  the  toes 
turned  inwards. 

Ducking.  To  go  ducking,  to  go 
courting. 

Ducks.  1.  Linen  trousers ;  generally 
White  ducks:  see  Kicks.  2.  Aylesbury 
Dairy  Co.  shares.  3.  An  official  of  the 
Bombay  service.  To  chance  the  ducks 


(q.v.)  ante.  To  make  ducks  and 
drakes  of  one's  money,  to  squander 
money  as  lavishly  as  stones  are  squan- 
dered at  '  ducks  and  drakes.'  [In  al- 
lusion to  the  childish  game.]  (1605). 

Duck's- bill.  A  tongue  cut  in  a 
piece  of  stout  paper  and  pasted  on 
at  the  bottom  of  the  tympan  sheet. 

Ducky  (or  Duck  of  Diamonds). 
See  Duck. 

Dudder  (Dudsman,  or  Duffer). 
A  pedlar  of  pretended  smuggled  wares 
— gown-pieces,  silk  waistcoats,  etc. 
The  term  and  practice  are  obsolete, 
though  in  a  few  seaports,  London 
especially,  they  survived  till  recently 
in  a  modified  form.  Fr.,  marottier. 

Dude.  A  swell,  fop,  masher:  see 
Dandy.  Dudette  (or  Dudinette),  a 
young  girl  affecting  the  airs  of  a  belle ; 
Dudine,  a  female  masher. 

Dude-hamfatter.  A  wealthy  pig- 
jobber. 

Duds.  Clothes  ;  sometimes  old 
clothes  or  rags  (1440).  Doddery,  a 
clothier's  booth  (De  Foe's  Tour  of  Ot. 
Brit.,  p.  125).  In  America  applied  to 
any  kind  of  portable  property.  To 
angle  for  duds,  see  Anglers ;  To  sweat 
duds,  to  pawn. 

Dudsman.    See  Dudder. 

Dues.  Money  :  see  Rhino  :  spec, 
a  share  of  booty.  To  tip  the  dues,  to 
pay,  to  hand  over  a  share. 

Duff.  1.  Specifically,  to  sell  flashy 
goods  as  pretended  contraband  or 
stolen  ;  hence  to  cheat.  Duffers  (or 
Men  at  the  duff),  pedlars  of  flash. 
Duffing,  the  practice  ;  as  an  adjective, 
spurious  ( 1 78 1 ).  2.  To  rub  up  the  nap 
of  old  clothes  to  improve  their  ap- 
pearance. Duffer,  one  who  performs 
this  operation,  whilst  the  article 
operated  upon  is  also  a  duffer  by 
virtue  of  the  fact  itself. 

D  u  ff  e  r.  1.  A  pedlar ;  specific- 
ally a  hawker  of  brummagem  (q.v.), 
and  so-called  smuggled  goods.  In 
the  population  returns  of  1831  duffer, 
one  who  gets  a  living  by  cheating 
pawnbrokers.  2.  Anything  worth- 
less or  sham.  3.  A  female  smuggler. 

Duffer-out.     To  get  exhausted. 

D  u  m  n  g.  False,  counterfeit, 
worthless. 

Dugs.  The  paps ;  once  used 
without  reproach,  of  women ;  now 
only  in  contempt  except  of  animals  : 
see  Dairy.  [From  same  stem  as 
daughter.] 


146 


Duke. 


Dust. 


Duke.  1.  Gin :  see  Drinks.  2.  A 
horse.  3.  Any  transaction  in  the 
shape  of  a  burglary ;  e.g.  I  was 
jemming  to  their  duke,  I  was  privy 
to  the  robbery. 

Duke  Humphrey.     See  Dine. 

Duke  -  of  -  Limbs.  An  awkward, 
uncouth  man  ;  specifically  one  with 
ungainly  limbs  (Grose). 

Duke  -  of  -  York  (rhyming  slang). 
To  walk  ;  also,  to  talk. 

Dukes.  The  hands  :  see  Bunch  of 
fives.  To  grease  the  dukes,  to  bribe  ; 
also  to  pay.  To  put  up  the  dukes,  to 
put  up  one's  hands  for  combat. 

Dukey.     See  Dookie  and  Gaff. 

Dulcamara.  A  quack  doctor. 
[From  the  name  of  a  character  in 
Donizetti's  V Elixir  d?  Amour  (1845).] 

Dull.  Dull  in  the  eye,  intoxicated  : 
see  Screwed. 

Dull -swift.     A  sluggish  messenger. 

Dumb-fogged.     Confused. 

Dum  b -f  o  ozled.  Confounded, 
puzzled. 

Dumbfound  (Dumfound,  Dumb- 
founding, Dumbfounded  or  Dum- 
foundered).  To  perplex,  confound, 
etc.  (1690). 

Dummacker.     A  knowing  person. 

Dummerer.     See  Dommerar. 

Dummock.     The  posteriors. 

Dummy.  1.  A  deaf  mute  ;  also  an 
idiot ;  sometimes  a  duffer,  sense  2.  2. 
Generic  for  shams  :  e.g.  empty  bottles 
and  drawers  in  an  apothecary's  shop, 
wooden  half-tubs  of  butter,  bladders 
of  lard,  hams,  cheeses,  and  so  forth ; 
dummies  in  libraries  generally  take  the 
form  of  works  not  likely  to  tempt  the 
general  reader.  3.  The  open  hand  at 
an  imperfect  game  of  whist.  4.  A 
pocket  book. 

Dummy-daddle  Dodge.  Picking 
pockets  under  cover  of  a  sham  hand 
or  Daddle  (q.v.). 

Dummy  -  hunter.  A  pickpocket 
whose  speciality  is  pocket-books. 

Dump.  A  metal  counter.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  throw  down  :  e.g.  to  dump 
down  coals.  (2)  (Winchester  College). 
To  put  out.  Dump  the  tolly  !  Ex- 
tinguish the  candle. 

Dump -fencer.  A  button-merchant. 

Dumpies.  The  nineteenth  Hus- 
sars. [From  the  diminutive  size  of  the 
men  when  the  regiment  was  first 
raised.] 

Dumpling -depot.  The  stomach : 
see  Bread-basket. 


•    Dumpling -shop.      The  paps :   see 
Dairy. 

Dumps.  Money :  see  Rhino.  In 
the  dumps,  cast  down,  ill  at  ease,  un- 
pleasantly situate  (1592). 

Dun.  An  importunate  creditor  ; 
as  verb,  to  persist  in  demanding  pay- 
ment. FT.,  loup.  Also  Dunner  and 
Dunning  (1663). 

Dunaker.     A  cattle-lifter  (1650). 

Dunderhead.     A  fool :  see  Buffle. 

Dundreary.  Specifically,  a  stam- 
mering, foolish,  and  long-whiskered 
fop  —  the  Lord  Dundreary  of  Our 
American  Cousin  (1858)  —  generally, 
a  foppish  fool. 

Dundrearies.  A  pair  of  whiskers 
cut  sideways  from  the  chin,  and 
grown  as  long  as  possible.  A 
fashion  (now  obsolete)  suggested  by 
Sothern's  make-up  in  Our  American 
Cousin. 

Dung.  An  operative  working  for 
less  than  society  wages.  Formerly, 
according  to  Grose,  '  a  journey- 
man taylor  who  submits  to  the  law 
for  regulating  journey-men  taylors' 
wages,  therefore  deemed  by  the 
Flints  (q.v.)  a  coward.' 

Dung-fork  (also  Dung-cart).  A 
country  bumpkin  :  see  Joskin. 

Dunnage.  Baggage ;  clothes. 
[Properly  wood  or  loose  faggots  laid 
across  the  hold  of  a  vessel,  or  stuffed 
between  packages,  to  keep  cargo  from 
damage  by  water  or  shifting.] 

Dunnakin  (or  Dunnyken).  A 
privy  ;  in  U.S.A.,  a  chamber-pot :  see 
Mrs.  Jones  (Grose). 

Dunop  (back-slang).  A  pound. 

Dup.     To  open  (1567). 
'•    Durham -man.  A  knock-kneed  man. 

Duria.      Fire. 

Durrynacker.  A  female  lace 
hawker ;  generally  practised  as  an 
introduction  to  fortune-telling.  Also 
Durrynacking. 

Dust.  Generic  for  money  :  see 
Rhino  (1655).  To  dust  one's  jacket,  to 
thrash ;  to  criticise  severely.  To  get  up 
and  dust  (or  to  dust  out  of),  to  move 
quickly,  leave  hurriedly :  see  Bunk. 
To  have  dust  in  the  eyes,  to  be  sleepy, 
draw  straws  (q.v.).  Said  mainly  of 
children  :  e.g.  The  dustman  is  coming. 
To  kick  up  (or  raise)  a  dust,  to  make  a 
disturbance,  or  much  ado  (1759).  To 
throw  dust  in  the  eyes,  to  mislead,  dupe. 
To  bite  the  dust,  to  knock  under,  be 
mortified,  or  shamed. 


147 


Dust-bin. 


Earl  of  Mar's  Grey  Breeks. 


Dust-bin.    A  grave. 

Dusted.  Drubbed,  severely  criti- 
cised. 

Duster.    A  sweetheart :  see  Jomer. 

Dust-hole.  1.  The  Prince  of  Wales' 
Theatre  in  Tottenham  Court  Road. 
[From  the  fact  that,  fifty  years  ago, 
under  the  management  of  Mr.  Glossop, 
the  sweepings  of  the  house  were 
deposited  and  suffered  to  accumulate 
under  the  pit.]  2.  Sidney  Sussex 
College,  Cambridge.  Obsolete. 

Dustman.  1.  A  personification  of 
sleep :  the  dustman »  coming,  you 
are  getting  sleepy.  2.  A  head  man. 

Dusty.  Not  so  dusty,  a  mark  of 
approval,  not  so  bad,  so-so. 

Dusty-bob.    A  scavenger. 

Dusty  poll  (or  Dusty  -  nob).  A 
miller. 

Dutch.  An  epithet  of  inferiority. 
An  echo,  no  doubt,  of  the  long-stand- 
ing hatred  engendered  by  the  bitter 
fight  for  the  supremacy  of  the  seas 
between  England  and  Holland  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  As  subs.,  a 
wife.  [Probably  an  abbreviation  of 
Dutch  clock.]  English  synonyms : 
mollisher,rib,  grey-mare,  warming- pan, 
splice,  lawful  blanket,  autem-mort, 
comfortable  impudence,  comfortable 
importance,  old  woman,  evil,  missus, 
lawful  jam,  yoke-fellow,  night-cap, 
legitimate,  or  legiti,  weight-carrier, 
mutton-bone,  ordinary,  pillow-mate, 
supper-table,  Dutch  clock,  chattel, 
sleeping-partner,  doxy,  cooler,  mount, 
bed-faggot.  To  do  a  dutch,  to  desert, 
run  away :  see  Bunk.  That  beats  the 
Dutch,  a  sarcastic  superlative  (1775). 
To  talk  Dutch  (Double- Dutch,  or  High- 
Dutch),  to  talk  gibberish ;  or,  by 
implication,  nonsense  (1604).  The 
Dutch  have  taken  Holland,  a  quiz  for 


stale  news  :  cf.  Queen  Bess  (or  Queen 
Anne)  is  dead  ;  The  Ark  rested  upon 
Mount  Ararat,  etc. 

Dutch-auction  (or  sale).  A  sale 
at  minimum  prices,  a  mock-auction. 

Dutch-bargain.  A  bargain  all  on 
one  side.  '  In  matters  of  commerce 
the  fault  of  the  Dutch,  Is  giving  too 
little  and  asking  too  much  ! 

Dutch-clock.  1.  A  wife:  cf.  Dutch. 
2.  A  bed-pan. 

Dutch  -  concert  (or  medley).  A 
sing-song  whereat  everybody  sings 
and  plays  at  the  same  time  ;  a  hubbub. 

Dutch-consolation.  Jobs  comfort, 
unconsoling  consolation. 

Dutch  -courage.     Pot-  valiancy. 

Dutch  -defence.    Sham  defence. 

Dutch  -  feast.  An  entertainment 
where  the  host  gets  drunk  before  his 


Dutch-gleek.     Drinks. 

Dutchman.  I'm  a  Dutchman  if 
I  do,  a  strong  refusal.  [During  the 
wars  between  England  and  Holland, 
Dutch  was  synonymous  with  all  that 
was  false  and  hateful  ;  therefore,  I 
would  rather  be  a  Dutchman,  =the 
strongest  term  of  refusal  that  words 
could  express.] 

Dutchman's  -  breeches.  Two 
streaks  of  blue  in  a  cloudy  sky. 

Dutchman's  -  drink.  A  draught 
that  empties  the  pot. 

Dutch  -  treat.  An  entertainment 
where  every  one  pays  his  shot. 

Dutch  -  uncle.  /  will  talk  to  you 
like  a  Dutch  uncle,  I  will  reprove  you 
smartly.  [The  Dutch  were  renowned 
for  the  brutality  of  their  discipline.] 

Dutch-widow.  A  prostitute 
(1608). 

Dutch  -wife.    A  bolster. 


Eagle-takers  (The).  The  Eighty- 
Seventh  Foot.  [The  title  was  gained 
at  Barossa  (1811),  when  it  captured 
the  eagle  of  the  8th  French  Light 
Infantry.  Its  colours  also  bear  the 
plume  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  tho 
harp  and  crown,  an  eagle  with  a 
wreath  of  laurel.]  It  was  also  nick- 
named The  old  Fogs;  also  The 
Faugh-a-Ballagh  Boys,  from  Fag  an 
bealac  I  Clear  the  Way,  the  regi- 


mental march,  and  the  war-cry  at 
Barossa. 

Ear.  To  send  away  with  a  flea  in  the 
ear,  to  dismiss  peremptorily  and  with 
a  scolding :  Fr.,  mettre  la  puce  d  Voreille 
(1764).  To  bite,  the  ear  :  see  Bite.  To 
get  up  on  one's  ear,  to  bestir  oneself,  to 
rouse  oneself  for  an  effort. 

Earl  of  Cork.  The  ace  of  diamonds. 

Earl  of  Mar's  Grey  Breeks  (The). 
The  Twenty- First  Foot  [In  allusion 


14S 


Early. 


to  the  colour  of  the  men's  breeches 
and  to  the  original  title  of  the  regi- 
ment, The  Earl  of  Mar's  Fuzileers.] 
Obsolete. 

Early.  To  get  up  early,  to  be 
astute,  ready,  wide  -  awake  :  cf .  It's 
the  early  bird  that  catches  the  worm 
(1738). 

Early  -  riser.  An  aperient :  cf. 
Custom-house  officer,  and  Two  gunners 
and  a  driver. 

Early-worm.  A  man  who  searches 
the  streets  at  daybreak  for  cigar 
stumps. 

Earth  -  bath.  A  grave.  To  take 
an  earth  -  bath,  to  be  buried ;  cf . 
ground  sweat. 

Earthquake.  Battled  earthquake, 
intoxicating  drinks. 

Earth-stoppers.     Horse's  feet. 

Earthy.  Gross,  common,  devoid 
of  soul. 

Ear-wig.  A  private  prompter  or 
flatterer;  also  (thieves')  a  clergyman. 
[From  the  popular  delusion  that  the 
ear- wig  lodges  itself  in  the  ear  with  a 
view  to  working  its  way  into  the  brain, 
when  it  causes  death.]  (1639).  As 
verb,  to  prompt,  influence  by  covert 
statements,  whisper  insinuations. 

Ease.  To  rob;  Fr.,  soulager:  cf. 
Annex  and  Convey.  To  ease  a 
bloke,  to  rob  a  man  (1630). 

Eason.     To  tell. 

East-and- South  (rhyming  slang). 
The  mouth  ;  also  Sunny  south :  see 
Potato  trap. 

Eastery.     Private  business. 

Easy.  To  make  easy,  to  gag  or  kill 
(Grose).  Easy  as  damn  it  (or  as  my 
eye),  excessively  easy,  Easy  as  lying 
[Shakespeare].  Easy  does  it !  An 
exclamation  of  encouragement  and 
counsel,  Take  your  time  and  keep 
your  coat  on.  Easy  over  the  pimples 
(or  over  the  stones),  an  injunction  to  go 
slow,  or,  mind  what  you're  about. 

Easy  Virtue.  See  Lady  of  Easy 
Virtue. 

Eat.  To  provision:  e.g.  a  steamer  is 
said  to  be  able  to  eat  400  passengers 
and  sleep  about  half  that  number. 
Eat  coke :  see  Coke.  Eat  crow :  see 
Crow.  Eat  a  fig  (rhyming  slang), 
to  crack  a  crib,  to  break  a  house. 
To  eat  one's  head  off,  to  be  retained  for 
service  and  stand  idle ;  also  to  cost 
more  in  keep  than  one  is  worth.  Eat 
one's  head  (hat,  boots,  etc.),  a  locu- 
tion of  emphatic  asseveration.  [Prob- 


ably Dickensonian,  influenced  by  the 
proverbial  saying,  To  eat  one's  heart 
out  —  to  undergo  intense  struggle, 
and  also  To  eat  one's  head  off  (q.v.). 
To  eat  one's  terms,  to  go  through 
the  prescribed  course  of  study  for 
admission  to  the  bar.  [In  allusion 
to  the  dinners  a  student  has  to  attend 
in  the  public  hall  of  his  inn.]  To  eat 
one's  words,  to  retract  a  statement, 
own  a  lie.  To  eat  up,  to  vanquish, 
ruin.  [Originally  Zulu.] 

Eaves.     A  hen-roost. 

Eavesdropper.  A  chicken  thief ; 
also  generally,  any  petty  pilferer. 

Ebenezer  (Winchester  College). 
A  stroke  at  fives  :  when  the  ball  hits 
'  line  '  at  such  an  angle  as  to  rise 
perpendicularly  into  the  air. 

Ebony.  1.  A  negro ;  otherwise 
Blackbird  (q.v.)  and  Black  Ivory. 
Thomas  Fuller  (1608-1661)  spoke  of 
the  negro  race  as  God's  images  cut  in 
ebony.  2.  The  publisher  of  Maga : 
i.e.  Blackwood. 

Ebony-optics.  Black  eyes.  Ebony- 
optics  albonized,  black  eyes  painted 
white. 

Edgabac  (back  slang).     Cabbage. 

Edge.  Stitched  off  the  edge,  said  of 
a  glass  not  filled  to  the  top.  Side- 
edge,  whiskers.  Short  top  edge,  a 
turn-up  nose  or  Celestial  (q.v.).  Edge 
in,  to  slip  in,  insinuate,  e.g.  to  edge 
in  a  word  (or  a  remark).  Edge  off 
(or  out  of),  to  slink  away,  gradually 
desist.  To  take  the  edge  off  [a  thing, 
or  person,  or  idea],  to  become  ac- 
quainted with,  enjoy  to  satiety :  see 
Hamlet,  m.  ii.  '  It  would  cost  you  a 
groaning  to  take  off  my  edge.' 

Edgenaro  (back  slang).  An 
orange. 

Edge-ways.  Not  able  to  get  a  word  in 
edge-ways,  having  but  the  barest 
opportunity  of  taking  part  in  a  dis- 
cussion. 

Eel  -  skins.  Tight  trousers  :  see 
Kicks. 

E-fink  (back  slang).     A  knife, 

Efter.    A  theatre  thief. 

Egg.  See  Bad  egg.  Egg  on,  to 
encourage.  Sure  as  eggs  is  eggs,  of  a 
certainty,  without  doubt.  [From 
the  formula,  '  x  is  x.']  To  teach  one's 
grandmother  to  roast  (or  suck)  eggs,  to 
lecture  elders  and  superiors ;  Fr.,  lea 
oisons  veulent  mener  les  oies  pattre 
(the  goslings  want  to  drive  the  geese 
to  pasture). 


149 


Egham. 


Errand. 


Egham,  Staincs,  and  Windsor 
A  three-cornered  coachman's  hat.  |>, 

Egyptian-hall  (rhyming  slang).     A 
ball. 
,     Eighter.     An  eight-ounce  loaf. 

E  k  a  m  e  (back  slang).  A  Make 
(q.v.),  swindle. 

Ekom  (back  slang).  A  Moke  (q.v.) 
or  donkey. 

Elbow.  To  turn  a  corner,  get  out 
of  sight.  To  shake  the  elbow,  to  play 
dice.  [From  the  motion  of  the  arm 
in  casting.]  (1680).  To  crook  the 
elbow,  to  drink  :  see  Lush. 

Elbow-crooker.  A  hard  drinker. 
English  synonyms :  borachio,  boozing- 
ton,  brewer's  horse,  bubber,  budger, 
mop,  lushington,  worker  of  the  cannon, 
wet  -  quaker,  soaker,  lapper,  pegger, 
angel  altogether,  bloat,  ensign-Dearer, 
fiddle  -  cup,  sponge,  tun,  toss  -  pot, 
swill-pot,  wet  subject,  shifter,  pot- 
ster,  swallower,  pot-walloper,  wetster, 
dramster,  drinkster,  beer-barrel,  gin- 
nums,  lowerer,  moist  'un,  drainist, 
boozer,  mopper-up,  piss-maker,  thirst- 
ington. 

Elbower.     A  runaway. 

Elbow-grease.  Energetic  and  con- 
tinuous manual  labour :  e.g.  Elbow- 
grease  is  the  best  furniture  oil :  Fr., 
huile  de  bras  or  de  poignet ;  du  foulage 
(1779). 

Elbow  -  scraper  (or  Jigger).  A 
fiddler. 

Elbow-shaker.    A  gambler  (1748). 

Elbow-shaking.    Gambling. 

Electrified.  1.  Moderately  drunk : 
see  Screwed.  2.  Violently  startled. 

Elegant.     Excellent. 

Elegant  Extracts.  1.  The  Eighty- 
Fifth  Foot.  [This  regiment  was  re- 
modelled in  1812,  after  a  long 
sequence  of  court  -  martials  :  when 
the  officers  were  removed,  and  others 
set  in  their  room.]  2.  (Cambridge 
University).  Students  who,  though 
'  plucked,'  were  still  given  their 
degrees.  A  line  was  drawn  below  the 
poll-list,  and  those  allowed  to  pass 
were  nicknamed  the  elegant  extracts. 
There  was  a  similar  limbo  in  the 
honour  -  list,  called  the  Gulf :  for 
'  Between  them  (t'n  the  poll)  and  us 
(in  the  honour  lists)  there  is  a  great 
gulf  fixed.'] 

Elephant.  A  wealthy  victim. 
To  see  the  elephant,  1.  To  see  the  world, 
go  out  for  wool  and  come  home 
shorn;  by  implication,  to  go  on  the 


loose :  sometimes,  To  see  the  King. 
2.  To  be  seduced  ;  Fr.,  avoir  vu  le  loup. 

Elephant-dance.      See  Cellar-flap 
and  Double-shuffle. 
•-  Elephant's-trunk  (rhyming  slang). 
Drunk :  see  Screwed, 
r  Elevated.      Drunk :   see  Screwed. 
(1664). 

Elf  en.  To  walk  lightly,  go  on  tiptoe. 

Ellenborough  -  Lodge  (Spike,  or 
Park).  The  King's  Bench  Prison. 
[From  Ld.  Chief  -  Justice  Ellen- 
borough.  Ellenborough' s  teeth,  the 
chevaux  de  frize  round  the  prison 
wall. 

.    Elrig  (back  slang).     A  girl. 
.    Elycampane     (or     Elecampane). 
See  Allacompain. 

Emag  (back  slang).  Game :  e.g. 
I  know  your  little  emag. 

Embroider.  To  exaggerate,  add  to 
the  truth. 

Embroidery.  Exaggeration :  the 
American  sass  and  trimmins  (q.v.). 

Emma.     See  Whoa  Emma. 

Emperor.  A  drunken  man. 
[An  intensification  of,  Drunk  as  a 
lord  ;  whence,  Drunk  as  an  em- 
peror.] Fr.,  saoul  comme  trente  mille 
homines,  or  un  fine.. 

Empty  the  Bag.    See  Bag. 

Encumbrances.  Children :  see 
Certainties  and  Uncertainties. 

End.  To  be  all  on  end,  to  be  very 
angry,  irritated.  Also  expectant.  At 
loose  ends,  neglected,  precarious. 
End  on,  straight,  full-tilt.  To  keep 
one's  end  up,  to  rub  along. 

Enemy.  Time  :  e.g.  How  goes  the 
enemy,  what's  o'clock  ?  To  kill  the 
enemy,  to  kill  time. 

English  Burgundy.  Porter :  see 
Drinks. 

Enif.     Fine. 

Enin  -  gen.  Nine  shillings.  Enin 
yanneps,  ninepence. 

Eno  (back  slang).     One. 

Ensign  -  bearer.  A  drunkard  ; 
especially  with  red  nose  and  blotchy 
face:  see  Lushington. 

Ephesian.  A  boon  companion, 
spreester :  cf.  Corinthian. 

Epip  (back  slang).     A  pipe. 

Epsom-races  (rhyming  slang).  A 
pair  of  braces. 

Equipped.  Rich,  well-dressed,  in 
good  circumstances. 

Erif  (back  slang).     Fire. 

Eriff .     A  young  thief. 

Errand.      To  send  a  baby  on  an 


150 


Error. 


Eye-water. 


errand,  to  undertake  what  is  pretty 
sure  to  turn  out  badly. 

Error.     See  No  error. 

Erth  (back  slang).  Three.  Ertli 
gen,  three  shillings.  Erth-pu,  Three- 
up,  a  street  game,  played  with  three 
halfpence.  Erih  sith-noms,  Three 
months'  imprisonment ;  a  drag.  Erth 
yanneps,  Threepence. 

E  s  c  1  o  p  (back  slang).  A  police- 
constable  ;  esclop  is  pronounced  '  slop ' 
the  c  is  never  sounded  :  see  Beak. 

Es-roch  (back  slang).  A  horse : 
see  Prad. 

Essex-lion.  A  calf :  e.g.  as  valiant 
as  an  Essex-lion  :  cf.  Cotswold  Lion, 
Cambridgeshire  Nightingale,  etc. 

Essex-stile.    A  ditch. 

Esuch(  back  slang).  Ahorse:  seeKen. 

Eternity-box.  A  coffin.  English 
synonyms:  cold  meat  box,  wooden 
surtout,  coffee-shop,  deal  suit. 

Evaporate.  To  run  away,  to  dis- 
appear :  see  Bunk. 

Evatch  (back  slang).  To  have : 
e.g.  Evatch  a  kool  at  the  elrig,  Have 
a  look  at  the  girl. 

Everlasting-shoes  (also  Everlast- 
ings). The  naked  feet :  see  Creepers. 

Everlasting-staircase.  The  tread- 
mill. 

Everton  -  toffee  (rhyming  slang). 
Coffee. 

Everything  is  lovely  and  the 
goose  hangs  high.  Everything  is 
going  swimmingly.  [An  allusion  to 
the  sport  of  gander  pulling.  A  gan- 
der was  plucked,  thoroughly  greased, 
especially  about  the  head  and  neck, 
and  tied  tight  by  the  feet  to  the 
branch  of  a  tree.  The  game  was 
then  to  ride  furiously  at  the  mark, 
catch  it  by  the  head  or  neck,  and 
attempt  to  bear  it  away.  With  every 
failure  the  fun  would  get  more  up- 
roarious.] 

Evif  (back  slang).  Five.  Evif- 
gen,  a  crown,  or  five  shillings.  Evif- 
yanneps,  fivepence. 

Evil.     A  wife  :  see  Dutch. 

Evlenet-gen  (back  slang). 
Twelve  shillings.  Evlenet  sithnoms, 
twelve  months  :  generally  known  as 
a  stretch. 

Ewe.     See  White-ewe  and-Old  ewe. 

Ewe-mutton.  An  elderly  strumpet, 
or  piece. 

Exalted.     Hanged  :  see  Ladder. 

Exam.  An  abbreviation  of  Ex- 
amination. 


Exasperate.  To  over-aspirate  the 
letter  H. 

E  x  c  e  1 1  e  r  s.  The  Fortieth  Foot. 
[A  pun  upon  its  number,  xl  +  ers.] 

Excruciators.  Tight  boots ;  especi- 
ally with  pointed  toes. 

Execution-day.     Washing  day. 

Exes.  1.  An  abbreviation  of  ex- 
penses. 2.  An  abbreviation  of  ex- 
officials,  ex-ministers,  and  so  forth. 
As  in  Tom  Moore's  '  We  x's  have 
proved  ourselves  not  to  be  wise.' 

Exis-evif-gen  (back  slang).  Six 
times  five  shillings,  i.e.  30s.  All 
monies  may  be  reckoned  in  this 
manner,  either  with  yanneps  or  gens. 
Exis-evif-yanneps,  literally,  sixpence 
and  fivepence,  elevenpence.  Exis  gen, 
six  shillings.  Exis  sith-noms,  six- 
months.  Exis  yanneps,  sixpence. 

Expecting.     With  child. 

Experience  Does  it.  A  dog- 
English  rendering  of  Experienta  docet. 

Explaterate.  To  hold  forth,  ex- 
plain in  detail.  [From  O.E.  Expiate 
==to  unfold.] 

Explosion.    A  delivery  in  childbed. 

Exquisite.     A  fop  :  see  Dandy. 

Extensive.  Formerly  applied  to  a 
person's  appearance  or  talk  ;  rather 
extensive  that !  intimating  that  the 
person  alluded  to  is  showing  off,  or 
cutting  it  fat. 

Extinguisher.     A  dog's  muzzle. 

Ex  Trumps  (Winchester  College). 
Extempore.  To  go  up  to  books  ex 
trumps,  to  go  to  class  without  pre- 
paring one's  lessons. 

Eye.  See  All  my  eye.  To  putt  wool 
over  tlie  eyes  :  see  Wool.  To  keep  the 
eyes  dean  (skinned,  or  peeled),  to  be 
watchful,  alert,  with  all  one's  wits 
about  one.  To  have  a  drop  in  the 
eye,  to  be  drunk :  see  Screwed.  In 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye :  see  Bedpost. 
To  bet  one's  eyes :  see  Bet.  My 
eyes  I  An  expression  of  surprise. 

Eyelashes.  To  hang  on  by  the  eye- 
lashes (or  eyebrows),  to  be  very  tena- 
cious ;  also  by  implication,  to  be  in  a 
difficulty  :  cf.  Hang  on  by  the  splash 
board. 

Eye-limpet.     An  artificial  eye. 

Eye-opener.  1.  Drink  generally  ; 
specifically,  a  mixed  drink.  2.  Any- 
thing surprising  or  out  of  the 
way. 

Eyeteeth.  To  have  cut  one's  eye- 
teeth,  to  have  learned  wisdom. 

Eye-water.    Gin  :  see  Drinks. 


151 


Fa.;-. 


Faggot-briefs. 


Face.  1.  Confidence,  boldness, 
also  (more  frequently)  impudence : 
e.g.  I  like  your  face,  I  like  your 
cheek.  Once  literary ;  cf.  Cheek, 
Jaw,  Gab,  Brow,  Mouth,  Lip,  etc. 
(1610).  2.  Credit  To  push  one's 
face,  to  get  credit  by  bluster  (1765). 
3.  A  qualification  of  contempt :  e.g. 
Now  face  !  where  are  you  a-shoving 
of  T  '  As  verb,  to  bully  (1593) :  also 
to  face  (or  outface)  with  a  card  of  ten, 
to  browbeat,  bluff.  [Nares :  derived 
from  some  game  (possibly  primero) 
wherein  the  standing  boldly  upon  a 
ten  was  often  successful.]  (1460).  To 
face  the  knocker,  to  go  begging :  see 
Cadge.  To  have  no  face  but  one's  own, 
to  be  penniless,  or  (gamesters')  to 
hold  no  court  cards  :  Fr.,  n' 'avoir  pas 
une  face,  to  have  not  a  sou.  To 
make  faces,  to  go  back,  or  '  round ' 
upon  a  friend.  To  face  the  music,  to 
meet  an  emergency,  show  one's  hand. 
Face  -  entry.  Freedom  of  access, 
the  personal  appearance  being  familiar 
to  attendants. 

Facer.  1.  A  blow  in  the  face 
(Grose).  2.  A  sudden  check,  spoke 
in  one's  wheel.  3.  A  dram.  4.  A 
bumper  (Orose).  5.  A  tumbler  of 
whisky  punch.  6.  An  accomplice, 
stall  (q.v.),  fence  (q.v.). 

F  a  c  e  y.  A  fellow  vis-d-vis,  work- 
man. Facey  on  the  bias,  one  in  front 
either  to  right  or  left ;  Facey  on  the 
two  thick,  one  working  immediately 
behind  one's  opposite. 

Facings.  To  be  put  (or  go), 
through  one's  facings,  to  be  called 
to  account  or  scolded,  to  exemplify 
capacity  ;  to  show  off.  Silk-facings, 
stains  upon  work  caused  by  beer 
droppings. 

Fad-cattle.  Easy  women. 
Faddist  (or  Fadmonger).  A 
person  (male  or  female)  devoted  to  the 
pursuit  of  public  fads :  as  social 
purity,  moral  art,  free  -  trade  in 
syphilis,  and  so-forth. 

F  addle.  To  toy,  trifle  :  as  a  subs., 
a  busybody,  a  '  nancified,'  affected, 
male.  Also  Faddy,  full  of  fads. 

Fadge.  A  farthing.  English  syno- 
nyms :  fiddler,  farden,  gig,  (or  grig), 
quartereen.  As  verb,  to  suit,  fit, 
agree  with,  come  off.  [Nares  :  prob- 
ably never  better  than  a  low  word : 


it    is  now  confined   to   the   streets] 
(1596). 

F  a  d  g  e  r.  A  glazier's  frame,  a 
'  frail.' 

Fadmonger.  A  Faddist  (q.v.). 
Fadmongering,  dealing  as  a  Faddist 
with  fads. 

Fag.  1.  A  boy  doing  menial  work 
for  a  schoolfellow  in  a  higher  form. 
As  verb,  to  act  as  a  fag.  2.  Christ's 
Hospital).  Eatables.  3.  A  lawyer's 
clerk.  4.  A  cigarette. 

Fag.     See  subs.     To  beat 

F agger  (Figger,  or  Figure).  A 
boy  thief  employed  to  enter  houses  by 
windows  and  either  open  the  doors  to 
his  confederates  as  Oliver  Twist  with 
Bill  Sykes),  or  hand  out  the  swag  to 
them  ;  also  Little  snakesman  (q.v.) : 
cf.  Diver. 

Fagging  (or  F  a  g  g  e  r  y). 
Waiting  upon  and  doing  menial  work 
for  a  schoolfellow  in  a  higher  form. 
Also  used  adjectively. 

Faggot.  1.  A  woman,  baggage:  in 
contempt.  [Once  a  popular  symbol 
of  recantation  :  heretics  who  had  thus 
escaped  the  stake  were  required  either 
to  bear  a  faggot  and  burn  it  in  public, 
or  to  wear  an  imitation  on  the  sleeve 
as  a  badge.]  Also  Bed-  (or  Straw-) 
faggot,  a  wife,  or  mistress  ;  Tumble- 
faggot,  a  whore-master ;  Carry  -  faggot, 
a  mattress.  2.  A  sort  of  cake,  roll, 
or  ball,  a  number  being  baked  at  a 
time,  made  of  chopped  liver  and  lights, 
mixed  with  gravy,  and  wrapped  in 
pieces  of  pig  s  caul  It  weighs  six 
ounces,  so  that  it  is  unquestion- 
ably a  cheap  [it  costs  Id.  hot]  and,  to 
the  scavenger,  a  savoury  meal,  but 
to  other  nostrils  its  odour  is  not 
seductive  (Mayhew).  3.  A  dummy 
soldier ;  one  hired  to  appear  at  a 
muster  to  hide  deficiencies.  Many 
names  of  dummies  would  appear  on 
the  muster-roll :  for  these  the  colonel 
drew  pay,  but  they  were  never  in  the 
ranks  :  obsolete,  see  Widow's  -  man 
(1672).  As  verb,  to  bind  hand 
and  foot,  to  tie  [as  sticks  into  a 
faggot] :  Fr.,  tm  fagot,  a  convict,  be- 
cause bound  to  a  common  chain  on 
their  way  to  the  hulks. 

Faggot-briefs.  Bundles  of 
dummy  papers  sometimes  carried  by 
briefless  barristers. 


152 


Faggot-vote. 


'Fan 


Faggot  -  vote.  A  vote  secured  by 
the  purchase  of  property  under  mort- 
gage, or  otherwise,  so  as  to  constitute 
a  nominal  qualification  without  a  sub- 
stantial basis. 

Fains!  (Fainits!  Fain  itl)  A 
call  for  truce  during  the  progress  of 
a  game  without  which  priority  or  place 
would  be  lost ;  generally  understood  to 
be  preferred  in  bounds,  or  when  out 
of  danger  :  see  Bags  ! 

Fair-gang.    Gypsies. 

Fair-rations.    Fair  dealings. 

Fair-shake.  A  good  bargain :  see 
Shake. 

Fair-trade.     Smuggling. 

Faithful.  One  of  the  faithful  (1)  A 
drunkard:  see  Lushington  (1609). 
(2)  A  tailor  giving  long  credit  (Grose). 

Faithful  Durhams.  The  Sixty- 
Eighth  Footh. 

Fake.  An  action,  proceeding, 
manoeuvre,  mechanical  contrivance — 
an  affair  of  any  kind  irrespective  of 
morals  or  legality :  generally  used  in 
a  sense  specifically  detrimental.  In 
America,  a  swindler.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  do  anything  ;  to  fabricate,  cheat, 
deceive,  devise  falsely,  steal,  forge :  a 
general  verb-of -all-work.  In  America, 
fix  (q.v.)  is  employed  much  in  the 
same  way  :  Fr.,  faire.  Also,  To  fake 
a  screeve,  to  write  a  begging  letter  ;  to 
fake  one's  slangs,  to  file  through  one's 
fetters  ;  to  fake  a  dy  (q.v.),  to  pick  a 
pocket ;  to  fake  the  sweetener,  to  kiss  ; 
to  jake  the  duck,  to  adulterate,  dodge  ; 
to  fake  the  rubber,  to  stand  treat ;  to 
fake  the  broads,  to  pack  the  cards,  or  to 
work  the  three-cark  trick ;  to  fake  a 
line  (theatrical),  to  improvise  a  speech ; 
to  fake  a  dance  (a  step,  or  a  trip)  thea- 
trical), to  perform  what  looks  like,  but 
is  not,  dancing.  (2)  To  hocus,  nobble, 
tamper.  (3)  To  paint  one's  face,  make 
up  a  character.  Also  to  fake  up.  (4) 
To  cut  out  the  wards  of  a  key.  Fake 
away!  an  ej  aculation  of  encouragement. 

Fake-boodle.    See  Boodle. 

Faked.  Counterfeit :  sometimes 
Faked-up :  Fr.,  lophe. 

Fakement.  1.  A  counterfeit  signa- 
ture, forgery :  specifically  a  begging 
letter  or  petition :  Fr.,  brasser  des 
faffes,  to  forge  documents,  i.e.  To 
screeve  fakements.  2.  Generic  for 
dishonest  practices ;  but  applied  to 
any  kind  of  action,  contrivance,  or 
trade  :  see  Fake.  3.  Small  properties, 
accessories. 


Fakement  -  Charley.  An  owner's 
private  mark. 

.-  Faker.  1.  One  who  makes,  does, 
or  fakes  anything ;  specifically  a 
thief.  Found  in  many  combinations  : 
e.g.  Bit  -  faker,  Flue  -  faker,  Grub- 
faker,  Sham-faker,  Twat-faker,  etc. 
2.  A  circus  rider  or  performer. 

Fakes  and  Slumboes.  Properties, 
accessories  of  any  kind. 

Faking.  The  act  of  doing  any- 
thing :  Fr.,  maquillage  (or  goupinage), 

Fall.  1.  To  be  arrested.  2.  To 
conceive  :  see  Lumpy. 

Fall  of  the  Leaf  (The).  Hanging  : 
see  Ladder. 

False  -  hereafter.  A  bustle  :  see 
Bird-cage. 

F  a  m.  See  Fambling-cheat  and 
Famble. 

F  a  m  b  1  e  (Fam,  or  Fem).  The 
hand  :  see  Fambling-cheat :  see  Bunch 
of  fives  and  Daddle.  As  verb,  to 
touch,  to  handle,  especially  with  a 
view  to  ascertaining  the  whereabouts 
of  valuables.  Also  To  fam  for  the 
plant :  see  To  run  a  rule  over. 

Famblers  (Fambling  -  cheats,  or 
Fam-snatchers).  Gloves. 

Fambling- cheat  (Famble,  or 
Fam).  A  ring ;  also  (about  1694) 
gloves,  which  later  still  were  also 
called  Fam-snatchers  (q.v.)  (1560). 

Fam-grasp.  To  shake  hands :  also 
subs.,  hand-shaking. 

Familiars.     Lice  :  see  Chates. 

Familiar -way.     With  child. 

Family-disturbance.  Whisky :  see 
Drinks. 

Family  -  hotel.  A  prison  :  see 
Cage. 

Family-man.  A  thief ;  specifically, 
a  fence  (q.v.).  [In  allusion  to  the 
fraternities  into  which  thieves  were  at 
one  time  invariably  banded.]  (1749). 

Family-plate.  Silver  money  :  see 
Rhino. 

Family-pound.    A  family  grave. 

Fam -lay.     Shoplifting. 

Fam-snatchers.  Gloves :  cf. 
Fambling-cheat. 

Fam-squeeze.     Strangulation. 

Fam-struck.  Baffled  in  ascertain, 
ing  the  whereabouts  of  valuables  on 
the  person  of  an  intended  victim  ;  also 
handcuffed. 

Fan.  A  waistcoat ;  said  by  Hotten 
(1864)  to  be  a  Houndsditch  term,  but 
quoted  in  Matsell  (1859)  as  American. 
English  synonyms :  ben,  benjie,  M.B. 


153 


Fancy. 


Fnth-r. 


waistcoat,  Charley  Prescot.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  beat,  to  be-ratc.  (2)  To  feel, 
handle  (with  a  view  to  ascertain  if  a 
victim  has  anything  valuable  about 
his  person).  Also  to  steal  from  the 
person.  Queen  Anne's  fan :  see  post. 

Fancy.  The  fraternity  of  pugilists : 
prize-fighting  being  once  regarded  aa 
The  fancy,  par  excellence.  Hence,  by 
implication,  people  who  cultivate  a 
special  hobby  or  taste. 

Fancy-bloke.  1.  A  sporting  man. 
2.  See  Fancy-man. 

Fancy-house.    A  brotheL 

Fancy-Joseph.  An  Apple-squire 
(q.v.),  Cupid. 

Fancy-lay.     Pugilism. 

Fancy-man  (or  bloke).  A 
prostitute's  lover,  husband,  or  pen- 
sioner. English  synonyms!  apple- 
squire,  faker,  bully,  ponce,  pensioner, 
Sunday-man,  fancy-Joseph,  squire  of 
the  body,  apron  -  squire,  petticoat 
pensioner,  prosser,  twat-faker,  twat- 
master,  stallion,  mack,  bouncer, 
bruiser,  buck. 

Fancy-piece.     A  prostitute. 

Fancy-work.  To  take  in  fancy 
work,  to  play  the  harlot. 

Fang-faker.    A  dentist. 

Fanning.  1.  Stealing ;  Cross- 
fanning,  robbery  from  the  person,  the 
arms  of  the  manipulator  being  folded. 
2.  A  beating. 

Fanny  Adams.     Tinned  mutton. 

Fanny  Blair.     The  hair. 

Fantail.  A  sort  of  round  hat 
with  a  long  leathern  fan-shaped  flap 
at  the  back  ;  worn  by  coal-heavers 
and  dustmen;  a  Sou'-wester  (q.v.). 

Fanteague.  On  the  Fanteague,  on 
the  burst,  or  loose. 

Far  -  back.  An  indifferent  work- 
man, ignoramus. 

Farden.  A  farthing  :  see  Rhino. 
Fadge. 

Farm.  1.  An  establishment  where 
pauper  or  illegitimate  children  were 
lodged  and  fed  at  so  much  a  head. 
Also  verbally,  to  contract  to  feed  and 
lodge  pauper  or  illegitimate  children. 
2.  The  prison  infirmary.  To  fetch  the 
farm,  to  be  ordered  infirmary  diet 
and  treatment :  see  Fetch. 

Farmer.  1.  An  alderman.  2. 
One  who  contracts  to  lodge  and  feed 
pauper  or  illegitimate  children. 

Farthing.  To  care  not  a  brass 
farthing,  to  care  nothing.  Chaucer 
uses  the  expression  '  no  farthing  of 


grease  *  as  equivalent  to  a  small 
quantity. 

Fast.  1.  Embarrassed,  hard-up, 
in  a  tight  place.  2.  Dissipated,  ad- 
dicted to  going  the  pace  :  e.g.  a  fast 
man,  a  rake-hell,  or  spendthrift ;  a 
fast  woman,  a  strumpet ;  a  fast  life,  a 
life  of  debauchery ;  a  fast  house,  a 
brothel,  or  a  sporting  tavern  ;  to  dress 
fast,  to  dress  for  the  town  ;  to  live 
fast,  to  go  the  pace,  and  so  forth 
(1751).  3.  Impudent,  cheeky:  e.g. 
Don't  you  be  so  fast,  Mind  your  own 
business.  To  play  fast  and  loose,  to  be 
variable,  inconstant,  say  one  thing 
and  do  another. 

Fastener  (or  Fastner).    A  warrant. 

Fat.  1.  Money:  Fr.,  graisse:  see 
Rhino.  2.  Composition  full  of  blank 
spaces  or  in  short  lines.  Verse  is 
frequently  fat,  while  this  dictionary, 
with  its  constant  change  of  type,  is 
lean  (q.v.).  Hence,  work  that  pays 
well :  Fr.,  affaire  juteuse.  3.  A  good 
part ;  telling  lines  and  conspicuous  or 
commanding  situations :  Fr.,  des 
cotelettes.  As  adj.,  (1)  rich,  abundant, 
profitable.  (2)  Good.  Cut  it  fat:  see 
Cut.  Cut  up  fat:  see  Cut  up.  All 
the  fat's  in  the  fire,  said  of  failures  and 
of  the  results  of  sudden  and  un- 
expected revelation,  disappointments  : 
i.e.  it  is  all  over  or  up  with  a 
person  or  thing.  A  late  equivalent  is, 
And  then  the  band  played.  Fat  as 
a  hen's  forehead,  meagre,  skinny  (q.v.). 

Fat-  (Barge-,  Broad-  or  Heavy-) 
arsed.  Broad  in  the  breech ;  and, 
by  implication  (in  Richard  Baxter's 
Shove  to  Heavy  Arsed  Christians), 
thick-witted  and  slow  to  move. 

Fat-  (or  Thick-)  chops.  A  con- 
tumelious epithet. 

Fater  (Faytor,  or  Fator).  A 
fortune-teller.  In  Spencer,  a  doer  ;  in 
Bailey,  an  idle  fellow,  vagabond  :  Fr., 
faiteur. 

Fat-flab  (Winchester  School). 
A  cut  off  the  fat  part  of  a  breast  of 
mutton :  see  Cat's-head. 

Fat-  (or  Full-)  guts.  An  oppro- 
brious epithet  for  a  fat  man  or 
woman. 

Fat-head.  A  dolt  Fat -headed 
(-skulled,  -thoughted,  -paled,  -grained, 
or  -witted),  dull,  stupid,  slow. 

Father.  1.  A  receiver  of  stolen 
property,  fence  (q.v.).  2.  A  chief  in 
authority,  elder :  e.g.  The  father  of 
the  house,  the  oldest  member  of  the 


154 


Father  Derbies  Bands. 


Feet. 


House  of  Commons  (cf.  Babe) ; 
among  printers,  the  chairman  of  the 
Chapel  (q.v.),  tne  intermediary  be- 
tween master  and  men ;  in  naval 
circles,  the  builder  of  a  man-of-war 
or  Government '  bottom.' 

Father  Derbie's  Bands.  See 
Darbies. 

Father's  Brother.  A  pawnbroker, 
My  uncle  (q.v.). 

Fat  Jack  of  the  Bone-house.  A  con- 
tumelious epithet  for  a  very  stout  man. 

Fatness.     Wealth  :  Fat,  rich. 

Fatten  -  up.  To  write  Fat  (subs., 
sense  3)  into  a  part. 

Fat  -  *un.  An  emission  of  peculiar 
rankness,  '  roarer  '  (Swift). 

Fatty  (Fatymus,  or  Fattyma). 
A  jocular  epithet  for  a  fat  man  ;  a 
comic  endearment  for  a  fat  woman. 

Faugh  -  a  -  Ballagh  Boys.  The 
Eighty-Seventh  Foot ;  also  known 
as  the  Eagle-takers  (q.v.),  and  the 
Old  Fogs  (q.v.).  [From  Fag  an  bealac, 
Clear  the  Way,  the  .  regimental 
march.]  >'*•  l^t.TC^W^ 

Faulkner.    A  tumbler,  juggler.!?! 

Fawney  (or  Fauney).  1.  A  ring  : 
Fr.,  brobuante,  broquille,  chason.  2. 
A  swindle  (also  Fawney '-dropping,  or 
rig),  worked  as  follows : — A  ring 
(snide)  is  let  drop  in  front  of  a  passer- 
by, who  picks  it  up,  and  is  confronted 
by  the  dropper,  who  claims  to  share. 
In  consideration  of  immediate  settle- 
ment he  offers  to  accept  something  less 
than  the  apparent  value  in  cash. 
Also  done  with  pocket-books,  meer- 
schaum pipes,  etc.  Fawney -dropper, 
one  that  practices  the  ring-dropping 
trick;  Fawney -bouncing,  selling  rings 
for  a  pretended  wager ;  Fawnied, 
ringed  (1789). 

Feager.  '  One  that  beggeth  with 
counterfeit  writings '  (Rowlands, 
1610). 

Feague.  To  send  packing,  whiff 
away.  •  ^f-  j$ 

Peak.     The  fundament. 

Feather.  1.  Kind,  species,  com- 
pany :  cf.  Birds  of  a  feather :  see 
Kidney  (1608).  2.  In  pi.,  money, 
wealth  :  see  Rhino.  In  full  feather  ( 1 ), 
rich.  (2)  In  full  costume  ;  with  all 
one's  war  paint  on.  In  high  (or  full) 
feather,  elated,  brilliant,  conspicuous. 
To  feather  one's  nest,  to  amass  money ; 
specifically  to  enrich  oneself  by  in- 
direct pickings  and  emoluments  (1590). 
To  feather  an  oar,  in  rowing,  to  turn 


the  blade  horizontally,  with  the  upper 
edge  pointing  aft,  as  it  leaves  the 
water,  for  the  purpose  of  lessening  the 
resistance  of  the  air  upon  it.  To 
show  the  white  feather,  to  turn  cur, 
prove  oneself  a  coward.  [Among 
game  cocks  a  cross-bred  bird  is  known 
by  a  white  feather  in  the  tail.  Of  old 
the  breed  was  strictly  preserved  in 
England,  for  though  birds  of  all 
descriptions  were  reared  in  the  farm- 
yard, special  care  was  taken  that  game 
fowls  did  not  mix  with  them ;  but  this 
would  occasionally  happen,  and  while 
the  game  birds  were  only  red  and 
black,  white  feathers  would  naturally 
appear  when  there  was  any  cross. 
The  slightest  impurity  of  strain  was 
said  to  destroy  the  bird's  courage,  and 
the  half-breeds  were  never  trained  for 
the  pit.  It  became  an  adage  that  any 
cock  would  fight  on  his  own  dunghill, 
but  it  must  be  one  without  a  white 
feather  to  fight  in  the  pit.] 

Feather-bed  and  pillows.  A  fat 
woman. 

Feather-bed  Lane.  A  rough  or 
stony  lane. 

Feather-bed  Soldier  (old  col- 
loquial). A  practised  and  determined 
loose  liver. 

Feck.  To  discover  a  safe  way  of 
stealing  or  swindling. 

Feed.  A  meal,  Spread  (q.v.), 
Blow-out  (q.v.):  Fr.,  lampie.  As 
verb  (1),  to  support,  backup.  (2)  To 
prompt.  (3)  To  teach  or  cram  (q.v.)  for 
an  examination.  At  feed,  at  meat. 
To  be  off  one's  feed,  to  have  a  distaste 
for  food.  To  feed  the  fishes,  to  be  sea- 
sick ;  also  to  be  drowned.  To  feed 
the  press,  to  send  up  copy  slip  by  slip. 

Feeder.  1.  A  spoon ;  among  thieves 
a  silver  spoon.  To  nab  a  feeder,  to 
steal  a  spoon  (Grose).  2.  A  tutor, 
crammer  (q.v.).  coach  (q.v.)  (1766). 

Feeding  -  bottle.  The  paps  :  see 
Dairy. 

Feel.     See  Bones. 

Feele.  A  girl  or  daughter :  see 
Titter:  Fr.,  fille ;  It.,  figlia.  Feeles, 
mother  and  daughter. 

Feeler.  1.  A  device  or  remark 
designed  to  bring  out  the  opinions 
of  others.  2.  The  hand  :  see  Bunch 
of  Fives. 

Feet.  Making  feet  for  children's 
stockings,  begetting  or  breeding  chil- 
dren. Officer  of  feet,  an  officer  of 
infantry  (Grose).  How's  your  poor 


155 


Fetth. 


feet  ?  a  street  catch  phrase  in  the 
early  part  of  the  sixties.  [Henry 
Irving's  revival  of  '  The  Dead  Heart  ' 
revived  this  bit  of  slang.  .  . .  When  the 
play  was  brought  out  originally, 
where  one  of  the  characters  says,  '  My 
heart  is  dead,  dead,  dead  ! '  a  voice 
from  the  gallery  nearly  broke  up  the 
drama  with  '  How  are  your  poor  feet  ? 
The  phrase  lived.] 

Feet-casements.  Boots  or  shoes  : 
see  Trotter-cases. 

Feeze  (Feaze,  Feize,  or  Pheeze). 
To  beat. 

Feint.  A  pawnbroker:  see  My  uncle. 

Feker.    Trade,  profession. 

Fell.  Fell  a  bit  on,  to  act  craftily, 
in  an  underhand  manner. 

Fell -and -didn't.  Said  of  a  man 
walking  lame. 

Fellow.    See  Old  fellow. 

Fellow  -  commoner.  An  empty 
bottle:  see  Dead  man  (1794). 

Felt.  A  hat  of  felted  wool :  see 
Golgotha  (1609). 

Fern.     See  Famble. 

Fen.  A  prostitute  (Grose).  As  verb 
(also  Fend,  Fain,  Fainits,  etc.),  a  term 
of  warning,  or  of  prohibition :  as  to 
prevent  any  change  in  the  existing 
conditions  of  a  game  ;  e.g.  at  marbles, 
Fen-placings,  no  alteration  in  position 
of  marbles  is  permissible ;  Fen-clear- 
ances, removal  of  obstacles  is  for- 
bidden. 

.Fence.  1.  A  purchaser  or  receiver 
of  stolen  goods.  English  synonyms  : 
fencing  master  (or  cully),  billy-fencer, 
angling  cove,  stallsman,  Ikey,  family- 
man,  father  (1714).  2.  A  place 
where  stolen  goods  are  purchased  or 
received  :  FT.,  moulin.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to 
purchase  or  receive  stolen  goods  (1610). 
(2)  To  spend  money  (1728).  To  be 
(ait,  or  ride)  on  the  fence,  to  be  neutral, 
ready  to  join  the  winning  side,  to 
wait  to  see  how  the  cat  will  jump : 
also,  to  sit  on  both  sides  of  the  hedge. 
Those  who  thus  seek  to  run  with  the 
hare  and  hunt  with  the  hounds  are 
called  Fence-men.  The  operation  is 
Fence-riding,  which  sometimes  quali- 
fies for  rail-riding  (q.v.). 

Fencer.  A  hawker  of  small  wares, 
tramp  :  generally  used  in  connection 
with  another  word  ;  thus,  Driz-fencer 
(q.v.),  a  pedlar  of  lace. 

Fencing-crib  (or  ken).  A  place 
where  stolen  goods  are  purchased  or 
secreted. 


Fencing-cully.  A  receiver  of  stolen 
goods. 

Fen  -  nightingale.  A  frog  :  also 
Cambridgeshire,  and  Cape  Night- 
ingale. 

Ferguson.  You  can't  lodge  here, 
Mr.  Ferguson,  a  street  cry,  popular 
about  1846-50 ;  used  in  derision  or 
denial.  [Mr.  J.  H.  Dixon,  writing  to 
Mr.  John  Camden  Hotten,  under  date 
Nov.  6, 1864,  says  the  phrase  originated 
thus  : — A  young  Scotsman,  named 
Ferguson,  visited  Epsom  races,  where 
he  got  very  drunk.  His  friends 
applied  to  several  hotel  keepers  to  give 
him  a  bed,  but  in  vain.  There  was 
no  place  for  Mr.  Ferguson.  He  was 
accordingly  driven  to  London  by  his 
companions,  who  kept  calling  out, 
Ferguson,  you  can't  lodge  here.  This 
was  caught  up  by  the  crowd,  repeated, 
and  in  a  week  was  all  over  London,  and 
in  a  month  all  over  the  kingdom.  Mr 
Dixon  states  he  was  introduced  to 
Mr.  Ferguson,  and  that  two  of  his 
companions  were  intimate  friends.] 

Perm.  A  hole :  with  Spencer,  a 
prison  (1632). 

Ferret.  1.  A  barge-thief.  2.  A 
dunning  tradesman.  3.  A  pawn- 
broker :  see  My  uncle.  To  ferret  ovt, 
to  be  at  pains  to  penetrate  a  mystery 
of  any  kind  by  working  under- 
ground. 

Ferricadouzer.  A  knock  -  down 
blow,  a  thrashing. 

F  e  s  s.  To  confess,  own  up :  FT., 
norguer.  As  adj.,  proud. 

Festive.  Loud,  fast ;  a  kind  of 
general  utility  word.  Gay  and  festive 
cuss  (Artemus  Ward),  a  rollicking 
companion. 

Fetch.  1.  A  stratagem  ;  indirectly 
bringing  something  to  pass  ( 1576).  2. 
A  success.  3.  A  likeness :  e.g.  the 
very  fetch  of  him,  his  very  image  or 
spit  (q.v.) :  also  an  apparition.  As 
verb,  ( 1 )  to  please,  excite  admiration, 
arouse  attention  or  interest  (1607). 
(2)  To  get,  do.  Some  combinations  are 
To  fetch  the  farm,  to  get  infirmary 
treatment  and  diet ;  to  fetch  a  stinger, 
(colloquial),  to  get  in  a  heavy  blow ; 
to  fetch  a  lagging  (thieves'),  to  serve 
one's  term  ;  to  fetch  a  howl,  to  cry  ;  to 
fetch  a  crack,  to  strike ;  to  fetch  a  cir- 
cumbendibus, to  make  a  detour ;  to 
fetch  the  brewer,  to  get  drunk.  To 
fetch  away,  to  part ;  e.g.  A  fool  and 
his  money  are  soon  fetched  away.  To 

156 


Fettle. 


Fieri  Facias. 


fetch  up,  1.  to  stop  ;  to  run  against.  2. 
To  startle.  3.  To  come  to  light.  4. 
To  recruit  one's  strength  after  illness. 
Fetching,  attractive  (as  of  women), 
pleasing  (as  of  a  dress  or  bonnet). 

Fettle.  In  good  (or  in  proper) 
fettle,  drunk. 

Few.  A  few  (or  Just  a  few),  origin- 
ally a  little.  Hence,  by  implication, 
on  the  lucus  a  non  lucendo  prin- 
ciple, considerably ;  e.g.  Were  you 
alarmed  ?  No,  but  I  was  astonished 
a  few  !  i.e.  I  was  greatly  surprised : 
cf.  Rather,  a  good  deal  (1778). 

Fib.  1.  To  beat,  specifically  (pugil- 
ism) to  get  in  a  quick  succession  of 
blows,  as  when  you  get  your  man 
round  the  neck  (i.e.  in  chancery)  and 
pommel  his  ribs  and  face  (1665).  2. 
To  lie  (1694).  Also,  used  substan- 
tively,  (1)  a  lie,  (2)  a  liar  (1738). 

Fibber.     A  liar  (1748). 

Fibbery.     Lying. 

Fibbing.  1.  Pummelh'ng  an  op- 
ponent's head  while  '  in  chancery,' 
drubbing :  Fr.,  bordee  de  coups  de 
poings.  2.  Lying. 

Fibbing-gloak.     A  pugilist. 

Fibbing-match.    A  prize-fight. 

Fibster.    A  liar. 

Fiddle.  1.  A  sharper  ;  sometimes 
Old  fiddle  :  see  Rook.  2.  A  swindle  : 
see  Sell.  3.  A  whip.  4.  A  fiddle  on 
which  to  play  a  tune  called  '  Four 
pounds  of  oakum  a  day ' — a  piece  of 
rope  and  a  long  crooked  nail.  5. 
(Stock  Exchange).  One  sixteenth 
part  of  a  pound.  6.  A  watchman's 
(or  policeman's)  rattle.  7.  A  six- 
pence :  see  Rhino,  and  cf.  Fiddler's 
money.  As  verb,  (1)  to  trifle,  especi- 
ally with  the  hands  (1663).  (2)  To 
cheat,  specifically,  to  gamble.  (3)  To 
earn  a  livelihood  by  doing  small 
jobs  on  the  street.  (4)  To  intrigue. 
(5)  To  strike.  Scotch  fiddle,  the  itch. 
To  hang  up  the  fiddle,  to  abandon 
an  undertaking.  To  play  first  (or 
second)  fiddle,  to  take  a  leading  or 
a  subordinate  part.  Among  tailors 
second  fiddle,  an  unpleasant  task. 
Fit  as  a  fiddle,  in  good  form  or  con- 
dition. See  Fiddle-de-dee. 

Fiddle-faced.  Wizened,  also  sub- 
stantively. 

Fiddle-faddle.  Twaddling,  trifling, 
'little  nothings,'  rot  (q.v.):  Fr.,  oui, 
lea  landers  !  (1593).  As  adj.,  trifling, 
fussy,  fluffing  (1712).  As  verb,  to 
toy,  trifle,  talk  nonsense,  gossip, 


make  much  cry  and  little  wool. 
(1761).  Also  Fiddle  -  faddler,  one 
inclined  to  Fiddle-faddles. 

Fiddle  -  head.  A  plain  prow  as 
distinguished  from  a  figure  -  head  : 
Hence  Fiddle-headed,  plain,  ugly. 

Fiddler.  1.  A  trifler,  a  careless, 
negligent,  or  dilatory  person.  2.  A 
sharper,  cheat ;  also  Fiddle  (q.v.).  3. 
A  prize-fighter ;  one  who  depends 
more  on  activity  than  upon  strength 
or  stay.  4.  A  sixpence.  [From 
the  old  custom  of  each  couple  at  a 
dance  paying  the  fiddler  a  sixpence  :  cf. 
Fiddler's-money.]  5.  A  farthing  :  see 
Rhino. 

Fiddlers' -fare.  Meat,  drink,  and 
money  (Grose). 

Fiddlers' -green.  A  sailor's  elysium 
(situate  on  the  hither  and  cooler 
side  of  hell)  of  wine,  women,  and 
song. 

Fiddlers' -money.  Sixpences :  see 
Rhino.  [From  the  custom  at  country 
merry-makings  of  each  couple  paying 
the  fiddler  sixpence.]  Also  generic- 
ally,  small  silver. 

Fiddlestick!  Nonsense:  sometimes 
Fiddlestick's  end  and  Fiddle-de-dee 
(1610).  As  subs.,  A  spring  saw.  2.  A 
sword. 

Fiddling.  1.  A  livelihood  got  on 
the  streets,  holding  horses,  carrying 
parcels,  etc.  2.  Buying  a  thing  for 
a  mere  trifle,  and  selling  it  for  double, 
or  for  more.  3.  Idling,  trifling.  4. 
Gambling.  As  adj.,  trifling,  trivial, 
fussing  with  nothing  (1667). 

Fid  -  fad.  A  contracted  form  of 
Fiddle-faddle  (q.v.) ;  also  applied  to 
persons  (1754). 

Fidlam-bens  (or  coves).  Thieves 
who  steal  anything  they  can  lay 
hands  on  :  also  St.  Peter's  sons. 

Field.  To  chop  the  field,  to  win 
easily. 

Fielder.  A  backer  of  the  field 
i.e.  the  ruck  (q.v.),  as  against  the 
favourite].  At  cricket,  a  player  in 
the  field  as  against  those  at  the 
wickets. 

Field-lane  Duck.  A  baked  sheep's 
head. 

Fient  (Scots  colloquial).  An  ex- 
pression of  negation  :  e.g.  Fient  a  hair 
care  I,  Devil  a  hair  I  care. 

Fieri  Facias.  To  have  been  served 
with  a  writ  of  fieri  facias,  said  of  a  red- 
nosed  man.  [A  play  upon  words.] 
(1594). 


157 


Fiery  Lot. 


Filch  wav. 


Fiery  Lot.  Fast  (q.v.),  rollicking, 
applied  to  a  hot  member  (q.v.). 

Fiery  Snorter.    A  red  nose. 

Fifer.  1.  A  waistcoat  hand.  2. 
A  native  of  the  Kingdom  (q.v.),  i.e. 
the  county  of  Fife. 

Fi-fi  (or  fie-fie).  Indecent,  blue,  or 
smutty. 

Fifteener.  A  book  printed  in  the 
15th  century. 

Fifth  Rib.  To  hit  (dig,  or  poke) 
one  under  the  fifth  rib,  to  deliver  a 
heavy  blow,  dumbfound. 

Fig.  1.  A  gesture  of  contempt  made 
by  thrusting  forth  the  thumb  between 
the  fore  and  middle  fingers ;  whence 
the  expression,  I  do  not  care,  or  would 
not  give,  a  fig  for  you  :  FT.,  je  ne 
voudrais  pas  en  donner  un  ferret 
d'aiguillette :  see  other  similes  of 
worthlessness,  Curse,  Straw,  Rush, 
Chip,  Cent,  Dam,  etc.  ( 1599).  [Italian : 
When  the  Milanese  revolted  against 
the  Emperor  Frederick  Barbarossa 
they  set  his  Empress  hind  before  upon 
a  mule,  and  thus  expelled  her.  Fred- 
erick afterwards  besieged  and  took  the 
city,  and  compelled  all  his  prisoners, 
on  pain  of  death,  to  extract  with  his 
(or  her)  teeth  a  fig  from  the  funda- 
ment of  a  mule  and,  the  thing  being 
done,  to  say  in  announcement,  Ecco 
la  fica.  Thus  far  la  fica  became  a 
universal  mode  of  derision.  Fr., 
faire  la  figue  ;  Ger.,  die  Feigen  weisen  ; 
It.,  far  le  fiche  ;  Dutch,  De  vyghe  setten. 
2.  Dress.  In  full  fig,  in  full  dress. 
As  verb,  to  ginger  a  horse.  To  fig 
out,  to  show  off,  dress  ;  don  one's  war 
paint  (q.v.).  To  fig  up,  to  restore, 
reanimate  (as  a  gingered  horse). 

Figaro.  A  barber.  [From  Le 
Nozze  di  Figaro.] 

Figdean.  To  kill :  see  Cook  one's 
Goose. 

Figged.    See  Jigged. 

Figger  (or  Figure).    See  Fagger. 

Figging- (or  Fagging-lay).  Pocket- 
picking. 

Fight.  A  party  ;  e.g.  Tea  fight, 
Wedding-fight,  etc. :  cf.  Scramble, 
Worry,  Row.  To  fight  or  play 
eoeum:  see  Cocum.  To  fight  (or 
buck)  the  tiger :  see  Buck.  One  that 
can  fight  his  weight  in  wild  cats,  a 
brilliant  desperado. 

Fighting  -  cove.  A  professional 
pugilist,  specifically  one  wno  '  boxes  ' 
for  a  livelihood  at  fairs,  race-meetings, 
etc. 


Fighting  Fifth  (The).  The  Fifth 
Foot.  [So  distinguished  in  the  Pen- 
insula.] Other  nicknames  were  the 
Shiners  (in  1764,  from  its  clean  and 
smart  appearance) ;  The  Old  Bold 
Fifth  (also  Peninsular) ;  and  Lord 
Wellington's  Body  Guard  (it  was  at 
headquarters  in  1811). 

Fighting  Ninth  (The).  The  Ninth 
Foot  Also  Holy  Boys  (Peninsular), 
from  its  selling  its  Bibles  for  drink. 

Fighting-tight  Drunk  and 
quarrelsome :  see  Screwed. 

Fig-leaf.  An  apron.  In  fencing, 
the  padded  shield  worn  over  the 
lower  abdomen  and  right  thigh  :  Fr., 
petite  bannette. 

Figs  (also  Figgins).     A  grocer. 

Figure.  1.  Appearance,  conduct ; 
e.g.  to  cut  a  good  or  bad  figure,  a  mean 
figure,  sorry  figure,  etc.  (1712).  2. 
Paps  and  posteriors ;  said  only  of 
women.  ATo  figure,  wanting  in  both 
particulars.  As  verb,  to  single  out,  spot 
(q.v.).  Figure,  like  Fetch,  comes  in  for 
a  good  deal  of  hard  work  in  America. 
It  is  colloquially  equivalent  to  '  count 
upon  '  ;  as,  You  may  figure  on  getting 
a  reply  by  return  mail ;  also,  to  strive 
for.  To  figure  on  [a  thing],  to  think  it 
over ;  to  figure  out,  to  estimate  ;  to 
figure  up,  to  add  up  ;  to  cut  a  figure,  see 
Cut ;  to  go  the  whole  figure,  to  be 
thorough  ;  to  go  the  big  figure,  to  launch 
out ;  to  miss  a  figure,  to  make  a  mis- 
take.] 

Figure-dancer.    A  manipulator  of 
the  face  value  of  banknotes,  cheques, 
and  paper  security  generally  (Grose). 
I,  Figure-head.     The  face  :  see  Dial, 
i  Figure-maker.    Awencher. 

Figure  (or  Number)  Six.  A  lock  of 
hair  brought  down  from  the  forehead, 
greased,  twisted  spirally,  and  plastered 
on  the  face  :  see  Aggerawator. 

Filbert.  Cracked  in  the  filbert, 
crazy  ;  a  variant  of  Wrong  in  the  nut 
(q.v.)  or  Upper  storey. 

Filch.  1.  To  steal :  specifically  to 
pilfer  (1567).  2.  To  beat  As  subs., 
a  thief. 

Filcher  (or  Filch).    A  thief. 

Filchman  (or  Filch).  A  thief  s 
hooked  staff :  '  He  carries  a  short 
staff  in  his  hand,  which  is  called  a 
filch,  having  in  the  nab  or  head  of  it  a 
ferme  (that  is  to  say  a  hole)  into  which, 
upon  any  piece  of  service,  when  he 
goes  a  filching,  he  putteth  a  hooke  of 
iron,  with  which  hooke  he  angles  at 


158 


File. 


Fire-eater. 


a  window  in  the  dead  of  night  for 
shirts,  smockes,  or  any  other  linen  or 
woollen '  (Dekker). 

File.  1.  A  pickpocket :  also  file 
cloy  (or  bung  nipper) :  Fr.,  poisse  a  la 
detourne  (1754).  As  verb,  to  pick 
pockets.  2.  A  man  :  i.e.  a  cove  (q.v.). 
Thus  silent  file  (Fr.  lime  sourde),  a 
dumb  man;  dose -file,  a  miser,  or  a 
person  not  given  to  blabbing ;  hard- 
file,  a  grasper  (q.v.) ;  old  file,  an  elder  ; 
and  so  forth. 

Filing-lay.  Pocket  -  picking 
(1754). 

Filling  at  the  Price.     Satisfying. 

Fill.  Fill  one's  pipe.  To  attain  to 
easy  circumstances.  Fill  the  bill,  to 
excel  in  conspicuousness :  as  a  star 
actor  whose  name  is  '  billed '  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  rest  of  the  company. 
Hence,  by  implication,  out  of  the 
common  run  of  things ;  e.g.  That  fills 
the  bill,  that  takes  the  cake,  for  a  lie, 
an  effect,  an  appearance — anything. 
Fill  the  bin,  to  be  beyond  question, 
come  up  to  the  mark  ;  e.g.  Is  the  news 
reliable  ?  Yes,  it  fills  the  bin. 

Fillupey.     Satisfying. 

Filly.  A  girl ;  specifically  a 
wanton  :  among  thieves,  a  daughter 
(1668). 

Filth.     A  prostitute  (1602). 

Fimble  -  f  amble.  A  lame  excuse, 
prevaricating  answer. 

Fin.  The  arm ;  also  the  hand : 
Fr.,  nageoire  :  To  tip  the  fin,  to  shake 
hands  (Grose). 

Find  (Harrow).  A  mess  of  three 
or  four  upper  boys  which  teas  and 
breakfasts  in  the  rooms  of  one  or 
other  of  the  set.  Find-fag,  a  fag  who 
provides  for,  or  finds,  upper  boys. 

Finder.  1.  A  thief;  specifically  a 
meat- market  thief.  2.  (Oxford  Uni- 
versity). A  waiter ;  especially  at 
Caius'. 

Fine.  Punishment,  a  term  of  im- 
prisonment. To  fine,  to  sentence. 
To  cut  it  fine,  see  Cut  fine.  To  get 
one  down  fine  and  dose,  to  find  out  all 
about  a  man,  deliver  a  stinging  blow. 
All  very  fine  and  large,  an  interjection 
of  (1)  approval,  (2)  derision,  and  (3) 
incredulity.  [The  refrain  of  a  music- 
hall  song  excessively  popular  about 
1886-88.]  Fine  as  fivepence :  see 
Fivepence.  Fine  day  for  the  young 
ducks,  a  very  wet  day.  Fine  words 
butter  no  parsnips,  a  sarcastic  retort 
upon  large  promises. 


Fine-drawing.  Accomplishing  an 
end  without  discovery. 

Fineer  (and  Fineering). 
Running  into  debt ;  getting  goods 
made  in  such  a  fashion  as  to  be  unfit 
for  every  other  purchaser,  and  if  the 
tradesman  refuses  to  give  them  on 
credit,  then  threatens  to  leave  them 
upon  his  hands  (Goldsmith). 

Fine-madam.  An  epithet  of  envy  or 
derision  for  one  above  her  station. 

Finger.  A  '  nip,'  usually  ap- 
plied to  spirituous  liquors.  Thus, 
Three  fingers  of  clear  juice,  Three 
'  goes  '  of  whisky.  To  put  the  finger 
in  the  eye,  to  weep  (Grose). 

Finger  -  and  -  thumb.  A  road  or 
highway,  i.e.  drum. 

Finger-better.  A  man  who  bets  on 
credit ;  also  one  who  points  out  cards. 

Finger-post.     A  clergyman. 

Finger  -  smith.  1.  A  pickpocket. 
2.  A  midwife :  Fr.,  Madame  tire- 
monde  (or  tire-pouce,  tire-m6mes). 

Finish.     To  kill. 

Finisher.  Something  that  gives 
the  last,  the  settling  touch  to  any- 
thing: see  Corker,  Clincher,  etc. 
(1788). 

F  i  n  j  y !  (Winchester  College). 
An  exclamation  excusing  one  from 
participation  hi  an  unpleasant  or  un- 
acceptable task,  which  he  who  says 
the  word  last  has  to  undertake. 

Finnuf.      See  Finnup. 

Finnup  (also  Finnip,  Finnuf 
Finnif ,  Finnic,  Finn,  or  Fin) .  A  five 
pound  note  or  Flimsy  (q.v.)  [A 
Yiddish  pronunciation  of  German 
ficnf,  five.]  Also  Finnup  ready, 
ready  money  :  hi  America,  Finnup,  a 
five  dollar  bill.  Double  finnup,  a  ten 
pound  note. 

Fippenny.  A  clasp  knife :  see  Chive. 

Fire.  Danger.  Like  a  house  on 
fire,  easily  and  rapidly :  cf.  House, 
Winking,  One  o'clock,  Cake,  Brick, 
etc.  To  fire  a  slug,  to  drink  a  dram 
(Grose).  To  fire  a  gun,  to  introduce 
a  story  by  head  and  shoulders,  lead 
up  to  a  subject  (Grose).  To  set  the 
Thames  on  fire,  to  do  some  next-to- 
impossible  task,  to  be  exceptionally 
clever  ;  used  negatively  in  sarcasm. 

Fire  and  Light.     A  master-at-arms. 

Fired.  Arrested,  turned  out,  and 
(among  artists)  rejected. 

Fire-eater.  In  Old  Cant  a  quick- 
worker  ;  and  in  modern  English,  a 
duellist  or  bully  :  also  Fire-eating. 


159 


Fire-escape. 


Fix. 


Fire-escape.    A  clergyman. 

Fire-prigger.  A  thief  whose  venue 
is  a  conflagration  (Grose). 

Fire-spaniel.  A  soldier  who 
nurses  the  barrack-room  fire :  syn- 
onyms are:  fire-dog,  fire- worshipper, 
chimney  -  ornament,  fender  -  guard, 
and  cuddle-chimney. 

Firewater.     Ardent  spirits. 

Fireworks.  A  state  of  disturb- 
ance, mental  excitement :  e.g.  Fire- 
works on  the  brain,  a  fluster. 

Firk.     To  beat  (1599). 

Firkytoodle.  To  caress.  English 
synonyms :  to  canoodle,  to  fiddle,  to 
mess  (or  pull)  about,  to  slewther 
(Irish),  to  spoon,  to  crooky,  to  fam. 

Firmed.     See  Well-firmed. 

First  -  chop.  First  rate.  [From 
Hind.,  chaap,  a  stamp,  an  official 
mark  on  weights  and  measures ; 
hence  used  to  signify  quality.]  Also 
Second-chop  (q.v.). 

First-flight.  In  the  first  flight 
those  first  in  at  the  finish  ;  in  fox- 
hunting those  in  at  the  death. 

First-nighter.  An  habitue 
of  theatrical  first- performances. 

First-night  Wrecker.  See  Wrecker. 

Fish.  1.  A  man  ;  generally  in  con- 
tempt or  disparagement,  as  Odd  fish, 
Loose  fish,  Queer  fish,  Scaly  fish,  Shy 
fish.  2.  Pieces  cut  out  of  garments  to 
make  them  fit  close.  As  verb,  to 
attempt  to  obtain  by  artifice,  seek  in- 
directly, curry  favour.  Pretty  kettle 
of  fish,  a  perplexing  state  of  affairs, 
quandary.  To  have  other  fish  to  fry,  to 
have  other  business  on  hand.  To  be 
neither  fish  nor  flesh,  to  be  neither  one 
thing  nor  another ;  said  of  waverers 
and  nondescripts ;  sometimes  ex- 
tended to  Neither  fish,  flesh,  fowl,  nor 
good  red  herring  (1598). 

Fish-broth.  Water :  see  Adam's 
ale  (1599). 

Fisher.  A  lick-spittle  ;  only  used 
contemptuously. 

Fishhooks.    The  fingers  :  see  Forks. 

Fishmarket.  The  lowest  hole  at 
bagatelle,  Simon  (q.v.). 

Fishy.  Effete,  dubious,  or  seedy 
(of  persons) :  unsound,  or  equivocal 
(of  things).  Also  Fishiness,  unsound- 
ness. 

Fist.  1.  Handwriting :  FT.,  la 
cape.  2.  A  workman.  Good  fist,  a 
good  workman.  3.  An  index  hand. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  apprehend  (1598).  2. 
To  take  hold  :  e.g.  Just  you  fist  that 


scrubbing  brush,  and  set  to  work. 
To  put  up  one's  fist,  to  acknowledge  a 
fact :  cf.  Fill  the  bin  and  acknowledge 
the  corn. 

Fit.  Suitable,  in  good  form.  Fit 
as  a  fiddle,  in  perfect  condition.  To 
fit  like  a  ball  of  wax,  to  fit  close  to  the 
skin.  To  fit  like  a  sentry  box,  to  fit 
badly.  To  fit  like  a  glove,  to  fit  per- 
fectly. To  fit  to  a  T,  to  fit  to  a  nicety. 
[In  reference  to  the  T  square  used  in 
drawing.]  To  fit  up  a  show,  to  ar- 
range an  exhibition. 

Fitch's  Grenadiers.  The  Eighty- 
Third  Foot.  [From  the  small  stature 
of  the  men  and  the  name  of  the  first 
colonel.] 

Fits.  To  beat  into  fits  :  see  Beat 
and  Creation. 

Fitter.    A  burglar's  locksmith. 

Fit-up.  A  small  company:  also 
used  adjectively  :  see  Conscience. 

Five-fingers.  The  five  of  trumps 
in  the  game  of  Don  or  Five  Cards 
(1611). 

Fiver.  Anything  that  counts  as 
five  ;  specifically  a  five- pound  note  : 
cf.  Finn. 

Five  over  Five.  Said  of  people 
who  turn  in  their  toes. 

Fivepence.  As  fine  (or  as  grand), 
as  fivepence  (or  as  fippence),  as  fine  as 
possible :  cf.  As  neat  as  ninepence 
(1672). 

Fives.  1.  The  fingers.  Bunch  of 
fives,  the  fist :  see  Forks  (1629).  Also 
the  feet.  2.  A  fight 

Fix.  A  dilemma ;  frequently  in  con- 
junction with  Awful  (q.v.)  and  Regu- 
lar (q.v.),  e.g.  An  awful  fix,  a  terrible 
position.  Variants  are  Cornered,  Up 
a  tree,  Up  a  close,  Under  a  cloud,  In  a 
scrape :  FT.,  avoir  des  mots  avec  les 
sergots,  to  run  amuck  of  the  police. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  arrest  (1789).  (2)  A 
general  verb  of  action.  Everything  is 
fixed  except  the  meaning  of  the  word 
itself.  The  farmer  fixes  his  fences, 
the  mechanic  his  work- bench,  the 
seamstress  her  sewing-machine,  the 
fine  lady  her  hair,  and  the  schoolboy 
his  books.  The  minister  has  to  fix 
his  sermon,  the  doctor  to  fix  his 
medicines,  the  lawyer  to  fix  his  brief. 
Dickens  was  requested  to  un-fix  his 
straps  ;  eatables  are  fixed  for  a  meal ; 
a  girl  unfixes  herself  to  go  to  bed,  and 
fixes  herself  up  to  go  for  a  walk.  At 
public  meetings  it  is  fixed  who  are  to 
be  the  candidates  for  office  ;  rules  are 


160 


Fixings. 


Flannels. 


fixed  to  govern  an  institution,  and 
when  the  arrangements  are  made  the 
people  contentedly  say,  Now  every- 
thing is  fixed  nicely.  To  fix  the 
ballot  box,  to  tamper  with  returns. 
Anyhow  (or  nohow)  you  can  or  can't 
fix  it :  see  Anyhow.  To  fix  one's 
flint,  to  settle  one's  hash  :  see  Cook 
one's  goose  (1835).  To  fix  up,  to  settle, 
arrange. 

Fixings.  A  noun  of  all  work : 
applied  to  any  and  everything. 

Fiz  (or  Fizz).  Champagne;  some- 
times lemonade  and  ginger-beer  :  see 
Boy. 

Fiz-gig.     A  firework. 

Fizzer.  Anything  first-rate  :  cf. 
Fizzing. 

Fizzing.  First-rate.  English 
synonyms:  Al,  cheery,  clean  wheat, 
clipping,  crack,  creamy,  crushing, 
first  chop,  first-class,  first-rate,  or  (in 
America)  first-rate  and  a  half,  hunky, 
jammy,  jonnick,  lummy,  nap,  out- 
and-out,  pink,  plummy,  proper,  real 
jam,  right  as  ninepence,  ripping, 
rooter,  rum,  screaming,  scrumptious, 
ship-shape,  slap-up,  slick,  splenda- 
cious,  splendiferous,  to  rights,  tip-top, 
true  marmalade,  tsing-tsing. 

Fizzle.  A  ridiculous  failure, 
flash  in  the  pan :  in  many  of  the 
United  States  colleges,  the  term=a 
blundering  recitation.  To  hit  just 
one  third  of  the  meaning  constitutes 
a  perfect  fizzle.  As  verb,  to  fail  in 
reciting,  recite  badly.  Also  (said  of 
an  instructor)  to  cause  one  to  fail  at 
reciting.  At  some  American  colleges 
Flunk  (q.v.)  is  the  common  word  for 
an  utter  failure.  To  Fizzle,  to  stumble 
through  at  last. 

Flabbergast.  To  astound,  stagger, 
either  physically  or  mentally  (1772). 

Flabberdegaz.  Words  interpolated 
to  dissemble  a  lapse  of  memory,  Gag 
(q.v.).  Also,  imperfect  utterance  or 
bad  acting. 

Flag.  1.  A  groat,  fourpenny  piece  : 
also  Flagg,  and  Flagge :  see  Rhino 
(1567).  2.  An  apron ;  hence  a  badge 
of  office  or  trade  :  cf.  Flag-flasher.  3. 
A  jade  (1539).  To  fly  the  flag,  to  post 
a  notice  that  hands  are  wanted. 

Flag  of  Defiance.  A  drunken 
roysterer :  see  Lushington.  To  hang 
out  the  flag  of  defiance  (or  bloody  flag), 
to  be  continuously  drunk. 

Flag-flasher.  One  sporting  a 
or  other  ensign  of  office 


(cap,  apron,  uniform,  etc.)  when  off 
duty. 

Flag-about.     A  strumpet. 

Flag -flying.     See  Flag. 

Flag  of  Distress.  1.  A  card  an- 
nouncing lodgings,  or  board  and 
lodgings.  Hence,  any  overt  sign  of 
poverty.  2.  A  flying  shirt-tail;  in 
America,  a  letter  in  the  post-office 
(q.v.). 

Flagger.     A  street-walker. 

Flags.  Linen  drying  and  flying  in 
the  wind. 

Flag  Unfurled.  A  man  of  the 
world. 

Flag-wagging.      Flag-signal  drill. 

Flam.  1.  Nonsense  (for  synonyms, 
see  Gammon),  humbug,  flattery,  or 
a  lie  :  as  a  regular  flam  (1598).  2.  A 
single  stroke  on  the  drum  (Orose).  As 
adj.,  false.  As  verb,  (1)  to  take  in, 
flatter,  lie,  foist  or  fob  off.  Flamming, 
lying.  (2)  (American  University).  To 
affect,  or  prefer,  female  society. 

Flambustious.  Showy,  gaudy, 
pleasant. 

Flamdoodle.  Nonsense,  vain 
boasting.  Probably  a  variant  of 
Flapdoodle  (q.v.). 

Flame.  1.  A  sweetheart,  mistress 
in  keeping.  Old  flame,  an  old  lover, 
cast-off  mistress  (1664).  Also,  2.  a 
venereal  disease. 

Flamer.  A  man,  woman,  thing,  or 
incident  above  the  common. 

Flames.  A  red-haired  person  : 
cf.  Carrots  and  Ginger. 

Flaming.  Conspicuous,  ardent, 
stunning  (q.v.) :  see  Al  (1738). 

Flanderkin.  A  very  large  fat 
man  or  horse  ;  also  natives  of  Flanders 
(B.  E.). 

Flanders-fortunes.  Of  small  sub- 
stance (B.  E.). 

Flanders  -  pieces.  Pictures  that 
look  fair  at  a  distance,  but  coarser 
near  at  hand  (B.  E.). 

Flank.  1.  To  crack  a  whip  ;  also, 
to  hit  a  mark  with  the  lash  of  one. 
2.  To  deliver  a  blow  or  a  retort, 
push,  hustle,  quoit  (Shakespeare) :  Fr., 
flanquer.  A  plate  of  thin  flank,  a 
sixpenny  cut  off  the  joint.  To 
flank  the  whole  bottle,  to  dodge,  i.e.  to 
outflank,  to  achieve  by  strategy. 

Flanker.     A  blow,  retort,  kick. 

Flankey.     The  posteriors. 

Flannel.     See  Hot  flannel. 

Flannels.  To  get  one's  flannels, 
to  get  a  place  in  the  school  football 


161 


Flap. 


Flash. 


or  cricket  teams,  or  in  the  boats :  of. 
to  get  one's  colours,  or,  one's  blue. 

Flap.  1.  Sheet- lead  used  for  roof- 
ing: Pr..doussin,  noir :  cf.  Bluey.  2. 
A  blow  (1539).  As  verb,  (1)  to  rob, 
swindle.  2.  To  pay,  fork  out.  To 
flap  a  jay,  to  swindle  a  greenhorn,  sell 
a  pup  (q.v.).  To  flap  the  dimmock,  to 
pay. 

Flapdoodle.  1.  Transparent 
nonsense,  kid.  Also  Flamdoodle, 
Flamsauce,  or  Flap-sauce :  see  Gam- 
mon. To  talk  flapdoodle,  to  brag, 
talk  nonsense. 

Flapdoodler.  A  braggart  agitator, 
one  that  makes  the  eagle  squeal  (q.v.), 

Flap-dragon.  To  gulp  down 
hastily,  as  in  the  game  of  flap-dragon 
(1604). 

Flap  man.  A  convict  promoted 
for  good  behaviour  to  first  or  second 
class. 

Flapper.  1.  The  hand  ;  also  Flap- 
per-shaker :  see  Daddle.  2.  A  little 
girl.  [Also  a  fledgling  wild  duck.] 
3.  A  very  young  prostitute.  4.  A 
dustman's  or  coalheaver's  hat,  a 
Fantail  (q.v.).  5.  (in  pi.).  Very 
long- pointed  shoes  worn  by  nigger 
minstrels.  6.  A  parasite  ;  a  remem- 
brancer. 

Flapper- shaking.     Hand-shaking. 

Flap-sauce.    See  Flapdoodle. 

Flare.  1.  Primarily  a  stylish 
craft ;  hence,  by  implication,  anything 
out  of  the  common.  2.  A  row,  dispute, 
drunk,  or  spree.  As  verb,  (1)  speci- 
fically to  whisk  out ;  hence,  to  steal 
actively,  lightly,  or  delicately.  2. 
To  swagger,  go  with  a  bounce.  All 
of  a  flare,  bunglingly. 

Flaring.  Excessive:  e.g.  a  flaring 
lie,  flaring  drunk  :  see  Flaming. 

Flare-up  (or  -out).  An  orgie,  fight, 
outburst  of  temper.  Also  a  spree. 
English  synonyms:  barney,  batter, 
bean-feast,  beano,  breakdown,  burst, 
booze  (specifically  a  drinking  -  bout), 
caper,  devil's  delight,  dust,  fanteague, 
fight,  flare,  flats  -yad  (back  slang), 
fly,  gig,  hay-bag,  hell's  delight,  high 
jinks,  hooping  up,  hop,  jagg,  jamboree, 
jump,  junket  ting,  lark,  drive,  randan, 
on  the  tiles,  on  the  fly,  painting  the 
town  (American),  rampage,  razzle- 
dazzle,  reeraw,  ructions,  shake,  shine, 
spree,  sky-wannocking,  tear,  tear 
up,  toot.  As  verb,  to  fly  into  a 
passion. 

Flash.     1.  The  vulgar  tongue;  the 


lingo  of  thieves  and  th<-ir  associates. 
To  patter  flash,  to  talk  in  thieves' 
lingo.  The  derivation  of  Flash,  like 
that  of  French  argot,  is  entirely  specu- 
lative. It  has,  however,  been  gener- 
ally referred  to  a  district  called  Flash 
(the  primary  signification  as  a  place 
name  is  not  clear),  between  Buxton 
Leek  and  Macclesfield :  there  lived 
many  chapmen  who,  says  Dr.  Aiken 
(Description  of  Country  round  Man- 
chester), '  were  known  as  flash- men  .  .  . 
using  a  sort  of  slang  or  cant  dialect.'] 
(1718).  2.  Hence,  at  one  period, 
especially  during  the  Regency  days, 
the  idiom  of  the  man  about  town,  of 
Tom  and  Jerrydom.  3.  A  boast, 
brag,  or  great  pretence  made  by  a 
spendthrift,  quack,  or  pretender  to 
more  art  or  knowledge  than  he  really 
has.  4.  A  showy  swindler  (e.g.  Sir 
Petronel  Flash) ;  a  blustering  vulgar- 
ian (1605).  5.  A  peruke  or  perriwig. 
6.  A  portion,  a  drink,  go  (q.v.).  As 
adj.,  (1)  relating  to  thieves,  their 
habits,  customs,  devices,  lingo,  etc. 
(2)  Knowing,  expert,  showy,  cf.  Down, 
Fly,  Wide-awake,  etc.  Hence  (popu- 
larly), by  a  simple  transition,  vul- 
garly counterfeit,  showily  shoddy : 
possibly  the  best  understood  mean- 
ings of  the  word  in  latter-day  English. 
To  put  one  flash  to  anything,  to  put  him 
on  his  guard ;  to  inform.  (3)  Vulgar, 
blackguardly,  showy,  applied  to  one 
aping  his  betters.  Hence  (in  Aus- 
tralia), vain-glorious  or  swaggering. 
(4)  In  a  set  style.  Also  used  sub- 
stantively.  Hence,  in  combination, 
Flash-case  (crib,  drum,  house,  ken,  or 
panny ) :  see  Flash  -  ken  ;  Flash  -  cove 
(q.v.);  Flash-dispensary  (American), 
a  boarding  house,  especially  a  swell 
brothel ;  Flash-gentry,  the  swell  mob 
or  higher  class  of  thieves ;  Flash-girl 
(moll,  -mollisher,  -piece,  or  -woman),  a 
showy  prostitute ;  Flash-jig  (costers), 
a  favourite  dance ;  Flash-kiddy,  a 
dandy ;  Flash-lingo  (or  song),  patter, 
or  song  interlarded  with  cant  words 
and  phrases;  Flash  -  man  (q.v.); 
Flash-note,  a  spurious  bank-note ; 
Flash-rider  (American) :  see  Broncho- 
buster  ;  Flash  toggery,  smart  clothes  ; 
Flash  vessel,  a  gaudy  looking,  but 
undisciplined  ship.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
show,  to  expose.  Among  combina- 
tions may  be  mentioned — To  flash 
one's  ivories,  to  show  one's  teeth,  to 
grin  (Grose);  To  flash  the  hash,  to 


1C2 


Flash-case. 


Flats. 


vomit  (Grose) ;  To  flash  the  dicky,  to 
show  the  shirt  front ;  To  flash  the 
dibs,  to  show  or  spend  one's  money ; 
To  flash  a  fawney,  to  wear  a  ring  ;  To 
flash  one's  gab,  to  talk,  to  swagger,  to 
brag  ;  To  flash  the  bubs,  to  expose  the 
paps  ;  To  flash  the  muzzle  (q.v.) ;  To 
flash  one's  ticker,  to  air  one's  watch  ; 
To  flash  the  drag,  to  wear  women's 
clothes  for  immoral  purposes ;  To 
flash  the  white  grin  :  see  Grin  ;  To  flash 
the  flag,  to  sport  an  apron ;  To  flash 
the  wedge,  to  fence  the  swag,  etc. 
To  flash  the  muzzle,  to  produce  a  pistol. 
To  flash  it  about  (or  to  cut  a  flash  or 
dash),  to  make  a  display ;  to  live 
conspicuously  and  extravagantly. 

Flash-case  (-crib,  -house,  -drum, 
-ken,  -panny,  etc.)  1.  A  house 
frequented  by  thieves,  as  a  tavern, 
lodging-house,  fence  (q.v.)  (1690). 
2.  A  brothel,  any  haunt  of  loose 
women. 

Flash  -  cove  (also  Flash  Com- 
panion). A  thief,  sharper,  fence 
(q.v.). 

Flash  -  man.  Primarily  a  man 
talking  Flash  ;  hence,  a  rogue,  thief, 
the  landlord  of  a  Flash-case  (q.v.). 
Also  a  Fancy-Joseph.  In  America,  a 
person  with  no  visible  means  of  sup- 
port, but  living  in  style  and  showing 
up  well. 

Flash-of-lightning.  1.  A  glass  of 
gin,  dram  of  neat  spirits :  see  Go 
and  Drinks.  Latterly,  an  American 
drink.  2.  The  gold  braid  on  an 
officer's  cap. 

Flashy  (Flashily,  or  Flashly). 
Empty,  showy,  tawdry,  insipid 
(1637). 

Flash-tail.     A  prostitute. 

Flasher.  A  high-flyer,  fop,  pre- 
tender to  wit  (1779). 

F  1  a  s  h  e  r  y.  Inferior,  vulgar  : 
hence  by  inversion,  elegance,  dash, 
distinction,  display. 

Flash  -  yad  (back  slang).  A  day's 
enjoyment. 

Flashy  Blade  (or  Spark).  A 
Dandy  (q.v.) ;  now  a  cheap  and  noisy 
swell,  whether  male  or  female :  cf. 
Flasher  (1719). 

Flat.  1.  A  greenhorn,  noddy,  gull : 
see  Buffle  (1762).  2.  An  honest 
man.  3.  A  lover's  dismissal,  jilting. 
As  adj.,  downright,  plain,  straight- 
forward :  as  in  That's  flat !  a  flat  lie, 
flat  burglary,  etc.  (1598).  There  are 
other  usages,  more  or  less  colloquial 


e.g.  Insipid,  tame,  dull :  as  in  Mac- 
aulay's  Flat  as  champagne  in  de- 
canters. On  the  Stock  Exchange, 
flat,  without  interest ;  stock  is  bor- 
rowed flat  when  no  interest  is  al- 
lowed by  the  lender  as  security  for  the 
due  return  of  the  scrip.  As  verb,  to 
jilt.  To  feel  flat  (1),  to  be  low- 
spirited,  out  of  sorts,  Off  colour  (q.v.). 
(2)  To  fail,  give  way :  also  used  sub- 
stantively.  Flat  as  a  flounder  (or 
pancake),  very  flat  indeed  :  also,  flat 
as  be  blowed.  To  brush  up  a  flat : 
see  Brusher.  To  pick  up  a  flat,  to 
find  a  client :  Fr.,  lever  or  faire  un 
miche. 

Flat-back.  A  bed-bug :  see  Nor 
folk  Howard. 

Flat-broke.  Utterly  ruined, 
Dead-broke  (q.v.). 

Flat-catcher.     An  impostor. 

Flat-catching.     Swindling. 

F  1  a  t  c  h  (back  slang).  1.  A  half. 
Flatch-kennurd,  half  drunk ;  Flatch- 
yenork,  half-a-crown  ;  Flatch-yennep,  a 
half-penny.  2.  A  half-penny :  see 
Rhino.  [An  abbreviation  of  Flatch- 
yennep.]  3.  A  counterfeit  half- 
crown  :  see  Rhino. 

Flat  -  cap.  A  citizen  of  London. 
In  Henry  the  Eighth's  time  flat  round 
caps  were  the  pink  of  fashion ;  but 
when  their  date  was  out,  they  be- 
came ridiculous.  The  citizens  con- 
tinued to  wear  them  long  after 
they  were  generally  disused,  and 
were  often  satirized  for  their  fidelity.] 
(1596). 

Flat-cock.    A  female  (Orose). 

Flat  -  feet.  Specifically  the  Foot 
Guards,  but  also  applied  to  regiments 
of  the  line.  Also  (generally  with 
some  powerful  adjective),  applied  to 
militiamen  to  differentiate  them  from 
linesmen. 

Flat-fish  (generally,  a  Regular 
Flat-fish).  A  dullard. 

Flat-footed.  Downright,  resolute, 
honest.  [Western :  the  simile  ia 
common  to  most  languages.] 

Flat-head.  A  greenhorn,  a  Sammy- 
soft  (q.v.) :  see  Buffle. 

Flat-iron.  A  corner  public  house. 
[From  the  triangular  shape.] 

Flattie  (or  Flatty).  A  gull : 
see  Buffle. 

Flat  -  move.  An  attempt  or  pro- 
ject that  miscarries  ;  folly  and  mis- 
management generally  (Grose). 

Flats.    1.  Playing  cards  :  see  King's 


163 


FlcUs-and-aharps. 


Flesh-pot. 


Books.  2.  False  dice:  see  Fulhams. 
3.  Base  money.  Mahogany  flat*, 
bed-bugs :  see  Norfolk  Howards. 

Flats-and-sharps.     Weapons. 

Flatten.  To  flatten  out,  to  get  the 
better  of  (in  argument  or  fight).  Flat- 
tened out,  ruined ;  beaten. 

Flatter  -  trap.  The  mouth  :  FT., 
menteuse :  see  Potato-trap. 

Flatty-ken.  A  house  where  the 
landlord  is  not  awake,  or  fly  to  the 
moves  and  dodges  of  the  trade. 

Flawed.  Half  -  drunk,  a  little 
crooked,  quick-tempered  (Grose) :  see 
Screwed. 

Flay  (or  Flay  the  Fox).  1.  To 
vomit :  from  the  subject  to  the  effect, 
says  Cotgrave  ;  for  the  flaying  of  so 
stinking  a  beast  is  like  enough  to  make 
them  spue  that  feel  it.  Now,  To 
shoot  the  cat.  2.  To  clean  out  by 
unfair  means.  To  flay  (or  skin)  a 
flint,  to  be  mean  or  miserly :  see 
Skinflint. 

Flaybottom  (or  Flaybottomist) . 
A  schoolmaster,  with  a  play  on  the 
word  phlebotomist,  a  blood  -  letter 
(Grose).  FT.,  fouette-cul ;  and  (Cot- 
grave)  Fesse-cul,  a  pedantical  whip- 
arse. 

Flavour.  To  catch  (or  get) 
the  flavour,  to  be  intoxicated :  see 
Screwed. 

Flax.  To  beat  severely ;  to  give  it 
hot  (q.v.). 

Flax-wench.  A  prostitute 
(1604). 

Flea.  To  send  away  with  a  flea  in 
the  ear,  to  dismiss  with  vigour  and 
acerbity.  To  have  a  flea  in  the  ear, 
(1)  to  fail  in  an  enterprise;  and  (2) 
to  receive  a  scolding  or  annoying 
suggestion.  To  sit  on  a  bag  of  fleas,  to 
sit  uncomfortably ;  on  a  bag  of  hen 
fleas,  very  uncomfortably  indeed.  To 
catch  fleas  for,  to  be  on  terms  of  ex- 
treme intimacy :  e.g.  I  catch  her 
fleas  for  her,  She  has  nothing  to  refuse 
me:  cf.  Shakespeare  (' Tempest,'  n.  ii.), 
'  Yet  a  tailor  might  scratch  her 
where'er  she  did  itch.'  In  a  flea's 
leap,  in  next  to  no  time,  instanter 
(q.v.). 

Flea-and-louse  (rhyming  slang), 
A  house  :  see  Ken. 

Flea-bag.     A  bed  :  FT.,  pucier. 

Flea-bite.     A  trifle  (1630). 

Flea-biting.     A  trifle. 

Flea-  (or  Flay-)  Flint.  A  miser : 
cL  Skinflint  (q.v.)  (1719). 


Flear.  To  grin.  A  /tearing  fool, 
a  grinning  idiot. 

Fleece.  An  act  of  theft :  cf.  old 
proverb,  To  go  out  to  shear  and 
come  home  shorn.  As  verb,  to 
cheat,  shear  or  be  shorn  (as  a  sheep) 
(1593).  Hence  fleeced,  ruined  ;  dead- 
broke  (q.v.). 

Fleecer.     A  thief  (1600). 

Fleeter-face.  A  pale-face,  coward  : 
cf.  Shakespeare's  Cream-faced  loon. 
(1647). 

Fleet-note.     A  forged  note. 

Fleet-of-the-desert.  A  caravan : 
see  Ship  of  the  desert,  camel. 

Fleet-street.  The  estate  of  jour- 
nalism, especially  journalism  of  the 
baser  sort.  Fleet-sir etter,  a  journalist 
of  the  baser  sort ;  a  spunging  Prophet 
(q.v.) ;  a  sharking  dramatic  critic  ;  a 
Spicy  (q.v.)  paragraphist ;  and  so  on. 
Fieet-streetese,  the  so-called  English, 
written  to  sell  by  the  Fleet-streeter 
(q.v.),  or  baser  sort  of  journalist:  a 
mixture  of  sesquipedalians  and  slang, 
of  phrases  worn  threadbare  and 
phrases  sprung  from  the  kennel ;  of 
bad  grammar  and  worse  manners  ;  the 
like  of  which  is  impossible  outside 
Fleet-street  (q.v.),  but  which  in 
Fleet-street  commands  a  price,  and 
enables  not  a  few  to  live. 

Fleg.     To  whip  (Bailey). 

Flemish  -  account.  A  remittance 
less  than  expected ;  hence,  an  un- 
satisfactory account.  [Among  the 
Flemings  (the  merchants  of  Western 
Europe  when  commerce  was  young) 
accounts  were  kept  in  livres,  sols,  and 
pence  ;  but  the  livre  or  pound  onlv= 
12s.,  so  that  what  the  Antwerp  mer- 
chant called  one  livre  thirteen  and 
fourpence  would  in  English  currency 
be  only  20s.]  (1668). 

Flesh  -  and  -  blood.  Brandy  and 
port  in  equal  proportions. 

Flesh  -  bag.  A  shirt  or  chemise. 
English  synonyms  :  biled  rag  (Ameri- 
can), camesa,  carrion-case,  commis- 
sion, dickey  (formerly  a  worn-out 
shirt),  gad  (gipsy),  lully,  mill  tog, 
mish,  narp  (Scots'),  shaker,  shimmy 
(=a  chemise,  JUarryat),  smish. 

Flesh-broker.  1.  A  match-maker 
(1690).  2.  A  procuress  (Grose). 

Flesh-fly  (or  Flesh-maggot).  A 
whoremaster. 

Flesh-pot.  Sighing  for  the  flesh-pots 
of  Egypt,  hankering  for  good  things 
no  longer  at  command.  [Biblical] 


164 


Flesh-tailor. 


Floater. 


Flesh  -  tailor.  A  surgeon :  see 
Sawbones. 

Fleshy  (Winchester  College) : 
see  Cat's  Head. 

Fletch.  A  spurious  coin :  cf.  Flatch. 
Flick  (or  Flig).  1.  A  cut  with  a 
whip-lash ;  hence,  a  blow  of  any  sort. 
A  flicking  is  often  administered  by 
schoolboys  with  a  damp  towel  or 
pocket  -  handkerchief.  2.  A  jocular 
salutation ;  usually  Old  Flick.  As 
verb,  1.  To  cut  (1690).  2.  To  strike 
with,  or  as  with,  a  whip. 

Flicker.  A  drinking  glass.  As 
verb  (1)  to  drink  (Matsett).  (2)  To 
laugh  wantonly ;  also  to  kiss,  or 
lewdly  fondle  a  woman.  Also  Flick- 
ing, (1)  drinking,  and  (2)  wanton 
laughter.  Let  her  flicker,  said  of  any 
doubtful  issue  :  let  the  matter  take  its 
chance. 

Flicket-a-Flacket.  Onomatopoetic 
for  a  noise  of  flapping  and  flicking 
(1719). 

Flier  (or  Flyer).  1.  A  horse  or  boat 
of  great  speed ;  also  (American  rail- 
way) a  fast  train  ;  hence,  by  implica- 
tion, anything  of  excellence.  2.  A 
shot  in  the  air.  3.  A  small  hand- 
bill, Dodger  (q.v.).  To  take  a  flier, 
to  make  a  venture  ;  to  invest  against 
odds. 

Flies  (rhyming).  Lies.  Hence, 
nonsense,  trickery,  deceit.  There  are 
no  flies  on  me  (or  him),  I  am  dealing 
honestly  with  you ;  He  is  genuine, 
and  is  not  humbugging.  In  America, 
the  expression  is  used  of  (1)  a  man  of 
quick  parts,  a  man  who  knows  a 
thing  without  its  being  kicked  into 
him  by  a  mule  ;  and  (2)  a  person  of 
superior  breeding  or  descent. 

Fligger  (also  Flicker).  To  grin 
(1720). 

Film.     See  Flimsy. 

Flim-flam.  An  idle  story,  sham, 
Robin  Hood  tale  (q.v.)  (1589).  As 
adj.,  idle,  worthless  (1589). 

Flimp.  To  hustle  or  rob.  To  put 
on  the  flimp,  to  rob  on  the  highway. 
Flimping,  stealing  from  the  person. 

Flimsy  (or  Flim).  1.  A  bank-note. 
Soft-flimsy,  a  note  drawn  on  the 
'  Bank  of  Elegance,'  or  '  The  Bank  of 
Engraving.'  2.  News  of  all  kinds, 
Points  (q.v. ).  First  used  at  Lloyd's. 

Flinders.  Pieces  infinitesimally 
small. 

Fling.  1.  A  fit  of  temper.  2.  A 
jeer,  jibe,  personal  allusion  or  attack 


( 1592).  As  verb,  (1)  to  cheat,  get  the 
best  of,  Do  (q.v.)  or  diddle  (Grose). 
(2)  To  dance.  To  fling  out,  to  depart 
in  a  hurry,  and,  especially,  in  a  temper. 
In  a  fling,  in  a  spasm  of  temper.  To 
have  one's  fling,  to  enjoy  full  liberty  of 
action  or  conduct  (1624).  To  fling 
dirt :  see  Dirt. 

Flinger.  A  dancer. 
Fling-dust.  A  street-walker. 
Flint.  A  man  working  for  a 
Union  or  fair  house ;  non- Union- 
ists are  Dung  (q.v.).  Both  terms 
occur  in  Foote's  burlesque,  The 
Tailors :  a  Tragedy  for  Warm  Weather, 
and  they  received  a  fresh  lease  of 
popularity  during  the  tailors'  strike 
of  1832.  Old  Flint,  a  miser :  one 
who  would  skin  a  flint,  i.e.  stoop 
to  any  meanness  for  a  trifle.  To 
fix  one's  flint :  see  Fix.  To  flint  in, 
to  act  with  energy  ;  stand  on  no  cere- 
mony, pitch  into,  tackle.  A  verb  of 
action  well-nigh  as  common  as  Fix 
(q.v.). 

Flip.  1.  Hot  beer,  brandy,  and 
sugar ;  also,  says  Grose,  called  Sir 
Cloudesley  after  Sir  Cloudesley  Shovel. 
2.  A  bribe  or  douceur.  3.  A  light  blow, 
or  snatch.  As  verb,  to  shoot.  To 
flip  up,  to  spin  a  coin. 

Flip  -  flap.  1.  A  flighty  creature 
(1702).  2.  A  step-dance;  a  Cellar- 
flap  (q.v.).  Also  (acrobats');  a  kind 
of  somersault,  in  which  the  performer 
throws  himself  over  on  his  hands  and 
feet  alternately  (1727).  3.  A  kind  of 
tea-cake.  4.  The  arm  :  see  Bender. 

Flipper.     1.  The  hand.     Tip  ux 
your  flipper,  give  me  your  hand  :  see 
Daddle.     2.  See  Flapper.     3.  Part  of 
a  scene,  hinged  and  painted  on  both 
sides,  used  in  trick  changes. 
Flirtatious.     Flighty. 
Flirt-gill  (Flirtgillian,  or  Gill-flirt). 
A  wanton,   a   chopping  -  girl    (q.v.) ; 
specifically  a  strumpet  (1595). 

Flirtina  Cop  -  all.  A  wanton, 
young  or  old  ;  a  men's  woman  (q.v.). 

Float.  The  footlights :  before  the 
invention  of  gas  they  were  oil-pans 
with  floating  wicks.  //  that's  the  way 
the  stick  floats  :  see  Stick. 

Floater.  1.  An  Exchequer  bill ;  ap- 
plied also  to  other  unfunded  stock.  2. 
A  suet  dumpling  in  soup.  3.  A  vend- 
ible voter.  4.  A  candidate  represent- 
ing several  counties,  and  therefore 
not  considered  directly  responsible  to 
any  one  of  them. 


165 


Floating-academy. 


Flop. 


'  Floating  -  academy.  The  hulks  ; 
also  Campbell's  academy  (q.v.),  and 
Floating  hell  (q.v.). 

Floating  -  batteries.  1.  Broken 
bread  in  tea  ;  also  Slingers  (q.v.).  2. 
The  Confederate  bread  rations  during 
the  Secession.  ^ 

Floating-coffin.    A  rotten  ship.1  ^ 

Floating -hell  (or  Hell  afloat). 
A  ship  commanded  by  (1)  a  brutal 
savage,  or  (2)  a  ruthless  disciplinarian. 

Flock.  A  clergyman's  congrega- 
tion. Also  any  body  of  people  with  a 
common  haunt  or  interest :  e.g.  a 
family  of  children,  a  company  of 
soldiers,  a  school  of  girls  or  boys, 
a  cabful  of  molls,  and  such  like.  To 
fire  into  the  wrong  flock,  to  blunder : 
see  To  bark  up  the  wrong  tree. 

Flock-of-Sheep.  1.  A  hand 
at  dominoes  set  out  on  the  table.  2. 
White-crested  dancing  waves  on  the 
sea,  White  horses  (q.v.). 

Flog.  A  whip :  a  contraction  of 
Flogger  (q.v.).  To  flog  (now  recog- 
nised), is  cited  by  B.  E.  (1690),  and 
Orose.  To  be  flogged  at  the  tumbler,  to 
be  whipped  at  the  cart's  tail :  see 
Tumbler.  To  flog  the  dead  horse,  1.  To 
work  up  an  interest  in  a  bygone  sub- 
ject, try  against  heart,  do  with  no 
will  nor  liking  for  the  job.  [Bright 
said  that  Earl  Russell's  Reform  Bill 
was  a  dead  horse  (q.v.),  and  every 
attempt  to  create  enthusiasm  in  its 
favour  was  flogging  the  dead  horse.] 
2.  To  work  off  an  advance  of  wages. 
To  flog  a  willing  horse,  to  urge  on  one 
who  is  already  putting  forth  his  best 
energies. 

Flogger.  1.  A  whip:  Fr.,6ouw.  2. 
A  mop  (i.e.  a  bunch  of  slips  of  cloth  on 
a  handle)  used  in  the  painting  room  to 
whisk  the  charcoal  dust  from  a  sketch. 

Flogging.     Careful,  penurious. 

Flogging-cove.  1.  An  official 
who  administers  the  Cat  (q.v.).  2. 
See  Flogging  cully. 

Flogging-cully.  A  man  addicted 
to  flagellation,  a  Whipster  (q.v.). 

Flogging-stake.     A  whipping  post. 

Flogster.  One  addicted  to  flog- 
ging. Specifically  (naval)  a  nick- 
name applied  to  the  Duke  of  Clarence 
(afterwards  William  IV.). 

Floor.  1.  To  knock  down.  Hence 
to  vanquish  in  argument,  make  an 
end  of,  defeat,  confound  (Grose).  To 
floor  the  odds,  said  of  a  low-priced 
horse  that  pulls  off  the  event  in  face  of 


the  betting.  2.  To  finish,  get  outside 
of :  e.g.  I  floored  three  half- pint* 
and  a  nip  before  breakfast  3.  To 
pluck.  Plough  (q.v.).  To  floor  a 
paper  (lesson,  examination,  examiner), 
to  answer  every  question,  master, 
prove  oneself  superior  to  the  occasion. 
To  floor  one's  ticks,  to  surpass  one- 
self. Cut-around  (q.v.).  To  have 
(hold,  or  take)  the  floor,  to  rise  to  ad- 
dress a  public  meeting  ;  in  Ireland,  to 
stand  up  to  dance  ;  and,  in  America, 
to  be  in  possession  of  the  House. 

Floored.  1.  Vanquished,  brought 
under,  ruined.  English  synonyms: 
basketed,  bitched,  bitched-up,  bowled 
out,  broken  up,  buggered  up,  busted, 
caved  in,  choked-off,  cornered,  cooked, 
coopered  up,  dead-beat,  done  brown, 
done  for,  done  on  toast,  doubled  up, 
flattened  out,  fluffed,  flummoxed, 
frummagemmed,  gapped,  gone  through 
St.  Peter's  needle,  done  under,  grav- 
elled, gruelled,  hoofed  out,  in  the  last 
of  pea-time,  or  last  run  of  shad, 
jacked  -  up,  knocked  out  of  time, 
knocked  silly,  looed,  mucked  -  out, 
petered  out,  pocketed,  potted,  put  in 
his  little  bed,  queered  in  his  pitch, 
rantanned,  sat  upon,  sewn  up,  shut- 
up,  smashed  to  smithereens,  snashed, 
snuffed  out,  spread-eagled,  struck  of 
a  heap,  stumped,  tied  up,  timbered, 
treed,  trumped,  up  a  tree.  2.  Drunk  ; 
in  Shakespearean  '  put  down ' ;  as  Sir 
Andrew  Aguecheek,  '  Never  in  your 
life,  I  think,  unless  you  see  canary 
put  me  down'  ("Twelfth  Night,"  i. 
iii.):  see  Screwed.  3.  Hung  low  at  an 
exhibition ;  in  contradistinction  to 
Skyed  (q.v.),  and  On  the  line  (q.v.). 

Floorer.  1.  An  auctioneer  (q.v.), 
or  knock-down  blow.  Hence,  sudden 
or  unpleasant  news,  a  decisive  argu- 
ment, an  unanswerable  retort,  a 
decisive  check:  Sp.,  peso  (1819).  2. 
A  question  or  a  paper  too  hard  to 
master.  3.  A  ball  that  brings  down 
all  the  pins.  4.  A  thief  who  trips  his 
man,  and  robs  in  picking  him  up ;  a 
Ramper  (q.v.). 

Flooring.  Knocking  down :  hence, 
to  vanquish  in  all  senses. 

Floor -walker.    A  shop-walker. 

Flop.  1.  A  Bite  (q.v.),  a  successful 
dodge  (1856).  2.  A  sudden  fall  or 
flop  down.  3.  A  collapse  cr  break- 
down. 4.  (For  Flap  or  Flip).  A 
light  blow  (1662).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
fall,  or  flap  down  suddenly :  FT., 

166 


Florence. 


Flummox. 


prendre  un  billet  de  parterre  (1742). 
(2)  To  knock  down.  As  adj.,  An 
onomatopoeia  expressive  of  the  noise 
of  a  sudden  and  sounding  fall.  Often 
used  expletively,  as  Slap  (q.v.)  is,  and 
the  American,  Right  (q.v.)  (1726). 
To  flop  over,  to  turn  heavily  ;  hence 
(in  America),  to  make  a  sudden 
change  of  sides,  association,  or 
allegiance.  Flop  up,  a  day's  tramp, 
as  opposed  to  a  Sot-down,  half  a 
day's  travel.  Flop  up  time,  Bedtime. 
Flop,  too,  is  something  of  a  vocable  of 
all-work.  Thus,  to  flop  round,  to  loaf, 
to  dangle  ;  to  do  a  flop  (colloquial),  to 
sit,  or  to  fall,  down:  to  flop  out,  to 
leave  the  water  noisily  and  awk- 
wardly ;  a  flop  in  the  gills,  &  smack  in 
the  mouth. 

Florence.  A  wench  that  has  been 
touzed  and  ruffled  (B.  E.). 

Floster.  A  mixed  drink :  sherry, 
noyau,  peach  -  leaves,  lemon,  sugar, 
ice,  and  soda-water. 

Flouch.  To  fall  (or  go)  flouch  (or 
floush),  to  come  to  pieces,  sag  sud- 
denly on  the  removal  of  a  restraining 
influence,  as  a  pair  of  stays. 

Flounce.  To  move  with  violence, 
and  (generally)  in  anger.  Said  of 
women,  for  whom  such  motion  is,  or 
rather  was,  inseparable  from  a  great 
flourishing  of  flounces. 

Flounder.  1.  A  drowned  corpse  : 
see  Stiff.  2.  To  sell,  and  afterwards 
re-purchase  a  stock,  or  vice-versd. 

Flounder-and-Dab.    A  cab. 

Flour.  Money  :  generic  :  see 
Rhino. 

Flourish.  To  be  in  luck :  e.g.  I 
flourish,  I  am  well  off  ;  Do  you  flourish, 
or  Are  you  flourishing  ?  Have  you  got 
any  money  ?  Flourishing,  a  retort  to 
the  inquiry,  How  are  you  ?  The 
equivalent  of  Pretty  well,  thank 
you  ! 

Flowery.  Lodging,  entertain- 
ment ;  Square  the  omee  for  the 
flowery,  pay  the  landlord  for  the 
lodging.  [Lingua  Franca,'} 

Flowery  Language.  Blasphemous 
and  obscene  speech. 

Flowing  -  hope.      A  forlorn  hope. 

Flub-dub-and-Guff.  Rhetorical 
embellishment ;  High-falutin'  (q.v.). 

Flue.  1.  The  Recorder  of  London 
or  any  large  town.  2.  The  filth,  part 
fluff,  part  hair,  part  dust,  which 
collects  under  ill-kept  beds,  and  at 
the  junctures  of  sofas  and  chairs : 


see  Beggar's  Velvet.  3.  A  contrac- 
tion of  influenza.  As  verb,  to  put 
in  pawn.  In  (or  up)  the  flue,  pawned. 
Up  the  flue  (or  spout),  dead  ;  collapsed, 
mentally  or  physically.  To  be  up 
one's  flue,  to  be  awkward  for  one. 
That's  up  your  flue,  that's  a  facer,  or 
that's  up  against  you. 

Flue-Faker  (or  Scraper).  A 
chimney-sweep  :  see  Clergyman. 

Fluff  (or  Fluffings).  1.  Short 
change  given  by  booking-clerks.  The 
practice  is  known  as  Fluffing :  see 
Menavelings :  Fr.,  des  fruges  ( =  more  or 
less  unlawful  profits  of  any  sort).  As 
verb,  to  give  short  change.  2.  Lines 
half  learned  and  imperfectly  deli vered. 
Hence,  To  do  a  fluff,  to  forget  one's 
part :  also  as  verb,  to  disconcert,  to 
floor  (q.v.).  Fluff  it  !  an  interjection 
of  disapproval :  Be  off !  Take  it 
away  ! 

F  1  u  ff  e  r.  1.  A  drunkard  :  see 
Lushington.  2.  A  player  '  rocky  on 
his  lines  '  ;  i.e.  given  to  forgetting  his 
part.  3.  A  term  of  contempt. 

Fluffiness.  1.  Drunkenness  :  see 
Fluffy  and  Fluffer.  2.  The  trick,  or 
habit,  of  forgetting  words. 

Fluffy.  Unsteady,  of  uncertain 
memory. 

Fluke.  In  billiards,  an  accidental 
winning  hazard  ;  in  all  games  a  result 
not  played  for;  a  Crow  (q.v.).  In 
yachting,  an  effect  of  chance  ;  a  result 
in  which  seamanship  has  had  no  part. 
Hence,  a  stroke  of  luck.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  effect  by  accident.  (2)  To  shirk. 
To  cut  flukes  out,  to  mutiny,  turn 
sulky  and  disobedient.  To  turn 
flukes,  to  go  to  bed  ;  i.e.  to  Bunk  (q.v.), 
or  turn  in. 

Fluky  (or  Flukey).  Of  the 
nature  of  a  Fluke  (q.v.) ;  i.e.  achieved 
more  by  good  luck  than  good  guid- 
ance. Hence  Flukiness,  abounding  in 
Flukes. 

Flummadiddle.  1.  Nonsense, 
Flummery  (q.v.).  2.  A  sea-dainty. 

Flummergasted.  Astonished,  con- 
founded. A  variant  of  Flabber- 
gasted (q.v.). 

Flummery.  1.  Nonsense,  Gammon 
(q.v.),  flattery  (Grose).  2.  A  kind  of 
bread  pudding  (Nordhoff).  3.  Oat- 
meal and  water  boiled  to  a  jelly 
(Grose). 

Flummox  (Flummocks,  or  Flum- 
mux).     1.  To  perplex,  dodge,  abash, 
silence,    victimize,    Best   (q.v.),    dis- 
167 


Flwnmocky. 


Fly. 


appoint.  AlsoConflummox.  To  flum- 
mox (or  conflummox)  by  the  lip,  to  out- 
slang  (q.v.),  talk  down;  to  flummox 
the  coppers,  to  dodge  the  police ;  to 
flummox  the  old  Dutch,  to  cheat  one's 
wife,  etc.  2.  To  confuse,  Queer  (q.v.). 
3.  Used  in  the  passive  sense,  to  abandon 
a  purpose,  give  in,  die.  As  subs.,  a 
bad  recitation,  failure.  Flummoxed, 
spoilt,  ruined,  drunk,  Sent  down 
(q.v.),  Boshed  (q.v.),  defeated,  dis- 
appointed, silenced,  Floored  (q.v.). 

Flummocky.  Out  of  place,  in  bad 
taste. 

Flummut.  A  month  in  prison :  see 
Dose. 

Flump.  To  fall,  put,  or  be  set  down 
with  violence  or  a  thumping  noise: 
onomatopoeic.  Also  to  come  down 
with  a  flump  (1840). 

Flunk.  1.  An  idler,  Loafer  (q.v.), 
Lawrence  (q.v.).  2.  A  failure,  especi- 
ally (at  college)  in  recitations ;  a 
backing  out  of  undertakings :  also 
Flunk-out.  As  verb,  to  retire  through 
fear,  fail  (as  in  a  lesson),  cause  to  fail. 
Flunkey.  1.  A  ship's  steward.  2. 
An  ignorant  dabbler  in  stock,  inexperi- 
enced jobber.  3.  One  that  makes  a 
complete  failure  in  a  recitation  ;  one 
who  Flunks  (q.v.).  4.  A  man-serv- 
ant, especially  one  in  livery.  Hence, 
by  implication,  a  parasite  or  Toady 
(q.v.):  FT.,  larbin  (1848).  Whence, 
Flunkeyism,  blind  worship  of  rank, 
birth,  or  riches  :  Fr..  larbinerie. 

Flurry.  To  flurry  one's  milk, 
to  be  worried,  angry,  or  upset :  see  To 
fret  one's  kidneys  (q.v.) ;  To  tear  one's 
shirt  (or  one's  hair),  (q.v.). 

Flunyment.  Agitation,  bustle,  con- 
fusion, nervous  excitement. 

Flush.  A  hand  of  one  suit.  As  adj., 
(1)  with  plenty  of  money,  the  reverse 
of  Hard-up  (q.v.) ;  Warm  (q.v.).  Also 
abounding  in  anything :  e.g.  Flush  of 
his  patter,  full  of  his  talk ;  flush  of 
the  lotion,  liberal  with  the  drink ; 
flush  of  his  notions,  prodigal  of  ideas  ; 
flush  of  her  charms,  lavish  of  her  person ; 
and  so  forth  (1603).  (2)  Intoxicated 
(i.e.  full  to  the  brim) ;  also  Flushed  : 
see  Screwed.  (3)  Level:  e.g.  Flush 
with  the  top,  with  the  water,  with  the 
road,  with  the  boat's  edge,  etc.  As 
verb,  ( 1 )  to  whip.  English  synonyms : 
to  bludgeon,  to  bumbaste,  to  breech 
(Cotgrave),  to  brush,  to  club,  to  curry, 
to  dress  with  an  oaken  towel,  to  drub, 
to  dry-beat,  to  dry-bob,  to  drum,  to 


fib,  to  flap,  to  flick,  to  flop,  to  jerk,  to 
give  one  ballast,  to  hide,  to  lamin,  to 
larrup,  to  paste,  to  punch,  to  rub 
down,  to  swinge,  to  swish,  to  switch, 
to  trounce,  to  thump,  to  tund  (Win- 
chester), to  wallop.  (2)  To  clean  by 
filling  full,  and  emptying,  of  water : 
e.g.  to  flush  a  sewer  ;  to  wash,  swill,  or 
sluice  away.  Also,  to  fill  with  water : 
e.g.  to  flush  a  lock.  (3)  To  start  or 
raise  a  bird  from  covert :  e.g.  to  flush 
a  snipe,  or  a  covey  of  partridges.  To 
come  flush  on  one,  to  come  suddenly 
and  unexpectedly  (Marvell) ;  to  over- 
whelm (as  by  a  sudden  rush  of  water). 
Flushed  on  the  horse,  privately  whip- 
ped in  gaol. 

Flush-hit.  A  clean  blow,  a  hit 
full  on  the  mark  and  straight  from 
the  shoulder.  As  adj.,  full,  straight, 
Right  on  (q.v.). 

Fluster.  To  excite,  confuse,  abash, 
Flummox  (q.v.),  upset,  or  be  upset, 
with  drink  (1602). 

Flustered  (or  Flustrated). 
Excited  by  drink,  circumstances, 
another  person's  impudence,  etc.; 
also  mildly  drunk :  cf.  Flusticatod 
and  see  Screwed  (1686). 

Flusticated  (or  Flustrated).  Con- 
fused, in  a  state  of  heat  or  excite- 
ment:  cf.  Flustered  (1712). 

Flustration.        Heat,     excitement, 
bustle,  confusion,  Flurry  (q.v.)  (1771). 
Flute.     The  recorder  of  a  corpora- 
tion (1598). 

Flutter.  1.  An  attempt  or  Shy  (q.v. ) 
at  anything,  a  venture  in  earnest,  a 
spree,  a  state  of  expectancy  (as  in 
betting) :  hence  gambling.  2.  The 
act  of  spinning  a  coin.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to 
spin  a  coin  (for  drinks) ;  also  to  gamble. 
(2)  To  go  in  for  a  bout  of  pleasure. 
To  flutter  the  ribbons,  to  drive.  Flutter, 
if  not  a  word  of  all-work,  is  a  word 
with  plenty  to  do.  Thus,  to  have  (or 
do)  a  flutter,  to  have  a  look  in  (q.v.),  to 
go  on  the  spree  ;  to  be  on  the  flutter,  to 
be  on  the  spree ;  to  flutter  a  Judy,  to 
pursue  a  girl ;  to  flutter  a  brown,  to  spin 
a  coin  ;  to  flutter  (or  fret)  one's  kidneys, 
to  agitate,  to  exasperate  ;  to  flutter  a 
skirt,  to  walk  the  streets ;  and  so  forth.] 
Flux.  1.  To  cheat,  cozen,  over- 
reach. 2.  To  salivate  (Grose). 

Fly.  A  familiar ;  hence,  by  im- 
plication, a  parasite  or  Sucker  (q.v.). 
[In  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries  it  was  held  that  familiar 
spirits,  in  the  guise  of  flies,  lice,  fleas, 


168 


Fly. 


Flying. 


etc.,  attended  witches,  who  for  a 
price  professed  to  dispose  of  the 
Power  for  evil  thus  imparted.]  2.  A 
printer's  devil ;  specifically  a  boy  who 
lifted  the  printed  sheets  from  the 
press.  [Now  the  vibrating  frame 
used  for  the  same  purpose.]  (1688). 
3.  A  customer.  4.  The  act  of  spinning 
a  coin :  cf.  Flutter.  5.  A  public 
waggon :  afterwards  (colloquial)  a  four- 
wheel  hackney  coach :  Fr.,  mouche 
(fly)=a  public  boat  on  the  Seine.  6. 
A  policeman.  As  adj.,  (1)  knowing, 
Artful  (q.v.),  up  to  every  move,  cute. 
Also  fly  to,  a-fly,  fly  to  the  game,  and 
fly  to  what's  what :  cf.  Awake,  and, 
see  Knowing.  (2)  Dextrous.  As  verb, 
( 1 )  To  toss,  raise ;  to  fly  the  mags,  to  toss 
up  halfpence.  (2)  To  give  way  :  as, 
china  flies  in  the  baking.  To  fly  around, 
to  bestir  oneself,  make  haste.  Also  to 
fly  around  and  tear  one's  shirt.  To  fly 
the  flag,  to  walk  the  streets.  See  also 
Flag.  To  fly  high  (or  rather  high),  (1) 
to  get,  or  be  drunk  :  see  Screwed.  (2) 
To  keep  the  best  company,  maintain 
the  best  appearances,  and  affect  the 
best  aims :  i.e.  to  be  a  High-flier 
( q. v. ).  Also,  to  venture  for  the  biggest 
stakes  in  the  biggest  way.  To  fly 
low,  to  make  as  little  of  oneself  as 
possible ;  to  sing  small  (q.v.) ;  and 
(among  thieves)  to  keep  out  of  the 
way  when  Wanted  (q.v.).  To  fly  off 
the  handle,  to  lose  temper,  fail  of  a 
promise,  jilt,  die ;  also  to  slip  off  the 
Handle  (q.v.);  to  disappoint  in  any 
way.  [In  pioneer  life  for  an  axe  to 
part  company  with  its  handle  is  a 
serious  trial  to  temper  and  patience.] 
To  fly  out,  to  get  angry,  scold  (1612). 
To  make  the  fur  (or  feathers)  fly,  to 
attack  effectively,  make  a  disturbance, 
quarrel  noisily  like  two  torn  cats  on  the 
tiles,  who  are  said  (in  American)  to  pull 
fur,  or  to  pull  wool.  To  take  on  the 
fly,  to  beg  in  the  streets  ;  a  specific 
usage  of  adverbial  sense.  To  fly  a 
kite,  to  raise  money  by  means  of 
accommodation  bills,  raise  the  Wind 
(q.v.).  (3)  To  go  out  by  the  window. 
(4)  To  evacuate  from  a  window.  (5) 
To  attempt,  set  one's  cap  at.  To  fly 
the  blue  pigeon,  to  steal  lead  from 
roofs :  see  Blue-pigeon.  Fr.,  faire 
la  mastar  au  gras-double  (or  la  faire 
au  mastar)  (Grose).  To  let  fly,  to 
hit  out :  from  cock-fighting.  Not  a 
feather  to  fly  with,  penniless,  ruined, 
Dead-broke  (q.v.).  To  break  a  fly 


on  a  wheel,  to  make  a  mountain  of  a 
molehill :  cf.  To  crack  a  nut  with  a 
Nasmyth  hammer,  to  lavish  force  or 
energy.  The  fly  on  the  wheel,  one 
who  fancies  himself  of  mighty  im- 
portance. [From  the  fable.]  /  don't 
rise  to  that  fly,  I  don't  believe  you  ; 
you  won't  catch  me  with  such  bait  as 
that.  Off  the  fly,  on  the  quiet,  laid 
up  in  dock,  doing  nothing.  On  the  fly, 
(1)  walking  the  streets,  out  for  a  Lark 
(q.v.),  Off  work  (q.v.),  out  on  the 
spree  (q.v.).  (2)  In  motion :  e.g.  I 
got  in  one  on  the  fly,  I  landed  a  blow 
while  I  was  running. 

Fly-blow.  A  bastard ;  cf.  Bye- 
blow. 

Fly-blown.  1.  Intoxicated :  see 
Screwed.  2.  Cleaned-out,  without  a 
rap,  Hard-up.  3.  Used,  done-up, 
Washed-out  (q.v.).  4.  Deflowered, 
known  for  a  wanton,  suspected  of 
disease. 

Fly  -  by  -  night.  1.  A  sedan  chair 
on  wheels ;  a  usage  of  the  Regency 
days.  2.  A  defaulting  debtor,  one 
who  shoots  the  moon  (q.v.).  3.  A 
prostitute.  4.  A  noctambulist  for 
business  or  for  pleasure :  i.e.  a 
burglar  or  a  common  spreester  (q.v.). 
5.  A  term  of  opprobrium,  spec,  'an 
old  woman,  signifying  that  she  was  a 
witch,  and  alluding  to  the  nocturnal 
excursions  attributed  to  witches  who 
were  supposed  to  fly  abroad  to  their 
meetings  mounted  on  brooms '  (Grose). 

Fly  -  catcher.  An  open-mouthed 
ignoramus,  a  Gape-seed  (q.v.) :  Fr., 
gobe-mouche. 

Flycop.  A  sharp  officer  ;  one  well 
broken  in  to  the  tricks  of  trade. 

Fly-disperser  Soup.     Oxtail. 

Flyer.  1.  See  Flier  in  all  senses. 
2.  A  shoe  :  see  Trotter-case.  3.  (Win- 
chester). A  half-volley  at  football, 
A  made-flyer  is  when  the  bound  of 
the  ball  is  gained  from  a  previous 
kick,  by  the  same  side,  against  canvas 
or  any  other  obstacle,  or  is  dropped, 
as  in  a  drop  -  kick.  This  is  now 
confused  with  a  kick-up. 

Fly-flapped.  Whipped  in  the  stocks, 
or  at  the  cart's  tail  (Grose). 

Fly  -  flapper.      A  heavy  bludgeon. 

Fly-flat.  A  would-be  connoisseur 
and  authority. 

Flying.  To  look  a#  if  the  Devil 
had  spued  on  him  (or  her)  flying,  said 
in  derision  of  one  odd -looking,  filthy, 
or  deformed. 


169 


Flying-angel. 


Fogram. 


Flying-angel.     See  Angel. 

Flying  Bricklayers.  The  mounted 
Royal  Engineers. 

Flying  -  camps.  Couples  or  gangs 
of  beggars. 

Flying  -  caper.  An  escape  from 
prison,  Leg-bail  (q.v.). 

Flying-cat    See  Cat 

Flying-country.  A  country  where 
the  Going  (q.v.)  is  fast  and  good. 

Flying  -  cove.  An  impostor  who 
gets,  or  tries  to  get,  money  from 
persons  who  hare  been  robbed  by 
pretending  to  give  such  information 
as  will  lead  to  recovery.  Formerly, 
Flying-porter  (Grose). 

Flying-dustman.     See  Stiff-'un. 

Flying  -  Dutchman.  The  London 
and  Exeter  express  (G.W.R.).  See 
also  Flying  Scotsman  and  Wild 
Irishman. 

Flying  horse  (or  mare).  The 
throw  by  which  an  opponent  is  sent 
over  the  head.  Introduced,  says 
Bee,  by  Parkins  (1754). 

Flying  -  jigger  (or  gygger).  A 
turnpike  gate. 

Flying  -  man.  A  skirmisher  good 
at  taking,  and  running  with,  the  ball. 

Flying  -  mare.     See  Flying-horse. 

Flying-pasty.  Excrement 
wrapped  in  paper  and  thrown  over  a 
neighbour's  wall  (Grose). 

Flying-porter.     See  Flying-cove. 

Flying-stationer.  A  hawker 
of  street  ballads,  Paperworker  (q.v.), 
or  Running  patterer  (q.v.).  '  Printed 
for  the  Flying-stationer '  is  the  im- 
primatur on  hundreds  of  broadsheets 
from  the  last  century  onwards  (Grose). 

Fly  my.  Knowing,  Fast  (q.v.), 
roguish,  sprightly. 

Fly-my-kite  (rhyming).      A  light 

Flymy-mess.  To  be  in  a  fiymy-mess, 
to  be  hungry  and  have  nothing  to  eat. 

Fly  -  slicer.  A  cavalry-man  :  see 
Mudcrusher.  French  lancers  are  allum- 
curs  de  gaz,  their  weapons  being 
likened  to  a  lamplighter's  rod. 

Fly-the-garter.      Leap  frog. 

Fly-trap.  The  mouth :  see 
Potato-trap. 

Foaled.  Thrown  from  a  horse  : 
Fr.,  faire  parache. 

Fob  (or  Fub).  1.  A  cheat,  trick, 
swindle.  To  come  the  fob,  to  impose 
upon,  swindle:  cf.  Come  over  (1690). 
2.  A  breeches  pocket,  watch  pocket 
(1678).  3.  A  watch-chain  or  ribbon, 
with  buckle  and  seals,  worn  hanging 


from  the  fob.  As  verb,  (1)  to  rob, 
cheat  pocket :  also  to  fob  off  (1700). 
(2)  To  deceive,  trifle  with,  disappoint, 
put  off  dishonestly  or  unfairly  (1598). 
To  gut  a  fob,  to  pick  pockets. 

F  o  b  u  s.  An  opprobrious  epithet 
(1677). 

Fodder.  Paper  for  the  closet, 
Bum-fodder  (q.v.). 

F  ce  t  u  s.  To  tap  the  foetus,  to 
procure  abortion. 

Fog.  Smoke  (Grose).  In  a  fog, 
in  a  condition  of  perplexity,  doubt, 
difficulty,  or  mystification  :  as,|  I'm 
quite  in  a  fog  as  to  what  you  mean. 
As  verb,  ( 1 )  to  smoke.  (2)  To  mystify, 
perplex,  obscure. 

Fogey  (Fogy,  Fogay,  or  Foggi). 
An  invalid  or  garrison  soldier  or  sailor. 
Whence  the  present  colloquial  usages : 
( 1 )  a  person  advanced  in  life,  and  (2) 
an  old-fashioned  or  eccentric  person  ; 
generally  Old  fogey.  So  also  Fogey- 
ish,  old-fashioned,  eccentric.  Fogey- 
dom,  the  state  of  fogeyishness ;  and 
fogeyism,  a  characteristic  of  fogeydom. 

F  o  g  g  a  g  e.  Fodder,  especially 
green-meat  (Grose). 

Fogged.  1.  Drunk :  see  Screwed. 
2.  Perplexed,  bewildered,  at  a  loss. 

Fogger.  1.  A  huckster,  a  cringing, 
whining  beggar,  a  pettifogger.  2.  A 
farm-servant  whose  duty  is  to  feed 
the  cattle;  i.e.  to  supply  them  with 
Foggage  (q.v.). 

Foggy.  1.  Drunk,  clinched, 
Hazy  (q.v.) :  see  Screwed.  2.  Dull, 
fatwitted,  Thick  (q.v.). 

Fogle.  A  silk  handkerchief ;  also 
generic.  [Cf.  Ital.,  foglia,  a  pocket 
a  purse  :  Fr.,  fouittt,  a  pocket].  A 
cotton  handkerchief  is  called  a  clout 
English  synonyms :  bandanna,  belcher, 
billy,  clout,  conch-clout  fam-cloth, 
flag,  kent-rag,  madam,  muckender, 
mucketer  (Florio) ;  nose-wipe,  pen- 
wiper, rag,  sneezer,  snot-tmger  or 
snot-rag,  stock,  wipe :  see  Billy. 

Fogle  -  hunter.  A  thief  whose 
speciality  is  Fogies  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  blavin- 
iste  or  chiffonier :  see  Stookhauler 
(1827). 

Fpgle-hunting  (or  drawing). 
Stealing  pocket-handkerchiefs ;  i.e. 
prigging  of  wipes. 

Fogram  (or  Fogrum).  A  fussy 
old  man  :  see  Fogey.  As  adj.,  fogey- 
ish,  stupid  (1777).  Hence  Fogram- 
ity,  (1)  Fogeyism  (q.v.),  and  (2)  the 
state  of  Fogeyishness. 


170 


Fogue. 


Foot-wobbler. 


Fogue.     Fierce,  fiery. 

Fogus.     Tobacco  (1671). 

Foiler.     A  thief  (1669). 

Foist  (Foyst,  or  Fyst).  1.  A  cheat, 
swindler,  sharper  (1592).  2.  A  trick, 
swindle,  imposture  :  also  Foyster  and 
Foister  (1605).  As  verb,  to  trick, 
swindle,  pick  pockets  (1607). 

Foister  (or  Foyster).  A  pick- 
pocket, a  cheat  (1598). 

Follower.  A  maid-servant's 
sweetheart,  a  beau  :  see  Jomer. 

Follow-me-lads.  Curls  or  ribands 
hanging  over  the  shoulder:  Fr.,  suivez- 
moi-jeune-homme :  also  Followers. 

Follow-on.  A  team  eighty  runs 
behind  the  other  in  the  first  innings 
is  obliged  to  follow  on  ;  i.e.  to  take  to 
the  wickets  a  second  time.  A  run 
more,  and  it  saves  the  follow  on. 

Follow  your  nose!  A  retort  on 
asking  the  way.  The  full  phrase  is, 
Follow  your  nose  and  you  are  sure 
to  go  straight  (1620). 

Foo-foo.  A  person  of  no  account 
an  insignificant  idiot,  a  Poop  (q.v.). 

Fool.  A  dish  of  gooseberries, 
boiled  with  sugar  and  milk  :  also  Gull 
(q.v.)  (1720).  No  fool,  a  phrase 
laudatory.  To  make  a  fool  of,  to 
delude  :  specifically  to  cuckold,  or  to 
seduce  under  promise  of  marriage.  To 
fool  about  (or  around),  to  dawdle,  trifle 
with,  be  infatuated  with,  hang  about, 
defraud. 

Fool-finder.  A  bum-bailiff 
(Grose). 

Fool -monger.  A  person,  male 
or  female,  living  by  their  wits,  e.g. 
a  Promoter  (q.v.),  a  betting-man, 
a  swindler  :  also  Fool  -  catcher  and 
Fool-trap  (q.v.). 

Foolometer.  A  standard,  positive 
or  neuter,  whereby  to  gauge  the 
public  taste. 

Fool's  Father.  The  pantaloon  or 
Old  'un  (q.v.). 

Fool's-wedding.  A  party  of 
women  :  see  Hen  party. 

Fool -trap.  A  Fool-monger. 
F  o  o  n  t.  A  sovereign :  see  Rhino. 
[Probably  a  corruption  of  Ger.,  Pfund.~\ 
Foot.  1.  To  acknowledge  pay- 
ment ;  e.g.  To  foot  a  bill.  2.  To 
kick,  to  Hoof  (q.v.) :  cf.  '  Merchant  of 
Venice,'  i.  iii.  'You,  that  did  void  your 
rheum  upon  my  beard,  And  foot  me, 
as  you  spurn  a  stranger  cur.'  To  foot 
it,  to  walk,  to  dance  :  see  Pad  the 
Hoof.  To  foot-up,  to  sum  up  the 


total  (of  a  bill);  to  Tot  up  (q.v.). 
Hence,  to  pay,  discharge  one's  obliga- 
tions, Reckon  up  (q.v.) ;  to  summarize 
both  merits  and  defects,  and  strike  a 
balance.  Footing-up,  the  reckoning, 
the  sum  total :  Fr.,  gomberger.  To 
put  one's  best  foot  (or  leg)  foremost,  to 
use  all  possible  despatch,  exert  one- 
self to  the  utmost  (1596).  To  put 
one's  foot  into  anything, ,io  make  a  mess 
of  it,  get  into  a  scrape.  The  bishop 
(i.e.  the  Devil)  has  put  his  foot  in  it 
(Old  English  proverb)  is  said  of  burned 
porridge  or  over-roasted  meat  (Orose) : 
Fr.,  faire  une  gaffe.  To  have  one  foot 
(or  leg)  in  the  grave,  on  one's  last  legs, 
measured  for  a  funeral  sermon  :  also 
as  adj.  (1825).  To  pull  foot,  to  make 
haste  :  also  To  take  one's  foot  in  one's 
hand,  and  To  make  tracks.  To  take 
Mr.  Foot's  horse,  to  walk,  Go  by 
Shank's  mare  (q.v.) :  see  Pad  the 
hoof.  To  know  the  length  of  one's 
foot,  to  be  well  acquainted  with  one's 
character  (1581). 

Footer  (Harrow).  1.  Short  for 
football.  2.  A  player  of  football 
according  to  Rugby  rules. 

Foot-hot.  In  hot  haste,  Hot-foot 
(q.v.). 

Footing.  Money  paid  on  entering 
upon  new  duties,  or  on  being  received 
into  a  workshop  or  society  :  as  at  sea 
when  a  comrade  first  goes  aloft. 
Formerly  Foot-ale :  Fr.,  arroser  set 
galons,  to  christen  one's  uniform 
(1777). 

Footle.  To  dawdle,  trifle,  potter, 
Mess  about  (q.v.). 

Footlicker.  A  servant,  a  lickspittle 
(1609). 

Footlights.  To  smett  the  footlights, 
to  acquire  a  taste  for  theatricals.  To 
smett  of  the  footlights,  to  carry  thea- 
trical concerns  and  phraseology  into 
private  life,  to  Talk  shop  (q.v.). 

Footman's  Inn.  A  poor  lodging, 
a  jail :  Fr.,  H6tel  de  la  modestie  :  the 
Poor  Man's  Arms  (1608). 

Footman' s-maund.  An  artificial 
sore,  as  from  a  horse's  bite  or  kick  : 
the  Fox's  bite  of  schoolboys.  Also 
Scaldrum  dodge,  or  Maund  (q.v.). 

Foot-riding.  Walking  and 
wheeling  one's  machine  instead  of 
riding  it. 

Foot-scamp.     A  footpad  (Parker). 

Footstool.     See  Angel's  footstool. 

Foot-wobbler.  An  infantry-man : 
see  Mudcrusher. 


171 


Form. 


F  o  o  t  y.  Contemptible,  worth- 
less :  Fr.,  joutu  (Grose). 

Foozle.  1.  A  boggle,  a  miss.  2. 
A  bore,  a  fogey ;  and  (in  America)  a 
fool,  a  green  'un :  see  Buffie.  As  verb, 
to  miss,  boggle,  Muff  (q.v.).  Foozled 
(or  Foozley),  blurred  in  appearance 
and  effect,  fuzzy,  Muffed  (q.v. ).  Often 
said  of  badly  painted  pictures,  or  parts 
of  pictures. 

Fop-doodle.  An  insignificant  man, 
a  fool  (1689). 

Fop's  Alley.  The  gangway  run- 
ning parallel  to  the  footlights,  between 
the  last  row  of  the  stalls  and  the 
first  row  of  the  pit  in  Her  Majesty's 
Theatre,  and  in  its  palmiest  days  it 
was  always  graced  by  the  presence  of  a 
subaltern  of  the  Guards  in  full  uniform, 
daintily  swinging  his  bearskin. 

Forakers  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). The  water-closet :  see  Mrs. 
Jones.  [Formerly  spelt  foricu*  and 
probably  a  corruption  of  foricaa,  an 
English  plural  of  the  Latin  /on'ca.] 

Force  (The).  The  police.  To 
force  the  voucher,  it  is  customary  for 
sporting  tricksters  to  advertise  selec- 
tions and  enclose  vouchers  (similar  to 
those  sent  out  by  respectable  com- 
mission agents)  for  double  or  treble 
the  current  odds.  The  correspondent 
is  informed  that,  in  consequence  of 
early  investments,  the  extra  odds  can 
be  laid  ;  a  remittance  is  requested ; 
the  voucher  is  forced  ;  and  then  the 
firm  dries  up,  and  changes  its  name 
and  address. 

Forcemeat  -  ball.  Something  en- 
dured from  compulsion :  as  ( 1)  a  rape  : 
(2)  going  to  prison ;  (3)  transporta- 
tion ;  (4)  an  affiliation  order ;  (5)  ab- 
stention (from  drink,  pleasure,  etc.) 
through  impecuniosity. 

Forceps.  The  hands :  see 
Daddle. 

Fore-and-after.  Anybody  or  any- 
thing good  all  round. 

Fore  -  buttocks.  The  paps  :  see 
Dairy. 

Fore-coach-wheel.  A  half- 
crown  :  see  Caroon. 

Forefoot.    The  hand  (1598). 

Foreman  of  the  jury.  A  babbler  ; 
one  with  the  Gift  of  the  gab  (q.v.) 
(1696). 

Fore-stall.  In  garotting,  a  look- 
out in  front  of  the  operator,  or  Ugly- 
man  (q.v.) ;  the  watch  behind  is  the 
Back-stall  (q.v.) :  see  Stale. 


Fork.  1.  A  pickpocket:  Fr., 
Avoir  let  main*  crochuu,  to  be  a  light- 
fingered  or  lime  -  fingered  filcher  ; 
every  finger  of  his  hand  as  good  as 
a  lime-twig  (Cotgrave).  2.  A  finger. 
The  fork*,  the  fore  and  middle  fingers  ; 
cf.  (proverbial)  Fingers  were  made 
before  forks.  English  synonyms  : 
claws,  fish-hooks  (Oro*e),  daddies, 
(also  the  hands),  divers,  feelers,  fives, 
flappers,  grapplers,  grappling  irons, 
gropers,  hooks,  nail-bearers,  pickers 
and  stealers  (Shakespeare),  corn-steal  - 
era,  Ten  Commandments,  ticklers, 
pinkies,  muck  -  forks.  3.  The  hands. 

4.  A  gibbet  ;  in  the  plural,  the  gallows. 

5.  A  spendthrift.    6.  The  Crutch  (q.v.  ), 
or  Twist  (q.v.)  :  Fr.,  Fourcheure,  that 
part  of  the  bodie  from  whence  the 
thighs   depart   (Cotgrave).     As   verb, 
to     steal  ;      specifically    to    pick    a 
pocket  by  inserting  the  middle   and 
forefinger  :   also  To   put  one's  forks 
down  :   Fr.,   vol  rt  la  fourchette.     To 
fork  out  (or  over  —  sometimes  to  fork), 
to  hand  over,  pay,  to  shell  out  (q.v.). 
To  fork  on,  to  appropriate  :  cf.  Freeze 
on  to.    To  pitch  the  fork,  to  tell  a  piti- 
ful tale.     To  eat  vinegar  with  a  fork,  a 
person  either  over  -shrewd   or   over- 
snappish  is  said  to  have  eaten  vinegar 
with    a    fork  :    Fr.,    avoir   mange   de 


F  o  r  k  e  r.  A  dockyard  thief  or 
Fence  (q.v.). 

Forking.  1.  Thieving.  2. 
Hurrying  and  Scamping  (q.v.). 

Forkless.  Clumsy,  unworkman- 
like, as  without  Forks  (q.v.)  (1821). 

Foreloper.     A  teamster  guide. 

Forlorn-Hope.   A  last  stake  (Oro*e). 

Form.  1.  Condition,  training, 
fitness  for  a  contest.  In  (or  out  of) 
form,  in  or  out  of  condition,  i.e.  fit  or 
unfit  for  work.  Better  (or  top)  form, 
etc.  (in  comparison)  :  cf.  Colour.  2. 
Behaviour  (with  a  moral  significance  : 
as  good  form,  bad  form,  agreeable  to 
good  manners,  breeding,  principles, 
taste,  etc.,  or  the  opposite).  This 
usage,  popularised  in  racing  circles,  is 
good  literary  English,  though  the 
word  is  commonly  printed  in  inverted 
commas  ('  ')  :  Shakespeare  ('  Two 
Gentlemen  of  Verona,'  4),  says,  '  Can 
no  way  change  you  to  a  milder  form,' 
i.e.  manner  of  behaviour.  3.  Habit, 
Game  (q.v.)  :  e.g.  That's  my  form, 
That's  what  Fm  in  the  way  of  doing  ; 
or  That's  the  sort  of  man  I  am. 


172 


Forney. 


Four  Seams. 


Forney.  A  ring ;  a  variant  of 
Fawney  (q.v.). 

Fortune-biter.    A  sharper  (1719). 

Fortune  -  teller.  A  magistrate 
(1696). 

Forty.  To  talk  forty  (more  com- 
monly nineteen)  to  the  dozen,  to  chatter 
incessantly,  gabble.  To  walk  off 
forty  to  the  dozen,  to  decamp  in  quick 
time.  Roaring  forties,  the  Atlantic 
between  the  fortieth  and  fiftieth 
degrees  of  latitude  ;  also  applied  to  the 
same  region  in  southern  latitudes. 

Forty -faced.  An  arrant  deceiver  : 
e.g.  a  forty-faced  liar,  a  forty-faced 
flirt,  and  so  forth. 

Forty-five.  A  revolver :  see 
Meat  in  the  pot. 

Forty-foot  (or  Forty-guts).  A  fat, 
dumpy  man,  or  woman :  in  contempt. 
English  synonyms :  All  arse  and  no 
body,  arse-and-corporation,  all-belly 
(Cotgrave) ;  all  guts  (idem),  bacon- 
belly,  barrel-belly,'belly-god,  bladder- 
figured,  bosse-belly,  Bosse  of  Billings- 
gate (Florio,  a  fat  woman),  chuff 
(Shakespeare),  Christmas  beef,  double- 
guts,  double-tripe,  fat-cock,  fat-guts 
(Shakespeare  and  Cotgrave),  fatico, 
fattymus  or  fattyma,  fubsy,  fat  Jack 
of  the  bonehouse,  fat-lips,  flander- 
kin,  fustiluggs  (Burton),  fussock,  gor- 
belly,  grampus,  gotch-guts,  grand-guts 
(Florio),  gulche  (Florio),  gullyguts, 
gundigutts,  guts,  guts-and-stomach, 
guts-and-garbage,  guts-to-sell,  hoddy- 
doddy,  dumpty-dumpty,  hogshead, 
hopper-arse,  Jack  Weight,  loppers, 
lummox,  paunch,  pod,  porpoise,  pot- 
guts,  princod,  pudding-belly,  puff- 
guts,  ribs,  slush-bucket,  sow  (a  fat 
woman),  spud,  squab,  studgy-guts, 
tallow-guts,  tallow-merchant,  thick- 
in  -  the  -  middle,  tripes,  tripes  and 
trullibubs,  tubs,  waist,  water-butt, 
walking-ninepin,  whopper. 

Forty-jawed.  Excessively 
talkative. 

Forty -lunged.  Stentorian  ;  given 
to  shouting  ;  Leather-lunged  (q.v.). 

Forty-rod  (or  Forty-rod  Light- 
ning). Whisky,  specifically,  spirit 
so  fiery  that  it  is  calculated  to  kill 
at  Forty  Rods'  distance,  i.e.  on 
Bight:  cf.  Rotgut.  Cf.  Florio  (1598), 
Catoblepa,  '  a  serpent  in  India  so 
venomous  that  with  his  looke  he  kils 
a  man  a  mile  off.'] 

Forty  -  twa.  A  common  jakes, 
or  Bogshop  (q.v.) :  in  Edinburgh,  So 


called  from  its  accommodating  that 
number  of  persons  at  once  (Hotten). 
[Long  a  thing  of  the  past.] 

Forty  -  winks.  A  short  sleep  or 
nap  :  see  Dog's  sleep. 

Fossed.     Thrown. 

Fossick.  To  work  an  abandoned 
claim,  or  to  wash  old  dirt ;  hence  to 
search  persistently.  [Halliwell,  to 
take  trouble,  but  cf.  fosse,  a  ditch 
or  excavation.]  Also  Fossicking,  a 
living  got  as  aforesaid  ;  Fossicker,  a 
man  that  works  abandoned  claims  ; 
Fossicking  about  (American),  Shinning 
around,  or  in  England,  Ferreting  (q.v.). 

Fou  (or  Fow).  Drunk ;  variants  are 
Bitch  -  fou,  greetin'  -  fou,  piper-fou, 
roaring-fou,  fou  as  barty  (Burns), 
pissing-fou,  and  so  forth  :  see  Screwed. 
Also  (Scots),  full  of  food  or  drink. 

Foul.  A  running  into  or  down. 
As  verb,  to  run  against,  run  down ; 
also  to  come  (or  fall)  foul  of.  [Foul, 
adj.  and  verb,  is  used  in  two  senses  : 
(1),  dirty,  as  a  foul  word,  a  foul  shrew 
(Dickens),  to  foul  the  bed,  etc.  ;  and  (2) 
unfair,  as  a  foul  (i.e.  a  felon)  stroke,  a 
foul  blow,  and  so  forth.]  To  fold  a 
plate  with,  to  dine  or  sup  with  (Grose). 

Foulcher.     A  purse. 

Foul-mouthed.  Obscene  or 
blasphemous  in  speech. 

Found.  Found  in  a  parsley-bed  : 
see  Parsley-bed  and  Gooseberry-bush. 

Four  -  and  -  nine  (or  Four  -  and 
ninepenny).  A  hat.  [So  -  called 
from  the  price  at  which  an  enterpris- 
ing Bread  Street  hatter  sold  his  hats, 
circa  1844,  at  which  date  London  was 
hideous  with  posters  displaying  a 
large  black  hat  and  '  4s.  and  9d.'  in 
white  letters.] 

Four -bones.     The  knees. 

Four  -  eyes.  A  person  in  spec- 
tacles :  '  a  chap  that  can't  believe  his 
own  eyes.' 

Four  -  holed  Middlings  (Win- 
chester College).  Ordinary  walking 
shoes  :  cf.  Beeswaxers  :  obsolete. 

Four  Kings.  The  history  (or  book) 
of  the  four  kings,  a  pack  of  cards ; 
otherwise,  A  child's  best  guide  to  the 
gallows,  or  The  Devil's  picture  books  : 
Fr.,  livre  des  quatre  rois. 

Four  -  legged  burglar  -  alarm.  A 
watch  dog. 

Four  -  poster.  A  four-post  bed- 
stead. 

Four  Seams  and  a  Bit  of  Soap. 
A  pair  of  trousers :  see  Kicks. 

173 


Four 


Ita. 


Four  (or  Three)  Sheets  in  the 
Wind.  Drunk  ;  cf.  Half  seas  over : 
see  Screwed. 

Fourteen  Hundred  (Stock 
Exchange).  A  warning  cry  that  a 
stranger  is  in  the  House.  The  cry 
is  said  to  have  had  its  origin  in  the  fact 
that  for  a  long  while  the  number  of 
members  never  exceeded  1399 ;  and 
it  was  customary  to  hail  every  new 
comer  as  the  fourteen  hundredth. 
It  has,  in  its  primary  sense,  long  since 
lost  significance,  for  there  are  now 
nearly  three  thousand  members  of 
the  close  corporation  which  has  its 
home  in  Capet  Court. 

Fourteenth  Amendment  Persua- 
sion. Negroes.  [From  the  number 
of  the  clause  amending  the  Constitu- 
tion at  the  abolition  of  slavery.] 

Fourth  (Cambridge  University). 
A  Rear  (q.v.)  or  jakes.  [Origin  un- 
certain ;  said  to  have  been  first  used  at 
St.  John's  or  Trinity,  where  the  closets 
were  situated  in  the  Fourth  Court. 
Whatever  its  derivation,  the  term  is 
now  the  only  one  in  use  at  Cambridge, 
and  is  frequently  heard  outside  the 
University.]  The  verbal  phrase  is 
To  keep  a  fourth  (see  Keep).  On  his 
fourth,  hopelessly  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 
Fourth  Estate.  The  body  of 
journalists ;  the  Press.  [Literally 
the  Fourth  Estate  of  the  realm,  the 
other  three  being  the  Queen,  Lords, 
and  Commons.] 

Four-wheeler.  1.  A  steak.  2.  A 
four-wheeled  cab  ;  a  Growler  (q.v.). 

F  o  u  s  t  y.  Stinking  [probably  de- 
rived from  foist,  sense  3]. 

Pouter  (Foutering).  To  meddle, 
importune,  waste  time  and  tongue  ; 
the  act  of  meddling,  importunity, 
wasting  time  and  tongue :  e.g.  Don't 
come  foutering  here !  From  the 
French  :  the  sense  of  which  is  intensi- 
fied in  a  vulgarism  of  still  fuller 
flavour]. 

Fox.  A  sword  ;  specifically,  the 
old  English  broadsword  (1598).  As 
verb,  1.  to  intoxicate.  Foxed,  drunk ; 
to  catch  a  fox,  to  be  very  drunk  ;  while 
to  play  the  fox  (Urquhart),  to  vomit, 
to  shed  your  liquor,  i.e.  to  get  rid  of  the 
beast  (1611).  2.  To  cheat,  trick, 
rob  (colloquial  at  Eton) :  see  Gammon 
(1631).  3.  To  watch  closely  :  also  to 
fox  about.  4.  To  sham.  6.  To  play 
truant.  6.  To  stain,  discolour  with 
damp ;  said  of  books  and  engravings. 


Foxed,  stained  or  discoloured.  7. 
To  criticise  a  brother  pro's  perform- 
ance. 8.  To  mend  a  boot  by  capping 
it.  To  get  a  fox  to  keep  one's  geese,  to 
entrust  one's  money,  or  one's  circum- 
stances, to  the  care  of  sharpers.  To 
make  a  fox  paw,  to  make  a  mistake  or 
a  wrong  move  ;  specifically  (of  women) 
to  be  seduced.  Fr.,  faux  pas. 
(Grose). 

Foz's-sleep.  A  state  of  feigned  yet 
very  vigilant  indifference  to  one's 
surroundings.  [Foxes  were  supposed 
to  sleep  with  one  eye  open.] 

Foxy.  1.  Red-haired :  cf.  Car- 
roty. 2.  Cunning,  vulpine  in  char- 
acter and  look.  Once  literary. 
Jonson  (1605)  calls  his  arch-foist 
Volpone,  the  second  title  of  his  play 
being  The  Fox;  and  Florio  (1598) 
defines  Volpone  as  :  an  old  fox,  an  old 
reinard,  an  old,  crafty,  sly,  subtle, 
companion,  sneaking,  larking,  wilie 
deceiver.  3.  Repaired  with  new  toe- 
caps.  4.  A  term  applied  to  prints 
and  books  discoloured  by  damp.  5. 
Inclined  to  reddishness  (1792).  6. 
Strong-smelling  :  of  a  red-haired  man 
or  woman. 

Foy .     A  cheat,  swindle  (1615). 
Foyl-cloy.      A  pickpocket ;   a 
rogue  (B.  E.). 
Foyst.     See  Foist 
Foyster.     See  Foister. 
Fraggle.     To  rob. 
Fragment     (Winchester     College). 
A  dinner  for  six  (served  in  College  Hall, 
after  the  ordinary  dinner),  ordered  by 
a  Fellow  in  favour  of  a  particular  boy, 
who  was  at  liberty  to  invite  five  others 
to  join  him.     [Obs.  A  fragment  was 
supposed  to  consist  of  three  dishes. — 
Winchester  Ward-book  1891]. 
Framer.     A  shawl  (1859). 
Frater.      A  beggar  working   with 
a  false  petition  (1567). 

Fraud.  A  failure,  anything  or 
body  disappointing  expectation  ;  e.g. 
an  acquaintance,  a  picture,  a  book, 
a  play,  a  picture,  a  bottle  of  wine. 
Actual  dishonesty  is  not  necessarily 
implied. 

Fraze.     See  Vessel. 
Freak.     A  living  curiosity :  as  the 
Siamese  Twins,  the  Two-headed  Night- 
ingale.    [Short  for  Freak  of  nature.] 
Free.      Impudent,  self-possessed. 
As   verb,   to   steal ;    cf.    Annex   and 
Convey.     Free  of  fumbler't  hall,  im- 
potent.    Free,  gratis, — for  nothing,  a 


174 


Free-and-easy. 


Freshmanship. 


pleonastic  vulgarism.  Free  of  the  house, 
intimate ;  privileged  to  come  and  go 
at  will.  For  the  rest,  the  commonest 
sense  of  free  is  one  of  liberality  :  e.g. 
Free  of  his  foolishness,  full  of  chaff  ; 
Free-handed,  lavish  in  giving ;  free- 
hearted, generously  disposed ;  free  of 
his  patter,  full  of  talk. 

Free-and-easy.  A  social  gathering 
where  smoke,  drink,  and  song  is  the 
order  of  the  day  :  generally  held  at  a 
public  house. 

Freebooker.  A'  pirate '  book- 
seller or  publisher  ;  a  play  on  '  free- 
booter.' 

Free  fight.     A  general  mellay. 
Freeholder.     1.  A  prostitute's 
lover  or  fancyman.     2.  A  man  whose 
wife  insists  on  accompanying  him  to 
a  public  house  (1696). 

Free-lance.  An  habitual  adulteress. 
Also  said  of  a  journalist  attached  to 
no  particular  paper. 

Freeman.  A  married  woman's 
lover.  Freeman  of  bucks,  a  cuckold. 

Freeman' s  Quay.  To  drink  (or  lush), 
at  freeman's  quay,  to  drink  at  another's 
expense.  [Freeman's  Quay  was  a 
celebrated  wharf  near  London  Bridge.] 
Freeze.  1.  The  act  or  state  of 
freezing,  a  frost.  2.  Hard  cider  (Grose). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  long  for  intensely 
e.g.  to  freeze  to  go  back,  said  of  the 
home-sick ;  to  freeze  for  meat.  (2) 
Hence,  to  appropriate,  steal,  stick  to. 
(3)  To  adulterate  or  Balderdash  (q.v.) 
wine  with  Freeze  (q.v.  sense  2) 
(Grose).  To  freeze  to  (or  on  to),  to  take 
a  strong  fancy  to,  cling  to,  keep  fast 
hold  of  ;  and  (of  persons)  button-hole 
or  shadow.  To  freeze  out,  to  compel 
to  withdraw  from  society  by  cold  and 
contemptuous  treatment ;  from  busi- 
ness by  competition  or  opposition ; 
from  the  market  by  depressing  prices 
or  rates  of  exchange. 

Freezer.  1.  A  tailless  Eton  jacket: 
cf.  Bum-perisher.  2.  A  very  cold 
day.  By  analogy,  a  chilling  look, 
address,  or  retort. 

French  -  elixir  (cream,  lace,  or 
article).  Brandy.  [The  custom  of 
taking  of  brandy  with  tea  and  coffee 
was  originally  French.  Whence 
French  Cream.  Laced  tea,  tea  dashed 
with  spirits].  English  synonyms :  ball- 
of-fire,  bingo,  cold  tea,  cold  nantz, 
red  ribbon. 

French  fake.  The  fashion  of 
coiling  a  rope  by  taking  it  backwards 


and  forwards  in  parallel  bands,  so  that 
it  may  run  easily. 

French-gout  (disease,  or 
fever).  Sometimes  gonorrhoea,  but 
more  generally  and  correctly  syphilis, 
the  Morbus  Gallicus  of  older  writers 
(1598). 

French  Leave.  To  take  French  leave, 
(1)  to  decamp  without  notice;  (2)  to 
do  anything  without  permission  ;  (3) 
to  purloin  or  steal ;  (4)  to  run  away  (as 
from  an  enemy).  [Derivation  ob- 
scure ;  French,  probably  traceable  to 
the  contempt  engendered  during  the 
wars  with  France ;  the  compliment 
is  returned  in  similar  expressions.] 
(1771). 

French-pigeon.  A  pheasant  killed 
by  mistake  in  the  partridge  season,  a 
Moko  or  Oriental  (q.v.). 

French  -  pig.  A  venereal  bubo ;  a 
Blue  boar  (q.v.),  or  Winchester  goose 
(q.v.). 

French-prints.  Generic  for  indecent 
pictures. 

French -vice.      A    euphemism    for 
all  sexual  malpractices. 
Frenchy.     A  Frenchman. 
Fresh.     1.    Said    of    an    under- 
graduate   in    his    first   term    (1803). 
2.  Slightly  intoxicated,  elevated :  see 
Screwed.      (Scots,    sober).      3.    Inex- 
perienced, but  conceited  and  presump- 
tuous ;     hence,     forward,     impudent 
(1596).     4.  Fasting  ;  opposed  to  eating 
or   drinking.     Fresh   as   paint   (as   a 
rose,  as  a  daisy,  etc.),  full  of  health, 
strength,    and   activity ;    Fit    (q.v.). 
Fresh  on  the  graft,  new  to  the  work. 
Fresh -bit.     A  beginner. 
Freshen.     To  freshen  one's  way,  to 
hurry,  quicken  one's  movements.     To 
freshen  up,   to  clean,  vamp,   revive, 
smarten. 

Fresher.  An  undergraduate  in  his 
first  term.  The  freshers,  that  part  of 
the  Cam  which  lies  between  the  Mill 
and  Byron's  Pool.  So  called  because 
it  is  frequented  by  Freshmen  (q.v.). 

Freshman  (or  Fresher).  A 
University  man  during  his  first  year. 
In  Dublin  University  he  is  a  junior 
freshman  during  his  first  year,  and  a 
senior  freshman  the  second  year.  At 
Oxford  the  title  lasts  for  the  first  term : 
Ger.,  Fuchs  (1596).  As  adj.,  of,  or 
pertaining  to,  a  freshman,[or  a  first  year 
student. 

Freshmanship.  Of  the  quality  or 
state  of  being  a  freshman  ( 1 605). 

175 


Freshman's  Bible. 


Froudacious. 


Freshman's  Bible.  The  Univer- 
sity Calendar  :  cf.  Post-office  Bible. 

Freshman's  -  church.  The 
Pitt  Press  at  Cambridge.  [From  its 
ecclesiastical  architecture.] 

Freshman's  -  landmark.  King's 
College  Chapel,  Cambridge.  [From 
the  situation.] 

Freshwater -mariner  (or  seaman). 
A  beggar  shamming  sailor,  a  turnpike 
sailor  (q.v.)  (1567). 

Freshwater-soldier.  A  raw  recruit 
( 1598). 

Fret  To  fret  one's  gizzard  (guts, 
giblets,  kidneys,  cream,  etc.),  to  get 
harassed  and  worried  about  trifles, 
Tear  one's  shirt  (q.v.). 

Friar.  A  pale  spot  in  a  printed 
sheet :  FT.,  moine  (monk). 

Frib.     A  stick  :  see  Toko  (1754). 

Fribble.  A  trifler,  a  contempt- 
ible fop.  [From  the  character  in 
Carriers  Miss  in  her  Teens  (1747)]. 

Friday-face.  A  gloomy,  dejected- 
looking  man  or  woman:  Fr.,  figure  de 
carfme.  [Probably  from  Friday  being, 
ecclesiastically,  the  banyan  day  of 
the  week.]  (1592).  Whence,  Friday- 
faced,  mortified,  melancholy,  sour- 
featured  (Scott). 

Friendly- lead.  An  entertain- 
ment (as  a  sing-song)  got  up  to  assist 
a  companion  in  Trouble  (q.v.),  or  to 
raise  money  for  the  wife  and  children 
of  a  '  quodded  pal.' 

Friends-in-need.  Lace :  see 
Chates. 

Frigate.     A  woman. 

Frightfully.  Very.  An  expletive 
used  as  are  Awfully,  Beastly,  Bloody, 
etc.  (q.v.). 

F  r  i  g  -  p  i  g.  A  finnicking  trifler 
(Grose). 

Frillery.  Feminine  under- 
clothing :  see  Snowy. 

Frills.  Swagger,  conceit ;  also 
accomplishments  (as  music,  languages, 
etc.),  and  culture.  To  put  on  one's 
frills,  to  exaggerate,  chant  the  poker, 
swagger,  put  on  side  (q.v.) ;  sing  it 
(q.v.):  Fr.,  se  gonfler  le  jabot,  and 
faire  son  lard. 

Print.  A  pawnbroker :  see 
Uncle. 

Frisco.     Short  for  San  Francisco. 

Frisk.  1.  A  frolic,  outinp.  Lark 
(q.v.),  mischief  generally  (1697).  2. 
A  dance  (1719).  As  verb  (thieves'), 
(1)  to  search,  run  the  rule  over  (q.v.). 
Especially  applied  to  the  search  made, 


after  arrest,  for  evidence  of  char- 
acter, antecedents,  or  identity.  Hence, 
careful  examination  of  any  kind 
(1781).  2.  To  pick  pockets,  rob. 
To  frisk  a  cly,  to  empty  a  pocket.  To 
dance  the  Paddington  frisk,  to  dance 
on  nothing ;  i.e.  to  be  hanged :  see 
Ladder.  [Tyburn  Tree  was  in  Pad- 
dington.] 

Frisker.     A  dancer. 

Frivol  (orFrivvle).  To  act 
frivolously,  trifle.  [A  resuscitation 
of  an  old  word  used  in  another  sense, 
viz.  to  annul,  to  set  aside]. 

Frog.     1.  A  policeman :  see  Beak. 

2.  A  Frenchman.   Also  Froggy  and 
Frog-eater.     [Formerly    a    Parisian ; 
the  shield  of  whose  city  bore  three 
toads,  while  the  quaggy  state  of  the 
streets  gave  point  to  a  jest  common 
at  Versailles  before  1791 :  Qu'en  di- 
sent  les  grenouilles  ?    i.e.    What  do 
the  frogs  (the  people  of  Pahs)  say  ?  ] 

3.  A  foot :  see  Creepers.     To  frog  on, 
to    get    on,    prosper.      Frogging-on, 
success. 

Frog  -  and  -  Toad  (rhyming).  The 
main  road. 

Frog-and-Toe.  The  city  of  New 
York. 

Froglander.  A  Dutchman :  cf. 
Frog,  sense  2.  (1696.) 

Frog-salad.  A  ballet ;  i.e.  a  Leg- 
piece  (q.v.). 

Frog's-march.  To  give  the  frog's 
march,  to  carry  a  man  face  down- 
wards to  the  station ;  a  device  adopted 
with  drunken  or  turbulent  prisoners. 

Frog's-wine.    Gin  :  see  Drinks. 

Frolic.     A  merry-making. 

Frosty-face.  A  pox-pitted  man 
(Orose). 

Front  To  conceal  the  operations 
of  a  pickpocket ;  to  cover  (q.v.). 

Frontispiece.     The  face  :  see  Dial 

Front-windows.  The  eyes ;  also  the 
face. 

Frost  1.  A  complete  failure:  of. 
Fr.,  four  noir,  temps  noir.  2.  A  dearth 
of  work,  to  have  a  frost,  to  be  idle. 

Froudacious  (Froudacity).  The 
word  '  Froudacity,'  invented  by  Mr. 
Darnell  Davis  in  his  able  review  of 
The  Bow  of  Ulysses,  by  Mr.  T.  A. 
Fronde,  reached  the  height  of  popu- 
larity in  the  Australasian  Colonies, 
where  it  was  in  everyday  use,  the 
author  being  accused  of  ignorance, 
misleading,  and  careless  treatment  in 
his  book  on  the  Australasian  colonies. 


17. 


Froust. 


Full. 


Froust  (Harrow  School).  1. 
Extra  sleep  allowed  on  Sunday  morn- 
ings and  whole  holidays  :  FT.,  faire  du 
lard.  2.  A  stink,  stuffiness  (in  a 
room). 

Frousty.     Stinking. 

F  r  o  u  t  (Winchester  College). 
Angry,  vexed. 

Frow  (Froe,  or  Vroe).  A  woman, 
wife,  mistress.  [From  the  Dutch.] 
(1607). 

Frummagemed.  Choked,  strangled, 
spoilt  (1671). 

Frump.  1.  A  contemptuous  speech 
or  piece  of  conduct,  sneer,  a  jest 
(1553).  2.  A  slattern ;  more  com- 
monly a  prim  old  lady  ;  the  correlative 
of  Fogey  (q.v.):  Fr.,  graitton.  3.  A 
cheat,  a  trick.  As  verb,  to  mock,  in- 
sult (1589). 

Frumper.  A  sturdy  man,  good 
blade  (1825). 

Frumpish.  Cross-grained,  old- 
fashioned  and  severe  in  dress,  manners, 
morals,  and  notions  :  also  ill-natured, 
given  to  frumps.  Also  Frumpy  (1589). 

Frushee.     An  open  jam  tart. 

Fry.  To  translate  into  plain 
English :  cf.  Boil  down.  Go  and  fry 
your  face,  a  retort  expressive  of  in- 
credulity, derision,  or  contempt. 

Frying  -  pan.  To  leap  (or  jump) 
from  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire,  to  go 
from  bad  to  worse  :  cf.  from  the  smoke 
into  the  smother  ('As  You  Like  It,'  I. 
ii. ) :  Fr.,  tomber  de  la  poele  dans  la 
braise  (1684).  To  fry  the  pewter,  to 
melt  down  pewter  measures. 

F-sharp.     A  flea  :  cf.  B-flat. 

Fuant.     Excrement. 

Fub.  To  cheat,  steal,  put  off  with 
false  excuses.  Also  Fubbery,  cheat- 
ing, stealing,  deception. 

Fubsey  (or  Fubsy).  Plump,  fat, 
well  -  filled.  Fubsy  dummy,  a  well- 
filled  pocket  -  book  ;  fubsy  wench,  a 
plump  girl  (Grose). 

Fubsiness.  Any  sort  of  fat- 
ness. 

Fuddle.  1.  Drink.  [Wedgwood: 
A  corruption  of  Fuzz.]  (1621).  2.  A 
drunken  bout ;  a  Drunk.  As  verb, 
to  be  drunk:  see  Screwed. 

Fuddlecap  (or  Fuddler).  A 
drunkard,  boon  companion :  see  Lush- 
ington  (1607). 

Fuddled.  Stupid  with  drink  :  see 
Screwed  (1G61). 

Fudge.  Nonsense,  humbug,  ex- 
aggeration, falsehood  (1700).  Also 


as  an  exclamation  of  contempt.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  fabricate,  interpolate, 
contrive  without  proper  materials. 
(2)  To  copy,  to  crib.  (3)  To  botch, 
bungle,  muff  (q.v.).  (4)  To  advance 
the  hand  unfairly  at  marbles. 

Fug  (Shrewsbury  School).  To  stay 
in  a  stuffy  room.  As  adj.,  stuffy. 

Fuggy.     A  hot  roll. 

Fugo.     The  rectum  (Cotgrave). 

Fulhams  (or  Fullams).  1.  Loaded 
dice ;  called  '  high '  or  '  low '  Fulhams 
as  they  were  intended  to  turn  up 
high  of  low.  [Conjecturally,  because 
manufactured  at  Fulham,  or  because 
that  village  was  a  notorious  resort 
of  blacklegs.]  (1594).  2.  A  sham,  a 
Make-believe  (q.v.)  (1664). 

Fulham  -  virgin.  A  prostitute  : 
cf.  Bankside  lady,  Covent  Garden  nun, 
St.  John's  Wood  vestal,  etc. 

Fulk.  To  use  an  unfair  motion  of 
the  hand  in  plumping  at  taw  (Grose). 

F  u  1  k  e  r.  A  pawnbroker  :  see 
Uncle  (1566). 

Full.  1.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed.  2. 
Used  by  bookmakers  to  signify  that 
they  have  laid  all  the  money  they  wish 
against  a  particular  horse.  Full  guts, 
a  swag  -  bellied  man  or  woman.  A 
full  hand,  five  large  beers.  Full  in  the 
belly,  with  child.  Full  in  the  pasterns 
(or  the  hocks),  thick  -  ankled.  Full 
team,  an  eulogium.  A  man  is  a  full 
team  when  of  consequence  in  the 
community.  Variants  are  whole  team, 
or  whole  team  and  a  horse  to  spare : 
cf.  One-horse=mean,  insignificant,  or 
strikingly  small.  Full  in  the  waist- 
coat, swag-bellied.  Full  of  'em,  lousy, 
nitty,  full  of  fleas.  Full  to  the  bung, 
very  drunk :  see  Screwed.  To  have 
(or  wear)  a  full  suit  of  mourning,  to 
have  two  black  eyes.  Half -mourning, 
one  black  eye :  see  Mouse.  To  come 
full  bob,  to  come  suddenly,  full  tilt. 
Full  against,  (1)  dead,  or  decidedly 
opposed  to,  a  person,  thing,  or  place. 
Full-flavoured,  peculiarly  rank :  as  a 
story,  an  exhibition  of  profane  swear- 
ing. Full-gutted,  stout,  swag-bellied. 
Full  of  emptiness,  utterly  void.  Full 
on,  set  strongly  in  a  given  direction, 
especially  in  an  obscene  sense.  At 
full  chisel,  at  full  speed  ;  with  the 
greatest  violence  or  impetuosity. 
Also  Full  drive ;  Full  split.  In  full 
blast  (swing),  etc.,  in  the  height  of 
success ;  in  hot  pursuit.  In  full  dig, 
on  full  pay.  In  full  feather :  see 


177 


Fuller's  Earth. 


Furk. 


Feather.  In  full  fig :  see  Fig.  Full 
of  it,  with  child.  Pull  of  guts,  full  of 
vigour,  excellently  inspired  and  done  : 
as  a  picture,  a  novel,  and  BO  forth : 
see  Guts.  Full  of  beans :  see  Beans. 
Full  of  bread :  nee  Bread. 

Fuller's  Earth.     Gin  :  see  Satin. 

Fullied.  To  be  fullied,  to  be  com- 
mitted for  trial :  Fr.,  i-tre  mis  tur  la 
planche  au  pain.  [From  the  news- 
paper expression,  Fully  committed.] 

Fulness.  There's  not  fulness 
enough  in  the  sleeve  top,  a  derisive 
answer  to  a  threat. 

F  u  m  b  1  e  r.  An  impotent  man 
(1690). 

Fumbles.     Gloves. 

Fun.  LA  cheat,  a  trick.  As 
verb,  ( 1 )  to  cheat,  trick :  also  (2)  To  put 
the  fun  on.  2.  The  posteriors,  or 
Western  End  (Marvett).  Probably 
an  abbreviation  of  fundament.  To 
poke  fun  at,  to  joke,  ridicule,  make 
a  butt.  To  have  been  making  fun, 
intoxicated  :  see  Screwed. 

Functior  (or  Puncture)  (Win- 
chester College).  An  iron  bracket 
candlestick,  used  for  the  nightlight  in 
college  chambers.  [The  word,  says 
Winchester  Notions,  looks  like  fulc- 
tura,  an  earlier  form  of  fulture,  mean- 
ing a  prop  or  stay,  with  phonetic 
change  of  I  into  n.] 

Fundamental  -features.  The 
posteriors  (1818). 

Funds.  Finances ;  e.g.  My 
funds  are  very  low. 

Funeral.  It's  not  my  (or  your) 
funeral,  it  is  no  business  of  mine,  or 
yours  :  Fr.,  nib  dans  mes  blots  (that  is 
not  my  affair).  Also  used  affirm- 
atively. 

Fungus.     An  old  man. 

Funk.  1.  Tobacco  smoke  ;  also  a 
powerful  stink.  2.  A  state  of  fear, 
trepidation,  nervousness,  or  cowardice, 
a  stew  (q.v.).  Generally,  with  an 
intensitive,  e.g.  a  mortal,  awful, 
bloody,  or  blue  funk  :  Fr.,  guenette, 
flubart,  frousse.  3.  A  coward.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  smoke  out :  see  Funk  the 
cobbler.  (2)  To  terrify,  shrink  or 
quail  through  nervousness  or  coward- 
ice. (3)  To  fear,  hesitate,  shirk ;  and 
(among  pugilists)  to  come  it  (q.v.). 
English  jynonyms :  to  come  it,  to  lose 
one's  guts,  to  get  the  needle  (athletic), 
(4)  To  be  nervous,  lose  heart.  (5)  To 
move  the  hand  forward  unfairly  in 
playing  marbles;  to  fudge  (q.v.). 


To  funk  the  cobbler,  to  smoke  out  a 
schoolmate :  a  trick  performed  with 
asafoetida  and  cotton  stuffed  into  a 
hollow  tube  or  cow's  horn  ;  the  cotton 
being  lighted,  the  smoke  is  blown 
through  the  keyhole  (1698).  See  also 
Peter  Funk. 

k'Funker.  1.  A  pipe,  a  cigar;  a  fire. 
2.  A  low  thief.  3.  A  coward. 

Funking  -  room.  The  room  at 
the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  where 
the  students  collect  on  the  last  even- 
ing of  their  final  during  the  addition 
of  their  marks,  and  whence  each  is 
summoned  by  an  official  announcing 
failure  or  success. 

Funkster  (Winchester  College). 
A  coward  ;  one  that  funks  (q.v.). 

Funky.  Nervous,  frightened,  timid 
(1845)- 

Funnel.  The  throat :  see  Gutter 
Alley. 

Funniment.  A  joke,  either  practical 
or  verbal. 

Funny.  A  clinker-built,  narrow 
boat  for  sculls.  To  feel  funny,  to  be 
overtaken  with  (1)  emotion,  or  (2) 
drink  :  e.g.  to  wax  amorous,  or  get  the 
flavour  (q.v.);  to  begin  to  be  the 
worse  for  liquor. 

Funny  Bone.  The  elbow,  with  the 
passage  of  the  ulnar  nerve  connecting 
the  two  bones :  the  extremity  of  the 
humerus  (1837). 

Funny  -  man.  A  circus  clown. 
Also  a  joker  in  private  life. 

Fur.  To  make  the  fur  fly  :  see 
Fly.  To  have  one's  fur  out,  to  be 
angry. 

Fur  -  and  -  feathers.  Generic  for 
game. 

Furioso.  A  blusterer.  Ital., 
furioso  =  raving  (1692).  English 
synonyms:  barker,  blower,  bodadil, 
bouncer,  bulldozer  (American),  caca- 
fogo,  Captain  Bounce,  Captain  Bluff, 
Captain  Grand,  Captain  Hackam, 
cutter,  fire-eater,  hector,  huff-cap, 
humguffin,  gasser,  gasman,  mouth, 
mouth  -  almighty,  pissfire,  pump- 
thunder,  ramper,  roarer,  ruffler,  shite- 
fire,  slangwhanger,  spitfire,  swash- 
buckler, swasher,  teazer,  Timothy 
Tearcat. 

Furk  (Ferk,  Firk)  (Winchester 
College).  To  expel,  send  (as  on  a 
message),  drive  away.  Also  To  furk 
up,  and  furk  down.  [Old  English 
fercian,  High  German  ferken.  Middle 
English,  to  lead  or  send  away.] 


178 


Fur  men. 


Gaffer. 


Furmen.  Aldermen.  From  their 
fur-trimmed  robes. 

Furmity-f aced.  White-faced :  e.g. 
to  simper  like  a  furmity  kitten  (Grose). 

Furnish.  To  fill  out,  improve  in 
strength  and  appearance. 

Furniture-picture.  A  picture  sold 
not  as  a  piece  of  art  but  as  a  piece 
of  upholstery,  such  things  being  turned 
out  by  the  score,  as  pianos  are,  or 
three  -  legged  stools  ;  the  worst  and 
cheapest  kind  of  Pot-boiler  (q.v.). 

Furry  -  tail.  A  non-unionist ;  a 
Eat  (q.v.).  Specifically,  a  workman 
accepting  employment  at  less  than 
Society  wages :  cf.  Dung,  Flint, 
etc. 

Further.  Til  see  you  further 
first,  a  denial. 

Fur-trade.     Barristers. 

F  u  s  s  o  c  k  (or  Fussocks).  Op- 
probrious term  for  a  fat  woman  (1690). 

Fust  (or  Fust  out).  To  end  in 
smoke,  go  to  waste,  end  in  nothing  : 
cf.  Fizzle. 

Fustian.  1.  Bombast,  bad 
rhetoric,  sound  without  sense,  bom- 
bastic ranting  :  now  accepted  (1598). 


2.  Wine.  White  fustian,  champagne  ; 
red  fustian,  port. 

Fustilarian.  A  low  fellow,  a 
common  scoundrel  (1598). 

Fustilug  (Fustilugs).  A  piece  of 
grossness — male  or  female,  a  coarse 
and  dirty  Blowzalinda,  a  foul  slut,  a 
fat  stinkard  (1696). 

Future.  To  deed  in  futures,  to 
speculate  for  a  rise  or  fall. 

Fuzz.  1.  To  shuffle  cards  min- 
utely ;  also  to  change  the  pack  (Grose). 
2.  To  be,  or  make,  drunk  (1685). 

Fuzziness.  The  condition  of 
being  in  drink.  Hence  blurredness, 
incoherence,  bewilderment. 

Fuzzy.  1.  Drunk :  see  Screwed. 
Hence  blurred  (as  a  picture),  tangled, 
incoherent  or  inconsequent.  2.  Rough, 
as  in  a  fuzzy  head,  a  fuzzy  cloth,  a 
fuzzy  bit  (a  full  -  grown  wench),  a 
fuzzy  carpet,  etc. 

Fuzzy-wuzzy.  A  Soudanese  tribes- 
man. 

Fye-buck.  A  sixpence  :  see  Rhino 
(1781). 

Fylche.     See  Filch. 

Fyst.     See  Foist. 


Gab.  1.  The  mouth  ;  also  Gob  : 
see  Potato  trap.  2.  Talk,  idle  babble  : 
also  Gabb,  Gabber,  and  Gabble  (1712). 
As  verb,  to  talk  fluently  or  brilliantly, 
to  lie  (1383).  Gift  of  the  gab  (or  gob), 
the  gift  of  conversation,  the  talent  for 
speech:  Fr.,  ri" avoir  pas  sa  languedans 
sa  poche.  To  blow  the  gab,  to  inform, 
peach  (q.v.).  Also  to  blow  the  gaff 
(q.v.).  To  flash  the  gab,  to  show  off 
(q.  v. )  in  talk ;  cf.  Air  one's  vocabulary. 

Gabble.  1.  A  gossip :  also 
Gabbler,  Gabble  -  grinder,  Gabble- 
merchant,  and  Gabble  -  monger.  2. 
A  voluble  talker. 

Gabble-mill.  1.  The  United  States 
Congress  :  also  Gabble-manufactory. 
2.  A  pulpit :  see  Humbox.  3.  The 
mouth :  see  Potato-trap. 

Gable.  The  head  :  also  Gable- 
end  :  see  Crumpet. 

Gabster.  A  voluble  talker,  whether 
eloquent  or  vain  ;  one  having  the  Gift 
of  the  gab  (q.v.). 

Gab-string.     See  Gob-string. 

Gaby  (also  Gabbey  and  Gabby). 
A  fool,  babbler,  boor  :  see  Buffle. 


Gad.  An  idle  slattern :  i.e.  Gad- 
about (q.v.).  As  intj.,  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  By  Gad  !  On  the  gad,  1.  on  the 
spur  of  the  moment.  2.  On  the  move, 
on  the  gossip.  3.  On  the  spree  (especi- 
ally of  women) ;  and,  by  implication, 
on  the  town.  To  gad  the  hoof,  to  walk 
or  go  without  shoes,  Pad  the  hoof 
(q.v.).  Also,  more  loosely,  to  walk  or 
roam  about. 

Gadabout.  A  trapesing  gossip  ;  as 
a  housewife  seldom  seen  at  home,  but 
very  often  at  her  neighbours'  doors. 
Also  as  adjective  ;  e.g.  A  Gad-about 
hussey. 

G  a  ff.  1.  A  fair  (1754).  2.  A 
cheap,  low  music  -  hall  or  theatre  ; 
frequently  Penny-gaff.  3.  A  hoax, 
an  imposture.  4.  (American  cock- 
pit) A  steel  spur.  5.  (anglers')  A 
landing  spear,  barbed  in  the  iron.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  toss  for  liquor.  (2)  To  play 
in  a  gaff  (q.v.  sense  2).  To  blow  the 
gaff  (or  gab),  to  give  information,  let 
out  a  secret  (1185). 

G  a  ff  e  r.  1.  An  old  man ;  the 
masculine  of  Gammer  (q.v.).  Also  a 


179 


Gaffing. 


Call  <i,.t. 


title  of  address:  e.g.  Good  day, 
gaffer!  Cf.  Uncle  and  Daddy. 
Also,  by  implication,  a  husband.  2. 
A  master,  employer,  BOBS  (q.v.) ; 
(athletic)  a  pedestrian  trainer  and 
'farmer';  and  (navvies')  a  gang- 
master  or  Ganger  (q.v.)  (1719).  3. 
A  toss-penny,  a  gambler. 

G  a  ffi  n  g.  A  mode  of  tossing  for 
drinks,  etc.,  in  which  three  coins  are 
placed  in  a  hat,  shaken  up,  and  then 
thrown  on  the  table.  If  the  party  to 
call,  calls  heads  (or  tails)  and  all 
three  coins  are  as  he  calls  them,  he 
wins  ;  if  not,  he  pays  a  settled  amount 
towards  drinks  (Kgan). 

Gag.  1.  A  joke,  invention,  hoax. 
Also  as  verb,  to  hoax,  puff  ( 1 78 1 ).  2. 
Expressions  interpolated  by  an  actor 
in  his  part :  especially  such  as  can  be 
repeated  again  and  again  in  the  course 
of  performance.  Certain  plays,  as 'The 
Critic,'  are  recognised  'gag-pieces,' 
and  in  these  the  practice  is  accounted 
legitimate.  Cf. '  Hamlet,'  m.  ii.  'And 
let  those  that  play  your  clowns,  say  no 
more  than  is  set  down  for  them.'  Cf. 
Wheeze.  A  typical  example  is  the 
'  I  believe  you,  my  boy  ! '  of  the  late 
Paul  Bedford.  Occasionally  gag  = 
patter  (q.v.).  Also  as  verb.  3.  A 
commonwealth  of  players  in  which 
the  profits  are  shared  :  cf.  Conscience. 
4.  A  fool ;  i.e.  a  thing  to  laugh  at :  see 
Buffle.  5.  (Christ's  Hospital).  Boiled 
fat  beef.  Gag-eater,  a  term  of  reproach 
(1813).  6.  (Winchester  College).  An 
exercise  (said  to  have  been  invented 
by  Dr.  Gabell)  which  consists  in 
writing  Latin  criticisms  on  some 
celebrated  piece,  in  a  book  sent  in 
about  once  a  month.  In  the  Parts 
below  Sixth  Book  and  Senior  Part,  the 
gags  consisted  in  historical  analysis. 
[An  abbreviation  of  gathering.]  As 
verb,  (1)  see  supra,  and  (2)  to  in- 
form, Round  on  (q.v.);  also  to  blow 
the  gag.  On  the  high  gag,  on  the 
whisper,  telling  secrets.  On  the  low 
gag,  on  the  last  rungs  of  beggary,  ill- 
luck,  or  despair.  To  strike  the  gag,  to 
cease  from  chaffing. 

Gage  (Gauge,  or  Gag).  1.  A  quart 
pot  (i.e.  a  measure) :  also  a  drink  or 
Go  (q.v.).  (1567).  2.  (18th  century). 
A  chamber-pot  3.  A  pipe  (1696).  4. 
A  man  :  see  Cove. 

Gagers.    The  eyes  :  see  Glims. 

Gagga.  A  cheat,  who  by  sham 
pretence  and  wonderful  stories  of 


suffering  imposes  on  the  credulity  of 
people. 

G  a  g  g  e  r.  A  player  dealing  in 
Gags  (q.v.),  sense  2.  Also  Gaggist, 
Gag- master,  and  Gagster. 

Gaggery.  The  practice  of  Gag- 
ging (q.v.),  sense  3. 

Gagging.  1.  Bluff  (q.v.) ;  speci- 
fically, Bunco-steering  (q.v.),  the  art  of 
talking  over  and  persuading  a  stranger 
that  he  is  an  old  acquaintance.  2. 
Loitering  about  for  fares, '  crawling.' 
3.  Dealing  in  Gags  (q.v.),  sense  1. 
Also  as  ppl.  adj. 

Gaggler's-coach.     A  hurdle. 

Gail.     A  horse  :  see  Prad. 

Gaily  -  like.  Showy,  expensive, 
Bang-up  (q.v.). 

Gain-pain.  A  sword ;  specifically,  in 
the  Middle  Ages,  that  of  a  nired  soldier. 
FT.,  gagner  =  to  gain  +  pain,  bread. 
Cf.  Breadwinner  and  Potboiler 
(artists').] 

Gait  Walk  in  life,  profession, 
mode  of  making  a  living,  Game  (q.v.). 

Gaiters.     Half  boots,  shoes. 

Gal.  1.  A  girl,  servant-maid,  sweet- 
heart. Beat  girl,  favourite  flame.  2. 
A  prostitute.  3.  A  female  rough. 

Galaney.     See  Galeny. 

Galanty-  (Gallanty-  or  Gal  an  tee-) 
show.  A  shadow  pantomime :  silhou- 
ettes shown  on  a  transparency  or 
thrown  on  a  white  sheet  by  a  magic 
lantern :  specifically,  the  former. 

Gal-boy.     A  romp,  Tom-boy  (q.v.). 

Galen.  An  apothecary :  see 
Gallipot 

Galena.  Salt  pork.  [Galen, 
111.,  a  chief  hog-raising  and  pork- 
packing  centre.] 

Galeny  (or  Galany).  The  domestic 
hen  ;  now  (West  of  England)  a  guinea 
fowl :  see  Cackling  -  cheat  [Latin, 
goliina.] 

Galimaufrey.  1.  A  medley,  jumble, 
chaos  of  differences.  [Fr. ,  gaUimaufree, 
a  hash.]  (1592).  2.  A  hodge-podge 
of  scraps  and  leavings  (1724).  3.  A 
mistress  (1596). 

Gall.  Effrontery,  Cheek  (q.v.), 
Brass  (q.v.) ;  e.g.  Ain't  he  got  a 
gall  on  him  ?  (1789). 

Gallant  A  Dandy  (q.v.),  ladies' 
man,  lover,  cuckold-maker,  whether 
in  posse  or  in  ease.  (Shakespeare).  As 
adj.,  (1)  valiant ;  (2)  showy  ;  (3)  amor- 
ous. As  verb,  to  sweetheart,  squire, 
escort,  pursue,  or  enjoy.  To 
gallant  a  fan,  to  break  with  design. 


180 


Gallant  Fiftieth. 


Galoot. 


to  afford  an  opportunity  of  presenting 
a  better  (B.  E.)  (1690). 

Gallant  Fiftieth.  The  Fiftieth 
Foot.  [For  its  share  in  Vimiera, 
1808.]  Also,  Blind  half  -  hundred 
(q.v.);  and  Dirty  half-hundred  (q.v.). 

Gallantry.  (1)  Sparkishness 
(q.v.),  dandyism;  and  (2)  the  habit, 
or  pursuit,  of  sexuality.  A  life  of 
gallantry,  a  life  devoted  to  the  other 
sex. 

Gallery  (Winchester  College) 
A  commoner  bedroom.  [From  a  tra- 
dition of  galleries  in  Commoners.] 
See  Gallery -nymphs.  To  play  to  the 
gattery,  to  act  so  as  to  win  the  applause 
of  the  vulgar  :  i.e.  to  abandon  distinc- 
tion and  art  for  coarseness  of  means 
and  cheapness  of  effect.  Said  indif- 
ferently of  any  one  in  any  profession 
who  exerts  himself  to  win  the  suffrages 
of  the  mob  ;  as  a  political  demagogue, 
a  '  popular '  preacher,  a  '  fashion- 
able '  painter,  and  so  on.  Hence, 
Gattery -hit  (shot,  stroke,  etc.),  a 
touch  designed  for,  and  exclusively  ad- 
dressed to,  the  non-critical.  To  play 
the  gallery,  to  make  an  audience,  ap- 
plaud. 

Gallery-nymph  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). A  housemaid :  see  Gallery. 

Galley.  Put  a  brass  galley  down 
your  back  (printers'),  an  admonition  to 
appear  before  a  principal,  implying 
that  the  galley  will  serve  as  a  screen. 

Galley-foist.  The  state  barge,  used 
by  the  Lord  Mayor  when  sworn  in  at 
Westminster  (1609). 

Galley  -  growler  (or  stoker). 
A  loafer,  Malingerer  (q.v.),  Grumble- 
guts  (q.v.). 

Galley  -  halfpenny.  A  base  coin, 
temp.  Henry  IV.  Because  commonly 
imported  in  Genoese  galleys.] 

Galley-slave.  A  compositor  :  see 
Donkey  (1683). 

Galleywest.  An  indefinite  super- 
lative :  cf.  About-east. 

Galley-yarn  (or  news).  A  lying 
story,  a  swindle  or  Take-in  (q.v.). 
Frequently  abbreviated  to  '  G.Y.' 

Gallied.  Harried,  vexed,  over- 
fatigued,  perhaps  like  a  galley-slave 
(Grose).  In  Australia,  frightened. 

Gallinipper.     A  large  mosquito. 

Gallipot.  An  apothecary.  Eng- 
lish synonyms:  bolus,  bum-tender, 
clyster-giver,  clyster-pipe,  croaker, 
crocus,  drugs,  OUapod  (from  a  crea- 
tion of  the  Younger  Coleman's), 


gagemonger,  Galen  (from  the  great 
physician),  jakes- provider,  pill- box, 
pill  -  merchant,  pills,  squirt,  salts- 
and-senna,  squire  of  the  pot. 

Gallivant.  1.  To  gad  about 
with,  or  after,  one  of  the  other  sex, 
play  the  gallant,  do  the  agreeable. 
2.  To  Trapes  (q.v.),  fuss,  bustle  about. 

Gallivate.  To  frisk,  figure  about: 
cf.  Gallivant. 

Gallon.  What's  a  gallon  of  rum 
among  one  ?  The  retort  sarcastic  ; 
applied,  e.g.  to  those  with  '  eyes  too 
big  for  their  stomach,'  to  dispro- 
portionate ideas  of  the  fitness  of  things, 
and  so  forth. 

Gallon  -  distemper.  1.  Delirium 
tremens ;  2.  the  lighter  after-effects  of 
drinking.  English  synonyms :  ( 1 )  For 
the  former — barrel-fever,  black-dog, 
blue-devils,  blue  Johnnies  (Australian), 
B.  J.  (idem),  blues,  bottle-ache,  D.  T.  ; 
horrors,  jim-jams,  jumps,  pink-spiders, 
quart  -  mania,  rams,  rats,  shakes, 
snakes  in  the  boots,  trembles, triangles, 
uglies.  (2)  For  the  latter — a  head,  hot- 
coppers,  a  mouth,  a  touch  of  the 
brewer,  a  sore  head  (Scots). 

Galloper.  1.  A  blood  horse,  a 
hunter.  2.  An  aide-de-camp. 

Gallow-grass.  Hemp  [i.e.  halters 
in  the  rough.]  (1578). 

Gallows.  1.  A  rascal,  a  wretch 
deserving  the  rope  (1594).  2.  gener- 
ally in.  pi.,  Gallowses,  a  pair  of  braces. 
As  adv.,  excessively :  cf.  Bloody, 
Bleeding  (q.v.),  etc.  As  adj.,  great, 
uncommon,  real  (1551). 

Gallows-bird  (also  Newgate- 
bird).  1.  A  son  of  the  rope,  habitual 
criminal,  vagabond  or  scoundrel — old 
or  young,  crack-rope  or  wag-halter 
(Cotgrave  ;  a  gallows  clapper  ( Florio) : 
FT.,  gibier  de  Cayenne  (or  de  potence). 
2.  (common).  A  corpse  on,  or  from, 
the  gallows. 

Gallows-faced.  Evil-looking,  hang- 
dog :  also  Gallows-looking  (1766). 

Gallows  -  minded.  Criminal  in 
habit  and  idea,  evil-hearted. 

Gallowsness.  Rascality,  reck- 
lessness, mischievousness. 

Gallows-ripe.     Ripe  for  the  rope. 

Callus.     See  Gallows. 

Gally-foist.     See  Galley-foist. 

Gallyslopes.  Breeches:  see 
Kicks. 

Galoot  (also  Galloot  and  Geeloot). 
A  man  (sometimes  in  contempt) ;  also 
(in  America)  a  worthless  fellow  (or 


181 


Galoptious. 


Gammon. 


thing),  rowdy,  Cad  (q.v.)-  On  the  gay 
galoot,  on  the  spree. 

Galoptious  (or  Galuptious). 
Delightful :  a  general  superlative. 

Galore  (also  Gallore  and  Golore). 
In  abundance,  plenty. 

Galumph.  To  bump  along  :  ono- 
matopoeia. 

Galvanised-Yankee.  A  Greyback 
(q.v.)  who  took  the  oath  to  the  North 
and  served  in  its  armies. 

Gam.  1.  Pluck,  gameness.  2. 
Stealing  ( MaUdl,  1859).  As  verb,  ( 1 ) 
to  steal.  (2)  To  engage  in  social  inter- 
course, make  a  call,  have  a  chat. 

Gamaliel.  A  pedant,  a  person 
curious  of  the  letter  and  the  form  : 
e.g.  these  Gamaliels  of  the  theory 
=  these  ultra- puritans,  to  whom  the 
spirit  is  nothing. 

Gamb  (or  Gam).  A  leg:  an  heraldic 
term.  [It.,  gambe  ;  Fr.,  jambe  ;  prob- 
ably through  Lingua  Franca.] 

Gamble.    A  venture,  Flutter  (q.v.). 

Gambler.  '  A  guinea  -  dropper  ; 
one  class  of  sharpers  '  (Bailey).  '  A 
tricking  gamester  '  (Grose).  '  A  cant 
word,  I  suppose.  A  knave  whose 
practice  it  is  to  invite  the  unwary  to 
game  and  cheat  them  '  (Johnson). 

Gambol.     A  railway  ticket 

Gam-cases.     Stockings. 

Game.  1.  The  proceeds  of  a 
robbery,  Swag  (q.v.).  2.  A  company 
of  harlots.  A  game  -  pullet,  a  young 

B restitute.  3.  A  gull,  simpleton :  see 
uffle.  4.  Specifically,  the  game, 
thieving ;  also  (nautical),  slave  trading. 
Hen  of  the  game,  a  shrew,  a  fighting 
woman  (1639).  5.  A  source  of  amuse- 
ment, Lark  (q.v.),  Barney  (q.v.) ;  as, 
e.g.  It  was  such  a  game !  6.  A 
design,  trick,  object,  line  of  conduct : 
e.g.  What's  your  little  game,  What 
are  you  after  ?  Also,  None  of  your  little 
games  !  None  of  your  tricks  !  As  adj., 

( 1 )  plucky,  enduring,  full  of  spirit  and 
Bottom  (q.v.).     [Cock-pit  and  pugil- 
ists.    The  word  may  be  said  to  have 
passed  into  the  language  with  the  rise 
to    renown    of    Harry    Pearce,    sur- 
named   the  Game  Chicken.]    (1747). 

(2)  Beady,   willing,   prepared.     [Also 
from  cock-fighting.     See    sense    1.] 

(3)  Lame,  crooked,  disabled :    as  in 
Game  leg.     (4)  Knowing,  wide-awake, 
and  (of    women)    Flash    (q.v.) :    e.g. 
Qame-cove,  an    associate  of    thieves ; 
Game-woman,  a  prdstitute;  Game-ship 
(old),  a  ship  whose  commander  and 


officers  could  be  corrupted  by  bribes  to 
allow  the  cargo  to  be  stolen  (Clark 
Rwtsell).  Cock  of  the  game,  a  champ- 
ion, an  undoubted  blood,  a  star  of 
magnitude  (cock-pit)  (1719).  To  mate 
game  of,  to  turn  into  ridicule,  delude, 
humbug  (1671).  To  die  game,  to 
maintain  a  resolute  attitude  to  the  last, 
to  show  no  contrition.  To  get  against 
the  game,  to  take  a  risk,  chance  it. 
[From  the  game  of  poker.]  To  play 
the  game,  to  do  a  thing  properly,  do 
what  is  right  and  proper. 

Gamecock.  Hectoring,  angry, 
valiant  out  of  place. 

Gameness.  Pluck,  endurance,  the 
mixture  of  spirit  and  bottom. 

Gamester.  1.  A  prostitute  (1598). 
2.  A  ruffler,  gallant,  wencher ;  a  man 
fit  and  ready  for  anything ;  also  a 
player  (1639). 

G  a  m  e  y.  1.  High  -  smelling, 
offensive  to  the  nose,  half-rotten.  2. 
Frisky,  plucky. 

Gaminess.  The  malodorousness 
proceeding  from  decay  and — by  im- 
plication— filthiness. 

Gaming-house.  A  house  of  ill-re- 
pute— hell,  tavern,  or  stews  (1611). 

Gammer.  An  old  wife :  a  familiar 
address  —  the  correlative  of  Gaffer 
(q.v.)  (1551). 

Gamming.  A  whaleman's  term  for 
visits  paid  by  crews  to  each  other  at 
sea. 

Gammon.  1.  Nonsense,  humbug, 
deceit :  sometimes  Gammon  and 
spinach.  No  gammon,  no  error,  no 
lies  (1363).  Also  as  verb,  English 
synonyms :  to  bam,  to  bamblustercate, 
to  bamboozle,  to  bambosh,  to  barney, 
to  be  on  the  job,  to  best,  to  bilk,  to 
blarney,  to  blow,  to  bosh,  to  bounce, 
to  cob,  to  cod,  to  cog,  to  chaff,  to  come 
over  (or  the  artful,  or  Paddy,  or  the 
old  soldier  over)  one,  to  cram,  to  do, 
to  do  brown,  to  doctor,  to  do  Taffy, 
to  fake  the  kidment,  to  flare  up,  to 
flam,  to  flummox,  to  get  at  (round, 
or  to  windward  of)  one,  to  gild  the 
pill,  to  give  a  cock's  egg,  to  gravel, 
to  gull,  to  haze,  to  jimmify,  to  jaw, 
to  jockey,  to  jolly,  to  kid,  to  make 
believe  the  moon  is  made  of  green 
cheese  (Cotgrave).  to  mogue,  to  palm 
off  on,  to  pickle,  to  plant,  to  plum,  to 
poke  bogey  (or  fun)  at,  to  promoss, 
to  put  the  kibosh  on,  to  put  in  the 
chair,  cart,  or  basket,  to  pull  the  leg, 
to  queer,  to  quiz,  to  roast,  to  roor- 


Gamtnoner. 


Gapeseed. 


back,  to  run  a  bluff,  or  the  shenani- 
gan, to  sell,  to  send  for  pigeon's  milk, 
to  sit  upon,  to  send  for  oil  of  strappum, 
etc.,  to  shave,  to  slum,  or  slumguzzle, 
to  smoke,  to  snack,  to  soap,  soft  soap, 
sawder,  or  soft  sawder,  to  spoof,  to 
stick,  to  stall,  to  string,  or  get  on  a 
string,  to  stuff,  to  sawdust,  or  get  on 
sawdust  and  treacle,  to  suck,  to  suck 
up,  to  sugar,  to  swap  off,  to  take  a  rise 
out  of,  to  rot,  to  tommy-rot,  to  take 
in,  or  down,  to  take  to  town,  to  take 
to  the  fair,  to  tip  the  traveller,  to  try 
it  on,  to  throw  dust  in  the  eyes,  to 
throw  a  tub  to  a  whale,  to  pepper, 
to  throw  pepper  in  the  eyes,  to  use  the 
pepper  box,  to  whiffle,  to  work  the 
poppycock  racket  (Irish-American). 
[Note. — Many  of  the  foregoing  are 
used  substantively.]  2.  A  confederate 
whose  duty  is  to  engage  the  attention 
of  a  victim  during  robbery,  Bonnet 
(q.v.),  Cover  (q.v.).  Also  as  verb, 
to  humbug :  deceive,  to  take  in.  As 
intj.,  nonsense,  Skittles  (q.v.).  Gam- 
mon and  Patter,  (I)  the  language  used 
by  thieves  ;  (2)  (modern),  a  meeting,  a 
Palaver  (q.v.) ;  (3)  commonplace  talk 
of  any  kind.  To  give  (or  keep)  in 
gammon,  to  engage  a  person's  atten- 
tion while  a  confederate  is  robbing 
him  (1719).  To  gammon  lushy  (or 
queer,  etc.),  to  feign  drunkenness, 
sickness,  etc.  To  gammon  the  twelve, 
to  deceive  the  jury. 

Gammoner.  1.  One  who  Gam- 
mons (q.v.),  a  nonsense-monger:  Fr., 
bonisseur  de  loffitudes,  blagueur,  man- 
geur  de  frimes.  2.  A  confederate  who 
covers  the  action  of  his  chief,  Bonnet 
Cover,  Stall,  all  which  see. 

Gammy.  1.  Cant.  2.  A  nick- 
name for  a  lameter  ;  a  Hopping  Jesus 
(q.v.).  3.  A  fool :  see  Buffle.  As 
adj.,  (1)  bad,  impossible.  Applied  to 
householders  of  whom  it  is  known 
that  nothing  can  be  got.  Gammy- 
vial,  a  town  in  which  the  police  will 
not  allow  unlicensed  hawking.  (Vial, 
Fr.,  ViUe).  (2)  Forged,  false,  spurious : 
as  a  gammy -moneker,  a  forged  signa- 
ture ;  gammy-lour,  counterfeit  money, 
etc.  (3)  Old,  ugly.  (4)  Same  as  Game, 
sense  3  :  e.g.  a  gammy  arm,  an  arm 
in  dock.  Gammy-eyed,  blind,  sore- 
eyed  ;  or  afflicted  with  ecchymosis  in 
the  region  of  the  eyes.  Gammey-leg, 
a  lame  leg.  Also  (subs.)  a  term  of 
derision  for  the  halt  and  the  maimed. 

Gamp.      1.    A    monthly    nurse, 


Fingersmith  (q.v.).  Mrs.  Sarah 
Gamp,  a  character  in  Martin  Chuzzle- 
wit  (1843).]  Also  a  fussy  and  gossip- 
ing busybody.  2.  An  umbrella ; 
specifically,  one  large  and  loosely 
tied,  Lettuce  (q.v.).  [The  original 
Sarah  always  carried  one  of  this  said 
pattern.]  Sometimes  a  Sarah  Gamp. 
Mrs.  Gamp,  The  Standard.  As  adj., 
bulging :  also  Gampish. 

Gamut.  Tone,  general  scheme, 
Swim  (q.v.).  Thus  in  the  gamut,  a 
picture,  a  detail,  or  a  shade  of  colour, 
in  tone  with  its  environment. 

Gan  (also  Gane).  The  mouth : 
occasionally,  throat,  lip :  see  Potato 
trap  (1572). 

Gander.  A  married  man ;  in 
America  one  not  living  with  his  wife, 
Grass- widower  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to 
ramble,  waddle  (as  a  goose).  Also,  to 
quest  for  women.  Gone  gander :  see 
Gone  coon.  To  see  how  the  gander 
hops,  to  watch  events,  see  how  the  cat 
jumps.  What's  sauce  for  the  goose  is 
sauce  for  the  gander,  a  plea  for  consist- 
ency. 

Gander-month.  The  month  after 
confinement ;  when  a  certain  license 
(or  so  it  was  held)  is  excusable  in  the 
male.  Also  Gander-moon,  the  hus- 
band at  such  a  period  being  called  a 
Gander-mooner  :  of.  Buck-hutch,  and 
Goose-month  (1617). 

Gander  -  party.  A  gathering  of 
men,  Stag-party  (q.v.) ;  also  Bull- 
dance,  Gander-gang,  etc.  :  cf.  Hen- 
party, an  assembly  of  women. 

Gander-pulling.     See  Goose-riding. 

Gander 's-wool.     Feathers. 

Gang.    A  troop,  a  company  (1639). 

Ganger.  An  overseer  or  foreman 
of  a  gang  of  workmen,  a  superin- 
tendent. 

Ganymede.  A  pot-boy  (i.e. 
a  cup-bearer) :  the  masculine  of  Hebe 
(q.v.)  (1659). 

Gaol-bird.  A  person  often  in  gaol, 
an  incorrigible  rogue  :  Fr.,  chevronnt. 

Gaoler's  -  coach.  A  hurdle  to  the 
place  of  execution  (1785). 

Gap.  To  blow  the  gap,  to  blow  the 
Gaff  (q.v.). 

Gapes.  A  fit  of  yawning  ;  also  the 
open  mouth  of  astonishment  (1818). 

Gapeseed.  1.  A  cause  of  aston- 
ishment, anything  provoking  the 
ignorant  to  stare  with  open  mouth : 
also  to  seek  a  gape's  nest  ( 1598).  2.  An 
open-mouthed  loiterer. 


183 


Gapped. 


Gapped.    Worsted,  Floored  (q.v.). 

Gar.     See  By  gar  ! 

Garble.  Garbling  the  coinage,  a 
practice  amongst  money-lenders  of 
picking  out  the  newest  coins  of  full 
weight  for  export  or  re-melting,  and 
passing  the  light  ones  into  circula- 
tion. 

Garden  (The).  1.  (greengrocers', 
fruiterers',  etc.),  Covent  Garden 
Market ;  2.  (theatrical),  Covent  Gar- 
den Theatre ;  3.  (diamond  merchants'), 
Hatton  Garden.  Cf.  House,  Lane, 
etc.  The  Garden  (Covent  Garden) 
was  frequently  used  for  the  whole 
neighbourhood,  which  was  notorious 
as  a  place  of  strumpets  and  stews. 
Thus,  Garden  •  house,  a  brothel ; 
Garden-goddess,  a  woman  of  pleasure ; 
Garden-gout,  venereal  disease ;  Gar- 
den-whore, a  low  prostitute,  etc.]  To 
put  one  in  the  garden,  to  defraud  a 
confederate,  keep  back  part  of  the 
Regulars  (q.v.),  or  Swag  (q.v.). 

Gardener.  An  awkward  coach- 
man :  cf.  Tea-kettle  Coachman. 

Garden-gate  (rhyming).  A 
magistrate  :  see  Beak. 

Garden  Latin.  Barbarous  or 
sham  Latin  ;  also  Apothecaries',  Bog, 
Dog,  and  Kitchen  Latin. 

Garden  -  rake.  A  tooth  -  comb : 
also  Scratching-rake,  or  Rake. 

Gardy-loo.  A  warning  cry  ; 
take  care !  [Fr.,  gardez  (vous  de) 
Veau  1  Used  before  emptying  slops 
out  of  window  into  the  street.  Hence 
the  act  of  emptying  slops  itself.] 

Gargle.  A  drink  :  generic  :  cf. 
Lotion,  and  see  Go.  As  verb,  to 
drink,  liquor  up :  see  Lush. 

Gargle-factory.  A  public  house  : 
see  Lush-crib. 

Gam.  A  corruption  of  Go  on  I  Get 
away  with  you  ! 

Garnish.  1.  A  fee,  Footing  (q.v.) ; 
specifically  when  exacted  by  gaolers 
and  old  prisoners  from  a  newcomer. 
The  practice  was  forbidden  by  4  Geo. 
IV.,  c.  43,  sec.  12.  Also  Garnish- 
money  (1592).  2.  Fetters,  handcuffs  : 
see  Darbies.  As  verb,  to  fetter, 
handcuff. 

Garret  1.  The  head,  Cockloft 
(q.v.),  Upper  storey  (q.v.) :  see 
Crumpet  (1625).  2.  The  fob-pocket. 
To  have  one's  garret  unfurnished,  to  be 
crazy,  stupid,  lumpish  :  Balmy  (q.v.). 

Garreteer.  LA  thief  robbing 
houses  by  entering  skylights  or  garret- 


windows  :  also  Dancer  and  Dancing- 
master.  2.  An  impecunious  author, 
literary  hack. 

Garret-master.  A  cabinet  -  maker 
working  on  his  own  account,  and  selling 
his  manufacture  to  the  dealers  direct. 

Garrison-hack.  1.  A  woman  given 
to  indiscriminate  flirtation  with 
officers  at  a  garrison.  2.  A  prostitute, 
a  soldier's  trull. 

Garrotte.  A  form  of  strangula- 
tion (see  verb).  [From  the  Spanish 
la  garrota,  a  method  of  capital  punish- 
ment, which  consists  in  strangulation 
by  means  of  an  iron  collar.]  As  verb, 

( 1 )  a  method  of  robbery  with  violence, 
much  practised  some  years  ago.     The 
victims  were  generally  old  or  feeble 
men  and  women.     Three  hands  were 
engaged :  the  Front-stall  who  looked 
out  in  that  quarter,  the  Back-stall  at 
the  rear,  and  the  Ugly  or  Nasty- man 
who  did  the  work  by  passing  his  arm 
round  his  subject's  neck  from  behind, 
and  so  throttling  him  to  insensibility. 

(2)  To  cheat   by  concealing   certain 
cards  at  the  back  of  the  neck. 

Garrotte r.  A  practitioner  of 
garrotting  (under  verb,  sense  1). 

Garrotting.  1.  See  Garrotte  (verb, 
sense  1).  2.  Hiding  a  part  of  one's 
hand  at  the  back  of  the  neck  for 
purposes  of  cheating. 

Garter.  In  pi.  the  irons,  or 
bilboes :  see  Darbies.  To  fly  (or 
prick)  the  garter  :  see  Prick. 

G  a  r  v  i  e  s.  1.  Sprats  :  some- 
times Garvie-herring.  2.  The  Garviest 
the  Ninety-fourth  Foot.  [From  the 
small  stature  of  earlier  recruits.] 

Gas.  Empty  talk,  bounce,  bombast. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  talk  idly,  brag,  bounce, 
talk  for  talking' s  sake  :  Fr.,  faire  son 
cheval  de  corbvUard  (in  American,  To 
be  on  the  tall  grass) :  see  Long  Bow. 
(2)  To  impose  on,  to  Pill  t(q.v.),  to 
Splash  (q.v.) :  see  Gammon.  To  take 
the  gas  out  of  one,  to  take  the  conceit 
out  of,  take  down  a  peg.  To  turn  on 
the  gas,  to  bounce,  Gas  (q.v.).  To 
turn  off  the  gas,  to  cease,  or  cause  to 
cease,  from  bouncing,  vapouring,  or 
Gas  (q.v.).  To  gas  round,  to  seek 
information  on  the  sly,  Gas  (q.v.). 

Gas-bag.  A  man  of  words  or  Gas 
(q-v-)»  gasconader  :  also  Gasometer. 

Gash.  The  mouth :  sea  Potato- 
trap. 

Gashly.     A  vulgarism  for  Ghastly. 

G  a  s  k  i  n  s.      Wide     hose,   wide 


181 


Gasp. 


Gawk. 


breeches.      From    Galligaskins,      An 
old  ludicrous  word  (Johnson). 

Gasp.  A  dram  of  spirits :  see  Go. 
As  verb,  to  drink  a  dram,  e.g.  Will  you 
gasp  ?  Will  you  take  something  neat. 

G  a  s  p  i  p  e.  1.  An  iron  steamer, 
whose  length  is  nine  or  ten  times  her 
beam.  [At  one  time  a  ship's  length 
but  rarely  exceeded  four  and  a  half  to 
five  times  the  beam.]  2.  A  bad  roller. 
3.  A  rifle,  specifically  the  old  Snider. 

Gaspipe- crawler.  A  thin  man  :  see 
Lamp-post. 

Gasser.     A  braggart. 

Gassy  (or  Gaseous).  1.  Likely 
to  take  umbrage  or  to  flare  up.  2. 
Full  of  empty  talk  or  Gas  (q.v.). 

Gaster.  A  fine  and  curious  eater 
(Thackeray).  In  Rabelais,  the  belly 
and  the  needs  thereof :  a  coinage 
adopted  by  Urquhart. 

Gat.  A  quantity ;  e.g.  a  gat  of 
grub,  plenty  to  eat :  also  Gats. 

Gate.  1.  The  attendance  at  a  race 
or  athletic  meeting,  held  in  enclosed 
grounds ;  the  number  of  persons  who 
pass  the  gate.  2.  Money  paid  for  ad- 
mission to  athletic  sports,  race  course, 
etc.,  the  same  as  Gate-money  (q.v.). 
3.  in.  pi.  (University).  The  being  for- 
bidden to  pass  outside  the  gate  of  a 
college :  as  verb,  to  confine  wholly 
or  during  certain  hours  within  the 
college  gate  for  some  infraction  of 
discipline.  To  break  gates,  to  stay  out 
of  college  after  hours.  The  gate, 
among  fishmongers,  Billingsgate ; 
among  thieves,  Newgate :  cf.  Lane, 
Row,  Garden,  etc.  To  be  at  gates 
(Winchester  College).  To  assemble  in 
Seventh  Chamber  passage,  prepara- 
tory to  going  Hills  or  Cathedral.  On 
the  gate,  on  remand. 

Gate-bill.  The  record  of  an  under- 
graduate's failure  to  be  within  the 
precincts  of  his  college  at,  or  before,  a 
specified  time  at  night. 

Gate  -  money.  The  charge  for 
admission  to  a  race  -  meeting:  see 
Gate. 

G  a  t  e  r  (Winchester  College).  A 
plunge  head  foremost  into  a  Pot  (q.v.). 

Gate  -  race  (or  meeting).  For- 
merly, a  contest  not  got  up  for  sport 
but  entrance  money ;  now  a  race  or 
athletic  meeting  to  which  admission 
is  by  payment. 

Gath.  A  city  or  district  in  Philistia 
(q.v.);  often  used,  like  Askelon  (q.v.)for 
Philistia  itself.  Hence,  to  be 


in  Oath,  to  be  a  Philistine  (q.v.)  of  the 
first  magnitude ;  to  prevail  against  Oath, 
to  smite  the  Philistines  hip  and  thigh, 
as  becomes  a  valiant  companion  of 
the  Davidsbund ;  and  so  forth.  Tell  it 
not  in  Oath,  an  interjection  of  derision, 
signifying  that  the  person  exclaimed 
against  has  done  something  the  know- 
ledge of  which  would  bring  on  him 
the  wrath,  or  the  amazement,  of  his 
friends. 

Gather.  To  gather  up,  to  lead 
away.  To  gather  the  taxes,  to  go  from 
workshop  to  workshop  seeking  employ- 
ment. Hence,  Tax  gatherer,  a  man 
out  of  work  and  looking  for  a  job  : 
cf.  Inspector  of  public  buildings.  Out 
of  gathers,  in  distress :  cf.  Out  at 
elbows. 

Gatherings.     See  Gags. 

Gatter.  Beer ;  also  liquor  gener- 
ally. Shant  of  gatter,  a  pot  of  beer : 
Fr.,  moussante  :  see  Drinks. 

Gaudeamus.  A  feast,  drinking  bout, 
any  sort  of  merry-making.  [German 
students',  but  now  general  and  popu- 
lar.] From  the  first  word  of  the 
mediaeval  (students')  ditty. 

Gaudy  (or  Gaudy-day).  A  feast 
or  entertainment :  specifically  the 
annual  dinner  of  the  fellows  of  a 
college  in  memory  of  founders  or 
benefactors  ;  or  a  festival  of.  the  Inns 
of  Court  (Lat.,  gander  e,  to  rejoice). 
(1724).  As  adj.,  good,  frolicsome, 
festive :  cf.  Shakespeare's  '  Let's  have 
one  other  gaudy  night  ('Ant.  and  Cleo.,' 
m.  xiii.).  Neat  but  not  gaudy,  as  the 
devil  said,  of  ancient  ladies  dressed  in 
flaming  colours. 

Gauge.  See  Gage.  To  get  the 
gauge  of,  to  divine  an  intention,  to 
read  a  character,  to  Size  (or  Reckon) 
up  (q.v.).  Hence,  That's  about  the 
gauge  of  it,  That's  a  fair  descrip- 
tion. 

Gauley.     See  By  golly. 

Gawf.     A  red-skinned  apple. 

Gawk.  A  simpleton,  especially 
an  awkward  fool,  male  or  female  :  see 
Buffle.  [Scots  Gowk,  a  cuckoo,  fool ; 
whence,  to  gowk,  to  play  the  fool.  As 
in  the  '  Derision  of  Wanton  Women ' 
(Bannatyne,  MS.,  1667),  '  To  gar  them 
ga  in  gucking,'  to  make  them  play  the 
fool.]  As  verb,  to  loiter  round  ;  to 
Play  the  goat.  [The  same  verb  is 
used  by  Jonson  (Magnetic  Lady,  iii. 
4,  1632)  in  the  sense  of  amazed,  or 
bamboozled,  i.e.  absolutely  befooled  : 


185 


'  Nay,  look  how  the  man  stands,  as  he 
were   gowked  ! '] 

Gawkiness.  Awkwardness,  silli- 
ness, Greenness  (q.v.). 

Gawking.  Loitering  and  staring, 
Gathering  hayseed  (q.v.). 

Gawky.  An  awkward  booby,  a 
fool :  e.g.  Now  squire  gawky,  a  chal- 
lenge to  a  clumsy  lout :  see  Buffle 
(1686).  As  adj.,  lanky,  awkward, 
stupid  (1759). 

Gawney  (or  Goney).  A  fool :  see 
Buffle. 

Gay.  1.  Dissipated,  specifically, 
given  to  venery :  as  in  the  French, 
avoir  la  cuisse  gate.  Hence  Qay 
woman  (girl,  or  bit),  a  strumpet ;  Gay 
house,  a  brothel ;  To  be  gay,  to  be  in 
continent,  etc.,  etc.  (1383).  2.  In 
drink :  see  Screwed.  All  gay  (or 
all  so  gay),  all  right,  first-rate,  All 
serene  (q.v.).  To  feel  gay,  inclined  for 
sport. 

Gay-tyke  Boy.     A  dog  fancier. 

Gazebo.  A  summer-house  com- 
manding an  extensive  view.  [Dog- 
Latin,  Gazebo,  I  will  gaze.] 

Geach.     A  thief. 

Gear.  Work,  Business  (q.v.).  Thus: 
Here's  goodly  gear,  Here's  fine  doings  ; 
Here's  a  pretty  kettle  of  fish  ('  Romeo 
and  Juliet,'  n.  ii.  106). 

Gee.  See  Gee-gee.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  go  or  turn  to  the  off -side ;  used  as  a 
direction  to  horses.  (2)  To  move 
faster :  as  a  teemster  to  his  horses, 
Gee-up!  (3)  To  stop:  as  Gee 
whoa !  To  gee  with,  to  agree  with, 
fit,  be  congenial,  go  on  all  fours  with, 
do  (1696). 

Gee-gee  (or  Gee).  1.  A  horse :  see 
Prad.  2.  The  nickname  among  jour- 
nalists (of  the  interviewer  type)  of 
Mr.  G(eorge)  G(rossmith),  better 
known,  perhaps,  as  the  Society  Clown. 

Gee-gee  Dodge.  Selling  horseflesh 
for  beef. 

Geekie.     A  police-station.  \ 

Geeloot.     See  Galoot 

Geese.  All  his  geese  are  auxins, 
he  habitually  exaggerates,  or  Embroi- 
ders (q.v.) ;  or,  He  is  always  wrong  in 
his  estimates  of  persons  and  things. 
The  old  woman's  picking  her  geese,  said 
of  a  snowstorm :  the  other  leg  of  the 
couplet  (schoolboys')  runs:  'And 
selling  the  feathers  a  penny  a  piece.' 
Like  geese  on  a  common,  wandering  in  a 
body,  aggressive  and  at  large :  e.g. 
as  Faddists  (q.v.)  in  pursuit  of  a 


Fad  ;  or  members  of  Parliament  in  re- 
cess, when  both  sides  go  about  to  say 
the  thing  which  is  in  them. 

Geewhilikens  1  An  exclamation  of 
surprise :  also  Jeewhilikens. 

Geezer.  An  appellation,  some- 
times, but  not  necessarily,  of  derision 
and  contempt ;  applied  to  both  sexes, 
but  generally  to  women  :  usually,  Old 
geezer. 

Gelding.  A  eunuch.  To  enter 
for  the  geldings'  stakes,  to  castrate  a 
man  ;  also  used  to  describe  a  eunuch. 

Gelt  Money,  Gilt  (q.v.),  Gelter : 
generic:  see  Rhino. 

Gemini  !  (Geminy  !  or  Jiminy  !) 
An  exclamation  of  surprise,  a  mild 
oath  :  also  O  Jimminy  !  O  Jimminy 
Figs  !  O  Jimminy  Gig !  etc.  :  for 
the  phrase  has  pleased  the  cockney 
mind,  and  been  vulgarised  accordingly 
(1672). 

Gemman.  A  contraction  of  gentle- 
man (1550). 

Gen.  A  shilling  :  see  Rhino.  Back 
slang,  but  cf.  Fr.,  argent.} 

Generalize.  A  shilling  :  see 
Rhino  and  Gen. 

Geneva  Print  Gin  :  see  Drinks  and 
Satin  (1584). 

G  e  n  -  n  e  t  (back  slang).  Ten 
shillings. 

Gennitraf  (back  slang).  A 
farthing. 

Genol  (back  slang).     Long. 

Gent  1.  A  showily-dressed  vul- 
garian. [A  contraction  of  gentle- 
man.] (1635).  2.  Money:  see 
Rhino  [Fr.,  argent.}  3.  A  sweetheart, 
mistress  :  e.g.  My  gent,  my  particular 
friend.  As  adj.,  elegant,  comely, 
genteel  (1383). 

Gentile.  Any  sort  of  stranger, 
native  or  foreign ;  among  the  Mormons, 
any  person  not  professing  the  Gospel 
according  to  Joe  Smith.  Hence,  In 
the  land  of  the  Gentiles,  (1)  in  foreign 
parts  ;  and  (2)  in  strange  neighbour- 
hoods or  alien  society. 

Gentle.  A  maggot ;  vulgarly, 
Gentile. 

Gentle-craft  1.  Shoemaking. 
[From  the  romance  of  Prince  Crispin.] 
2.  Angling. 

Gentleman.  A  crowbar  :  see 
Jemmy.  To  put  a  churl  (or  beggar) 
upon  a  gentleman,  to  drink  malt  liquor 
immediately  after  wine  (Grose). 
Gentleman  of  the  (three,  four,  or  five) 
outs  (or  ins),  a  varying  and  ancient 


186 


Gentleman  Commoner. 


Get. 


wheeze,  of  which  the  following  are 
representative  : — Out  of  money,  and 
out  of  clothes  ;  Out  at  the  heels,  and 
out  at  the  toes  ;  Out  of  credit,  and  in 
debt.  A  man  in  debt,  in  danger,  and 
in  poverty ;  or  in  gaol  indicted, 
and  in  danger  of  being  hanged.  Out 
of  pocket,  out  of  elbows,  and  out 
of  credit.  Without  wit,  without 
money,  without  manners.  Gentleman 
of  fortune,  an  adventurer.  Oentleman 
of  observation,  a  tout.  Gentleman  of 
the  round,  an  invalided  or  disabled 
soldier,  making  his  living  by  begging 
(1596).  Gentleman  of  the  short  staff,  a 
constable.  Gentleman  of  the  fist,  a 
prize-fighter.  Gentleman  in  brown,  a 
bed  bug :  see  Norfolk  Howard.  The 
little  gentleman  in  brown  velvet,  a  mole. 
[The  Tory  toast  after  the  death  of 
William  III.,  whose  horse  was  said  to 
have  stumbled  over  a  mole  hill.]  Gen- 
tleman of  the  green  baize  road,  a  card 
sharper. 

Gentleman  Commoner.  1.  A 
privileged  class  of  commoners  at 
Oxford,  wearing  a  special  cut  of 
gown  and  a  velvet  cap.  2.  An  empty 
bottle;  also  Fellow-commoner  (q.v.). 
Gentleman  -  ranker.  A  broken 
gentleman  serving  in  the  ranks. 

Gentleman  's-companion.  A  louse : 
see  Chates. 

Gentleman's  -  master.  A  high- 
wayman (Grose). 

Gentleman's    (or  Ladies'-)  piece. 
A  small  or  delicate  portion,  a  Tit-bit. 
Gentlemen's  -  sons.      The     three 
regiments  of  Guards. 

Gently  !  An  interjection,  Stand 
still  (q.v.) ;  hence,  colloquially,  don't 
get  into  a  passion,  Go  slow  (q.v.). 

Gentry-cove  (or  cofe).  A  gentle- 
man, Nib-cove  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  messire  de 
la  haute  (1567). 

Gentry-cove's  Ken  (Gentry-ken). 
A  gentleman's  house  (1567). 
Gentry-mort.    A  lady  (1567). 
Genuine    (Winchester   College). 
Praise.     As    adj.,    trustworthy,    not 
false    nor    double-faced.     As     verb, 
to   praise.     He   was   awfully   quilled 
and  genuined  my  task. 

G  e  o  r  d  i  e  (North  Country).  1. 
A  pitman ;  also  (generally),  a  North- 
umbrian. 2.  A  North-country  col- 
lier. 3.  See  George. 

George  (or  Geordie).  1.  A  half- 
crown  :  also  (obsolete),  the  noble  (6s. 
8d.),  temp.  Henry  VIII.  2.  A  guinea  : 


also  Yellow  George  :  see  Rhino.  3.  A 
penny :  see  Rhino.  Brown  George. 
See  Ante.  By  fore  (or  By  George). 
See  By  George. 

George  Home.  A  derisive  retort 
on  a  piece  of  stale  news  :  also  G.  H.  ! 
[From  a  romancing  compositor  of  the 
name.] 

Georgy-porgy.  To  pet,  fondle,  be- 
slobber. 

German.  The  German,  a  round 
dance. 

German  Duck.  1.  Half  a  sheep's 
head,  stewed  with  onions  (Grose).  2. 
A  bed  bug  :  see  Norfolk  Howard. 

German  -  flutes  (rhyming).  A 
pair  of  boots. 

Germantowner.  A  pushing  shot — 
when  balls  in  play  jar  together :  cf. 
Whitechapel. 

Gerry.     Excrement  (1567). 

Gerry  Gan.  A  retort  forcible, 
Stow  it !  (q.v.)  (1567). 

Gerrymander  (the  g  hard  as  in 
get).  To  arrange  the  electoral  sub- 
divisions of  a  State  to  the  profit  and 
advantage  of  a  particular  party.  The 
term,  says  Norton,  is  derived  from  the 
name  of  Governor  Gerry,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, who,  in  1811,  signed  a  Bill  re- 
adjusting the  representative  districts 
so  as  to  favour  the  Democrats  and 
weaken  the  Federalists,  although  the 
last-named  party  polled  nearly  two- 
thirds  of  the  votes  cast.  A  fancied 
resemblance  of  a  map  of  the  districts 
thus  treated  led  Stuart,  the  painter,  to 
add  a  few  lines  with  his  pencil,  and  say 
to  Mr.  Russell,  editor  of  the  Boston 
Sentinel,  '  That  will  do  for  a  Sala- 
mander.' Russell  glanced  at  it : 
'  Salamander,'  said  he,  '  call  it  a 
Gerrymander  ! '  The  epithet  took  at 
once,  and  became  a  Federalist  war- 
cry,  the  caricature  being  published  as 
a  campaign  document. 

Gerund-grinder.  A  schoolmaster, 
especially  a  pedant  (1759). 

Get.  1.  A  cheating  contrivance, 
a  Have  (q.v.).  2.  A  child  :  e.g.  One 
of  his  gets,  one  of  his  making  ;  Whose 
get  is  that  ?  who's  the  father  ?  It's 
his  get,  anyhow ;  at  all  events  he  got  it 
( 1570).  Get  I  (or  You  get .')  Short  for 
Get  out !  Usually,  Git !  To  get  at, 

(1)  to  quiz,  banter,  aggravate,  take  a 
rise   out  of :    also   To   get  back   at. 

(2)  To    influence,    bribe,   nobble   (of 
horses),  and  to  corrupt  (of  persons) : 
applied  to  horse,  owner,  trainer,  jockey, 


187 


Get. 


and  vet.  alike.  To  get  back  at,  to 
satirise,  call  to  account.  Get  back 
into  your  box  I  an  injunction  to  silence, 
Stow  it!  (q.v.).  To  get  encored,  to 
have  a  job  returned  for  alterations. 
To  get  even  with,  to  take  one's  revenge, 
give  tit  for  tat.  To  get  it,  to  be 
punished  (morally  or  physically),  to 
be  called  over  the  coals.  To  get  off, 
to  (1)  escape  punishment,  be  let  off ; 
(2)  to  utter,  deliver  oneself  of,  per- 
petrate— as  to  get  off  a  joke ;  and  (3) 
get  married.  To  get  on,  (I)  to  back  a 
horse,  put  a  Bit  on  (q.v.).  (2)  To 
succeed,  or,  simply,  to  fare.  Thus, 
How  are  you  getting  on  ?  may  signify 
( 1 )  To  what  extent  are  you  prospering  ? 
or  (2)  How  are  you  doing  ?  To  get  one 
in  the  cold,  to  have  at  an  advantage, 
be  on  the  Windward  side  ( q.  v. ).  Have 
on  toast  (q.v.).  To  get  one  on,  to 
land  a  blow.  To  get  down  fine  (or 
close),  to  know  all  about  one's  ante- 
cedents ;  and  (police)  know  where  to 
find  one's  man.  To  get  over,  to  seduce, 
fascinate,  dupe  :  also  To  come  over  and 
To  get  round.  To  get  outside  of,  to 
eat  or  drink,  accomplish  one's  pur- 
pose. To  get  out  of  bed  on  the  wrong 
aide,  to  be  testy  or  cross-grained. 
[A  corruption  of  an  old  saying,  To  rise 
on  the  right  side  is  accounted  lucky  ; 
hence  the  reverse  meant  trials  to 
temper,  patience,  and  luck.]  (1607). 
To  get  out  (or  round),  to  back  a  horse 
against  which  one  has  previously  laid, 
Hedge  (q.v.).  To  get  set,  (1)  to  warm 
to  one's  work,  get  one's  eye  well  in. 
To  get  there,  to  attain  one's  object, 
succeed,  make  one's  Jack  (q.v.), 
To  get  there  with  both  feet,  to  be  very 
successful ;  (2)  to  get  drunk :  see 
Screwed.  To  get  through,  to  pass  an 
examination,  to  accomplish.  To  get  up 
and  dust,  to  depart  hastily :  see  Ske- 
daddle. To  get  up  behind  (or  get 
behind)  a  man,  to  endorse  or  back  a 
bill.  To  get  up  the  mail,  to  find 
money  (as  counsel's  fees,  etc.)  for 
defence.  Oct  enters  into  many  other 
combinations  :  see  Back  teeth,  Bag  or 
Sack,  Bead,  Beans,  Beat,  Big  bird,  and 
Goose,  Big  head,  Billet,  Bit,  Boat, 
Bolt,  Books,  Bulge,  Bullet,  Bull's 
feather,  Crockette,  Dander  and  Mon- 
key, Dark,  Drop,  Eye,  Flannels,  Flint, 
Game,  Grand  Bounce,  Gravel  -  rash, 
Grind,  Grindstone,  Hand,  Hang,  Hat, 
Head,  Hip  or  Hop,  Home,  Horn,  Hot, 
Jack,  Keen,  Length  of  one's  foot, 


Measure,  Mitten,  Needle,  Religion, 
Rise,  Run,  Scot,  Swot  or  Scrape,  Set, 
Shut  of,  Silk,  Snuff,  Straight,  Sun, 
Ticket  of  Leave,  Wool,  Wrong  box.] 

Getaway.  A  locomotive  or  train, 
Puffer  (q.v.). 

Getter.  A  sure  getter,  a  procreant 
male. 

Get-up.  Drees,  constitution 
and  appearance,  disguise :  see  Get-up. 
As  verb,  phr.,  (1)  to  prepare  (a  part, 
a  paper,  a  case) ;  (2)  to  arrange  (a 
concert) ;  (3)  to  dress  (as  Got  up 
regardless  (to  the  nines,  knocker, 
to  kill,  within  an  inch  of  one's  life) ; 
(4)  to  disguise  (as  a  sailor,  a  soldier, 
Henry  VIII.,  a  butcher,  a  nun) :  see 
also  Get  into. 

G.H.     See  George  Home. 

Ghastly.  Very :  a  popular  inten- 
sitive  :  cf.  Awful,  Bloody,  etc. 

Ghost.  One  who  secretly  does 
artistic  or  literary  work  for  another 
who  takes  the  credit  and  receives  the 
price :  cf.  DeviL  [The  term  was 
popularised  during  the  trial  of  Lawes 
v.  Belt  in  188(?).]  As  verb,  to  prowl, 
spy  upon,  shadow  (q.v.).  The  ghost 
walks  (or  does  not  walk),  there  is  (or  is 
not)  money  in  the  treasury.  The 
ghost  of  a  chance,  the  faintest  likeli- 
hood, or  the  slightest  trace :  e.g.  He 
hasn't  the  ghost  of  a  chance. 

Ghoul.  1.  A  spy  ;  specifically  a 
man  who  preys  on  married  women 
who  addict  themselves  to  assignation 
houses.  2.  A  newspaper  chronicler  of 
the  small  talk  and  tittle-tattle. 

Gib.  1.  Gibraltar :  once  a  penal 
station  :  whence,  2.  a  gaol.  To  hang 
one's  gib,  to  pout :  see  Jib. 

Gibberish  (Gebberish,  Gibberidge, 
Gibrige,  etc. ).  Originally  the  lingo  of 
gipsies,  beggars,  etc.  Now,  any  kind 
of  inarticulate  nonsense  (1594). 

Gibble-gabble.  Nonsense,  Gibber- 
ish (q.v.)  (1600). 

Gib-cat.  A  tom-cat.  [An  ab- 
breviation of  Gilbert^  0.  FT.,  Tibert 
the  cat  in  the  fable  of  Reynard  the 
Fox.]  (1360). 

Gibe.  To  go  well  with,  be  accept- 
able. 

Gibel.     To  bring. 

Gib-face.  A  heavy  jowl,  Ugly-mug 
(q.v.). 

Giblets.  1.  The  intestines  gen- 
erally, the  Manifold  (q.v.).  2.  A  fat 
man,  Forty-guts  (q.v.) :  also  Duke  of 
Giblets.  To  fret  one's  giblets:  see  Fret. 


1SS 


Gibraltar. 


Gilt. 


Gibraltar.  A  party  stronghold : 
e.g.  the  Gibraltar  of  Democracy 
(Norton). 

Gibson  (or  Sir  John  Gibson). 
A  rest  to  support  the  body  of  a  build- 
ing coach. 

Gibus.  An  opera,  or  crush  hat : 
Fr.,  accordeon.  [From  the  name  of  the 
inventor.] 

Giddy.  Flighty,  wanton :  e.g. 
To  play  the  giddy  goat,  to  live  a  fast 
life,  be  happy-go-lucky. 

Giffle-gaffle.  Nonsense  ;  a  variant 
of  Gibble-gabble  (q.v.). 

Gif-gaf  (or  Giff-gaff).  A 
bargain  on  equal  terms  :  whence  the 
proverb  :  Gif-gaf  makes  guid  friens  : 
Fr.,  Posse-mot  la  casse  et  je  t'enverrai 
la  senne. 

Gift.  1.  Anything  lightly  gained 
or  easily  won.  2.  A  white  speck  on 
the  finger  nails,  supposed  to  portend 
a  gift.  3.  See  Gift-house.  As  full  of 
gifts  as  a  brazen  horse  of  farts,  mean, 
miserly,  disinclined  to  Part  (q.v.). 
Gift  of  the  gab  :  see  Gab. 

Gift-house  (or  Gift).  A  club, 
a  house  of  call ;  specifically  for  the 
purpose  of  finding  employment,  or 
providing  allowances  to  members. 

Gig  (Gigg,  Gigge).  1.  A  wanton, 
mistress,  flighty  girl :  cf.  Giglet.  2. 
A  jest,  piece  of  nonsense,  anything 
fanciful  or  frivolous  :  hence,  generally, 
in  contempt  (1590).  3.  The  nose  :  see 
Conk.  To  snitcheU  the  gig,  to  pull  the 
nose.  Grunter's  gig,  a  hog's  snout. 
4.  A  light  two-wheeled  vehicle  drawn 
by  one  horse  :  now  recognised.  5.  A 
door  :  see  Gigger.  6.  A  fool,  an  over- 
dressed person  :  see  Buffle.  7.  Fun, 
frolic,  a  spree.  Full  of  gig,  full  of 
laughter,  ripe  for  mischief.  8.  The 
mouth :  see  Potato-trap.  9.  A  far- 
thing :  see  Rhino.  10.  See  Policy 
dealing.  As  verb,  to  hamstring.  By 
gigs  !  an  oath  (1551). 

Gigamaree.  A  thing  of  little 
worth,  a  pretty  but  useless  toy,  a 
Gimcrack  (q.v.). 

Gigantomachize.  To  rise  in  revolt 
against  one's  betters :  Gr.,  Oiganto- 
machia,  the  War  of  the  Giants  against 
the  Gods.  [Probably  a  coinage  of 
Ben  Jonson's.] 

Gigger.  LA  sewing  machine. 
[In  allusion  to  noise  and  movement). 
2.  See  Jigger. 

Giggles  -  nest.  Have  you  found  a 
giggles-nest  ?  Asked  of  one  tittering, 


or  given  to  immoderate  or  senseless 
laughter. 

Gig  -  lamps.  1.  Spectacles  :  see 
Barnacles.  2.  One  who  wears  spec- 
tacles, a  Four  eyes  (q.v. ).  [Popularised 
by  Verdant  Green.] 

G  i  g  1  e  r  (Giglet,  Goglet,  Gigle, 
Gig).  A  wanton,  a  mistress. 
Giglet  (West  of  England),  a  giddy, 
romping  girl ;  and  in  Salop  a  flighty 
person  is  called  a  Giggle  (1533).  As 
adj.,  loose  in  word  and  deed  :  also 
Giglet-like,  and  Giglet-wise,  like  a 
wanton  (1598). 

Gild.  To  make  drunk,  flush  with 
drink  (1609).  To  gild  the,  pill,  to  say 
(or  do)  unpleasant  things  as  gently 
as  may  be,  impose  upon,  Bamboozle 
(q.v.). 

Gilded-rooster.  A  man 
of  importance  ;  a  Howling  swell  (q.v.) ; 
sometimes  the  Gilded  rooster  on  the 
top  of  the  steeple :  cf.  Big- bug,  Big 
dog  of  the  tanyard,  etc. 

G  i  1  d  e  r  o  y 's  -k  i  t  e.  To  be  hung 
higher  than  GUderoy's  kite,  to  be 
punished  more  severely  than  the  very 
worst  criminals,  The  greater  the 
crime  the  higher  the  gallows,  was  at 
one  time  a  practical  legal  axiom. 
Hence,  out  of  sight,  completely  gone. 

Giles'  Greek.  See  St.  Giles' 
Greek. 

G  i  1  g  u  y.  Anything  which  hap- 
pens to  have  slipped  the  memory  ; 
equivalent  to  What's  -  his  -  name  or 
Thingamytight. 

Gilkes.      Skeleton  keys  (1610). 

Gill  (or  Jill).  1.  A  girl  ;  (1)  a 
sweetheart :  e.g.  every  Jack  must  have 
his  Gill ;  (2)  a  wanton,  a  strumpet  (an 
abbreviation  of  Gillian)  (1586).  2. 
a  drink,  a  Go  (q.v. ).  3.  (in  pi.  g  hard). 
The  mouth,  jaws,  or  face  :  see  Potato- 
trap  (1622).  4.  in.  pi.  A  very  large 
shirt  collar ;  also  Stick-ups  and  Side- 
boards: Fr.,  cache-bonbon- d-liqueur.  To 
grease  the  gills,  to  have  a  good  meal, 
to  Wolf  (q.v.).  To  look  blue  (queer,  or 
green)  about  the  gill-s,  to  be  downcast, 
dejected ;  also  to  suffer  from  the 
effects  of  a  debauch.  Hence,  con- 
versely, To  be  rosy  about  the  gills, 
to  be  cheerful.  A  cant  (or  dig)  in  the 
gills,  a  punch  in  the  face. 

Gill-flirt.    A  wanton,  flirt  (1598). 

Gilly.     A  fool :  see  Buffle. 

Gilly  -  gaupus.  A  tall,  loutish 
fellow. 

Gilt.       1.   Money  :  generic  :  see 


189 


Gilt-dubber. 


Git. 


Rhino.  [Ger.  :  Geld  ;  Du.  :  Gelt.]  2. 
A  thief, pick-lock;  also  Gilt-  (or  rum-) 
clubber,  gilter,  etc.  3.  Formerly  a 
pick-lock  or  skeleton  key ;  now  a 
crow-bar:  see  Jemmy  (1671).  To 
take  the  gilt  off  the  gingerbread,  to 
destroy  an  illusion,  discount  heavily. 

Gilt-dubber.     See  Gilt,  sense  2. 

Gilt  -  edged.  First-class,  the  best 
of  its  kind  :  see  Fizzing. 

Gilter.     See  Gilt,  sense  2. 

Gilt-tick.     Gold  :  see  Rhino. 

G  i  m  b  a  1-  (or  gimber-)  jawed. 
Loquacious,  talking  Nineteen  to  the 
dozen  (q.v.).  [Gimbals  are  a  com- 
bination of  rings  for  free  suspension.] 

Gimcrack  (Gincrack,  or  Jim- 
crack).  1.  A  showy  simpleton, 
male  or  female  :  see  Buffle  (1618).  2. 
A  showy  trifle,  anything  pretty  but  of 
little  worth  (1632).  3.  A  handy  man, 
Jack  -  of  -  all  -  trades  (q.v.).  As  adj., 
trivial,  showy,  worthless. 

Gimcrackery.  The  world  of  Jim- 
crack  (q.v.). 

Gimlet-eye.  A  squint-eye, 
Piercer  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  des  yeux  en  trou  de 
pine. 

Gimlet-eyed.  Squinting,  or 
squinny-eyed,  cock-eyed :  as  in  the 
old  rhyme  :  Gimlet  eye,  sausage  nose, 
Hip  awry,  bandy  toes. 

G  i  m  m  e  r.  An  old  woman  :  a 
variant  of  cummer. 

Gin.  1.  An  Australian  native 
woman.  2.  An  old  woman :  see  Geezer. 
To  gin  up,  to  work  hard,  make  things 
Hum  (q.v.):  see  Wire  in. 

Gin  -  and  -  Gospel  Gazette.  The 
Morning  Advertiser :  as  the  organ  of 
the  Licensed  Victualling  and  Church 
of  England  party :  also  the  Tap-tub 
and  Beer-ana- Bible  Gazette. 

Gin  -  and  -  tidy.  Decked  out  in 
best  bib  and  tucker :  a  pun  on  neat 
spirits. 

Gin-crawl.     A  tipple  (q.v.)  on  gin. 

Gingambobs  (or  Jiggumbobs). 
Toys,  baubles  (1696). 

Ginger.  1.  A  showy  horse,  a 
beast  that  looks  Figged  (q.v.).  2. 
A  red-haired  person ;  Carrota  (q.v.). 
[Whence  the  phrase,  Black  for  beauty, 
ginger  for  pluck.]  3.  Spirit,  dash, 
Go  (q.v.).  To  want  ginger,  to  lack 
energy  and  Pluck  (q.v.).  As  adj., 
red-haired,  Foxy  (q.v.),  Judas-haired 
(q.v.);  also  ginger-pated,  ginger- 
hackled,  and  gingery  (1785). 

Gingerbread.     1.  Money:  e.g.  He 


has  the  gingerbread,  he  is  rich  (1696). 
2.  Brummagem  (q.v.),  showy,  but 
worthless  ware.  As  adj.  showy 
but  worthless,  tinsel :  Fr.,  en  pain 
d"epice.  Gingerbread  work  (nauti- 
cal), carved  and  gilded  decorations ; 
Gingerbread  quarters  (nautical),  lux- 
urious living  (1757).  To  take  the  gilt 
off  the  gingerbread  :  see  Gilt. 

Gingerly  (old :  now  recognised) 
delicate,  fastidious,  dainty,  as  adv., 
with  great  care,  softly  (1533). 

Ginger  -  pop.  1.  Ginger- beer.  2. 
(rhyming),  A  policeman,  Slop  (q.v.). 

Ginger-snap.  A  hot-tempered  per- 
son, especially  one  with  carroty  hair. 

Gingham.  An  umbrella ;  speci- 
fically one  of  this  material :  see  Mush- 
room. 

Gingle  -  boy.  A  coin  ;  latterly  a 
gold  piece :  also  ginglers :  see  Rhino 
(1622). 

Gin-lane  (or  Trap).  1.  The  throat: 
see  Gutter-alley.  Gin- trap  also  =  the 
mouth:  see  Potato-trap  (1827).  2. 
Generic  for  drunkenness. 

Gin-mill.  A  drinking  saloon  :  see 
Lush-crib. 

Ginnified.  Dazed,  stupid  with 
liquor. 

Ginnums.  An  old  woman  :  spec, 
one  fond  of  drink. 

Ginny.  A  housebreaker's  tool ;  an 
instrument  to  lift  up  a  grate  or  grating 
(1690). 

Gin-penny.  Extra  profit :  gener- 
ally spent  in  drink. 

Gin-slinger.  A  tippler  on  gin  :  see 
Lushington. 

Gin  -  spinner.  A  distiller;  a 
dealer  in  spirituous  liquors :  cf.  Ale- 
spinner  (1785). 

Gin-twist.  A  drink  composed  of 
gin  and  sugar,  with  lemon  and  water 
(1841). 

Gip.  1.  A  thief.  2.  (Cambridge 
University)  a  college  servant :  see 

Gyp. 

Girl-and-boy.     A  saveloy. 

Girl-getter.  A  mincing,  womanish 
male. 

Girl  -  show.  A  ballet,  burlesque, 
Leg-j>iece  (q.v.). 

Git !  (or  You  Git ! )  Be  off  with  you ! 
an  injunction  to  immediate  departure, 
Walker !  (q.v.).  Sometimes  a  con- 
traction of  Get  out !  Also  Get  out 
and  dust  (1851).  To  hare  no  git  up 
and  git,  to  be  weak,  vain,  mean,  slow 
— generally  deprecatory. 


190 


Give. 


Glib. 


Give.  'l^To  lead  to,  conduct,  open 
upon  :  e.g.  The  door  gave  upon  tiie 
str§eji.  Cf.  French,  aonner.  (£>  Ah 
aff  round  auxiliary  to  active  verbs : 
e.g.  To  give  on  praying,  to  excel  at 
prayer ;  To  give  on  the  make,  to  be 
clever  at  making  money,  etc.  To  give 
it  to,  (1)  to  rob,  defraud  (Grose) ;  (2)  to 
scold,  thrash  :  also  To  give  what  for, 
To  give  it  hot,  To  give  something  for 
oneself,  To  give  one  in  the  eye,  etc.  : 
Fr.,  oiler  en  donner  (1612).  To  give 
in  (or  out),  to  admit  defeat,  yield,  be 
exhausted  throw  up  the  sponge 
(1748);  to  give  away,  to  betray  or 
expose  inadvertently,  Blow  upon 
(q.v.),  Peach  (q.v.) :  also  to  Give 
dead  away :  largely  used  in  com- 
bination :  e.g.  give-away,  an  ex- 
posure ;  give-away  cue,  an  underhand 
revelation  of  secrets ;  to  give  one  best, 
(1)  to  acknowledge  inferiority,  defeat : 
also  (thieves')  to  leave,  To  cut  (q.v.) ; 
to  give  the  collar,  to  seize,  arrest, 
Collar  (q.v.) :  see  Nab ;  to  give  the 
bullet  (sack,  bag,  kick-out,  pike,  road, 
etc. ),  to  discharge  from  an  employ ; 
give  us  a  rest !  cease  talking  !  an  in- 
junction upon  a  bore  ;  to  give,  nature,  a 
fillip,  verb.  phr.  (old),  to  indulge,  in 
wine,  etc.  (1696).  Other  combina- 
tions will  be  found  under  the  following ; 
Auctioneer,  Back  cap,  Bag,  Bail, 
Baste,  Beans,  Beef,  Biff,  Black  eye, 
Bone,  Bucket,  Bullet,  Bull's  feather, 
Clinch,  Double,  Fig,  Gas,  Go  by, 
Gravy,  Hoist,  Hot  beef,  Jesse,  Ken- 
nedy, Key  of  the  Street,  Land,  Leg 
up,  Lip,  Miller,  Mitten,  Mouth, 
Needle,  Office,  Points,  Pussy,  Rub  of 
the  thumb,  Sack,  Sky-high,  Slip, 
Tail,  Taste  of  Cream,  Turnips,  Weight, 
White  alley,  Word. 

Giver.  A  good  boxer,  an  artist  in 
punishment  (q.v.)  (1824). 

G  i  x  i  e.  A  wanton,  strumpet, 
affected  mincing  woman  (1598). 

Gizzard.  To  fret  one's  gizzard,  to 
worry ;  To  stick  in  one's  gizzard,  to 
remain  as  something  unpleasant  (dis- 
tasteful or  offensive),  be  hard  of 
digestion,  disagreeable  or  unpalat- 
able ;  To  grumble  in  the  gizzard,  to  be 
secretly  displeased ;  Hence,  Grumble- 
gizzard  (q.v.). 

Gladstone.  1.  Cheap  claret  (Mr. 
Gladstone,  when  in  office  in  1869, 
reduced  the  duty  on  French  wines) : 
see  Drinks.  2.  A  travelling  bag 
(named  in  honour  of  Mr.  Gladstone). 


Gladstonize.  To  talk  about  and 
round,  evade,  prevaricate,  speak 
much  and  mean  nothing. 

Glanthorne.  Money  :  see  Rhino. 
(1789). 

Glasgow  Greys.  The  70th  Foot, 
now  the  2nd  battalion  East  Surrey 
regiment :  in  the  beginning  it  was 
largely  recruited  in  Glasgow. 

Glasgow  Magistrate.  A  herring, 
fresh  or  salted,  of  the  finest  (from 
the  practice  of  sending  samples  to  the 
Bailie  of  the  River  for  approval) :  also 
Glasgow  bailie.  English  synonyms 
(for  herrings  generally);  Atlantic 
ranger,  Californian,  Cornish  duck, 
Digby  chicken,  Dunbar  wether,  gen- 
darme, Gourock  ham,  magistrate, 
pheasant,  (or  Billingsgate  pheasant), 
reds,  sea-rover,  soldier,  Taunton 
turkey,  two-eyed  steak,  Yarmouth 
capon :  Fr.,  gendarme. 

Glass.  An  hour  :  an  abbreviation  of 
hour-glass.  There's  a  deal  of  glass 
about,  (1)  applied  to  vulgar  display, 
It's  the  thing  (q.v.) ;  (2)  said  in  answer 
to  an  achievement  in  assertion :  a 
memory  of  the  proverb,  People  who 
live  in  glass  houses  should  not  throw 
stones.  Who's  to  pay  for  the  broken 
glass  ?  (stand  the  racket) ;  been 
looking  through  a  glass,  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Glass-eyes.  A  man  wearing  spec- 
tacles, Four-eyes  (q.v.),  Gig-lamps 
(q.v.)  (1811). 

Glass-house.  To  live  in  a  glass 
house,  to  lay  oneself  open  to  attack 
or  adverse  criticism. 

Glass-work.  An  obsolete  method 
of  cheating  at  cards  :  a  convex  mirror 
the  size  of  a  small  coin  was  fastened 
with  shellac  to  the  lower  corner  of  the 
left  palm  opposite  the  thumb,  enabling 
the  dealer  to  ascertain  by  reflection 
the  value  of  the  cards  he  dealt. 

Glaze.  A  window  (1696).  As 
verb,  to  cheat  at  cards  by  means  of 
glass-work  (q.v.),  or  by  means  of  a 
mirror  at  the  back  of  one's  antagonist. 
To  mill  (or  star  a  glaze),  to  break  a 
window  (1823) ;  on  the  glaze,  robbing 
jewellers'  shops  by  smashing  the 
windows:  see  Glazier  (1724). 

Glazier.  1.  The  eye :  see  Glims  :  Fr., 
les  ardents  ( 1567).  2.  A  window  thief  : 
see  Thief. 

Gleaner.  A  thief  (q.v.):  cf. 
Hooker,  Angler,  etc. 

Glib.      The   tongue :    e.g.   Slacken 


191 


flfjfc, 


Go. 


your  glib,  loose  your  tongue :  aee 
Clack.  2.  A  ribbon  (1754).  As  adj., 
smooth,  slippery,  voluble ;  Ql\b- 
tongued  (or  Glib-gabbit),  talkative, 
ready  of  speech  (1605). 

Glibe.  Writing ;  spec,  a  written 
statement. 

Glim  (or  Glym).  1.  A  candle,  dark 
lanthorn,  fire,  or  light  of  any  kind. 
To  douse  the  glim,  to  put  out  the  light : 
FT.,  estourbir  la  cabande ;  also  short  for 
Glimmer  or  Glymmar(q.v.)(  1696).  2. 
A  sham  account  of  a  fire,  sold  by  the 
Flying  stationers  (q.v.).  3.  In  pi.,  the 
eyes.  English  synonyms :  blinkers, 
daylights,  deadlights,  glaziers,  lights, 
lamps,  ogles,  optics,  orbs,  peepers, 
sees,  squmters,  toplights,  windows, 
winkers.  4.  In.  pi.,  a  pair  of  spectacles, 
Barnacles  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  brand, 
burn  in  the  hand  (1696).  To  puff 
the  glims,  to  fill  the  hollow  over  the 
eyes  of  old  horses  by  pricking  the  skin 
and  blowing  air  into  the  loose  tissues 
underneath,  thus  giving  the  full  effect 
of  youth. 

Glim-fenders.  1.  Andirons,  fire- 
dogs  (1696).  2.  Handcuffs  (a  pun  on 
sense  1). 

G 1  i  m  fl  a  s  h  1  y  (or  Glim-flashey ). 
Angry  :  see  Nab  the  Rust  (1696). 

Glim  -  jack.  A  link  boy,  Moon- 
curser  (q.v.) ;  but,  in  any  sense,  a 
thief  (1696). 

Glim -lurk.  A  beggars'  petition, 
based  on  a  fictitious  fire  or  Glim 
(sense  2). 

Glimmer  (Glymmar).    Fire. 

Glimmerer.  A  beggar  working 
with  a  petition  giving  out  that  he  is 
ruined  by  fire  :  also  Glimmering  mort, 
a  female  glimmerer  (1696). 

Glimstick.  A  candlestick :  Fr., 
occasion. 

Glister.  Glister  of  fish  hooks,  a 
glass  of  Irish  whisky. 

Glistner.  A  sovereign :  20s. :  see 
Rhino. 

Gloak  (or  Gloach).  A  man :  see 
Chum  and  Cove. 

Globe.  1.  A  pewter  pot,  pewter 
(1704).  2.  In.  pi.,  the  paps:  see 
Dairy. 

Globe-rangers.  The  Royal  Marines. 

Globe-trotter.  A  traveller  ;  prim- 
arily one  who  races  from  place  to  place, 
with  the  object  of  covering  ground 
or  making  a  record  :  Fr.,  pacquelineur. 
Whence,  Olobe-trotting,  travelling  after 
the  manner  of  Globe-trotters  (q.v.). 


G 1  o  p  e  (Winchester  College).  To 
spit :  obsolete. 

Glorious.  Excited  with  drink, 
in  one's  altitudes,  Boozed :  see  Screwed 
(1791). 

Glorious-sinner.    A  dinner. 

Glory.  The  after  life,  Kingdom 
come  (q.v.):  usually,  the  coming 
glory.  In  one's  glory,  in  the  full  flush 
of  vanity,  pride,  taste,  notion,  or  idio- 
syncrasy. 

Gloves.  To  go  for  the  gloves,  to  bet 
recklessly,  bet  against  a  horse  without 
having  the  wherewithal  to  pay  if  one 
loses — the  last  resource  of  the  plung- 
ing turfite :  the  term  is  derived  from 
the  frequent  habit  of  ladies  to  bet  in 
pairs  of  gloves,  expecting  to  be  paid  if 
they  win,  but  not  to  be  called  upon  to 
pay  if  they  lose. 

Glow.     Ashamed. 

Glue.  Thick  soup :  which  sticks 
to  the  ribs.  English  synonyms:  de- 
ferred stock,  belly-gum,  giblets-twist, 
gut-concrete,  rib-tickler,  stick-in-the- 
ribs. 

Glue  -  pot  A  parson  :  see  Devil- 
dodger  and  Sky-pilot  (1785). 

Glum.  Sullen,  down  in  the  mouth, 
stern  :  Fr.,  faire  son  nez,  to  look  glum  ; 
also,  n'en  pas  mener  large  (1712). 

Glump.  To  sulk :  hence  glumpy, 
glumping,  and  glumpish,  sullen, 
stubborn  (1787). 

Glutman.  An  inferior  officer  of 
the  Customs,  and  particularly  a  super- 
numerary tide  waiter,  employed  temp- 
orarily when  there  is  a  stress  or 
hurry  of  business.  These  glutmen  were 
generally  without  regular  employment, 
and  also  without  character,  their  prin- 
cipal recommendation  the  fact  of  being 
able  to  write  (1797). 

Glutton.  1.  A  horse  which  lasts 
well,  Stayer  (q.v.).  2.  A  pugilist  who 
can  take  a  lot  of  punishment  (q.v.). 

Gnarler.     A  watch  dog. 

Gnasp.     To  vex:  see  Rile.    (1728). 

Gnoff.      See  Gonnof. 

Gnostic.  A  knowing  one,  Downy 
cove  (q.v.),  Whipster  (q.v.)  (1819).  As 
adj.,  knowing,  Artful  (q.v.) ;  whence 
Qnostically,  knowing. 

Go.  1.  A  drink ;  specifically  a 
quartern  of  gin  :  formerly  Go-down 
(1690).  English  synonyms:  bender, 
caulker,  coffin  nail,  common  -  sewer, 
cooler,  crack,  cry,  damp,  dandy,  dash, 
dewhank,  dewdrop,  dodger,  drain, 
dam,  facer,  falsh,  gargle,  gasp,  go- 


192 


Go. 


Go. 


down,  hair  of  the  dog,  etc.,  Johnny, 
lip,  liquor  up,  livener,  lotion,  lounce, 
modest  quencher,  muzzier,  nail  from 
one's  coffin,  night-cap,  nip  or  nipper, 
nobbier,  old  crow,  a  one,  a  two,  or  a 
three  out,  peg,  pick-me-up,  pony, 
quencher,  reviver,  rince,  sensation, 
settler,  shift,  shove  in  the  mouth, 
slug,  small  cheque,  smile,  snifter, 
something  damp,  something  short, 
swig,  thimbleful,  tiddly,  top  up,  tot, 
warmer,  waxer,  wet,  whitewash,  yard. 

2.  An  incident,    occurrence :    e.g.    a 
Rum  go,  a  strange  affair,  queer  start ; 
a  Pretty  go,  a  startling   business ;    a 
Capital  go,  a  pleasant  business  (1803). 

3.  The  fashion,  the  Cheese  (q.v.),  the 
correct  thing  :  generally  in  the  phrase 
All  the  go.     4.   Life,   spirit,   energy, 
enterprise,    impetus :   e.g.    Plenty    of 
go,  full  of  spirit  and  dash :   Fr.,  du 
chien    (1825).     5.    A    turn,    attempt, 
chance  :  cf.  No  go  :  hence,  to  have  a  go 
at,  to  make  essay  of  anything :  as  a 
man  in  a  fight,  a  shot  at  billiards,  etc. 
6.  A  success  :  hence  To  make  a  go  of  it, 
to  bring  things  to  a  satisfactory  termin- 
ation.    7.  The  last  card  at  cribbage,  or 
the    last   piece   at   dominoes :    when 
a  player  is  unable  to  follow  the  lead, 
he  calls  a  Go  !     8.  A  dandy  (q.v.),  a 
very  heavy  swell,  one  in  the  extreme 
of  fashion.     As  verb,  (1)  to  vote,  be 
in  favour  of  :  cf.  Go  for  ;  (2)  to  succeed, 
achieve,  cf.  Go  down ;  (3)  to  wager, 
risk :    hence    to    stand    treat,    afford 
(1768) ;  (4)  to  ride  to  hounds ;  (5)  to  be 
pregnant,   to   be   anticipating    child- 
birth (1561).     Phrases:   Go  down,  (1) 
to  be  accepted,  received,  swallowed,  to 
Wash  (q.v.)  (1609) ;  (2)  to  be  under 
discipline,  rusticated  ;  (3)  to  become 
bankrupt ;  also,  To  go  under ;  To  go 
due  north,  to  go  bankrupt  (i.e.  to  go 
to    White-cross    Street   Prison,   once 
situate  in  north  London) ;  to  go  on 
the  dub,   to  house-break,   pick  locks 
(1696) ;  to  go  to  the  dogs,  to  go  to  ruin  ; 
to  go  off  on  the  ear,  to  get  angry,  fly  into 
a  tantrum  :  see  Nab  the  rust ;  to  go  for, 
(1)  to  attempt,  tackle,  resolve  upon, 
to  make  for  (q.v.) ;  (2)  to  attack  vio- 
lently and  directly,  by  word  or  deed ; 
(3)  to  support,  favour,  vote  for ;  (4) 
to  criticise  ;  specifically,  to  run  down  ; 
to  go  in  for  (or  at),  to  enter  for,  apply 
oneself  to  (e.g.  to  go  in  for  honours) ; 
also  to  devote  oneself  to  (e.g.  to  pay 
court),  to  take  up  (as  a  pastime,  pur- 

'.t,  hobby,  or  principle) ;  to  go  it,  to 


act  with  vigour  and  daring,  advocate 
or  speak  strongly,  live  freely  :  also  to 
go  it  blind,  fast,  bald-headed,  strong, 
etc.  (1689).  As  intj.  phrase,  Keep 
at  it !  keep  it  up  ! — a  general  (some- 
times ironical)  expression  of  encourage- 
ment :  also  Go  it  ye  cripples,  crutches 
are  cheap  !  (or  Newgate's  on  fire),  Go 
it,  my  tulip,  Go  it,  my  gay  and  festive 
cuss !  (Artemus  Ward),  or  (Ameri- 
can), Go  it  boots  !  go  it  rags  !  I'll  hold 
your  bonnet !  g'lang !  (usually  to  a 
man  making  the  pace  on  foot  or  horse- 
back) ;  to  go  out,  to  fall  into  disuse  ; 
to  go  over,  ( 1 )  to  desert  from  one  side  to 
another  :  specifically  (clerical)  to  join 
the  Church  of  Rome,  to  'Vert  (q.v.) ;  (2) 
to  die,  i.e.  to  go  over,  to  join  the 
majority :  also  to  go  off,  to  go  off  the 
hooks  (go  under,  go  aloft,  to  go  up) ; 
(3)  to  attack,  rifle,  rob ;  to  go  off, 
(1)  to  take  place,  occur;  (2)  to  be 
disposed  of  (as  goods  on  sale,  or  a 
woman  in  marriage) ;  (3)  to  deteriorate 
(as  fish  by  keeping,  or  a  woman  with 
years) ;  (4)  to  die :  see  Hop  the  twig 
(1606) ;  Go  as  you  please,  applied  to 
races  where  competitors  run,  walk, 
or  rest  at  will :  e.g.  in  time  and 
distance  races  :  hence,  general  freedom 
of  action ;  to  go  to  Bath,  Putney,  etc. 
(see  Bath,  Blazes,  Hell,  Halifax,  etc.) ; 
to  go  through,  to  rob :  i.e.  to  turn 
inside  out :  hence,  to  master  violently 
and  completely,  make  an  end  of ;  to 
go  up  (or  under),  (1)  to  go  to  wreck  and 
ruin,  become  bankrupt,  disappear 
from  society  ;  also  (2)  to  die  ;  to  go  up, 
to  die  ;  specifically  to  die  by  the  rope  ; 
to  go  up  for,  to  enter  for  (as  an  exam- 
ination) ;  to  go  with,  to  agree,  har- 
monise with  ;  on  the  go,  on  the  move, 
restlessly  active ;  no  go,  of  no  use, 
not  to  be  done,  complete  failure : 
frequently  contracted  to  N.G.  ;  a 
little  bit  on  the  go,  slightly  inebriated, 
elevated :  see  Screwed.  For  other 
combinations  see  Abroad,  All  fours, 
Aloft,  Aunt,  Baby,  Back  on,  Bad, 
Bail,  Baldheaded,  Bath,  Batter,  Bed- 
fordshire, Beggar's  bush,  Better, 
Blazes,  Blind,  Board,  Bodkin,  Bulge, 
Bungay,  Bury,  Bust,  By-by,  Call, 
Camp,  Chump,  College,  Cracked, 
Dead  broke,  Devil,  Ding,  Ding-dong, 
Dock,  Doss,  Drag,  Flouch,  Flue, 
Gamble,  Glaze,  Glory,  Gloves,  Grain, 
Grass,  Ground,  Hairyfordshire,  Hall, 
Halves,  Hang,  Hell,  High  fly,  High 
toby,  Hooks,  Hoop,  Jericho,  Jump, 


193 


Good. 


God's-mercy. 


Kitchen,  Man,  Majority,  Mill,  Murphy, 
Pace,  Pieces,  Pile,  Pot,  Queen,  Raker, 
Range,  Rope-walk,  Salt  river,  Shallow, 
Shop,  Slow,  Smash,  Snacks,  Snooks, 
Spout,  Star  -  gazing,  Sweet  violets, 
Top,  Walker's  'bus,  West,  Whole 
animal,  Woodbine,  Woolgathering, 
Wrong. 

Goad.  1.  A  decoy  at  auctions,  a 
horse- c haunter,  a  Peter  funk  (q.v.). 

2,  In  pi.,  false  dice. 

Goal  (Winchester  College).  (1) 
At  football  the  boy  who  stands  at  the 
centre  of  each  end,  acting  as  umpire  ; 
and  (2)  the  score  of  three  points  made 
when  the  ball  is  kicked  between  his 
legs,  or  over  his  head,  without  his 
touching  it. 

Coaler's  Coach.  See  Gaoler's 
Coach. 

Go  -  along.  A  fool,  Flat  (q.v.) : 
see  Buffle. 

Goat.  A  lecher  (1599).  As  verb, 
to  thrash.  To  play  the  goat,  to  play 
the  fool,  Monkey  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  jaire 
Voiseau  ;  to  ride  the  goat,  to  be  initiated 
into  a  secret  society  (the  vulgar  error 
is  that  a  live  goat,  for  candidates  to 
ride,  is  one  of  the  standing  properties 
of  a  Masonic  lodge). 

Goatee.  A  tufted  beard  on  the 
point  of  a  shaven  chin  (in  imitation 
of  the  tuft  of  hair  on  a  goat's  chin). 
English  synonyms  (for  a  beard  gener- 
ally): charley,  imperial,  Newgate  (or 
sweep's)  frill,  or  fringe. 

Goater.    Dress. 

Goatish  adj.  (old,  now  recog- 
nised). Lecherous  [as  vicing  with  a 
goat  in  lust.]  Hence  Goatishly,  adv., 
and  Ooatishness,  subs. 

Go-away.     A  railway-train. 

Gob  (or  Gobbett).  1.  A  portion, 
mouthful,  a  morsel ;  also  a  gulp, 
Bolt  (q.v.)  (1380).  2.  The  mouth: 
e.g.  Shut  your  gob,  an  injunction 
to  silence  :  see  Gab  ;  a  spank  on  the 
gob,  a  blow  on  the  mouth  ;  gob-full  of 
claret,  a  bleeding  at  the  mouth ;  gift 
of  the  gab  (or  gob) :  see  Gab.  (1696.) 

3.  A  mouthful  of  spittle:  Fr.,  copeau: 
It.,  tmalzo  di  cavio  (gutter-butter).    As 
verb,   (1)   to   swallow   in   mouthfuls, 
gulp  down:  also  Gobble  (q.v.).     (2) 
to  expectorate :  Fr.,  glaviotcr,  molar  der. 

Gobbie.  A  coastguardsman  ; 
whence  gobble  -  ship,  a  man-of-war 
engaged  in  the  preventive  service. 

Gobble  (or  Gobble-up).  To  swallow 
hastily  or  greedily  ;  hence  (American) 


to  seize,   capture,   appropriate :   also 
gob:  e.g.   Gob  that!   (1602). 

Gobbler.  1.  A  duck  (Harmon) ; 
2.  A  turkey  cock,  Bubbly-jock  (q.v.) : 
also  Gobble -cock  (1785).  3.  The 
mouth  :  see  Potato-trap.  4.  A  greedy 
eater ;  hence  gobbling,  gorging. 

Go  -  between.  A  pimp  or  bawd  : 
now  an  intermediary  of  any  kind 
(1596). 

Goblin.  A  sovereign,  20s. :  see 
Rhino. 

Gob-box.  The  mouth :  see  Potato- 
trap  (1773). 

Gob-stick.  A  silver  table-spoon 
(in  America,  either  spoon  or  fork) ; 
also  (nautical),  a  horn  or  wooden 
spoon. 

Gob  -  string  (or  Gab-string).  A 
bridle  (Orose). 

Go-by.  The  act  of  passing,  an 
evasion,  a  deception.  To  give  one 
the  go-by,  to  cut,  leave  in  the  lurch. 

Go-by-the-ground.  A  dumpy  man 
or  woman  (Orose). 

God.  1.  In  pi.,  the  occupants  of  a 
theatre  gallery  (said  to  have  been  first 
used  by  Garrick  because  they  were 
seated  on  high,  and  close  to  the  sky- 
painted  ceiling :  Fr.,  paradis,  also 
poulaiUer  (1772).  2.  In  pL,  Quadrate 
used  in  Jeffing  (q.v.).  3.  A  block 
pattern.  Gods  of  cloth,  classical 
tailors  (Orose).  4.  A  boy  in  the  sixth 
form  (Eton).  A  tight  for  the  gods,  a 
matter  of  wonderment ;  God  pays  !  an 
expression  at  one  time  much  in  the 
mouth  of  disbanded  soldiers  and 
sailors  (who  assumed  a  right  to  live 
on  the  public  charity) :  the  modern 
form  is,  If  I  don't  pay  you,  God  Al- 
mighty will  (1605);  God  (or  Bramah) 
knows,  I  don't ;  an  emphatic  rejoinder 
(1598). 

Goddess  Diana.  A  sixpence, 
Tanner  (q.v.) :  see  Rhino. 

Godfather.     A  juryman  (1598). 
To  stand  Godfather,  to  pay  the  reckon- 
ing (godfathers  being  the  objects  of 
much     solicitude     and     expectation) 
(1811). 

Go-down.  1.  A  draught  of  liquor, 
Go  (q.v.).  2.  (American),  a  cutting 
in  the  bank  of  a  stream  for  enabling 
animals  to  cross  or  to  get  to  water. 

God-permit.  A  stage  coach  (which 
was  advertised  to  start  Deo  volente) 
(Orose). 

God's-mercy.  Ham  (or  bacon)  and 
eggs  (There's  nothing  in  the  house  but 


104 


God's-penny. 


Gone. 


God's  mercy :  at  one  time  a  common 
answer  in  country  inns  to  travellers  in 
quest  of  provant). 

God's-penny.  An  earnest  penny 
(1696). 

Go-easter.  A  portmanteau, 
Peter  (q.v.)  (because  seldom  used 
except  in  going  city-  or  east-wards). 

Goer.  1.  The  foot :  see  Creepers, 
2.  An  expert  or  adept ;  as  in  drawing, 
talking,  riding ;  one  well  up  to  his 
(or  her)  work :  generally  with  an  ad- 
jective, as  e.g.  a  fast  goer,  a  good 
workman. 

Goff.     See  Mrs.  Goff. 

Goggles.  1.  A  goggle-eyed  person : 
also  Goggler  (1647).  2.  In  pi.  The 
eyes  :  also  Goggle-eyes.  Goggle-eyed, 
squint-eyed  (1598).  3.  In  pi.  spec-, 
tacles,  Barnacles  (q.v.).  As  verb 
(Goggle),  to  roll  the  eyes,  stare  (1577). 

Gogmagog.  A  goblin,  monster,  a 
frightful  apparition  (Hood). 

Going.  The  condition  of  a  road, 
piece  of  ground,  cinder-path  :  i.e.  the 
accommodation  for  travelling :  e.g. 
the  going  is  bad. 

Goings  -  on.  Behaviour,  proceed- 
ings, conduct :  cf.  Carryings  on. 

Goldarned  (Goldurned,  Gol- 
dasted,  etc.).  A  mild  form  of  oath. 

Gold-backed  'Un.  A  louse :  also 
Grey-backed  'un  :  see  Chates. 

Gold-bug.  A  man  of  wealth  and 
(inferentially)  distinction,  a  million- 
aire :  see  Bug. 

Gold-dropper.  A  sharper  :  an  old- 
time  worker  of  the  confidence  trick : 
also  Gold-finder  (1696). 

Golden-cream.     Rum. 

Gold-end  Man.  An  itinerant  jewel- 
ler, a  buyer  of  old  gold  and  silver : 
also  Goldsmith's  apprentice  (1610). 

Golden  Grease.  A  fee,  a  bribe  :  see 
Palm  oil. 

Goldfinch.  1.  A  well-to-do  man, 
a  Warm  'un  (q.v.)  (1696).  2.  A 
guinea,  a  sovereign;  see  Rhino  (1700). 

Gold  -  finder.  1.  An  emptier  of 
privies  :  also  Gong-man,  and  Night- 
man: Pr.,  fouillemerde,  fifi  (1611).  2. 
A  thief,  Gold-dropper  (q.v. ) :  see  Thief. 

Gold  Hat  -  band.  A  nobleman 
undergraduate,  Tuft  (q.v.)  (1628). 

Goldie  -  locks.  A  flaxen  -  haired 
woman.  Ooldu-locked,  golden  haired 
(1598). 

Gold  Mine.  A  profitable  investment, 
store  of  wealth  —  material  or  intel- 
lectual (1664). 


Golgotha.  1.  The  Dons'  gallery  at 
Cambridge ;  also  applied  to  a  certain 
part  of  the  theatre  at  Oxford  (that  is, 
The  place  of  skulls  :  cf.  Luke  xxiii.  33, 
and  Matthew  xxvii.  33,  whence  the 
pun  :  Dons  being  the  heads  of  houses) 
(1730).  2.  A  hat.  English  synonyms : 
battle  of  the  Nile  (rhyming,  i.e.  a 
tile  (q.v.),  bell-topper,  bUly-cock, 
beaver,  box-hat,  cady,  canister  cap, 
castor,  chummy,  cathedral,  chimney, 
chimney-pot,  cock,  colleger,  cock-and- 
pinch,  cowshooter,  David,  deer-stalker, 
digger's  delight,  fantail,  felt,  Gibus, 
gomer  (Winchester),  goss,  moab, 
molocher,  mortar-board,  muffin-cap, 
mushroom,  nab,  nap,  napper,  pantile, 
pimple-cover,  pill-box,  plug-hat,  pot, 
shako,  shovel,  sleepless  hat,  sou'- 
wester, stove-pipe,  strawer,  thatch, 
tile,  topper,  truck,  upper-crust,  wash- 
pot,  wee-jee,  wide-awake. 

Goliath.  1.  A  big  man.  .2.  A  man 
of  mark  among  the  Philistines  (q.v.). 
[Mr.  Swinburne  described  the  late 
Matthew  Arnold  as  David,  the  son 
of  Goliath.] 

Goll.  The  hand ;  usually  in  pi. 
See  Daddle  (1601). 

G  o  1 1  o  p.  To  swallow  greedily, 
gulp :  see  Wolf. 

Gollumpus.  A  clumsy  lout 
(Grose). 

Golly.  A  contraction  of  By 
Golly  !  (q.v.). 

Goloptious  (or  Golopshus). 
Splendid,  fine,  delicious,  luscious. 

Gombeen-man.  A  usurer,  money- 
lender, sharking  middleman. 

Gomer  (Winchester  College).  1. 
A  large  pewter  dish  used  in  college. 
Also,  2.  A  new  hat. 

Gommy.  A  dandy :  Fr.,  gommeux. 
2.  One  who  calls  Mr.  Gladstone  a 
G.O.M.  [Grand  Old  Man],  and  thinks 
he  has  made  a  good  joke.  3.  A  fool : 
see  Buffle. 

Gomus.     A  fool :  see  Buffle. 

Gondola.  1.  A  railway  plat- 
form car,  sideless  or  low-sided  :  also  a 
flat-bottomed  boat. 

Gondola  of  London.  A  hansom 
cab,  Shoful  (q.v.).  [The  description 
is  Lord  Beaconsfield's.] 

Gone.  1.  Ruined,  totally  undone  : 
also,  adv.,  an  expression  of  complete- 
ness :  e.g.  Gone  beaver,  corbie, 
coon,  gander,  or  goose,  a  man  or  an 
event  past  praying  for  (1406).  Gone 
on,  enamoured  of,  infatuated  with, 


195 


Cutler. 


Mashed  vonT(  q.v.),  Sweet  on  (q.v.): 
generally  in  contempt :  Fr.,  aimer 
comme  sea  petite  boyaux. 

Goner  (Gones,  Gonus,  or  Goney). 
1.  A  fool,  simpleton ;  also  Gauney 
(q.v.) :  see  Buffle.  2.  A  person  past 
recovery,  utterly  ruined,  or  done  for 
in  any  way. 

Gong  (or  Gong-house).  A  privy  : 
see  Airs.  Jones. 

Gong-farmer  (or  Gong-man). 
An  emptier  of  cess-pools,  Gold-finder 
(q.v.)  (1598). 

G  o  n  o  f  (Gonnof,  Gonoph,  or 
Gnof).  1.  A  thief  (q.v.) ;  specifically 
a  pick  -  pocket,  and  especially  an 
adept.  [Prom  the  Hebrew.  Ancient 
English ;  a  legacy  from  the  old  time 
Jews.  It  came  into  use  again  with 
the  moderns  who  employ  it  commonly. 
Cf.  gonov,  thief  in  Ex.  xxii.  2  and  6, 
viz.  If  the  gonov  be  found.]  2.  A 
bumpkin,  churl,  clumsy  hand,  shame- 
less simpleton  (1383).  As  verb,  to 
wheedle,  cheat,  steal  Hence,  gonoph- 
ing,  picking  pockets. 

Gooby.  A  simpleton,  blockhead: 
see  Buffle. 

G  o  o  d  1  An  abbreviation  of 
Good-night !  As  adj.,  responsible, 
solvent :  principally  with  for ;  e.g. 
He  is  good  for  any  amount :  also, 
expert  (1598).  Good  goods,  in  pi., 
something  worth  trying  for,  a  success  : 
in  superlative,  best  goods.  Bit  (or 
piece)  of  goods,  a  woman :  see  Petti- 
coat. Good  old  ...  A  familiar 
address,  derisive  or  affectionate  ac- 
cording to  circumstances.  To  fed 
good,  to  be  jolly,  comfortable,  in  form, 
on  perfect  terms  with  oneself ;  to 
be  in  one's  good  books,  to  be  in  favour, 
in  good  opinion  :  conversely,  to  be  in 
one  s  bad  books,  to  be  in  disfavour ; 
good  at  it  (or  at  the  game),  an  expert, 
male  or  female  ;  to  have  a  good  swim  : 
Bee  Swim ;  for  good  (or  for  good 
and  all),  completely,  entirely,  finally 
(1672);  good  as  wheat:  see  Wheat; 
good  as  a  play  :  see  Play  ;  good  as  gold, 
very  good  ;  as  good  as  they  make  'em, 
see  Make  'em ;  good-bye,  John,  it's  no 
go ;  all's  U.P. ;  good  cess,  good  luck 
(probably  an  abbreviation  of  success  : 
bad  cess,  the  reverse. 

Goodfellow  (Good-boy,  or  Good- 
man). 1.  A  roysterer,  a  boon  com- 
panion(1570).  2.  A  thief  (q.v.)  (1608). 

Good  Girl  (or  Good  One).  A 
wanton  (1611). 


Goodman.  1.  A  gaoler,  Dubs- 
man  (q.v.)  (1721).  2.  The  devil. 

Goodman  -  turd.  A  contemptible 
fellow,  Bad-egg  (q.v.)  (1598). 

Good  Night!  The  dovetail  to  an 
incredible  statement  or  surprising 
piece  of  news. 

Good-people.     The  fairies  (1828). 

Good  (or  Good  old)  Sort.  A 
man  of  social  or  other  parts. 

Good  Thing.  Something  worth 
having  or  backing,  a  bon  mot,  Good 
goods  (q.v.) :  in  racing  a  Cert  (q.v.) 
(1844). 

Good  Time.  A  carouse,  friendly 
gathering,  enjoyable  bout  at  any- 
thing. Hence,  To  have  a  good  time, 
to  be  fortunate  or  lucky,  enjoy  oneself, 
make  merry  (1596). 

Good  'un.  1.  A  man,  woman,  or 
thing  of  decided  and  undoubted 
merit.  2.  An  expression  of  derisive 
unbelief  :  e.g.  a  lie. 

Good-wooled.  Of  unflinching  cour- 
age, the  greatest  merit,  thoroughly 
dependable. 

Goody.  1.  A  matron :  the  corre- 
lative of  goodman,  husband  :  used 
like  auntie,  mother,  and  gammer,  in 
addressing  or  describing  an  inferior 
(1598).  Hence  goodyship,  ladyship. 
2.  A  religious  hypocrite  —  male  or 
female,  the  'unco  guid'  of  Burns;  hence 

§oody  -  goodyism,  sentimental  piety. 
.  Generally  in  pi.,  sweetmeats,  bon- 
bons, cakes  and  Duns.  4.  The  kernel 
of  a  nut.  As  adj.,  well-meaning  but 
petty,  officiously  pious :  also  Goody- 
goody. 

G  o  o  k.  A  low  prostitute  :  see 
Tart. 

Goose.  1.  A  tailor's  smoothing 
iron  (whose  handle  is  shaped  like  the 
neck  of  the  bird) :  hence  the  old  ditton, 
A  tayler  be  he  ever  so  poor  is  sure  to 
have  a  goose  at  his  fire  (Grose) :  Fr., 
gendarme  (1606).  2.  A  simpleton: 
usually  only  of  women  :  also  Goose- 
cap  (q.v.)  (1591).  3.  A  reprimand, 
Wigging  (q.v.).  4.  See  Wayz  goose. 
5.  A  woman.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to  hiss,  con- 
demn by  hissing  :  also  to  get  the  goose 
or  the  big  bird  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  appeler  (or 
siffler)  Azor  (to  whistle  a  dog,  Azor 
being  a  common  canine  appellation), 
boire  une  govtte  (to  be  goosed) ;  (2)  to 
ruin,  spoil :  see  Cook  one's  goose ; 
(3)  to  mend  boots  by  putting  on  a  i 
front  half-way  up,  and  a  new  bottom  ; 
otherwise  to  L  foot  boots :  cf.  Fo 


196 


Goose-and-gridiron. 


Gorger. 


Goose  without  gravy,  a  severe  but 
bloodless  blow  :  see  Wipe  ;  to  be  tound 
on  the  goose,  before  the  civil  war,  to  be 
sound  on  the  pro-slavery  question ; 
now,  to  be  generally  staunch  on  party 
matters,  to  be  politically  orthodox  ;  to 
find  fault  with  a  fat  goose,  to  grumble 
without  rhyme  or  reason  (1690);  to 
kill  the  goose  for  the  golden  eggs,  to 
grasp  at  more  than  is  due,  over-reach 
oneself  (from  the  Greek  fable) ;  every- 
thing is  lovely  and  the  goose  hangs 
high  :  see  Everything  ;  he*tt  be  a  man 
among  the  geese  when  the  gander  is 
gone,  ironical,  He'll  be  a  man  before 
his  mother ;  Go  I  shoe  the  goose,  a  retort, 
derisive  or  incredulous,  the  modern 
To  hell  and  pump  thunder.  Unable 
to  say  boh  !  to  a  goose,  said  of  a  bashful, 
person  (Orose) ;  see  also  Wild  -  goose 
chase. 

Goose-and-gridiron.  The  American 
eagle,  and  the  United  States  flag  :  see 
Gridiron. 

Gooseberry.  1.  A  fool :  see  Buffle. 
2.  A  chaperon,  one  who  takes  third 
place  to  save  appearances  or  play 
propriety  (q.v.),  a  daisy-  or  goose- 
berry-picker. 3.  A  marvellous  tale, 
a  Munchausen  (q.v.),  flim-flam :  also 
gigantic  and  giant  gooseberry.  Hence 
Gooseberry  season,  the  dull  time  of 
journalism,  when  the  appearance  of 
monstrous  vegetables,  sea  serpents, 
showers  of  frogs,  and  other  portents 
is  chronicled  in  default  of  news : 
also  Silly  season  (q.v.).  To  play  (or 
do)  gooseberry,  to  play  propriety ;  also 
to  sit  third  in  a  hansom :  cf .  Bodkin ;  to 
flay  old  gooseberry,  to  play  the  deuce, 
upset,  spoil,  throw  everything  into 
confusion  ;  also  (Lex.  Bal.),  said  of  a 
person  who,  by  force  or  threats,  sud- 
denly puts  an  end  to  a  riot  or  dis- 
turbance ;  Old  gooseberry,  the  devil 
(see  Skipper). 

Gooseberry-eyed.  Grey-eyed  (Lex. 
Bal.,  1811). 

Gooseberry-grinder.     The  breech. 

Gooseberry  -  lay.  Stealing  linen 
from  a  line. 

Gooseberry  -  picker.  1.  A  person 
whose  labour  profits,  and  is  credited 
to,  another,  a  Ghost  (q.v.).  2.  A 
chaperon  :  see  Gooseberry. 

Gooseberry-pudding.  A  woman : 
see  Petticoat. 

Gooseberry-wig.  A  large  frizzled 
wig;  Perhaps  (Orose)  from  a  supposed 
likeness  to  a  gooseberry  bush. 


Goosecap.  A  booby — male  or 
female,  Noodle  (q.v.) :  see  Buffle 
(1593). 

Goose-egg.  No  score,  Love  (q.v.): 
also  Gooser. 

Goose-flesh  (or  Goose-skin). 
A  peculiar  tingling  of  the  skin  pro- 
duced by  cold  or  fear,  etc.,  the  sensa- 
tion described  as  Cold  water  down  the 
back,  the  Creeps  (q.v.)  (1824). 

Goose  -  gog  (or  Goose  -  gob).  A 
gooseberry. 

Goose  -  month.  The  lying  -  in 
month :  cf.  Gander-month. 

Goose-persuader.  A  tailor  :  see 
Snip. 

Gooser.  1.  A  settler,  knock- 
out blow,  the  act  of  death.  2.  No 
score,  a  Goose-egg  (q.v.). 

Goose-riding.    See  Gander-pulling. 

Goose's  Gazette.  A  lying  story, 
flim-flam  tale :  that  is,  a  piece  of 
reading  for  a  goose. 

Goose-shearer.    A  beggar. 

Goose-step.  1.  Balancing 
on  one  foot  and  moving  the  other 
back  and  forwards  without  taking  a 
step :  a  preliminary  in  military  drill, 
the  pons  asinorum  of  the  raw  recruit. 
Also,  2.  (more  loosely)  marking  time  : 
that  is,  lifting  the  feet  alternately 
without  advancing. 

Goose  -  turd  Green.  A  light 
yellowish  green  (Cotgrave). 

Goosey  -  gander.  A  fool :  see 
Buffle. 

Gopher.  1.  A  young  thief ; 
spec,  a  boy  employed  by  biirglars  to 
enter  houses  through  windows,  sky- 
lights, etc.  (in  natural  history,  Gopher, 
a  burrowing  squirrel).  2.  A  rude 
wooden  plough  :  Southern!  States. 

G  o  r  e  e.  Money ;  spec,  gold  or 
gold-dust :  Fort  Goree  is  on  the  Gold 
Coast :  see  Rhino  (1696). 

Gorge.  1.  A  heavy  meal,  Tuck- 
in  (q.v.),  Blow-out  (q.v.)  (1553).  2. 
A  theatrical  manager :  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  Gorger  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  eat 
voraciously  ;  also  to  gulp  as  a  fish  does 
when  it  swallows  (or  gorges)  a  bait  : 
see  Wolf  (1572). 

Gorger.  1.  A  voracious  eater, 
Scruncher  (q.v.).  Rotten  gorger,  a 
lad  who  hangs  about  Covent  Garden  or 
other  markets,  eating  refuse  fruit.  2. 
A  well-dressed  man,  a  gentleman  :  FT., 
un  grating.  Gipsy,  gorgio,  gentle  • 
men.]  3.  An  employer  :  a  principal : 
spec,  the  manager  of  a  theatre :  also 


197 


Gorgonzola  Hall. 


GraJ>. 


Cully-gorger :  Fr.,  amendicr.  4.  A 
neckerchief  (1320). 

Gorgonzola  Hall.  Formerly  the 
New  Hall  of  the  Stock  Exchange ;  now 
the  corporation  generally.  [From  the 
veinings  of  the  marble.] 

G  o  r  m.  To  Gorge  (q.v.) :  see 
Wolf.  I'm  gormed,  a  profane  oath  : 
see  Gaum  (1849). 

Gormagon.  'A  monster  with 
six  eyes,  three  mouths,  four  arms, 
eight  legs,  five  on  one  side  and  three 
on  the  other,  three  arses,  two  tarses, 
and  a  cunt  upon  its  back: — a  man  on 
horseback  with  a  woman  behind  him ' 
(Grose). 

Gormy-ruddles.     The  intestines. 

Gorram  (or  Goram).  See  By 
goldam. 

Gorry.     See  By  Gorry  ! 

Goschens.  The  2}  per  cent 
Government  Stock  created  by  Mr. 
Goschen  in  1888. 

Gosh.     See  By  gosh. 

Gospel.  I.  Anything  offered 
as  absolutely  true  :  also  Gospel-truth. 
To  do  gospel,  to  go  to  church. 

Gospel  -  gab.  Insincere  talk  con- 
cerning religion,  cant. 

Gospel-grinder  (postilion,  sharp, 
or  shark).  A  paison,  devil-dodger, 
sky-pilot. 

Gospeller.  An  Evangelist 
preacher :  in  contempt :  also  Hot- 
gospeller,  a  preaching  fanatic. 

Gospel-mill  (or  shop).  A  church 
or  chapel,  Doxology  -  works  (q.v.) 
(1785). 

G  o  s  s  (or  Gossamer).  A  hat : 
at  first  a  make  of  peculiar  light- 
ness called  a  Four-and-nine  (q.v.) : 
occasionally,  a  white  hat :  see  Gol- 
gotha (1836).  To  give  (or  get)  goss,  to 
requite  an  injury,  kill,  go  strong,  get 
an  opportunity,  put  in  big  licks  (q.v.) : 
sometimes  ejaculatory,  as  Give  me 
goss  and  let  me  rip  ! 

Gossoon.     A  boy  :  Fr.,  garron. 

Gotch-gutted.  Pot-bellied;  a 
gotch  in  Norfolk,  signifying  a  pitcher 
or  large  round  jug  (Grose). 

Got  'em  bad.  A  superlative  of 
earnestness  or  excess :  e.g.  any  one 
doing  his  work  thoroughly,  a  horse 
straining  every  nerve,  a  very  sick 
person,  spec,  a  subject  of  the  Horrors 
(q.T.). 

Got  'em  on  (all  on).  Dressed 
in  the  height  of  fashion,  rigged  out. 

Goth.     A  frumpish  or  uncultured 


person ;  one  behind  the  times  or 
ignorant  of  the  ways  of  society  (171-'). 
Hence  Gothic,  rustic,  rude,  uncultnro'l. 

Gotham.  New  York  city : 
hence,  Gothamite,  a  New  Yorker : 
first  used  by  Washington  Irving  in 
Salmagundi  (1807). 

Go  -  to  -  meeting  bags  (clothes, 
dress,  etc.).  Best  clothes :  as  worn 
on  Sundays,  or  holiday  occasions 
(1837). 

Gouge.  An  imposture,  swindle, 
method  of  cheating  (1845).  As  verb, 
( 1 )  to  defraud  ;  also  (2)  to  squeeze  out 
a  man's  eye  with  the  thumb,  a  cruel 
practice  used  by  the  Bostonians  in 
America  (Orose). 

Gouger.     A  cheat,  swindler,  rook. 

Gourd.  Hollow  dice  filled  with 
lead  to  give  a  bias  (1544). 

Gourock  ham.  A  salt  herring 
(Gourock  was  formerly  a  great  fishing 
village) :  see  Glasgow  Magistrate. 

Government-man.     A  convict. 

Government  -  securities.  Hand- 
cuffs, fetters  generally  :  see  Darbies. 

Government  -  signpost  The  gal- 
lows: see  Nubbing-cneat 

Governor  (or  Guv).  1.  A  father, 
relieving  officer,  old  'un,  pater,  nibso  : 
also  applied  to  elderly  people  in 
general :  Fr.,  gtniteur  and  Fancien 
(the  old  'un)  (1836).  2.  A  mode 
address  :  Fr.,  bourgeois.  3.  A  master  < 
superior,  an  employer.  English  8} 
onyms:  boss,  captain,  chief,  color 
commander,  head-cook  and  bot 
washer,  gorger,  omee,  rum-cull. 

Governor  's-stiff.     A  pardon. 

Gower-street  Dialect     See  ~  ' 
Greek. 

Gowk.  A  simpleton  (Scot 
Gowk,  a  cuckoo) :  see  Buffle.  Also 
countryman :  see  Joskin.  To  hit 
the  gowk,  to  go  on  a  fool's  errand. 

Gowler.     A  dog ;  spec,  a  howler. 

Gown      (Winchester      College) 

1.  Coarse    brown    paper :    obeolet 

2.  (University).     The  schools  as 
tinguished  from  the  Town  (q.v.) :  e.j 
Town  and  gown.     Hence, 

a  student 

Grab.      1.  A  sudden  clutch. 
A  robbery,  steal  (q.v.):  cf.  Grab-s 

3.  A    body  -  steaJer,    resurrectac 
(q.v.).     4.     A    boisterous    game 
cards.     As  verb,  (1)  to  pinch  (q.v. 
seize,    apprehend,    snatch    or 
Grabbed,  arrested  (1811);  (2)  to 
on,  get  along,  live. 


Grab-ail, 


Grass. 


Grab-all.  1.  An  avaricious 
person,  greedy-guts  (q.v.).  2.  A  bag 
to  carry  odds  and  ends  —  parcels, 
books,  and  so  forth. 

Grabber.  In  pi.,  the  hands : 
see  Daddle. 

Grabble.  To  seize,  grab  (q.v.) 
(1811). 

Crabby.  An  infantry  -  man  : 
in  contempt  by  the  mounted  arm  : 
Fr.,  marionnette. 

Grab-gains.  The  trick  of  snatch- 
ing a  purse,  etc.,  and  making  off. 

Grab  -  game  (coup,  or  racket). 
A  mode  of  swindling :  the  sharpers 
start  by  betting  among  themselves ; 
then  the  bystanders  are  induced  to 
join,  stakes  are  deposited,  and  lastly, 
there  is  a  row,  when  one  of  the  gang 
grabs  the  stakes  and  decamps. 

Grace  -  card.  The  six  of  hearts 
(for  origin  see  N.  and  Q.,  5th  Series, 
iv.  137). 

Gracemans.  Gracechurch  Street 
Market  (1610). 

Graduate.  1.  A  horse  that  has  been 
2.  An  adept,  artful  member 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  to  seek  and  acquire 
experience — in  life,  love,  society,  or 
rade  ;  and  so  on. 

Gradus.  A  mode  of  cheating : 
particular  card  is  so  placed  by  the 
luffler  that  when  he  hands  the  pack 
be  cut,  it  projects  a  little  beyond 
lie  rest ;  the  chance  being  that  it  forms 
lie  turn-up.  Also  called  the  step 
(q.v.). 

Gradus  -  ad  -  parnassum.       The 
eadmill :  see  Wheel-of-life. 
Graft.       Work,    employment,    lay 
(q.v.) :    e.g.   what  graft   are  you   on 
low  ?     Great-graft,  profitable  labour, 
1  biz  (q.v.).     As  verb,  (1)  to  work  : 
bausser,  membrer ;   (2)   to  steal ; 
(3)  to  cuckold,  plant  horns  (1696) ;  (4) 
sole   old    boots :    cf.    Goose    and 
ranslate. 

Grampus.     A  fat  man  :  see  Forty- 
its.    To  blow  the  grampus,  to  drench ; 
Iso  to  sport  in  the  water. 
Grand.      Short  for  grand  piano, 
adj.,  a  general  superlative.     To  do 
;  grand,  to  put  on  airs. 
Grand  Bounce.     See  Bounce. 
Grandmother.     To  see  one's 
indmother,    to    have    a   nightmare. 
I'o    shoot    one's    grandmother,    to    be 
listaken,    find    a    mare's    nest,    be 
lisappointecl :  commonly,  You've  shot 
jrour  grannie.     To  teach  owe'a  grand- 


mother  (or  grannie)  how  to  suck  eggs, 
to  instruct  an  expert  in  his  own 
particular  line  of  business, Vtalk  old 
to  one's  seniors  (1811).  My  Grand- 
mother's Review,  the  British  Review : 
the  nickname  was  Lord  Byron's. 

Grand -strut.  The  Broad  Walk 
in  Hyde  Park  (1823). 

Granger.  1.  A  member  of  the 
Farmers'  Alliance  ;  a  secret  American 
society,  nominally  non- political,  but 
really  taking  a  hand  in  politics  when 
occasion  offered  to  favour  agricultural 
interests :  during  the  decade  of  years 
ending  1870  it  attained  to  great 
numerical  strength,  and  extended 
throughout  the  United  States :  see 
Agricultural  wheel.  2.  Hence,  a 
farmer,  countryman,  any  one  from 
the  rural  districts. 

Grangerise.  To  fill  out  a  book 
with  portraits,  landscapes,  title-pages, 
and  illustrations  generally,  not  done 
for  it.  Hence  Grangerism,  the  prac- 
tice of  illustrating  a  book  with 
engravings,  etc.,  from  other  sources : 
from  the  practice  of  illustrating 
Granger's  Bibliographical  History  of 
England.  Also  Grangerite,  a  practi- 
tioner in  Grangerism. 

Grannam.     Corn  (1563). 

Grannam  's-gold.  Inherited  wealth. 

Granny.  1.  A  bad  knot  with  the 
second  tie  across  ;  as  opposed  to  a  reef 
knot  in  which  the  end  and  outer  part 
are  in  line :  also  Granny's  knot  or 
Granny's  bend.  2.  Conceit  of  super- 
ior knowledge.  As  verb,  to  know, 
recognise,  swindle  (1851). 

Grape-shot.    Drunk :  see  Screwed. 

Grape-vine.     A  hold  in  wrestling. 

Grape  -  vine  Telegraph.  News 
mysteriously  conveyed :  during  the 
civil  war  bogus  reports  from  the 
front  were  said  to  be  by  the  grape-vine 
telegraph  :  also  clothes-line  telegraph. 

Grapple.  The  hand :  also 
grappler :  see  Daddle. 

Grapple-the-rails.  Whisky :  see 
Drinks  (1783). 

Grappling  -  irons       (or      hooks), 

1.  Handcuffs:    see    Darbies    (1811). 

2.  The  fingers :  see  Fork :  also  grap- 
plers  and  grappling-hooks. 

Grass  (Royal  Military  Academy). 
1.  Vegetables  :  bunny  -  grub  :  Fr., 
gargousses  de  la  canonniere.  2. 
Fresh  mint  (American).  3.  Short  for 
sparrow-grass  (q.v.),  asparagus.  4. 
A  temporary  newspaper  hand  ;  hence 


199 


dross-comber. 


Grayhound. 


the  proverb,  A  grass  on  news  waits 
dead  men's  shoes  (Australian  printers). 
Grass-hand,  a  raw  worker,  green  hand. 
As  verb,  to  throw  (or  be  thrown), 
bring  (or  be  brought)  to  ground : 
hence,  to  knock  down,  defeat,  kill. 
To  give  grata,  to  yield ;  to  go  to  grass, 

(1)  to   abscond,   disappear:    also   to 
hunt  grass  ;  (2)  to  fall  sprawling,  be 
ruined,  die;   (3)   to  waste  away  (as 
of  limbs) ;  to  hunt  grass  (1)  to  decamp  ; 

(2)  to  field,  to  hunt  leather  (q.v.) ; 

(3)  to  fall,  go  to  ground  ;  hence,  to  be 
puzzled  or  bewildered ;   to   cut  one's 
own  grass,  to  earn  one's  own  living ; 
to  be  sent  to  grass,  to  be  rusticated, 
receive  a  travelling  scholarship  (q.v.) ; 
go  to  grass  I  be  off  !  You  be  hanged  f 
to  let  the  grass  grow  under  one's  feet, 
to   proceed   or  work  leisurely :    Fr., 
limer. 

Grass  -  comber.  A  countryman 
shipped  as  a  sailor. 

Crasser.     A  fall. 

Grasshopper.  1.  A  waiter  in  a 
tea-garden.  2.  A  policeman,  copper 
(q.v.).  3.  A  thief  (q.v.) 

Grassing.  Casual  work  away 
from  a  printing  office. 

Grassville.  The  country ;  cf . 
Daisyville. 

Grass  -  widow.  1.  An  unmarried 
mother,  a  deserted  mistress  (1696). 
2.  A  married  woman  temporarily 
separated  from  her  husband.  [The 
usually  accepted  derivation  that 
grass  is  Fr.,  grdce,  is  doubtful.  Hall 
(says  J.  C.  Atkinson,  in  Glossary  of 
Cleveland  Words)  gives  as  the  defini- 
tion of  this  word,  An  unmarried 
woman  who  has  had  a  child ;  in 
Moor's  Suffolk  Words  and  Phrases, 
Grace-widow,  A  woman  who  baa  had 
a  child  for  her  cradle  ere  she  has  had 
a  husband  for  her  bed;  and  corre- 
sponding with  this  is  the  N.  8.  or  Low 
Ger.,  gras-wedewe.  Again,  Sw.  D., 
gras  -  anka,  or  -enka  grass  -  widow, 
occurs  in  the  same  sense  as  with  us : 
A  low,  dissolute,  unmarried  woman 
living  by  herself.  The  original  mean- 
ing of  the  word  seems  to  have  been  A 
woman  whose  husband  is  away, 
either  travelling  or  living  apart.  The 
people  of  Belgium  call  a  woman  of  this 
description  haeck-wedeive,  from  haecken, 

to  feel  strong  desire It  seems 

probable,  therefore,  from  the  ety- 
mology, taken  in  connection  with  the 
Clcvel,  signification,  that  our  word 


may  rather  be  from  the  Scand.  source 
than  from  the  German ;  only  with  a 
translation  of  the  word  enka  into  its 
English  equivalent.  Dan.  D.,  grots- 
enka,  is  a  female  whose  betrothed 
lover  (fast man)  is  dead ;  nearly 
equivalent  to  which  is  German, 
strohwittwe,  literally  straw  -  widow. 
See  N.  and  Q.,  6  8  viii.,  268,  414  :  x. 
333,  436,  526;  xi.  78,  178.]  English 
synonyms :  Calif ornian  widow,  widow- 
bewitched,  wife  in  water  colours 
(1700). 

Grass  -  widower.  A  man  away 
from  his  wife. 

Gravel.  1.  To  confound,  puzzle, 
floor  (q.v.).  2.  To  go  against  the 
grain. 

Gravel-crusher.  A  soldier  doing 
defaulter's  drill. 

Gravel  -  grinder.  A  drunkard  : 
see  Lushington. 

Gravel  -  rash.  The  lacerations 
caused  by  a  fall  To  have  the  gravel 
rash,  to  be  reeling  drunk :  see  Screwed. 

Gravesend-bus.     A  hearse. 

Gravesend- sweetmeats.     Shrimps. 

Gravesend  -  twins.  Solid  lumps 
of  sewage. 

Grave  -  yard.  The  mouth  :  see 
Potato-trap.  To  keep  a  private  grave- 
yard, to  affect  ferocity,  bluster. 

Gravy  -  eye.  A  derisive  epithet : 
e.g.  Well  Old  gravy -eye. 

Crawler.     A  beggar  :  see  Cadger. 

Gray.  1.  A  coin  showing  either 
two  heads  or  two  tails,  pony  (q.v.) 
(1828).  2.  See  Grayback.  3.  In  pL, 
yawning,  listlessness  :  cf.  Blues. 

Grayback.       1.  A  louse  : 
Scots    Greys  :     Fr.,    grenadier : 
Chates.     2.    A    Confederate    soldier: 
from  the  colour  of  the  uniform : 
Blue-belly. 

Gray-beard.  1.  An  old  man: 
mostly  in  contempt  (1593).  2.  Origin- 
ally a  stoneware  drinking  jug ;  now 
a  large  earthenware  jar  for  hold- 
ing wine  or  spirits :  with  a  bearded 
face  in  relief. 

Gray-cloak.  An  alderman  above 
the  chair :  his  proper  robe  is  a  cloak 
furred  with  grey  amis. 

Gray-goose.  A  big  field  stone  on 
the  surface  of  the  ground  (1816). 

Grayhound.  1.  A  fast  Atlant 
liner ;  one  especially  built  for  speed : 
also  ocean  grayhound.  2.  (Cam- 
bridge University).  A  member 
Clare  College,  a  Clarian  (obsolete). 


200 


Gray-mare. 


Green. 


Gray  -  mare.  A  wife  ;  spec,  one 
wearing  the  breeches  (q.v.)  (1546). 

Gray-parson  (or  Gray-coat 
parson).  A  lay  impropriator,  or 
lessee  of  tithes  (Grose). 

Grease.  1.  A  bribe,  palm- 
oil  (or  grease),  boodle  (q.v.):  greasing, 
bribing.  2.  Well-paid  work,  fat 
(q.v.):  printers'.  3.  Fawning,  flat- 
tery. As  verb,  (1)  to  bribe,  corrupt 
by  presents,  tip  (q.v.):  also,  to 
grease  the  fist,  hand,  or  palm :  Fr., 
coquer  la  boucanade  (1557).  (2)  To 
fawn,  to  flatter :  formerly,  to  grease 
one's  boots  ( 1598).  (3)  To  gull,  cheat, 
do  (q.v.).  To  grease  a  fat  sow,  to 
bribe  a  rich  man  (Grose) ;  to  grease 
one's  gills,  to  make  a  good  or  luxuri- 
ous meal. 

Greased  Lightning.  An  express 
train.  Like  greased  lightning,  very 
quick. 

Greaser.  1.  A  Mexican  ;  also 
a  Spanish  American.  The  Mexicans 
are  called  greasers  from  their  greasy 
appearance,  by  the  Western  people 
(Buzton) :  Greasers,  Californian  slang 
for  a  mixed  race  of  Mexicans  and 
Indians  (Bret  Harte).  2.  In  pi. 
(Royal  Military  Academy),  fried  pot- 
atoes, as  distinguished  from  boilers, 
boiled  potatoes.  To  give  one 
greaser  (Winchester  College),  to  rub 
the  back  of  the  hand  hard  with  the 
knuckles. 

Grease-spot.  The  imaginary 
result  of  a  passage  at  arms,  physical 
or  intellectual  (1844). 

Greasy  -  chin.     A   dinner  (Grose). 

Great  Cry  and  Little  Wool.  See 
Cry. 

Great  Go  (or  Greats).  The 
final  examination  for  the  B.A.  degree 
at  Cambridge :  cf.  Little-go :  at 
Oxford,  Greater. 

Great  Gun.  1.  A  person  of  dis- 
tinction, a  thing  of  importance. 
English  synonyms :  big  bug,  big  dog  of 
the  tanyard,  big  dog  with  the  brass 
collar,  big  gun,  big  head,  big  one, 
big  (or  great)  pot,  big  wig,  biggest 
toad  in  the  puddle,  cock  of  the  walk, 
don,  large  potato,  nob,  rumbusticator, 
stunner,  swell,  swell-head,  topper, 
top-sawyer.  2.  A  peculiar  practice, 
trick  of  particular  usefulness  and 
importance,  favourite  wheeze  (q.v.). 
To  blow  great  guns,  to  blow  a  gale  ; 
also,  to  blow  great  guns  and  small 
arms  (1839). 


Great-house.     See  Big  House. 

Great- Joseph.     An  overcoat. 

Great  Scott  1  An  exclamation 
of  surprise — an  apology  for  an  oath  : 
possibly  a  memory  of  the  name  of 
Gen.  Winfield  Scott,  a  presidential 
candidate  whose  dignity  and  style 
were  such  as  to  win  him  the  nickname 
Fuss-and-Feathers. 

Great  Shakes.     See  Shakes. 

Great  Smoke.     London. 

Great  Sun.    An  exclamation. 

Great  -  unwashed.  The  lower 
classes,  the  rabble :  also  the  un- 
washed :  first  used  by  Burke  ;  popul- 
arised by  Scott. 

Great  Whipper-in  (The).  Death, 
>Old  floorer  (q.v.). 

Grecian.  1.  A  roysterer,  Greek 
(q.v.).  2.  (Christ's  Hospital).  A  senior 
boy.  3.  An  Irishman.  Hence  Grecian 
accent,  a  brogue. 

Grecian-bend.  An  affected 
stoop  in  walking  (1821) :  cf.  Alexandra 
limp,  Roman  fall,  Italian  wriggle, 
Kangaroo  droop. 

Greed.     Money  :  see  Rhino. 

Greedy-gut  (or  guts).  A 
voracious  eater,  a  glutton :  as  in  the 
old  (schoolboys')  rhyme :  Guy-hi, 
Greedy-gut,  Eat  all  the  pudding  up  : 
Fr.,  un  glafdtre  (1598). 

Greek.  1.  Slang,  or  Flash  (q.v.)  ; 
usually  St.  Giles'  Greek  (q.v.):  cf. 
Cant,  Gibberish,  etc.  2.  A  card- 
sharper,  cheat  (1528).  3.  An  Irish- 
man (1823).  4.  A  gambler;  also  a 
highwayman.  Merry  Greek,  a  roy- 
sterer, drunkard  (Cotgrave)  (1602). 

Greek-fire.  Bad  whisky, 
rotgut  (q.v.). 

Greek  Kalends.  Never.  To 
defer  to  the  Greek  Kalends,  to  put  off 
sine  die  :  the  Greeks  used  no  kalends 
in  their  reckoning  of  time  (1649). 
English  synonyms :  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Dick,  when  the  devil  is  bund, 
when  two  Sundays  come  in  a  week, 
at  Domesday,  at  Tib's  eve,  one  of 
these  odd-come-shortly's,  when  the 
ducks  have  eaten  up  the  dirt,  when 
pigs  fly,  in  a  month  of  Sundays,  once 
in  a  blue  moon. 

Green.  Rawness,  simplicity. 
Generally  in  the  phrase,  Do  you  see 
any  green  in  my  eye  ?  Do  you  take  me 
for  a  fool  ?  As  adj.,  simple,  in- 
experienced, gullible,  unsalted  (q.v.) 
(1596).  As  verb,  to  hoax,  swindle: 
at  Eton  to  green  up  :  see  Gammon. 


201 


Green-apron. 


Gridiron. 


To  send  to  Dr.  Green,  to  put  out  to  grass 
(1811).  8" dp  me  greens  I  (or  taturs  /) 
a  veiled  oath  of  an  obscene  origin. 
Just  for  greens,  for  no  reason  in 
particular. 

G  r  e  e  n-a  p  r  o  n.  A  lay  preacher : 
also  as  adj. 

Green-back.  1.  A  frog.  2. 
One  of  Todhunter's  series  of  mathe- 
matical text-books :  bound  in  green 
cloth :  cf.  Blue-ruin.  3.  The  paper 
issue  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States ;  first  sent  out  in  1862  during 
the  civil  war,  the  backs  are  printed 
in  green.  Hence  green  -  backer,  an 
advocate  for  an  unlimited  issue  of 
paper  money. 

Green-bag.  A  lawyer ;  robes  and 
briefs  were  carried  in  a  green  bag  ;  the 
colour  is  now  blue,  or,  in  cases  of 
presentation  from  seniors  to  juniors, 
red  (1696).  English  synonyms:  black 
box,  bramble  (provincial),  devil's 
own,  gentlemen  of  the  long  robe,  land- 
shark,  limb  of  the  law,  mouth-piece, 
Philadelphia  lawyer  (q.v.),  quitam,  six 
and-eightpence,  snipe,  sublime  rascal. 

Green-bonnet.  To  have  (or 
wear)  a  green  bonnet,  to  fail  in  busi- 
ness, go  bankrupt :  a  green  cloth  cap 
was  once  worn  by  bankrupts. 

Green  Cheese.  See  Cream  Cheese 
and  Moon. 

Green  Cloth.  See  Board  of 
Green  Cloth. 

Green  Dragoons.  The  Fifth 
Dragoon  Guards ;  also  known  as  the 
Green  Horse :  from  their  green 
facings. 

Greener.  A  new,  or  raw  hand  ; 
spec,  an  inexperienced  workman  intro- 
duced to  fill  the  place  of  a  striker. 

Green-goods.  Counterfeit 
greenbacks ;  hence  green-goods  man 
(or  operator),  a  counterfeiter  of  green- 
backs, snide-pitcher  (q.v.). 

Green -goose.  1.  A  cuckold.  2. 
A  prostitute. 

Green  -  gown.  To  give  a  green 
gown,  to  rough  and  tumble  with  a 
girl- 

Green  -  head.  A  greenhorn  :  see 
Buffle  (1696). 

Greenhorn  (Green-head,  or 
Greenlander).  A  simpleton,  fool, 
gull  (q.v.) ;  also  a  new  hand  :  see 
Buffle.  To  come  from  Greenland,  to  be 
fresh  to  things,  raw  (q.v.) ;  Green- 
lander,  sometimes  an  Irishman  (1753). 

Greenhouse.     An  omnibus. 


Green  Howards.  The  Nine- 
teenth Foot,  now  the  Princess  of 
Wales's  Own  Yorkshire  Regiment: 
from  its  facings  and  its  Colonel's 
name  (1738-48),  and  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  Third  Foot,  also  commanded 
by,  a  Col.  Howard.  Also  Howard's 
Garbage. 

Green  Kingsman.  A  silk  pocket- 
handkerchief  :  any  pattern  on  a 
green  ground. 

Green  Linnets.  The  39th  Foot, 
now  the  first  battalion  Dorsetshire 
Regiment :  from  the  facings. 

Greenly.  Like  a  greenhorn, 
foolishly  (1596). 

Greenmans.  1.  The  fields,  the 
country  (1610).  2.  In  sing.,  a  con- 
tractor who  speculates  with  other 
people's  money. 

Greenness.  Immaturity  of 
judgment,  inexperience,  gullibility 
(1748). 

Green-rag.     See  Greeny. 

Green-river.  To  send  a  man  up 
Green-river,  to  kill :  from  a  once  famous 
factory  on  Green  River,  where  a 
favourite  hunting  knife  was  made. 

Green-sickness.    Chlorosis. 

Green  -  turtle.  To  live  up  to 
green-turtle,  to  do,  and  give,  one's 
best 

Greenwich  Barber.  A  retailer  of 
sand  from  the  Greenwich  pits :  a  pun 
upon  shaving  the  banks  (Grose). 

Greenwich  -  goose.  A  pensioner 
of  Greenwich  Hospital  (Grose). 

Greeny.  1.  The  curtain  :  from 
the  colour  :  also  green-rag  (1821).  2. 
A  freshman  (q.v.).  3.  A  simpleton, 
greenhorn  (q.v.) :  see  Buffle. 

Greetin*  Fu'.  Drunk:  literally 
crying  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

G  r  e  e  z  e  (Westminster  School). 
A  crowd,  push  (q.v.). 

Gregorian.  A  kind  of  wig  worn 
in  the  17th  century  :  after  the  inventor 
one  Gregory,  a  barber  in  the  Strand. 

Gregorian  -  tree.       The    gallows : 
there  was  a  sequence  of  three 
men  of  the  name  :  see  Nubbing-cl 

Gregorine.       A  louse ;   specifically 
head  vermin  :  see  Chates. 

Greshamite.    A  fellow  of  the '. 
Society  (1690). 

Grey.     See  Gray,  paseim. 

Griddle.     To  sing  in   the  street 
Whence,     griddling,      street-singing ; 
griddler,  a  street  singer  (1851). 

Gridiron.      1.   The  United   St 


202 


Grief, 


Grip. 


flag ;  the  Stars  and  Stripes :  also 
Gridiron  and  Doughboys ;  also  speak- 
ing of  the  Eagle  in  conjunction  with 
the  flag,  the  Goose  and  Gridiron.  2. 
A  County  Court  Summons :  originally 
applied  to  writs  of  the  Westminster 
Court,  the  arms  of  which  resemble  a 
gridiron  (1859).  3.  The  bars  on  a 
cell  window  :  Fr.,  ler  gaules  de  Schtard. 
The  Gridiron,  the  Graf  ton  Club:  the 
grill  was  a  speciality.  On  the  gridiron, 
troubled,  harassed,  in  a  bad  way,  on 
toast  (q.v.).  The  whole  gridiron:  see 
Whole  animal. 

Grief.  To  come  to  grief,  to  come  to 
ruin,  meet  with  an  accident,  fail. 

Griffin  (or  Griff).  1.  A  new- 
comer, raw  hand,  greenhorn  (q.v.). 
Specific  uses  are  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
new  arrival  from  Europe ;  (military), 
a  young  subaltern ;  (Anglo-Chinese), 
an  unbroken  horse.  Griffinage  (or 
Griffinism),  the  state  of  greenhornism 
(1859).  2.  A  woman  of  forbidding 
manners  or  appearance,  a  Gorgon : 
also  a  caretaker,  chaperon,  or  sheep- 
dog (q.v. ).  [A  reflection  of  the  several 
griffins  of  ornithology  and  of  heraldry  : 
the  former  a  feeder  on  birds,  small 
mammals,  and  even  children ;  the 
latter  (as  in  Milton)  a  perfection  of 
vigilance.]  3.  A  signal  :  e.g.  to  tip 
the  griffin,  to  warn,  give  the  office 
(q.v.),  or  tip  (q.v.) ;  the  straight  griffin, 
the  straight  tip.  4.  In  pi.  the  scraps 
and  leavings  from  a  contract  feast, 
which  are  removed  by  the  purveyor. 

Griff-metoll.  Sixpence,  a  tanner 
(q.v.) :  see  Rhino  (1754). 

Grig.  1.  An  active,  lively,  and 
jocose  person :  as  in  the  phrase 
Merry  as  a  Grig  (1611).  2.  A  farthing, 
a  gigg  (q.v.) :  see  Rhino  (1696).  As 
verb,  to  vex,  worry  (1855). 

Grim.  A  skeleton :  also  Grin. 
Whence  Old  Mr.  Grim,  death. 

Grin.  To  strike  on  plates  with 
knives  and  forks,  beat  with  the  feet, 
and  shout  at  the  top  of  the  voice,  in 
an  effort  to  make  the  victim  grin.  To 
grin  in  a  glass  case,  to  be  shown  as  an 
anatomical  preparation :  the  bodies 
and  skeletons  of  criminals  were  once 
preserved  in  glass  cases  at  Surgeons' 
Hall  (Grose). 

Grinagpg,  the  Cat's  Uncle. 
A  .grinning  simpleton  (Grose). 

Grind.  1.  A  walk,  constitutional : 
e.g.  to  take  a  grind,  or  (University) 
to  go  on  the  Grandchester  (or  Gog 


Magog  Halls)  grind.  2.  Daily  routine, 
hard  or  distasteful  work  (1853).  3. 
Study,  reading  for  an  examination; 
also  a  plodding  student,  i.e.  a  grinder. 
4.  A  demonstration :  as  (1)  a  '  public 
grind,'  given  to  a  class  and  free  to  all ; 
and  (2)  a  private  grind,  for  which  a 
student  pays  an  individual  teacher: 
in  America,  a  quiz  (q.v.).  5.  (Oxford 
University)  Athletic  sports :  also, 
a  training  run.  The  grind  (Cambridge 
University),  the  ferry-boat  at  Chester- 
ton. As  verb,  (1)  to  prepare  for 
examination,  study,  read,  teach,  in- 
struct, coach  (q.v.),  do  a  round  of 
hard  and  distasteful  work,  apply  one- 
self to  daily  routine ;  (2)  to  vex,  put 
out.  To  grind  an  axe,  see  Axe.  To 
get  a  grind  on  one,  to  play  practical 
jokes,  tell  a  story  against  one,  annoy 
or  vex.  To  grind  wind,  to  work  the 
treadwill :  see  Everlasting  staircase. 

Grinder.  1.  A  private  tutor, 
Coach  (q.v.) :  cf.  Crammer  (1812).  2. 
Usually  in  pi.,  the  teeth.  English 
synonyms :  bones,  chatterers,  cogs, 
crashing  cheats,  dining-room  furni- 
ture (or  chairs),  dinner-set,  dominoes, 
front-rails,  Hampstead  Heath  (rhym- 
ing), head-rails,  ivories,  park-palings 
(or  railings),  snagglers,  tushes  (or 
tusks),  tomb-stones  (1597).  To  take 
a  grinder,  to  apply  the  left -thumb  to 
the  nose,  and  revolve  the  right  hand 
round  it,  as  if  to  work  a  hand-organ 
or  coffee-mill ;  also  to  take  a  sight 
(q.v.),  to  work  the  coffee  mill  (q.v.) : 
a  street  retort  on  an  attempt  to  impose 
on  good  faith  or  credulity  (1836). 

Grinding  -  house.  The  House  of 
Correction  :  see  Cage  (1614). 

Grinding-mill.  The  house  of  a 
tutor  or  coach  (q.v.)  where  students 
are  prepared  for  an  examination. 

Grind-off  (or  Grindo).  A  miller  : 
from  a  character  in  The  Mitter  and 
his  Men. 

Grindstone.  A  tutor,  a  coach 
(q.v.).  To  bring  (hold,  put,  or  keep) 
one's  nose  to  the  grindstone,  to  oppress, 
harass,  punish,  treat  harshly.  To 
have  one's  nose  kept  to  the  grindstone,  to 
be  held  to  a  bargain,  or  task  (1578). 
To  have  the  grindstone  on  one's  back, 
said  of  a  man  going  to  fetch  the 
monthly  nurse  (Grose). 

Grinning-stitches.   Slovenly 
sewing,   stitches  wide  apart,  ladders 
(q.v.). 
Grip  (or  Gripsack).     A  hand-bag, 


203 


Gripe. 


Grow. 


satchell.  To  lose  one's  grip,  to  fail, 
lose  one's  control. 

Gripe.  1.  A  miser,  usurer : 
also  griper  or  gripe-fist  (q.v.).  Qrip- 
ing,  extortion.  2.  In  pi.,  the  colic, 
stomach  ache,  collywobbles :  see 
Jerry-go-nimble  (1684). 

Gripe-fist  A  miser,  grasping 
broker  :  also  gripe-penny. 

Grist.  A  large  number  or  quan- 
tity :  Swift  uses  grist,  a  supply  ;  a 
provision.  To  bnng  grist  to  ike  mill, 
to  bring  profitable  business,  be  a  source 
of  profit  (1719). 

Grit.  1.  Character,  pluck,  spirit, 
sand  (q.v.):  also  clear  grit.  No  grit, 
lacking  in  stamina,  wanting  in  courage 
(1826).  2.  A  member  of  the  Liberal 
party  (Canadian  political). 

Gritty.  Plucky,  courageous, 
resolute,  full  of  character. 

Grizzle.  To  fret ;  also  to  grizzle 
one's  guts. 

Grizzle -guts  (Grizzle-  or  Glum- 
pot).  A  melancholy  or  ill-tempered 
person,  sulking  ton  (q.v.). 

Groan er.  A  thief  (q.v.)  plying 
his  trade  at  funerals  or  religious 
gatherings. 

Groaning.  The  act  of  parturition  : 
also  adj.,  parturient,  or  appertaining 
to  parturition:  as  in  groaning -malt 
(Scots'),  drink  for  a  lying-in  ;  groaning 
pains,  the  pangs  of  delivery;  groaning 
wife,  a  woman  ready  to  lie-in  (1594). 

Groats.  A  naval  chaplain's 
monthly  allowance.  To  save,  one's 
groats,  to  come  off  handsomely :  at 
the  University  nine  groats  were 
formerly  deposited  in  the  hands  of  an 
academic  officer  by  every  person  stand- 
ing for  a  degree,  which,  if  obtained 
with  honour,  were  returned  to  him 
(Grose). 

Grocery.  1.  Small  chance  (1728). 
2.  A  drinking  bar ;  also  confectionery 
and  groggery.  3.  Sugar  :  a  restricted 
use  of  a  colloquialism. 

Grog.  Spirits  and  water,  strong 
drink  generally :  till  Admiral  Vernon's 
time  (1745)  rum  was  served  neat,  but 
he  ordered  it  to  be  diluted,  and  was 
therefore  nicknamed  Old  Grog,  in 
allusion  to  his  grogram  coat :  a  phrase 
that  was  presently  adapted  to  the 
mixture  he  had  introduced :  Groggy, 
drunk :  see  Screwed.  As  verb,  to 
dilute  or  adulterate  with  water.  To 
have  grog  on  board  (or  to  be  grogged), 
to  be  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 


Grog-blossom.  A  pimple  caused 
by  excessive  drinking :  also  copper- 
nose  and  jolly-nose :  Fr.,  nez  culottt, 
and  nez  de  pompettes  (1811). 

Grog-fight  A  drinking  party  :  cf. 
Tea-fight 

Groggery.  A  public  bar,  grog 
shop. 

Groggy.  1.  Under  the  influence 
of  drink:  see  Screwed  (1829).  2. 
(stable)  Moving  as  with  tender  feet 
3.  (pugilists')  Unsteady  from  punish- 
ment and  exhaustion :  Fr.,  locher 
(1831). 

Grogham.  A  horse,  daisy- 
kicker  (q.v.):  now  mostly  in  con- 
tempt: see  Prad  (Grose). 

Grog-shop.  The  mouth  :  see 
Potato-trap  (1843). 

Grog-tub.     A  brandy  bottle. 

Groom.     A  croupier. 

Groomed.     See  Well-groomed. 

Groovy.  A  sardine.  As  adj., 
settled  in  habit,  limited  in  mind. 

Groper.  1.  A  blind  man,  Hood- 
man  (q.v.)  (1696).  2.  A  pocket 
(Grose).  3.  A  midwife,  fingersmith 
(q.v.)  (Grose). 

Ground.  To  suit  down  to  the 
ground,  to  be  thoroughly  becoming  or 
acceptable.  To  wipe  (or  mop)  up  the 
ground  (or  floor)  with  one,  to  adminis- 
ter the  soundest  of  thrashings,  prove 
oneself  absolutely  superior  to  one's 
opponent  To  go  (or  get)  well  to  the 
ground,  to  defalcate,  rear  (q.v.) :  see 
Mrs.  Jones  (1608). 

Grounder.  A  ball  with  a  ground  de- 
livery, sneak,  grub ;  and  (in  America) 
at  base  ball,  a  ball  struck  low,  or 
flying  near  the  ground. 

Ground-floor.  To  be  let  in  on  the 
ground-floor,  to  share  in  a  specula- 
tion on  equal  terms  with  the  original 
promoters. 

Ground-squirrel.  A  hog,  grunter 
(Lex.  Bal.). 

Ground-sweat.  To  have  (or  take)  a 
ground-sweat,  to  be  buried  (1696). 

Grouser.  1.  A  grumbler  rusty  - 
gute  (q.v.).  2.  A  rowing  man,  wet- 
bob  (q.v.). 

G  r  o  u  t  e  (Marlborough  and 
Cheltenham  Colleges).  To  work  or 
study  hard,  swot  (q.v.). 

Grouty.     Crabbed,  sulky. 

Grove  of  the  Evangelist  St 
John's  Wood  ;  also  Apostle's  Grove, 
and  the  Baptist's  Wood. 

Grow.    To  be  accorded  the  privi- 


204 


Growler. 


Gudgeon. 


lege  of  letting  one's  hair  and  beard 
grow :  also  to  grow  one's  feathers. 

Growler.  A  four-wheeled  cab  : 
cf.  Sulky.  English  synonyms :  bird- 
cage, blucher,  bounder,  fever- trap, 
flounder  -  and-dab  (rhyming),  four- 
wheeler,  groping  hutch,  mab  (an  old 
hackney),  rattler,  rumbler.  To  rush 
(or  work)  the  growler,  to  fetch  beer 
(workman's). 

Grown -man's -dose.  A  lot  of 
liquor:  also  a  long  drink  (q.v.) :  see 
Go. 

^  Grown-up.     An  adult :  also  (under- 
takers') a  grown  (1864). 

Grub.  1.  Food.  English  synonyms : 
belly-cheer  (or  chere),  belly-furniture, 
belly- timber,  Kaffir's  tightener  (speci- 
fically, a  full  meal),  chuck,  corn, 
gorge  -  grease,  manablins  (broken 
victuals),  mouth  harness,  mungarly, 
peck,  prog,  scoff  (S.  African),  scran, 
stodge,  tack,  tommy  (specifically 
bread),  tuck,  yam.  Also,  verbally,  to 
bung  the  cask,  to  grease  the  gills,  to 
have  the  run  of  one's  teeth,  to  yam. 

2.  A  short  thick-set  man,  a  dwarf : 
in  contempt :  see  Hop-o'-my-Thumb. 

3.  A  sloven,  generally  of  elderly  people. 

4.  A   careful   student,   hard   reader. 

5.  Roots   and   stumps :   whatever  is 
grubbed    up.     6.    A    ball    delivered 
along   the   ground,   grounder    (q.v.), 
daisy-cutter    (q.v.):    see    Lob-sneak. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  take  or  supply  with 
food  (1725).     Whence  grubbing,  eat- 
ing.    (2)  To  beg,  ask  alms,  especially 
food.    (3)  To  study,  read  hard,  sweat 
(q.v.).     To   ride   grub,   to   be   sulky, 
crusty    (q.v.),    disagreeable    (Grose). 
To  grub  along,    to  make  one's  way 
as  best  one  can,  rub  along. 

Grubbery.  (1)  An  eating-house: 
also  (2)  a  dining-room,  and  (3)  the 
mouth. 

Grubbing-crib.  1.  An  eat- 
ing-house. Orubbing-crib  faker,  the 
landlord  of  a  cheap  cookshop :  Fr., 
nourrisseur.  English  synonyms : 
grubbery,  grubby  (or  grubbing-ken), 
grub-shop,  guttle-shop,  hash-house, 
mungarly  casa,  prog-shop,  slap-bang 
shop,  tuck-shop,  waste-butt.  2.  A 
workhouse :  sometimes  Orubbiken : 
see  Spinniken. 

Grubble.  To  feel  for  at  random, 
or  in  the  dark. 

Grubby.  Food :  a  diminutive  of 
grub  (q.v.).  As  adj.,  dirty,  slovenly. 

Grub-hunting.     Begging  for  food. 


Grub  -  shop  (crib,  trap,  etc.). 
1.  The  mouth ;  and  2.  a  grubbery 
(q.v.) :  see  Potato-trap.  3.  See  Grub- 
bing-crib in  both  senses. 

Grub  -  stake.  Food  and  other 
necessaries  furnished  to  mining  pro- 
spectors in  return  for  a  share  in  the 
finds.  Hence,  to  grub-stake,  to  specu- 
late after  this  fashion. 

Grub  Street.  The  world  of  cheap, 
mean,  needy  authors :  originally  a 
street  near  Moorfields,  changed  in  1830 
to  Milton  Street  (1696). 

Gruel.  1.  A  beating,  punish- 
ment (q.v.).  Hence,  to  get  (or  give) 
one's  gruel,  to  castigate,  be  well 
beaten,  killed.  In  the  prize  ring,  to 
knock  a  man  out  for  good.  Gruetted, 
floored;  also  gruetting  (1815).  2. 
Coffee. 

Crueller.  A  knock  -  down  blow, 
settler  (q.v.),  a  floorer  (q.v.). 

Grumble  -  guts.  An  inveterate 
croaker:  also  grumble-gizzard. 

Grumbles.  To  be  all  on  the 
grumbles,  to  be  discontented,  cross,  on 
the  snarley-yow  (q.v.). 

Grumbletonian.  A  pattern  of 
discontent,  one  ever  on  the  grumble. 
Grumbleton  (during  the  reigns  of 
the  later  Stuarts),  an  imaginary  centre 
of  discontent ;  hence,  Grumbletonian, 
a  nickname  of  the  County  party,  dis- 
tinguished from  the  Court,  as  being  in 
opposition.]  (1690). 

Grumpy  (or  Grumpish).  Surly, 
cross,  angry. 

Grundy.  A  short  fat  man,  forty- 
guts  (q.v.) :  see  Mrs.  Grundy. 

Grunter.  1.  A  pig,  grunting- 
cheat  (q.v.) :  also  pork  (1656).  2. 
A  sixpence  :  formerly  (Grose)  Is.  :  see 
Rhino.  3.  A  policeman,  trap  (q.v.): 
pig  (q.v.).  4.  A  constant  grumbler, 
grumble-guts  (q.v.). 

Grunter 's  -  gig.  A  smoked  pig's 
chap  (Grose). 

Grunting-cheat.     A  pig  (1567). 

Grunting-peck.     Pork  or  bacon. 

Gruts.     Tea. 

G.  T.  T.  Gone  to  Texas :  abs- 
conded ;  moonshining  gentry  used 
to  mark  G.  T.  T.  on  the  doors  of  their 
abandoned  dwellings  as  a  consolation 
for  inquiring  creditors  :  Fr.,  otter  en 
Belgique. 

Guage.     See  Gage. 

Gubbins.     Fish  offal  (1611). 

Gudgeon.  1.  A  bait,  an  allure- 
ment :  hence,  to  gudgeon  (or  to  swallow) 


205 


Guerrilla. 


Gummy. 


a  gudgeon,  to  be  extremely  credulous 
or  gullible  (1598).  2.  An  easy  dupe, 
buffle  (q-v.)  (1785).!  *» 

Guerrilla.,  This  (name  is  applied 
by  gamblers^  to  fellows  \  who  skin 
suckers  when  7  and  where  they  can, 
who  do  not  like  the  professional 
gamblers,  but  try  to  beat  them, 
sometimes  inform  on  them,  and  tell 
the  suckers  that  they  have  been 
cheated  (Matsell). 

Guff.  Humbug,  bluff,  jabber :  see 
Gammon. 

G  u  ff  y.  A  soldier :  see  Mud- 
crusher. 

G  u  i  d  e  r  s.  1.  Reins,  ribbons 
(q.v.).  2.  Sinews,  leaders  (q.v.). 

Guinea.  A  guinea  to  a  goose- 
berry, long  odds. 

Guinea-dropper.  A  sharper : 
spec,  one  who  let  drop  counterfeit 
guineas  in  collusion  with  a  Gold- 
finder  (q.v.)  (1712). 

Guinea-hen.    A  courtezan    (1602). 

Guinea  -  pig.  1.  A  general  re- 
proach (1748).  2.  Any  one  whose 
nominal  fee  for  professional  services 
is  a  guinea :  as  vets;  special  jurymen, 
etc.  Now  mainly  restricted  to  clergy- 
men acting  as  deputies,  and  (in 
contempt)  to  directors  of  public 
companies :  hence  guinea  -  trade, 
professional  services  (1821).  3.  A 
midshipman. 

Guise's  Geese.  The  Sixth  Foot,  or 
Saucy  Sixth,  now  the  Royal  Warwick- 
shire Regiment :  from  >ts  Colonel's 
name  (1735-63). 

Guiver.  1.  Flattery ;  2.  Artfulness 
(q.v.).  As  adj.,  smart,  fashionable, 
on  it  (q.v.).  Quiver  lad,  a  low- 
class  dandy ;  also  an  artful  member 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  to  humbug,  fool 
about  (q.v.),  show  off. 

Gulf.  1.  The  throat,  the  maw: 
see  Gutter-alley  (1579).  2.  (Cam- 
bridge Univ.).  The  bottom  of  a  list 
of  passes,  with  the  names  of  those 
who  only  just  succeed  in 'getting  their 
degree.  3.  (Oxford  Univ.).  A  man 
who,  going  in  for  honours,  only  gete 
a  pass.  As  verb  (Cambridge  Univ.), 
to  place  in  the  gulf ;  to  be  gulfed,  to  be 
on  such  a  list :  men  so  placed  were 
not  eligible  for  the  Classical  Tripos : 
cf.  Pluck  and  Plough. 

Gulf-spin.  A  rascal,  worth- 
less fellow,  beat  (q.v.),  shyster 
(q.v.). 

Gull.       1.  A  ninny :    see    Buffle 


(1596).  2.  A  cheat,  fraud,  trick 
( 1 600).  3.  (Oxford  Univ. ).  A  swindler, 
trickster.  As  verb,  to  cheat,  dupe,  vic- 
timise, take  in  (q.v.)  in  any  fashion 
and  to  any  purpose  (1596).  Hence, 
gullible,  adj.,  easily  duped. 

G  u  1 1  a  g  e.  The  act  of  trickery, 
the  state  of  being  gulled  (1605). 

Gull-catcher  (Culler,  Gull- 
sharper,  etc.).  A  trickster,  cheat 
(1602). 

Gullery.  Dupery,  fraud,  cheat's 
device. 

Gullet.  The  throat:  see  Gutter- 
alley  (1383). 

Gull  -  finch.  A  simpleton,  fool : 
see  Buffle  (1630). 

Gull-groper.  A  gamester's  money- 
lender (1609). 

J  Gully.  1.  The  throat :  see  Gutter- 
alley.  2.  A  knife:  see  Chive  (1633). 
As  verb,  to  gull  (q.v.),  dupe, 
swindle. 

Gully-fluff.  Pocket-filth,  beggar's 
velvet  (q.v.) :  also  flue  (q.v.). 

Gully-gut.  A  glutton :  see 
Stodger(1598). 

Gully-hole  (or  Gully).  The  throat : 
see  Gutter-alley. 

Gully -raker.  (1)  A  cattle- whip; 
also  (2)  a  cattle-thief. 

Gulpin.  A  simpleton,  gape-seed 
(q.v.):  Fr.,  gobemouche,  eponge:  see 
Buffle. 

Gulpy.     Easily  duped. 

G  u  1  s  h.  To  hold  one's  gulsh,  to 
hold  one's  tongue,  keep  quiet. 

Gum.  1.  Chatter,  talk,  jaw  (q.v.), 
abuse  (1751).  2.  A  trick,  piece  of 
dupery,  sell  (q.v.):  also  gummation. 
3.  A  golosh,  india-rubber  overshoe : 
short  for  gum-shoes.  As  verb,  to 
cheat,  take  in  (q.v.),  roast  (q.v.), 
quiz  :  see  Gammon.  Old  Mother  Gum, 
an  old  woman :  in  derision.  By 
gum !  a  mild  oath.  Blest  your  (or 
his,  her,  its,  etc.)  gums,  a  piece  of 
banter :  a  facetious  way  of  saying 
Bless  your  soul ! 

Gummagy.  Snarling :  of  a  scolding 
habit. 

Gummed.  Said  of  a  ball  close  to 
the  cushion. 

Gummy.  1.  A  toothless  person ; 
i.e.  with  nothing  but  gums  to  show : 
generally,  Old  Gummy.  2.  Medicine  : 
also  gummy-stuff.  3.  A  dullard,  fool : 
see  Buffle.  As  adj.,  puffed,  swollen, 
clumsy  (Grose).  To  feel  gummy,  to 
perspire. 


Gump. 


Gutter-attey. 


Gump.     A  dolt :  see  Buffle  (1825). 

Gumption.  Cleverness,  under- 
standing, nous  (q.v.) :  also  rum 
gumption  (Orose). 

Gumptious.  Shrewd,  intelligent, 
vain. 

Gum  -  smasher  (or  Tickler).  A 
dentist:  snag-catcher  (q.v.). 

Gum-suck.  To  flatter,  humbug, 
dupe  :  see  Gammon. 

Gum-sucker.  1.  A  native  of  Tas- 
mania, who  owes  his  nickname  to  the 
abundance  of  gum-trees  in  the  Tas- 
manian  forests :  cf.  Corn-stalk.  2. 
A  fool :  see  Buffle. 

Gum-tickler.  1.  A  drink  :  spec, 
drop  of  short,  or  a  dram :  see  Go 
(1814).  2.  See  Gum-smasher. 

Gum-tree.  To  be  up  a  gum-tree,  to 
be  on  one's  last  legs,  at  the  end  of 
one's  rope  :  He  has  seen  his  last  gum- 
tree,  It  is  all  up  with  him. 

Gun.  1.  A  lie  (New  Cant  Diet., 
1725).  2.  A  thief  (q.v.);  spec,  a 
Magsman  (q.v.)  or  street-artist :  also 
gun-smith  and  gunner.  Gunning, 
thieving.  3.  A  revolver :  see  Meat-in- 
the-pot.  4.  A  toddy  glass.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  consider  with  attention.  (2)  To 
strive  hard,  make  a  violent  effort :  e.g. 
to  gun  a  stock,  to  use  every  means  to 
produce  a  break  ;  when  supplies  are 
heavy  and  holders  would  be  unable  to 
resist.  In  the  gun,  drunk  :  see  Screwed 
(1696).  Son  of  a  gun:  see  Son.  Sure 
as  a  gun,  quite  certain,  inevitable 
(1633). 

Gundiguts.  A  fat  man,  forty- 
guts  (q.v.)  (1696). 

Gunner's-daughter.  To  kiss 
(or  marry)  the  gunner's  daughter,  to  be 
flogged.  Gunner's  daughter,  the  gun 
to  which  boys  were  lashed  for  punish- 
ment (Grose). 

Gunpowder.    An  old  woman  (1696). 

Gunter.     See  Cocker. 

Gup.  Gossip,  scandal.  To  be  a 
gup,  to  be  easy  to  take  or  steal. 

G  u  r  t  s  e  y.  A  fat  man,  podge 
(q.v.) :  see  Forty-guts. 

Gush.  The  expression  of  affected 
or  extravagant  sentiment.  As  verb, 
to  overflow  with  extravagant  or 
affected  sentiment.  Hence  gusher, 
a  practitioner  of  gush  :  also  Gushing- 
tion ;  gushing,  extravagant,  affected 
or  irrational  in  expression,  demonstra- 
tively affectionate :  also  gushingly. 

Gut.  1.  The  vice  or  habit  of  glut- 
tony ;  the  belly  (as  opposed  to  the 


groin).  2.  In  pi.  the  stomach  and 
intestines  (1609).  3.  In  pi.  a  fat 
man,  forty-guts  (q.v.) :  also  guts-and- 
garbage.  More  guts  than  brains,  a 
fool  (1598).  4.  Spirit,  quality,  a 
touch  of  force,  energy,  or  fire  :  e.g. 
a  picture,  a  book,  an  actor.  With 
guts,  a  strong  thing ;  put  your  guts 
into  it  (aquatic),  row  the  very  best 
you  can.  He  (or  it)  has  no  guts  in 
him  (or  it),  he  (or  it)  is  a  common 
rotter  (q.v.).  Hence,  gutsy,  adj., 
having  guts,  and  gutsiness,  subs.,  the 
condition  of  being  gutsy  (1738).  As 
verb,  (1)  to  plunder,  or  take  out  all 
or  most  of  the  contents  (i.e.  intes- 
tines) of  a  place  or  thing,  drain, 
clean  out :  e.g.  to  gut  a  house  (thieves'), 
to  rifle  it ;  to  gut  an  oyster,  to  eat  it ; 
to  gut  a  book,  to  empty  it  of  interest- 
ing matter  ;  to  gut  a  quart  pot,  to  drain 
at  a  draught.  Whence,  gutted,  dead- 
broke  ( 1696).  (2)  To  eat  hard,  fast,  and 
badly,  wolf  (q.v.).  To  fret  one's  guts, 
to  worry ;  to  have  plenty  of  guts  but  no 
bowels,  to  be  unfeeling,  hard,  merci- 
less ;  my  great  guts  are  ready  to  eat  my 
little  ones,  I  am  very  hungry :  also, 
my  guts  begin  to  think  my  throat's  cut, 
my  guts  curse  my  teeth,  and  my  guts 
chime  twelve  (Grose);  not  fit  to  carry  guts 
to  a  bear,  to  be  worthless,  absolutely 
unmannerly,  unfit  for  human  food. 

Gut-foundered.  Exceedingly 
hungry  (1696). 

Gut-pudding.  A  sausage  (Nomen- 
clator). 

Gut-puller.  A  poulterer,  chicken- 
butcher  (q.v.). 

Gut  -  scraper.  A  fiddler :  also 
catgut-scraper  and  tormentor  of  cat- 
gut :  see  Rosin-the-bow  (1719). 

Gutter.  Porter  (Matsell) :  prob- 
ably a  corruption  of  gatter  (q.v.). 
As  verb  (Winchester  College),  to  fall 
in  the  water  flat  on  the  stomach  :  Fr., 
piquer  un  platventre.  To  lap  the 
gutter,  to  be  in  the  last  stage  of  in- 
toxication :  see  Screwed.  Carry  me 
out  and  leave  me  in  the  gutter:  see 
Carry  me  out. 

Gutter-alley  (or  lane).  1.  The 
throat.  All  goes  down  gutter-lane, 
He  spends  all  on  his  stomach.  Eng- 
lish synonyms:  Beer  Street,  common 
sewer,  drain,  funnel,  Gin  Lane,  gulf- 
gullet,  gully-hole,  gutter,  Holloway, 
Peck  Alley,  Red  Lane,  the  Red 
Sea,  Spew  Alley,  swallow,  thrapple, 
throttle,  whistle.  2.  A  urinal. 


207 


Hack. 


Gutter-blood.  (1)  A  ragged 
rascal  (1822).  Also  (2)  a  vulgarian; 
an  upstart  from  the  rabble. 

Gutter-chaunter.     A  street  singer. 

Gutter-hotel.  The  open  air:  see 
Hedge-square. 

Gutter-literature.  See  Blood-and- 
thunder,  and  Awful. 

Gutter  -  master.  A  term  of  re- 
proach (1607). 

Gutter  -  prowler.  A  street  thief 
(q.v.). 

Gutter-snipe.  1.  A  street  arab : 
also  gutter-slush.  2.  A  poster  for 
the  kerb.  3.  An  outside  broker  who 
does  business  chiefly  in  the  street ;  a 
kerbstone  broker  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  loup- 
cervier. 

Guttie.  1.  A  gutta-percha  ball. 
2.  A  glutton,  stodger  (q.v.).  3.  A 
forty-guts  (q.v.). 

Guttle.  To  eat  greedily,  Gormand- 
ize (q.v.).  Also  to  drink:  e.g.  to 
guttle  a  pint,  to  take  off,  or  do,  a 
pint ;  He's  been  guttling  swipes,  he's 
been  drinking  beer.  Hence  guttler, 
a  coarse  or  greedy  eater,  a  sturdy 
pot-companion,  gorger  (q.v.) :  cf. 
Thackeray's  Book  of  Snobs  for  Guttle- 
bury  Fair  :  see  Guzzle  (1672). 

Guttle  -  shop.  A  pastry  -  cook's, 
tuck-shop  (q.v.). 

Guv.  An  abbreviation  of/governor 
(q-v.). 

Guy.  1.  A  Fifth  of  November 
effigy,  whence,  2.  an  ill-dressed  per- 
son :  as  in  the  old  street  cry,  Hollo, 
boys,  there  goes  another  guy !  English 
synonyms:  caution,  Captain  Queer- 
nabs,  chivey,  comic  bird,  ragamuffin, 
sight.  3.  A  dark  lantern :  obviously 
a  reminiscence  of  the  Gunpowder 
Plot  4.  A  jaunt,  expedition.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  quiz,  chaff,  roast  (q.v.), 


Josh  (q.v.);  (2)  to  escape,  hedge 
(q.v.),  run  away  :  also  to  do  a  guy 
(which  also—to  give  a  false  name :  see, 
Burk.  (3)  To  spoil,  muddle,  disfigure, 
distort  (4)  To  damn,  bias,  slate  (q.v. ), 
give  the  bird  (q.v.). 

Guzzle  (or  Guttle).  1.  An  insati- 
able eater  or  drinker.  2.  A  debauch. 
3.  Drink.  As  verb,  to  drink  greedily, 
or  to  excess  (1607). 

Guzzle-guts.  A  glutton,  a 
hard  drinker  (Lex.  Bal.,  1811):  see 
Guzzle. 

Guzzler.  A  hard  drinker,  a  coarse 
voracious  feeder  :  see  Guzzle  (1760). 

Guzzling.  Eating  or  drinking 
to  excess,  also  eating  or  drinking  in  a 
coarse  unmannerly  fashion  (1696). 

Guzzum.     Chatter,  noise. 

G.  Y.  All  a  G.Y.,  crooked,  all  on 
one  side,  all  of  a  hugh. 

Gybe.  A  written  paper  (1567). 
As  verb,  to  whip,  castigate :  e.g. 
gybed  at  the  cart's  tail,  whipped  at 
the  cart's  tail  (1696). 

Gybing  (also  Gibery).  Jeering 
(1696). 

Gyger.     See  Jigger. 

Gyp  (Cambridge  University). 
1.  A  college  servant :  at  Oxford,  a 
scout  (q.v.) ;  at  Dublin,  a  skip  (q.v.) 
Etymology  doubtful  :  according  to 
Sat.  Rev.  an  abbreviation  of  Gipsy 
Joe  ;  according  to  Cambridge  under- 
graduates from  the  Greek  yi'>4» 
(Gups),  a  vulture  ;  from  the  creature's 
rapacity.]  (1794).  2.  A  thief  (q.v.). 

Gypsies  of  Science.  The  British 
Association  (1846). 

Gyrotwistive.  Full  of  evasions 
and  tricks,  a  portmanteau  word. 

Gyte.  1.  A  child  :  in  contempt  2. 
A  first  year's  pupil  in  the  Edinburgh 
High  School 


Haberdasher.  A  dealer  in 
small  wares ;  specifically  (a)  a  hatter, 
and  (6),  (humorously)  a  publican  (i.e.  a 
seller  of  tape,  q.v.) ;  now  restricted  to 
a  retail  draper  (1599).  Haberdasher 
of  pronouns,  a  schoolmaster  (1696). 

Habit  (Old  University).  College 
habit,  College  dress,  called  of  old, 
Livery :  the  dress  of  the  master, 
fellows,  and  scholars  (Qradus  ad  Canta- 
brigiam). 


Hab-nab  (or  Hob-nob).  1.  At 
random,  promiscuously,  helter-skelter, 
ding-dong  (1602).  2.  By  hook  or  by 
crook,  by  fair  means  or  foul  (1581). 

Hack  (or  Hackney).  (1)  A  per- 
son or  thing  let  out  for  promiscuous 
use :  e.g.  a  horse,  harlot,  literary 
drudge.  Whence  (2)  a  coach  that 
plies  for  hire ;  (3)  (stables')  a  horse 
for  everyday  use,  as  offered  to  one  for 
a  special  purpose  —  hunting,  racing, 


•JOS 


Hackle. 


Half-breed. 


polo.  (4)  (Cambridge  Univ.), '  Hacks  ; 
Hack  preachers ;  the  common  exhibi- 
tioners at  St.  Mary's,  employed  in  the 
service  of  defaulters  and  absentees.' 
Also  huckster.  As  verb,  to  kick 
shins.  Hacking,  the  practice  of  kick- 
ing shins  at  football. 

Hackle.  Pluck,  spirit,  bottom 
(q.v.).  To  show  hackle,  to  show  fight. 

Hackslaver.  To  stammer,  splutter, 
hesitate  in  speech. 

Hackum  (Captain  Hackum,  or 
Hackster).  A  bully,  bravo :  see 
Furioso  (1657). 

Had.     See  Have. 

Haddock.  1.  A  purse.  Had- 
dock of  beans,  &  purse  of  money 
(1598).  2.  In  pi.,  North  of  Scotland 
Ordinary  Stock. 

Hag  (old  :  now  recognised).  (.1) 
A  witch.  Whence  (2)  an  ugly  old 
woman ;  a  she-monster.  Also  (3)  a 
nightmare.  At  Charterhouse,  a 
female  of  any  description  ;  at  Win- 
chester, a  matron.  Hence,  Hag- 
ridden, troubled  with  nightmare  ;  hag 
born,  witch  born ;  hag-seed  (Shakes- 
peare, '  Tempest ' ),  spawned  of  a  witch ; 
hag-faced,  foul-featured  (1529).  Your 
hag-ship!  in  contempt  (of  women). 

Hag-finder.    A  witch  finder  (1637). 

Hagged.  Ugly,  gaunt,  hag  -  like 
(1696). 

Haggisland.    Scotland. 

Haggle.  To  bargain  keenly, 
stick  at  (or  out  for)  trumpery  points, 
debate  small  issues  (1696). 

Haggler.  Formerly  a  travel- 
ling merchant,  a  pedlar :  now  (in 
London  vegetable  markets)  a  middle- 
man (1662). 

Hail.  To  raise  hail  (Ned,  Cain, 
or  Hell),  to  make  a  disturbance ;  to 
kick  up  a  row.  To  be  hail  fellow  well 
met,  to  be  on  very  easy  terms :  also 
at  hail  fellow  (1574).  To  be  hailed 
for  the  last  time,  to  die  :  see  Aloft,  Hop 
the  twig. 

Hair.  To  go  against  the  hair,  to 
go  against  the  grain,  contrary  to 
nature  (1589).  Both  of  a  hair,  very 
much  alike,  two  of  a  trade,  two  in  a 
tale.  Not  worth  a  hair,  utterly  worth- 
less :  cf.  Cent,  Rap,  Dump,  etc.  To 
a  hair,  exactly,  to  a  nicety ;  to  fit  to 
a  hair,  to  fit  perfectly  ( 1697).  To  split 
hairs,  to  cavil  about  trifles,  quibble, 
be  over-nice  in  argument  ( 1 693).  Suit 
of  hair :  see  Head  of  hair.  To  raise 
(or  lift)  hair,  to  scalp  ;  hence,  idiom- 


atically, to  defeat,  kill ;  to  keep  one's 
hair,  to  escape  a  danger.  To  comb 
one's  hair,  to  castigate,  monkey  (q.v.). 
To  hold  (or  keep)  one's  hair  (or  wool) 
on,  to  keep  one's  temper,  avoid  excite- 
ment, take  things  calmly :  also,  to 
keep  one's  shirt  on,  or,  pull  down  one's 
jacket  (or  vest) :  Fr.,  etre  calme  et 
inodore.  A  hair  of  the  black  bear  (or 
b'ar),  a  spice  of  the  devil.  To  make 
one's  hair  stand  on  end,  to  astonish 
(1697).  A  hair  of  the  dog  that  bit  one,  a 
pick-me-up  after  a  debauch.  [Ap- 
parently a  memory  of  the  superstition, 
which  was  and  still  is  common,  that, 
being  bitten  by  a  dog,  one  cannot  do 
better  than  pluck  a  handful  of  hair 
from  him,  and  lay  it  on  the  wound.] 
(1531). 

Hair-butcher.     A  barber. 

Hair-pin.  An  individual,  male  or 
female  :  e.g.  That's  the  sort  of  hair- 
pin I  am,  that's  my  style. 

Hairy.  1.  Difficult.  2.  Splendid, 
famous,  conspicuous,  uncommon. 

Halbert.  To  get  the  halbert,  to 
rise  to  sergeant's  rank  :  (the  weapon 
was  carried  by  sergeants  of  foot). 
To  be  brought  to  the  halberts,  to  be 
flogged  ;  to  carry  the  halbert  in  one's 
face,  to  show  that  one  rose  from  the 
ranks  (of  officers  in  .commission) 
(1785). 

Half.  It's  half  past  kissing  time 
and  time  to  kiss  again,  the  retort  im- 
pudent (to  females)  when  asked 
the  time :  a  snatch  from  a  ballad. 
[In  Swift,  Polite  Conversation,  an  hour 
past  hanging  time.] 

Half  -  a  -  crack  (jiffy,  or  tick). 
Half  a  second. 

Half-and-half.  Equal  quantities 
of  ale  and  porter :  cf.  Four-half  and 
Drinks  (1824).  As  adj.,  half-drunk, 
half-on  (q.v.):  see  Screwed.  Half- 
and-half-coves  (men,  boys,  etc.),  cheap 
or  linsey-woolsey  dandies,  half -bucks 
(q.v.),  half -tigers  (q.v.). 

Half-an-eye.  To  see  with  half 
an  eye,  to  discern  readily,  be  quick 
at  conclusions. 

Half-baked  (or  Soft-baked).  Half- 
witted, cracked,  soft  (q.v.),  doughy 
(q.v.),  half -rocked  (q.v.):  Fr.,  n' avoir 
pas  la  t§te  bien  cuite  (1825). 

Half-breed.  A  nickname  ap- 
plied to  certain  New  York  Republicans 
who  wavered  in  their  allegiance 
during  an  election  to  the  Senate  in 
1881  (Norton). 


209 


Half-cocked. 


Half  -  cocked.  Half-drunk  :  see 
Screwed.  To  go  off  at  half-cock  (or 
half -cocked),  to  fail  through  hasty  and 
ill-considered  endeavours. 

Half-cracked.  Lacking  in  intel- 
ligence. 

Half-crown  Word.  A  difficult 
or  uncommon  vocable,  jaw-breaker 
(q.v.),  crack-jaw  :  see  Sleeveboard. 

Half  -  crowner.  A  publication 
costing  2s.  6d. 

H  a  1  f  -  c  u  t.  Half -drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Half -fly  Flat  ( 1 )  A  thief  s  jackal ; 
(2)  a  man  (or  woman)  hired  to  do 
rough  of  dirty  work. 

Half  -  grown  Shad.  A  dolt :  see 
Buffle. 

Half  Laugh  and  Purser's  Grin. 
A  sneer,  a  half  -  and  -  half  meaning 
(Clark  Russell). 

Halflings.  Betwixt  and  between: 
usually  of  a  boy  or  girl  just  past 
childhood  (1818). 

Half  -  man.  A  landsman  rated 
asA.B. 

Half  -  marrow.  1.  A  faithless 
spouse ;  also  a  parcel  husband  or  wife 
(1600).  2.  An  incompetent  seaman. 

Half-moon.     A  wig  (1611). 

Half  -  mourning.  A  black  eye. 
Putt-mourning,  two  black  eyea,  deep 
grief. 

Half-nab  (or  nap).  At  a  venture, 
unsight  unseen,  hit  or  miss  (Moore 
Carew). 

Half-on.     Half-drunk. 

Half-rocked.  Half-witted,  silly: 
a  West  Country  saying  is  that  all  idiots 
are  nursed  bottom  upwards. 

Half-saved.  Weak-minded,  shallow- 
brained. 

Half-screwed.  More  or  less  in 
liquor :  see  Screwed. 

Half-seas  Over.  Loosely  applied 
to  various  degrees  of  inebriety  :  for- 
merly, half  way  on  one's  course,  or 
towards  attainment :  see  Screwed. 
[In  its  specific  sense  Gifford  says,  A 
corruption  of  the  Dutch  op-zee  zober, 
over-sea  beer,  a  strong  heady  beverage 
introduced  into  Holland  from  Eng- 
land. Up-zee  Freese  is  Friezeland 
beer.  The  German  zauber  means 
strong  beer,  and  bewitchment.  Thus 
(1610)  in  Jonson,  Alchemist,  iv.  2. 
I  do  not  like  the  dulness  of  your  eye, 
It  hath  a  heavy  cast,  'tis  upsee  Dutch. 
Other  nautical  terms  •»  drunk  are 
Water-logged,  Sprung,  Slewed,  With 


one's  jib  well  bowsed,  Three  sheets 
in  the  wind,  Channels  under,  etc.] 

Half-slewed.  Parcel  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Half  -  snacks  (or  Half  -  snags). 
Half -shares  (1683). 

Half-'un.  Half  a  glass  of  spirit* 
and  water,  half-a-go  (q.v.). 

Half  -  widow.  A  woman  with  a 
lazy  and  thriftless  husband. 

Halifax.  Go  to  Halifax,  be  off! 
The  full  text  is  Go  to  Hell,  Hull, 
or  Halifax:  cf.  Bath,  Blazes,  Hull, 
Putney,  etc.  (1599). 

Hall.  1.  Specifically  The  Hall, 
Leadenhall  Market :  cf.  Garden  Lane, 
etc.  2.  (Oxford  Univ.).  Dinner: 
which  is  taken  in  College  halL  To 
hall,  to  dine.  Go  and  hire  a  hall,  a 
retort  upon  loquacious  bores.  Hall  by 
the  sea,  the  Examination  Hall  of  the 
conjoined  Board  of  the  Royal  Colleges 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons:  situate 
on  the  Embankment  at  the  foot  of  the 
Waterloo  Bridge.  Hall  of  delight,  a 
music  hall. 

Hallan-shaker  (or  Hallen-shaker). 
A  vagabond,  sturdy  beggar  (1503). 

Halliballo.     See'Hulhballo. 

Hallion  (or  Hallyon).  (1)  A  rogue, 
a  clod,  a  gentleman's  servant  out  of 
livery  ;  also  (2)  a  shrew. 

Halloo.  To  halloo  with  the  under 
dog,  to  take  the  losing  side. 

Halo.  To  work  the  halo  racket,  to 
grumble,  be  dissatisfied :  from  the 
story  of  the  saint  in  Heaven  who  got 
dissatisfied  with  his  nimbus. 

Haltersack.  A  gallows  -  bird  : 
a  general  term  of  reproach  and  con- 
tempt (1598). 

Halves  (Winchester  College) :  (pro. 
Haves).  Half  -  Wellington  boots, 
which  were  strictly  non  licet  (obs.). — 
Notions.  To  go  (or  cry)  halves,  to 
take  (or  claim)  a  half  share  or  chance  : 
in  America  at  the  halves  (1831), 

Ham.  1.  (in.  pi.)  Trousers  :  also 
Ham-cases:  see  Kicks  (1725).  2.  A 
loafer  :  also  Ham-fatter  :  also  (Ameri- 
can Slang  Diet.),  a  tenth-rate  actor 
or  variety  performer.  No  ham  and 
all  hominy,  of  indifferent  quality,  no 
great  shakes,  all  work  and  no  play, 
much  cry  and  little  wool. 

Hamlet.  A  high  constable,  a 
chief  of  police  (American). 

Ham-match.  A  stand  -  up 
luncheon. 

Hammer.      1.    A   hard-hitter : 


210 


Hammer-and-tongs. 


Handbasket-portion. 


especially  a  right-handed  slogger,  like 
Hammer  Lane  :  also  Hammerer  and 
Hammer- man.  2.  An  unblushing  Jlie. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  beat,  punish  (q.v.) ; 

(2)  to  bate,  to  drive  down  (prices,  etc.); 

(3)  to  declare  one  a  defaulter.     Down 
as  a  hammer,  (I)  wide-awake,  know- 
ing  (q.v.),    fly    (q.v.) ;     (2)    instant, 
peremptory,    merciless :    cf.    Like    a 
thousand  of  bricks :  also  To  be  down 
ora  ...  like  a  hammer.     At  (or  under) 
the  hammer,  for  sale  at  auction.    That's 
the  hammer,  an  expression  of  approval 
or  assent.     To  be  hammers  to  one,  to 
know  what  one  means.   To  hammer  out 
(or  into),  to  be  at  pains  to  deceive,  to 
reiterate,  to  force  to  hear  (1596). 

Hammer  -  and  -  tongs.  Violently, 
ding-dong  (1781). 

Hammer  -  headed.  1.  Oafish^ 
stupid  (1600).  2.  Hammer-shaped: 
i.e.  long  and  narrow  in  the  head. 

Hammering.  1.  A  beating,  ex- 
cessive punishment  (q.v.);  2.  over- 
charging time-work  (as  corrections). 

Hammering-trade.     Pugilism. 

Hammersmith.  To  go  to  Hammer- 
smith, to  get  a  sound  drubbing. 

Hampered  (old  :  now  recognised). 
Let  or  hindered,  perplexed,  entangled. 

Hampstead  Donkey.  A  louse  :  see 
Chates. 

Hampstead-heath.  5,The  teeth  :  see 
Grinders. 

Hampstead  -  heath  Sailor.  A 
landlubber  (q.v.) ;  freshwater  sailor 
(q.v.) :  Fr.,  marin  d'eau  douce  or 
amiral  Suisse  (Swiss  admiral :  Switzer- 
land having  no  seaboard). 

Hanced.  In  liquor:  see  Screwed. 
(1630). 

Hand.  1.  Properly  a  seaman :  now 
a  labourer,  workman,  agent  (1658). 
2.  A  light  touch,  sleight,  knack,  skill. 
Phrases  :  A  good  (cool,  neat,  old,  fine, 
etc.)  hand,  an  expert  (1748).  A  hand 
like  a  foot,  a  large  coarse  hand  ;  also 
vulgar  or  uneducated  handwriting 
(1738).  A  hand  like  a  fist, ,  a  hand  full 
of  trumps ;  also  (in  derision)  a  hand 
there's  no  playing  ;  to  take  a  hand  with 
the  outside  music,  to  join  in  a  free 
fight ;  to  get  a  hand  on,  to  suspect,  be 
distrustful ;  to  get  one's  hand  in,  to 
practise  with  a  view  to  proficiency  ;  to 
bear  a  hand,  to  make  haste  ;  to  stand 
one's  hand,  to  treat  (q.v.),  to  stand 
Sam  (q.v.) ;  to  hand  in  one's  chips  (or 
checks),  see  Cash  one's  checks  ;  to  have 
(or  get)  the  upper  hand,  to  have  at  an 


advantage,  get  to  windward  (q.v.) ; 
to  hand  up  (Winchester  College),  to 
give  information  against,  betray 
(Notions) ;  hands  up  1  an  injunction 
to  desist,  stow  it !  (q.v.) :  also  (police), 
a  command  to  surrender,  bail  up 
(q.v.).  Amongst  other  colloquial 
usages  of  hand  are  the  following : — 
At  hand,  readily,  hard  by,  At  any 
hand  (Shakespeare),  on  any  account, 
At  no  hand,  on  no  account,  For  one's 
own  hand,  for  one's  own  purpose  or 
interest,  From  hand  to  hand,  from  one 
to  another,  in  hand,  in  a  state  of 
preparation,  under  consideration,  or 
control ;  Off  one's  hands,  finished,  On 
hand,  in  possession,  In  one's  hands,  in 
one's  care,  Out  of  hand,  completed, 
without  hesitation,  To  one's  hand, 
ready,  Hand  over  head,  negligently, 
rashly,  Hand  to  mouth,  improvident, 
Hands  off  I  stand  off,  Heavy  on  hand, 
hard  to  manage,  Hot  at  hand,  difficult 
to  manage,  Light  in  hand,  easy  to 
manage,  To  ask  (or  give)  the  hand  of, 
to  ask,  (or  give)  in  marriage,  to  be 
hand  in  glove  with,  to  be  very  intimate 
with,  To  bear  a  hand,  to  help,  To 
bear  in  (or  on)  hand,  to  cheat  or  mock 
by  false  promises,  To  change  hands,  to 
change  owners,  to  come  to  hand,  to  be 
received,  To  get  hand,  to  gain  influence, 
To  give  a  hand,  to  applaud,  To  give  the 
hand  to,  to  be  reconciled  to,  To  have  a 
hand  in,  to  have  a  share  in,  To  have 
one's  hands  full,  to  be  fully  occupied, 
To  hold  hands  with,  to  vie  with,  to 
hold  one's  own,  To  lay  hands  on,  to 
assault,  to  seize,  To\lend  a  hand,to  help, 
To  make  a  hand,  to  gain  an  advantage, 
To  put  (or  stretch)  forth  the  hand 
against,  to  use  violence,  To  set  the  hand 
to,  to  undertake,  To  strike  hands,  to 
make  a  bargain,  To  take  by  the  hand,  to 
take  under  one's  guidance,  To  take 
in  hand,  to  attempt,  To  wash  one's 
hands  of,  to  disclaim  responsibility, 
A  heavy  hand,  severity,  A  light  hand, 
gentleness,  A  slack  hand,  idleness,  care- 
lessness, A  strict  hand,  severe  discip- 
line, Clean  hands,  freedom  from  guilt, 
To  stand  one  in  hand,  to  concern,  to 
be  of  importance  to,  Hand  to  fist, 
tete-a-tete,  hip  to  haunch,  Hand  over 
hand,  easily,  To  get  a  hand,  to  be 
applauded.] 

Hand  -  and  -  pocket  Shop.  An 
eating  house,  where  ready  money  is 
paid  for  what  is  called  for. 

Handbasket  -  portion.     A  woman 


211 


Handbinder. 


whose  husband  receives  frequent 
present*  from  her  father,  or  family, 
is  said  to  have  a  hand-basket  portion. 

Handbinder.  A  wrist  -  chain  :  see 
Darbies. 

Hander.  A  stroke  on  the  hand 
with  a  cane,  a  palmie  (q.v.). 

Handicap.  An  arrangement  in 
racing,  etc.,  by  which  every  com- 
petitor is,  or  is  supposed  to  be,  brought 
on  an  equality  as  far  as  regards  ms 
chance  of  winning  by  an  adjustment  of 
the  weights  to  be  carried,  the  distance 
to  be  run,  etc.  :  extra  weight  or  dis- 
tance being  imposed  in  proportion  to 
their  supposed  merits  on  those  held 
better  than  the  others.  [A  handicap 
is  framed  in  accordance  with  the 
known  performances  of  the  competi- 
tors, and,  in  horse  -  racing,  with 
regard  to  the  age  and  sex  of  J  the 
entries.  The  term  is  derived  from  the 
old  game  of  hand-in-cap,  or  handicap.] 
(1660).  As  verb,  (1)  to  adjust  or 
proportion  weights,  starts,  etc.,  in 
order  to  bring  a  number  of  competitors 
as  nearly  as  possible  to  an  equality ; 
(2)  to  make  even  or  level,  equalise 
between ;  (3)  to  embarrass,  burden, 
hinder,  or  impede  in  any  way. 

Handle.  1.  The  nose :  see  Conk. 
2.  A  title :  Fr.,  queue,  as  Monsieur 
Sansqueue,  Mr.  Nobody  (1865).  3. 
Occasion,  opportunity,  means  (1753). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  conceal  cards  in  the 
palm  of  the  hand  or  up  the  sleeves, 
palm  (q.v.) ;  (2)  to  use,  make  use  of, 
manage  ( 1606).  To  handle  the  ribbons, 
to  drive  ( 1857).  To  fly  off  the  handle : 
see  Fly. 

Hand-me-downs  (or  Hand- 
' em-downs).  Second  -  hand  clothes. 
Hand-me-down  shop  (or  Never-too-late- 
to-mend-shop),  a  repairing  tailor's : 
Fr.,  decrochez-moi-ra.  English  syno- 
nyms :  reach-me-downs,  translations, 
wall-flowers. 

Hand-out  Food  to  a  tramp  at  the 
door. 

Handpiece.  A  handkerchief, 
wipe  (q.v.). 

Handsaw.  A  street  vendor  of 
knives  and  razors,  chive- fencer  (q.v.). 

Handsome.  Sharp,  severe,  con- 
venient, fit,  neat,  graceful,  dextrous, 
skilful,  ready,  ample,  generous,  liberal, 
manageable,  in  good  or  proper  style, 
and  (in  America)  grand  or  beautiful 
(1553).  To  do  the  handsome  (or  the 
handsome  thing),  to  behave  extremely 


well,  be  civil ;  handsome  is  that  hand- 
some does,  actions,  not  words,  arc  the 
test  of  merit ;  also  ironically  of  ill- 
favoured  persons  (1811);  handsome- 
bodied  in  the  face,  jeering  commenda- 
tion of  an  ugly  follow  ;  handsome  as  a 
last  year's  corpse,  a  sarcastic  compli- 
ment ;  handsomely  I  gently  !  a  cry  to 
signify  smartly,  but  carefully.  Abo 
handsomely  over  the  bricks,  go  cauti- 
ously. 

Handsome  -  reward.       A     horse- 
whipping. 

Handsprings.    To  chuck  hand- 
springs, to  turn  somersaults. 

Handy.       Handy  as  a  pocket  in  a 
shirt,  very  convenient :  also  derisively. 

Handy-blows    (or   cuffs).      Fisti- 
cuffs ;   hence  close  quarters  (1603). 

Handy-man.     A  servant  or  work- 
man doing  odd  jobs  (1847). 

Hang.  1.  General  drift,  tendency 
or  bent :  as  in  to  get  the  hang  of,  to  get 
conversant  with,  to  acquire  the  trick, 
or  knack,  or  knowledge  of  (1847).  2. 
A  little  bit,  a  bit :  see  Care.  As  verb, 
(generally  Hang  it !),  an  exclamation  of 
vexation,  disgust,  or  disappointment ; 
also,  more  forcibly,  a  euphemistic 
oath  (1598).  To  hang  in,  to  get  to 
work,  do  one's  best,  wire  in  (q.v.); 
to  hang  in  the  bettropes,  to  defer 
marriage  after  being  asked  in  church  ; 
to  hang  on  by  one's  eyelashes,  to  persist 
at  any  cost,  and  in  the  teeth  of  any 
discouragement ;  to  hang  on  by  the 
splashboard,  to  catch  a  tram,  omnibus, 
etc.,  when  it  is  on  the  move ;  hence 
to  succeed  by  the  skin  of  one's  teeth : 
Fr.,  arcpincer  V omnibus  ;t  to  hang 
around  (or  about),  to  loiter,  loaf,  haunt ; 
to  hang  out,  to  live,  reside :  also  (subs.), 
a  residence,  lodging ;  and  (American 
University)  a  feast,  entertainment ; 
to  hang  out  a  shingle,  to  start  or  carry 
on  business  ;  to  hang  one's  latchpan,  to 
be  dejected,  to  pout :  Fr.,  faire  son 
aquilin  ;  to  hang  it  out,  to  skulk,  mike 
(q.v.) ;  to  hang  up,  (1)  to  give  credit, 
score  (or  chalk)  up :  said  of  a  reckon- 
ing :  also  to  put  on  the  slate,  or  (Ameri- 
can) on  the  ice  (q.v.)  (1725);  (2)  to 
bear  in  mind,  remember ;  (3)  to  pawn ; 
(4)  to  rob  with  violence  on  the  street, 
hold  up  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  la  faire  au  pere 
Francois ;  (5)  to  be  in  extremis, 
know  not  which  way  to  turn  for  relief  : 
e.g.  a  man  hanging,  one  to  whom 
any  change  must  be  for  the  better ; 
(6)  to  postpone,  leave  undecided  ;  to 


212 


Hang-bluff. 


Happy  Hunting-grounds. 


hang  on,  (1)  to  sponge,  and  (2)  to 
pursue  an  individual  or  a  design 
(1601) ;  to  hang  off,  to  fight  shy  off;  to 
hang  up  one's  fiddle,  to  retire,  desist ; 
to  hang  up  one's  fiddle  anywhere,  to 
adapt  oneself  to  circumstances;  to 
hang  up  one's  hat  (1)  to  die  :  see  Hop 
the  twig ;  (2)  to  make  oneself  per- 
manently at  home. 

Hang-bluff.     Snuff. 

Hang-by.  A  hanger-on,  parasite, 
companion  (1598). 

Hang-dog.  A  pitiful  rascal,  only 
fit  for  the  rope  for  the  hanging  of 
superfluous  curs  :  cf.  Gallows  -  bird 
(1732).  As  adj.,  vile,  suspicious  in 
aspect,  gallows-looking  (q.v.). 

Hang  -  gallows.  A  thievish,  or 
villainous  appearance  (Grose). 

Hanger.  A  side-arm  —  short 
sword  or  cutlass — hanging  from  the 
girdle.  Also  in  pi.,  (1)  ornamental 
loops  from  the  girdle  to  suspend  the 
sword  and  dagger  (1596);  (2)  gloves, 
specifically  gloves  in  the  hand  :  (3)  see 
Pothooks. 

Hang-in-chains.  A  vile,  desperate 
fellow  (Grose). 

Hanging.     Fit  for  the  halter. 

Hanging  -  bee.      A    gathering 
lynch-lawmongers,  bent  on  the  appli- 
cation of  the  rope. 

Hangman.  A  jocular  endear- 
ment (1600). 

Hangman  's-day.  Monday,  and 
(in  America)  Friday. 

Hangman's  -  wages.  Thirteen- 
pence-halfpenny.  [The  fee  for  an 
execution  was  a  Scots  mark :  the 
value  of  which  piece  was  settled,  by 
a  proclamation  of  James  I.,  at  13£d.] 
(1602). 

Hang  -  slang  about.  To  abuse, 
slang  (q.v.),  Billingsgate  (q.v.). 

Hank.  1.  A  tie,  hold,  advantage, 
difficulty.  In  a  hank,  in  trouble 
(1696).  2.  A  spell  of  rest,  easy  time. 
As  verb,  to  worry,  bait,  drive  from 
pillar  to  post. 

Hanker.  To  desire  eagerly,  fret 
after,  long  or  pine  for  :  generally  with 
after.  Also,  hankering,  an  impor- 
tunate and  irritating  longing  (1696). 

Hankin.  The  trick  of  putting  off 
bad  work  for  good  :  cf .  To  play  hanky- 
panky. 

Hanktelo.  A  silly  fellow,  a 
mere  Codshead  (B.  E.), 

Hanky-panky.  (1)  Legerdemain ; 
whence  (2)  trickery,  underhand  (q.v.) 


work,  cheating,  any  manner  of  double- 
dealing  or  intrigue.  Hanky  -  panky 
business,  conjuring;  hanky-panky  work 
(or  tricks),  double-dealing.  A  bit 
of  hanky  -  panky,  a  trick ;  a  piece 
of  knavery  (1841). 

Hanky-panky-bloke.     A  conjurer. 

Hanky-spanky.  Dashing,  nobby 
(q.v.) :  specifically  of  well-cut  clothes. 

Hannah.  That's  the  man  aa 
married  Hannah,  That's  the  thing : 
used  of  a  thing  well  begun  and  well 
ended ;  or  as  an  expressive  of  certainty. 
Varied  sometimes  by  That's  what's 
the  matter  with  Hannah. 

Hansel  (or  Handsel).  The  first 
money  taken  in  the  morning,  lucky 
money.  Hence  earnest  money,  first- 
fruits,  etc.  Hansel-Monday,  the  first 
Monday  in  the  new  year,  when  pre- 
sents were  received  by  children  and 
servants  (1587).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
give  handsel  to ;  also  (2)  to  use  for 
the  first  time. 

Hanseller.  A  street  vendor, 
cheap  Jack. 

Hans-en-Kelder.  A  child  in  the 
womb :  literally  Jack  -  in  -  the  -  cellar 
(q.v.)  (1647). 

Hansom.     A  chop. 

Hap  -  harlot.  A  coarse  stuff  to 
make  rugs  or  coverlets  with,  a  rug : 
cf.  Wrap-rascal,  an  overcoat  (1577). 

Ha'porth  o'  Coppers.  Habeas 
Corpus. 

Ha'porth  of  Liveliness.  1. 
Music.  2.  A  loitering  Lawrence, 
slowcoach  (q.v.). 

Happify.     To  please  (1612). 

Happy.  Slightly  drunk,  elevated 
(q.v.):  see  Screwed. 

Happy  -  despatch.  Death,  speci- 
fically a  sudden  or  violent  end. 

Happy-dosser.     See  Dosser. 

Happy  Eliza.  A  female  Salva- 
tionist :  as  in  the  Broadside  Ballad 
(1887-8),  They  call  me  Happy  Eliza, 
and  I'm  Converted  Jane  :  We've  been 
two  hot  'uns  in  our  time. 

Happy  -  family.  Assemblages  of 
animals  of  diverse  habits  and  pro- 
pensities living  amicably,  or  at  least 
quietly,  in  one  cage. 

Happy-go-lucky.  Carelese,thought- 
less,  improvident. 

Happy  Hunting  -  grounds.  1. 
The  future  state  ;  glory  (q.v.) :  from 
the  North-American  Indian's  con- 
ception of  heaven.  2.  A  favourable 
place  for  v/ork  or  play. 


213 


Happy-land. 


Hard-up. 


Happy-land.  The  after  life, 
glory  (q.v.). 

Happy-returns.     Vomiting. 

Hard.  1.  Hard  labour.  2.  See 
Hard-shell.  3.  Third-class :  aa  op- 
posed to  soft  (q.v.).  Thus :  Do  you 
go  hard  or  soft  T  Do  you  go  Third 
or  First  ?  As  adj.,  (1)  applied  to 
metal  of  all  kinds :  e.g.  hard  (cole  or 
stuff),  silver  or  gold  as  compared  to 
cheques  or  soft  (q.v.)  (1825).  (2) 
sour  or  souring,  as  in  hard-cider  ;  (3) 
hard  drinks  (American),  intoxicating 
liquors,  as  wine,  ale,  etc.,  while  lemon- 
ade, soda-water,  ginger-beer,  etc.,  are 
soft  (1696).  Phrases:  Hard  as  a 
bone  (nails,  etc.),  very  hard,  austere, 
unyielding ;  hard  at  it,  very  busy,  in 
the  thick  of  a  piece  of  work ;  to  die 
hard,  to  sell  one's  life  dearly ;  e.g. 
The  Die-hards  (q.v.),  the  59th  Regi- 
ment, so  called  from  their  gallantry 
at  Albuera ;  also  in  many  combina- 
tions, generally  with  an  unplea- 
sant intention,  thus — Hard-fisted  (or 
handed),  very  niggardly ;  hard  -  bit 
(or  hard-mouthful),  an  unpleasant  ex- 
perience ;  hard-driven  (or  hard-run), 
sore  bested ;  hard-faced  (favoured, 
or  featured),  grim,  shrewish,  or  bony  ; 
hard-headed  (or  hard-witted),  shrewd 
and  intelligent,  but  unimaginative 
and  unsympathetic  ;  hard-hearted,  in- 
capable of  pity  ;  hard-lipped,  obstinate, 
dour  ;  hard-master,  a  nigger  -  driver  ; 
hard  -  nut,  a  dangerous  antagonist ; 
hard-on,  pitiless  in  severity ;  hard- 
riding,  selfish  and  reckless  equestra- 
tion  ;  hard  -  service,  the  worst  kind 
of  employment ;  hard-wrought,  over- 
worked, etc.,  etc. 

Hard-a-weather.  Tough,  weather- 
proof. 

Hard -bake.  A  sweetmeat  made 
of  boiled  brown  sugar  or  treacle  with 
blanched  almonds. 

Hard-baked.  1.  Constipated.  2. 
Stern,  unflinching,  strong. 

Hard  -  bargain  (or  Case).  1.  A 
lazy  fellow,  bad-egg  (q.v.),  skulker. 
One  of  the  Queen's  hard  bargains,  a  bad 
soldier.  2.  A  defaulting  debtor.  3.  A 
brutal  mate  or  officer :  also  Hard-horse. 

Hard  -  bitten.  Resolute,  Game 
(q.v.),  desperate  (1815). 

Hard-cheese.  Hard  lines,  bad  luck  : 
specifically  at  billiards. 

Hard-cole.     See  Hard  and  Cole. 

Hard-doings.  ( 1 )  Rough  fare  ;  and 
(2)  hard  work  (1848). 


Hard-drinking.  Drinking  to  excess 
(1696). 

Hard-head.  A  man  of  good  parts, 
physical,  intellectual,  or  moral  (1824). 

Hard-hit  To  be  hard  hit,  (1)  to 
have  experienced  a  heavy  loss,  as  over 
a  race,  at  cards,  etc.  ;  (2)  to  be  deeply 
in  love,  completely  gone  on  (q.v.). 

Hard-lines.  Hardship,  difficulty, 
an  unfortunate  result  or  occurrence. 

Hard-mouthed.  Difficult  to  deal 
with,  wilful,  obstinate :  also  coarse  in 
speech  (1686). 

Hard  -  neck.  Brazen  impudence, 
monumental  cheek  (q.v.). 

Hard-pan.  The  lowest  point, 
bed-rock  (q.v.).  To  get  down  to  hard 
pan,  to  buckle  to,  get  to  business. 

Hard  -  puncher.  The  fur  cap  as 
worn  by  the  London  rough  :  formerly 
worn  by  men  in  training :  a  modi- 
fication of  the  Scotch  cap  with  a  peak. 
[From  the  nickname  of  a  noted 
pugilist] 

Hard-pushed.  In  difficulties,  hard- 
up  (q.v.). 

Hard  put  to.  In  a  difficulty — 
monetary  or  other :  e.g.  He'd  bo 
hard  put  to  it  to  find  a  sovereign  (or 
a  word,  or  an  excuse),  It  would  take 
him  all  his  time,  etc. 

Hard-row.     See  Row. 

Hard  -  run.  In  want  of  money, 
hard-up  (q.v.). 

Hard  -  shell.  1.  A  member  of  an 
extreme  section  of  Baptists  holding 
very  strict  and  rigid  views.  [The 
Soft-shells  are  of  more  liberal  mind.] 
Also  Hards  and  Softs  (1848).  2. 
(political  American).  A  division  of 
the  Democratic  Party  in  1846-48, 
when  the  Hunkers  (q.v.)  received  the 
name  of  Hards  and  their  opponents, 
the  Barnburners  (q.v.),  that  of  Softs 
(1847).  As  adj.,  extremely  ortho- 
dox, unyielding,  hide-bound. 

Hard-stuff.  1.  Money.  2.  Intoxi- 
cating liquors  :  see  Hard  (adj.,  sense 
2). 

Hard -tack.  1.  Ship's  biscuits: 
specifically  ordinary  sea-fare  as  dis- 
tinguished from  food  ashore,  or  soft- 
tommy  (q.v.)  (1841).  2.  Coarse  or 
insufficient  fare. 

Hard  -  up.  1.  A  collector  of  cigar- 
ends,  a  topper-hunter  (q.v.).  The 
refuse,  untwisted  and  chopped  up, 
is  sold  to  the  very  poor :  sometimes 
Hard-cut:  FT.,  mfgottier.  2.  A  poor 
man,  a  stony-broke  (q.v.)  (1857). 


214 


Hard-upness. 


Harum-scarum. 


As  adv.  phr.,  1.  very  badly  in  want  of 
money,  in  urgent  need  of  anything: 
also  Hard  -  run  and  Hard  -  pushed 
(1809).  English  synonyms:  many 
of  the  synonyms  for  floored  apply 
equally  to  hard-up ;  others  are,  —  at 
low  -  water  -  mark,  cracked  up,  dead- 
broke,  down  on  one's  luck,  fast,  in 
Queer  Street,  in  the  last  of  pea  time, 
in  the  last  run  of  shad,  low  down, 
low  in  the  lay,  oofless,  out  of  favour 
with  the  oof  -  bird,  pebble  -  beached, 
seedy,  short,  sold-up,  stony-broke, 
strapped,  stuck,  stumped,  suffering 
from  an  attack  of  the  week's  (or 
month's)  end,  tight,  on  one's  uppers, 
under  a  cloud,  on  one's  beam  ends. 
2.  Intoxicated :  see  Screwed.  3. 
(Winchester  College).  Out  of  counten- 
ance, exhausted  (in  swimming). 

Hard  -  upness  (or  Hard  -  uppish- 
ness).  Poverty,  a  condition  of  im- 
poverishment. 

Hardware  (or  Hard).  Counter- 
feit com  (Matsdl). 

Hardware  -  bloke.  A  native  of 
Birmingham,  a  Brum  (q.v.). 

Hardy-annual.  A  bill  that  is 
brought  before  Parliament  every  year, 
but  never  passed  into  law;  hence 
(journalistic),  any  stock  subject. 

Hare.  To  dodge,  double,  be- 
wilder (1719).  To  hare  it,  to  retrace 
one's  steps,  double  back :  from  the 
way  of  a  hare  with  the  hounds ;  to 
make  a  hare  of,  to  make  ridiculous, 
expose  the  ignorance  of  any  person 
(1830) ;  to  swallow  a  hare,  to  get  very 
drunk :  see  Screwed  (1696) ;  to  hold 
with  the  hare  and  hunt  with  the  hounds, 
to  play  a  double  game,  keep  on  good 
terms  with  two  conflicting  parties 
(1696).  To  kiss  the  hare's  foot,  to  be 
late,  be  a  day  after  the  fair,  kiss  the 
post. 

Hare-brained  (or  Hair-brained). 
Reckless,  nighty,  impudent,  skittish  : 
also,  substantively,  hare-brain,  a  hare- 
brained person  (1534). 

Hared.     Hurried. 

Hare-sleep.  Sham  slumber,  foxes' 
sleep  (q.v.)  (1696). 

Harking.  Whispering  on  one  side 
to  borrow  money  (B.  E.). 

Harlequin.  1.  A  sovereign :  see 
Rhino.  2.  (Winchester  College),  the 
wooden  nucleus  of  a  red  indiarubber 
ball.  3.  A  patchwork  quilt.  Har- 
lequin china,  sets  composed  of  several 
patterns  and  makes. 


Harlotry.  A  wanton  (1529).  As 
adj.,  disreputable. 

Harman-beck  (or  , Harman). 
An  officer  of  justice  :  see  Beak  (1567). 

Harmans.  The  stocks  :  the  suffix 
mans  is  common — lightmans,  dark- 
mans,  roughmans,  etc.  (1567). 

Harness.  In  harness,  in  business, 
at  work  :  as,  to  die  in  harness,  to  die  at 
one's  post ;  to  get  back  into  harness,  to 
resume  work  after  a  holiday. 

Harp.  Harp  is  also  the  Irish  ex- 
pression for  woman  or  tail,  used  in 
tossing  up  in  Ireland,  from  Hibernia 
being  represented  with  a  harp,  on  the 
reverse  of  the  copper  coins  of  that 
country,  for  which  reason  it  is  in  hoist- 
ing the  copper,  i.e.  tossing  up,  some- 
times likewise  called  music  (Grose). 
To  harp  on,  to  dwell  persistently  and 
at  any  cost  upon  a  subject  (1596). 

Harper.  A  brass  coin  current  in 
Ireland,  temp.  Elizabeth,  value  one 
penny :  from  the  Irish  Harp  figured 
upon  it.  Have  among  you  my  blind 
harpers,  an  expression  used  in  throw- 
ing or  shooting  at  random  among  a 
crowd  (Grose). 

Harridan.  Orig.  a  foundered 
wanton  :  hence,  a  miserable,  scraggy, 
worn-out  woman  (Grose). 

Harrington.  A  brass  farthing. 
[Lord  Harrington  obtained  a  patent 
of  manufacture  under  James  I.] 
(1616). 

Harry.  1.  A  countryman,  clown, 
Joskin.  2.  See  'Arry.  Old  Harry,  the 
devil  (1693).  Harry  of  the  West, 
Henry  Clay.  To  play  old  Harry,  to 
annoy,  ruin,  play  the  devil.  Tom, 
Dick,  and  Harry,  generic  for  any  and 
everybody,  the  mob. 

Harry-bluff.     Snuff. 

Harry-common.  A  general  wencher 
(1675). 

Harry  -  soph  (Cambridge  Univ.  : 
obsolete).  '  A  Harry  or  errant  Soph,  I 
understand  to  be  either  a  person,  four- 
and-twenty  years  of  age,  and  of  an 
infirm  state  of  health,  who  is  per- 
mitted to  dine  with  the  fellows,  and 
to  wear  a  plain,  black,  full-sleeved 
gown ;  or,  else,  he  is  one  who,  having 
kept  all  the  terms  by  statute  required 
previous  to  his  law-act,  is  hoc  ipso 
facto  entitled  to  wear  the  same  gar- 
ment, and,  thenceforth,  ranks  as 
bachelor,  by  courtesy'  (Gent.  Mag.). 

Harum-scarum.  1.  Giddy,  care- 
less, wild,  a  thoughtless  or  reckless 


215 


flair. 


fellow  (1740).  2.  Four  bones  driven 
in  a  line,  suicide  (q.v.). 

Has-been.  Anything  antiquated : 
spec,  in  commendation,  aa  the  good 
old  Has-beens :  of.  Never  was. 

Hash.  1.  A  mess ;  spec,  in  the 
phrase  To  make  a  hash  of :  sixes- 
ancl  sevens  (1747).  2.  Clandestine 
preparation  for  supper  after  hours 
(American  cadets).  3.  A  sloven, 
blockhead  (Burns).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
spoil,  jumble,  cook  up  and  serve 
again  ;  (2)  to  vomit :  also  to  flash 
the  hash  (q.v.).  To  go  back  on  one's 
hash,  to  turn,  succumb,  weaken  (q.v.) 

Hash  -  house.  A  cheap  eating- 
house,  grubbing -crib  (q.v.). 

Haslar-hag.  A  nurse  at  Haslar 
Hospital 

Hastings.  To  be  none  of  the 
Hastings  sort,  to  be  slow,  deliberate, 
slothful  (1696). 

Hasty.  Rash,  passionate,  quick  to 
move  (1696:  now  recognised).  Hasty 
O.,  hasty  generalisation  (Cambridge). 

Hasty  pudding.  1.  A  bastard.  2. 
A  muddy  road,  a  quag  (1811). 

Hat  (Cambridge  Univ.).  1.  A 
gentleman  commoner  (who  is  per- 
mitted to  wear  a  hat  instead  of  the 
regulation  mortar-board) :  also  Gold- 
Hatband  (1628).  2.  A  prostitute  of 
long  standing.  Phrases  :  To  eat  one's 
hat  (or  head),  generally  in  phrase,  FU 
eat  my  hat,  used  in  strong  emphasis ; 
to  get  a  hat :  see  Hat-trick  ;  tb  get  into 
the  hat,  to  get  into  trouble  ;  to  have  a 
brick  in  one's  hat,  to  be  top-heavy 
with  drink  :  see  Screwed  ;  to  hang  up 
one's  hat :  see  Hang ;  to  pass  (or  send) 
round  the  hat,  to  make  a  collection  ; 
to  talk  through  one's  hat,  to  rag,  huff, 
bluster  ;  all  round  my  hat,  a  derisive 
retort  from  a  broadside  ballad,  popu- 
lar c.  1830  :  All  round  my  hat  I  wear  a 
green  willow,  All  round  my  hat  for  a 
twelvemonth  and  a  day,  And  if  anyone 
should  ask  you  the  reason  why  I  wear 
it,  Tell  them  my  true  love  is  gone  far 
away ;  sung  to  a  tune  adapted  from  a 
number  in  Zampa  :  also,  all  over,  com- 
pletely, generally ;  shoot  that  hat  I  & 
derisive  retort :  also  Fll  have  your  hat  I 
well,  you  can  take  my  hat  /  Well,  that 
beats  me,  i.e.  that  is  past  belief ; 
what  a  shocking  bad  hat,  said  to  have 
originated  with  a  candidate  for 
parliamentary  honours,  who  made 
the  remark  to  his  poorer  constituents 
and  promised  them  new  head-gear. 


Hatch.  To  be  under  hatches,  to  be 
in  a  state  of  trouble,  poverty,  or  de- 
pression :  also  dead  (1606). 

Hatchet.  1.  An  ill-favoured 
woman.  2.  A  bribe  received  by 
Customs  officers  in  New  York  for  per- 
mitting imported  dutiable  goods  to 
remain  on  the  wharf  when  they  ought 
to  go  to  the  general  store-house.  To 
bury  (or  dig  up)  the  hatchet :  see  Bury. 
To  throw  (or  sling)  the  hatchet,  ( 1 )  to  tell 
lies,  yarn,  draw  the  long  bow  (q.v.) ; 
hence  hatchet  flinging  (or  throwing), 
lying  or  yarning  (1789).  To  sulk. 

Hatchet  -  faced.  Hard  -  favoured, 
ugly  (B.  E.). 

Hatch,  Match,  and  Dispatch 
Column.  The  births,  marriages, 
and  deaths  announcements :  also 
Cradle,  Altar,  and  Tomb  Column. 

Hatchway.  The  mouth :  see 
Potato-trap. 

Hate -out.  To  boycott,  send  to 
Coventry. 

Hatfield.  A  drink :  the  chief  in- 
gredients are  gin  and  ginger-beer. 

Hatful.  A  large  quantity,  heap 
(1859). 

Hatpeg.     The  head:  see  Crumpet 

Hatter.  A  gold-digger  working 
alone.  Who's  your  hatter  f  a  catch-cry 
long  out  of  vogue.  Mad  as  a  hatter, 
very  mad. 

Hat-trick.  Taking  three  wickets 
with  three  consecutive  balls :  which 
feat  is  held  to  entitle  the  bowler  to  a 
new  hat  at  the  cost  of  the  club. 

Hat- work.  Hack  work,  such  stuff 
as  may  be  turned  out  by  the  yard 
without  reference  to  quality. 

Haulable  (University).  Used  of 
a  girl  whose  society  authorities  deem 
undesirable  for  the  men :  e.g.  she's 
haulable,  a  man  caught  with  her  will  be 
proctorised. 

Haul-bowline.     A  seaman. 

Haul-devil.  A  clergyman,  devil- 
dodger,  sky-pilot.  Haul  devil,  pull 
baker :  see  DeviL 

:Haut-boy  (or  Ho -boy).  A  night 
scavenger,  jakesman,  gold  -  finder 
(q.v.). 

Have.  1.  A  swindle,  take-in 
(q.v.),  do  (q.v.):  see  Sell.  2.  In  pi., 
The  moneyed  classes,  as  opposed  to 
the  have-nots,  their  antipodes.  3. 
(in  pi.)  (Winchester  College).  Half- 
boots  :  pronounced  Haves.  Is  that 
a  catch  or  a  have  ?  a  formula  of  ac- 
knowledgment that  the  speaker  has 


216 


Haver  cake-lads. 


Head. 


been  had  :  if  the  person  addressed  be 
unwise  enough  to  answer  with  a  defini- 
tion, the  dovetail  is  a  vulgar  retort. 
As  verb,  to  cheat,  take-in,  do.  To 
have  (or  take)  it  out  of  one,  to  punish, 
retaliate,  extort  a  quid  pro  quo,  give 
tit  for  tat ;  to  have  it  out  with  one,  to 
speak  freely  in  reproof,  complete  an 
explanation,  settle  a  dispute  with 
either  words  or  blows ;  to  have  on,  to 
secure  a  person's  interest,  attention, 
sympathy  :  generally  with  a  view  to 
deceiving  him  (or  her) ;  to  have  towards 
(or  with  or  at),  (1)  to  pledge  in  drink- 
ing, toast  (1637) ;  (2)  to  agree  with  ; 
to  have  on  toast,  (1)  to  take  in;  (2) 
worst  in  argument ;  to  have  on  the 
raws,  to  teaze,  touch  to  the  quick ; 
to  let  one  have  it,  to  punish  severely ; 
to  have  up,  to  bring  before  the  authori- 
ties ;  to  summons  (q.v.). 

Havercake-lads.  The  Thirty-third 
Foot,  now  the  first  battalion  of  the 
Duke  of  Wellington's  (West  Riding 
Regiment).  [From  the  circumstance 
that  its  recruiting  sergeants  always 
preceded  their  party  with  an  oatcake 
on  their  swords.] 

Havey-cavey.  Uncertain,  doubtful, 
shilly-shally  (1811). 

Havil.     A  sheep,  wool-bird  (1811). 

H  a  v  o  c  k.  Devastation,  waste 
(B.  E.). 

Hawcubite.  A  roysterer,  street 
bully.  [After  the  Restoration  there 
was  a  succession  of  these  disturbers 
of  the  peace  :  first  came  the  Muns,  then 
followed  the  Tityre  Tus,  the  Hectors, 
the  Scourers,  the  Nickers,  the  Haw- 
cubites,  and  after  them  the  Mohawks 
(q.v.).] 

Hawk.  1.  A  card-sharper,  rook 
(q.v.)  (1696).  2.  A  bailiff,  constable  : 
see  Beak.  As  verb,  To  spit  up  the 
thick  phlegm,  called  oysters,  whence  it 
is  wit  upon  record  to  ask  the  person 
so  doing  whether  he  has  a  license,  a 
punning  allusion  to  the  act  of  hawkers 
and  pedlars  (Grose).  Ware  hawk  !  A 
warning:  look  sharp!  (1529). 

Hawk-a-mouthed.    Foul-mouthed. 

Hawker.  A  pedlar :  now  re- 
cognised (1696). 

Hawk-eye  state.  Iowa  :  after  the 
famous  Indian  chief. 

Hawse.  To  fall  athwart  one's 
hawse,  to  obstruct,  fall  out  with, 
counter  and  check. 

Hawse-holes.  To  come  (or  creep) 
in  through  the  hawse-holes,  to  enter  the 


service  at  the  lowest  grade,  rise  from 
the  forecastle  (1830). 

Hay.  To  make  hay,  to  throw  into 
confusion,  turn  topsy-turvy,  knock  to 
pieces  in  argument  or  single  combat : 
also  to  kick  up  a  row.  To  dance  the 
hay,  to  make  good  use  of  one's  time. 

Hay  -  bag.  A  woman  :  Fr.,  pail- 
laisse. 

Hay-band.  A  common  cigar,  a 
weed. 

Haymarket-hector.  A  prostitute's 
bully. 

Haymarket  -  ware.  A  common 
prostitute. 

Hay-pitcher  (or  Hay  -  seed).  A 
countryman  :  cf.  Gape-seed  (1851). 

Hays  !  An  injunction  to  be  gone, 
Git  (q.v.). 

Haze.  Bewilderment,  confusion, 
fog  (q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  to  play 
tricks  or  practical  jokes,  frolic  :  hence 
Hazing :  also  to  mystify,  fog  (q.v.), 
(2)  To  harass  with  overwork  or  paltry 
orders :  also  to  find  fault  (1840). 

Hazel-geld.  To  beat  any  one  with 
a  hazel-stick  or  plant  (B.  E.). 

Hazy.  Stupid  with  drink,  mixed 
(q.v.) :  see  Screwed  (1824). 

He  (Charterhouse).  A  cake.  A 
young  he,  a  small  cake  :  see  She. 

Head.  1.  A  man-of-war's  privy. 
2.  The  obverse  of  a  coin  or  medal. 
Heads  or  tails  ?  Guess  whether  the  coin 
spun  will  come  down  with  head  upper- 
most or  not  (the  side  not  bearing  the 
sovereign's  head  has  various  devices  : 
Britannia,  George  and  the  Dragon,  a 
harp,  the  Royal  arms,  an  inscription, 
etc. — all  included  in  the  word  tail,  i.e. 
the  reverse  of  head.  The  Romans  said 
Heads  or  ships  ?)  (1680).  3.  An 
arrangement  of  the  hair,  a  coiffure 
(1773).  Phrases:  To  have  at  one's 
head,  to  cuckold  (1640)  ;  to  take  one 
in  the  head,  to  come  into  one's  mind 
(1609);  to  do  on  head,  to  act  rashly 
(1559);  to  do  on  one's  head,  to  do 
easily  and  with  joy  ;  to  fly  at  the  head, 
to  attack,  go  for  (q.v.)  (1614);  to 
eat  one's  head :  see  Hat ;  to  eat  one's 
(or  if  a)  head  off,  to  cost  more  than  the 
worth  in  keep  (1703) ;  to  run  on  head, 
to  incite  (1556) ;  to  give  one's  head  (or 
one's  beard)  for  washing,  to  yield 
tamely  and  without  resistance  :  Fr., 
laver  la  tele,  to  reprimand,  admonish 
with  point,  energy,  and  force  (1615); 
to  put  a  head  (or  new  head)  on  one,  (1) 
to  change  a  man's  aspect  by  punching 


217 


Head. 


Heap. 


his  head :  hence,  to  get  the  better 
of  Bone's  opponent,  annihilate  :  also 
to  put  a  new  face  on ;  (2)  to  froth 
malt  liquors  :  e.g.  Put  a  head  on  it, 
Miss,  addressed  to  the  barmaid,  is  a 
request  to  work  the  engine  briskly, 
and  make  the  liquor  take  on  a  cauli- 
flower (q.v.) ;  heads  I  win,  tails  you 
lose,  a  gage  of  certainty — In  no  case 
can  I  fail :  I  hold  all  the  trumps ;  to 
get  the  head  into  chancery,  to  get  the 
other  fighter's  head  under  one  arm 
and  hold  it  there  :  hence  Chancery,  a 
position  of  helplessness  (1819);  (2) 
hence  to  get,  or  be  got,  into  a  posture 
of  absolute  helplessness ;  to  knock  on 
the  head,  to  Mil,  destroy,  put  an  end  to ; 
to  get  (or  put)  the  head  in  a  bag :  see 
Bag  ;  to  get  (or  have)  a  swelling  in  the 
(or  a  big-)  head,  to  be  or  become  con- 
ceited, put  on  airs  ;  to  hit  the  right  nail 
on  the  head,  to  speak  or  act  with  pre- 
cision and  directness,  do  the  right 
thing  :  the  colloquialism  is  common  to 
most  languages :  the  French  say, 
Vous  avez  frappe  au  but  (You  have  hit 
the  mark) ;  the  Italians,  Havete  dato 
in  brocca  (You  have  hit  the  pitcher : 
alluding  to  a  game  where  a  pitcher 
stood  in  the  place  of  Aunt  Sally,  q.v.) : 
the  Latins,  Rem  acu  tetigisti,  (You 
have  touched  the  thing  with  a 
needle :  referring  to  the  custom  of 
probing  sores)  (1719);  to  argue  (or 
talk)  one's  head  off,  to  be  extremely 
disputative  or  loquacious,  to  be  all 
jaw  (q.v.) ;  to  bundle  out  head  (or  neck) 
and  heels,  to  eject  with  violence ;  to 
have  no  head,  (1)  to  lack  ballast,  be 
crack-brained:  hence,  to  have  a  head  on, 
to  be  cute,  or  alert,  have  sand  (q.v.) ; 
(2)  to  be  flat  (of  malt-liquors) ;  to 
have  a  head,  to  experience  the  after- 
effects of  heavy  drinking  (cf.  Mouth) ; 
also  to  have  a  head-ache  :  see  Screwed  ; 
to  give  one  his  head,  to  give  one  full  and 
free  play,  let  go ;  to  nave  maggots  in 
the  head,  to  be  crotchety,  whimsical, 
freakish,  have  a  bee  in  one's  bonnet ; 
to  hurt  in  the  head,  to  cuckold,  cornute  ; 
to  lie  heads  and  tails,  to  sleep  packed 
sardine  fashion,  i.e.  heads  to  head- 
rail  and  foot-rail  alternately ;  over 
head  and  ears  (in  work,  love,  debt,  etc.) 
completely  engrossed  in,«  infatuated 
with,  to  the  fullest  extent  (1589); 
without  head  or  tail,  incoherent,  neither 
one  thing  nor  the  other :  e.g.  I  can't 
make  head  or  tail  of  it,  I  cannot  make 
it  out  (1728);  to  have  a  head  like  a 


sieve,  to  be  unreliable,  forgetful ; 
heads  out  I  a  warning  cry  on  the  ap- 
proach of  a  master ;  mutton-head  (or 
headed) :  see  Mutton-head ;  fat  (or 
soft)  in  the  head,  stupid  ;  off  one's  head, 
stupid,  crazy ;  shut  your  head,  hold 
your  jaw. 

Head-beetler.  ( 1 )  A  bully ;  and  (2) 
a  foreman,  ganger  (q.v.). 

Head-bloke.    See  Head-screw. 

Head  -  bully  (or  cully).  Head 
bully  of  the  pass  or  passage  bank, '  The 
Top  Tilter  of  the  Gang,  throughout 
the  whole  Army,  who  Demands  and 
receives  Contribution  from  all  the 
Pass  Banks  in  the  Army '  (B.  E.  and 
Grose). 

Head  -  cook   and    bottle  -  washer. 

1.  A  general  servant :   in  contempt. 

2.  One  in  authority,  boss  (q.v.). 
Head -clerk.      Head  clerk  of  dox- 

ology  works,  a  parson. 

Header.  A  notability,  big- wig 
(q.v. ).  To  take  a  header,  ( 1 )  to  plunge, 
or  fall,  headforemost,  into  water : 
and  (theatrical),  to  take  an  apparently 
dangerous  leap  in  sensational  drama. 
Hence  (2),  to  go  straight  and  directly 
for  one's  object  (1856). 

Head-fruit.     Horns  (1694). 

Head-guard.  A  hat :  specifically  a 
billy-cock. 

Heading.  A  pillow,  any  rest  for 
the  head.  Heading  'em,  tossing  coins 
in  gambling :  in  allusion  to  the  head 
on  the  coin. 

Head-marked.  Horned.  To  know 
by  head-mark,  to  know  a  cuckold  by 
his  horns. 

Head-rails.  The  teeth:  see 
Grinders  (Grose). 

Head  -  robber.  1.  A  plagiarist. 
2.  A  butler. 

Head-screw  (or  bloke).  A  chief 
warder. 

Heady.  1.  Heady,  strong  liquors 
that  immediately  fly  up  into  the 
noddle,  and  so  quickly  make  drunk 
(B.  E.).  2.  Restive,  full  of  arrogance 
and  airs,  opinionated. 

Heady-whop.  A  person  with  a  very 
large  head. 

Healtheries.  The  Health  Exhibi- 
tion, held  at  South  Kensington : 
others  of  the  series  were  nicknamed 
The  Fisheries,  The  Colinderies,  The 
Forestries,  etc. 

Heap.  A  large  number,  lots,  a 
great  deal  (1371).  As  adv.,  a  great 
deal.  AU  of  a  heap,  astonished,  con- 


218 


Heaped. 


Hedge. 


fused,  taken  aback,  flabbergast  (q.v.); 
and  (pugilists')  doubled  up  (1593). 

Heaped.  Hard  put  to  it, 
floored  (q.v.). 

Hear.  To  hear  a  bird  sing,  to  receive 
private  communication :  in  modern 
parlance,  A  little  bird  told  me  so 
(1598). 

Hearing.  A  scolding,  lecture, 
wigging. 

Hearing-cheats.  The  ears  (1567). 
English  synonyms:  drums,  flappers, 
leathers,  lugs  (Scots'),  taps,  wattles. 
Heart.  Next  the  heart,  fasting 
(1592).  Other  colloquial  usages  are 
at  heart,  in  reality,  truly,  at  bottom  ; 
for  one's  heart,  for  one's  life  ;  in  one's 
heart  of  hearts,  in  the  innermost  re- 
cesses of  oneself ;  to  break  the  heart  of, 
(a)  to  cause  great  grief,  or  to  kill  by 
grief,  and  (&)  to  bring  nearly  to  com- 
pletion ;  to  find  in  one's  heart,  to  be 
willing ;  to  get  or  learn  by  heart,  to 
commit  to  memory ;  to  have  at  heart, 
to  feel  strongly  about ;  to  have  in  the 
heart,  to  design  or  to  intend ;  to  lay 
or  take  to  heart,  to  be  concerned  or 
anxious  about ;  to  set  the  heart  at  rest, 
to  tranquillize  ;  to  set  the  heart  on,  to  be 
desirous  of,  to  be  fond  of  ;  to  take  heart 
of  grace,  to  pluck  up  courage. 

Heartbreaker.  A  pendant  curl,  love 
lock  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  crevecceur  (1663). 
Heartburn.      A  bad  cigar. 
Heartsease.     1.  A  twenty  -  shilling 
piece   (B.   E.).     2.   Gin :   see   Drinks 
(B.  E.). 

Hearty.  Drink,  drunk  :  see  Drinks 
and  Screwed.  My  hearty,  a  familiar 
address. 

Hearty  -  choke.  To  have  a  hearty 
choke  and  caper  sauce  for  breakfast,  to 
be  hanged  :  cf.  Vegetable  breakfast, 
and  see  Ladder  (Grose). 

Heat.  A  bout,  turn,  trial :  by 
this  means  the  field  is  gradually  re- 
duced:  cf.  Handicap  (1681).  **•',  \ 
Heathen  -  philosopher.  '  A  sorry 
poor  tatter'd  Fellow,  whose  Breech 
may  be  seen  through  his  pocket- 
holes '  (B.  E.). 

Heave.  1.  An  attempt  to  deceive 
or  cajole ;  a  dead-heave,  a  flagrant 
attempt.  2.  In  pi.,  an  attack  of  in- 
digestion or  vomiting.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  vomit ;  (2)  to  rob  :  old  English  ;  has 
survived,  in  Shropshire,  as  a  pro- 
vincialism :  e.g.  the  heler  (hider)  is 
as  bad  as  the  heaver,  the  receiver  is 
as  bad  as  the  thief  (1567).  To  heave 


on  (or  ahead),  to  make  haste,  press 
forward. 

Heaven.     See  Wheelbarrow. 

Heavenly-collar  (or  lappel).  A 
collar  or  lappel  that  turns  the  wrong 
way. 

Heaver.  1.  The  bosom,  panter 
(q.v.)  (1696).  2.  A  person  in  love : 
i.e.  sighing,  or  making  play  with  the 
heaver.  3.  A  thief :  cf.  Heave. 

Heavy.  See  Heavy  wet.  As 
adj.,  large :  e.g.  a  heavy  amount,  a 
considerable  sum  of  money.  To 
come  (or  do)  the  heavy,  to  affect  a 
vastly  superior  position,  put  on  airs 
or  frills  (q.v.).  The  Heavies,  the 
regiments  of  Household  cavalry,  4th 
and  5th  Dragoon  Guards,  and  1st 
and  2nd  Dragoons  :  from  their  equip- 
ment and  weight. 

Heavy  -  Cavalry  (or  Dragoons). 
Bugs :  cf.  Light  infantry,  fleas :  also 
Heavy  horsemen,  the  Heavy  troop, 
and  the  Heavies. 

Heavy-grog.     Hard  work. 

Heavy-grubber.    1.  A  hearty  eater, 
glutton :  cf.  Stodger. 
.    Heavy-plodder.     A  stockbroker. 
:••  Heavy-    (or   Howling-)  swell.     A 
man  or  woman  in  the  height  of  fashion, 
spiff  (q.v.). 

Heavy-wet.  1.  Malt  liquor : 
specifically  porter  and  stout :  also 
Heavy:  see  Drinks  (1821).  2.  A 
heavy  drinking  bout. 

Hebe.  A  waiting  maid,  a  bar- 
maid, waitress  (1603). 

Hebrew.  Gibberish,  Greek  (q.v.). 
To  talk  Hebrew,  to  talk  nonsense, 
gibberish  (1705). 

Hector.  A  bully,  blusterer  (1659). 
As  verb,  to  play  the  bully,  bluster : 
also  to  play  the  Hector  (1677).  To 
wear  Hector's  cloak,  to  receive  the 
right  reward  for  treachery :  when 
Thomas  Percy,  Earl  of  Northumber- 
land, was  routed  in  1569,  he  hid  him- 
self in  the  house  of  Hector  Armstrong, 
of  Harlaw,  who  betrayed  him  for  hire, 
and  prospered  so  ill  thereafter  that  he 
died  a  beggar  by  the  roadside. 

Hectoring.       Bullying,  blustering. 

Hedge.  1.  To  secure  oneself 
against  (or  minimise)  loss  on  a  bet  by 
reversing  on  advantageous  terms,  To 
get  out  (q.v.) :  thus  if  a  man  backs  A 
to  win  him  £100  at  5  to  1,  he  will  if 
possible  hedge  by  laying  (say)  3  to  1 
to  the  amount  of  (say)  £60  against 
him ;  he  will  then  stand  thus — if  A 


219 


Hedge-bird. 


Heel-taps. 


wins  he  gains  on  the  first  bet  £100, 
and  loses  on  the  second  £60,  leaving 
a  net  gain  of  £40 ;  if  A  loses  he  gets 
on  the  first  bet  £20,  and  wins  on  the 
second  £20,  thus  clearing  himself  ;  also, 
as  subs.  ( 1616).  2.  To  elude  a  danger. 
To  die  by  the  hedge,  to  die  in  poverty  ; 
to  hang  in  the  hedge,  of  a  lawsuit  or 
anything  else  Depending,  Undeter- 
mined (B.  E.) ;  <u  common  as  the 
hedge  (or  highway),  very  common ; 
by  hedge  or  by  crook  :  see  Hook. 

Hedge  -  bird.  A  scoundrel,  vaga- 
bond, vagrant  (1614). 

Hedge-bottom  Attorney  (or 
Solicitor).  A  person  who,  being 
not  admitted,  or  being  uncertificated 
(or,  it  way  be,  admitted  and  certi- 
ficated both,  but  struck  off  the  rolls 
for  malpractices),  sets  up  in  the  name 
of  a  qualified  man,  and  thus  evades 
the  penalties  attaching  to  those  who 
act  as  solicitors  without  being  duly 
qualified  :  all  the  business  is  done  in 
another  name,  but  the  hedge-bottom 
is  the  real  principal,  the  partner  being 
only  a  dummy. 

Hedge  -  creeper.  A  hedge-thief, 
skulker  under  hedges,  pitiful  rascal 
(1594). 

Hedge  -  marriage  (or  wedding). 
An  irregular  marriage  performed  by  a 
hedge- priest  (q.v.),  a  marriage  over 
the  broom. 

Hedge  -  note.  Low  writing  :  as 
Dryden,  They  left  these  hedge-notes 
for  another  sort  of  poem. 

Hedge  -  popping.  Shooting  small 
birds  about  hedges.  Whence,  hedge- 
popper,  a  trumpery  shooter ;  and 
hedge-game,  small  birds,  as  sparrows 
and  tits. 

Hedge  -  priest  (or  parson).  A 
sham  cleric,  a  blackguard  or  vaga- 
bond parson,  a  couple  beggar.  As 
Johnson  notes,  the  use  of  Hedge  in  a 
detrimental  sense  is  common— hedge- 
begot,  hedge-born,  hedge-brat,  hedge- 
found,  hedge-docked,  hedge  -  tavern 
(a  low  ale-house),  hedge-square  (q.v.), 
hedge-reared,  hedge-mustard,  hedge- 
writer  (a  Grub  Street  author),  hedge- 
building,  etc.  Shakespeare  uses  the 
phrase  hedge-born  as  the  very  opposite 
of  gentle-blooded  ('  1  Henry  VL,'  iv.  L). 
Specifically,  hedge-priest  (in  Ireland) 
is  a  cleric  admitted  to  orders  directly 
from  a  hedge-school  (q.v.)  without 
having  studied  theology  :  before  May- 
nooth,  men  were  admitted  to  ordina- 


tion ere  they  left  for  the  continental 
colleges,  so  that  they  might  receive  the 
stipend  for  saying  mass  (1688). 

Hedge  -  school.  A  school  in  the 
country  parts  of  Ireland  formerly 
conducted  in  the  open  air,  pending 
the  erection  of  a  permanent  building 
to  which  the  name  was  transferred. 
Hence,  hedge-schoolmaster. 

Hedge-square.  To  doss  (or  snooze) 
in  Hedge-square  (or  street),  to  sleep  in 
the  open  air.  English  synonyms :  to 
skipper  it,  doss  with  the  daisies,  be 
under  the  blue  blanket,  put  up  at  the 
Gutter  Hotel,  do  a  star  pitch. 

Hedge- tavern  (or  ale-house). 
A  jilting,  sharping  tavern,  or  blind 
alehouse  (B.  E.). 

Heel.  To  bless  the  world  with  one's 
heels,  to  be  hanged  :  see  Ladder  ( 1566). 
To  cool  (or  kick)  the  heels,  to  wait 
a  long  while  at  an  appointed  place 
(1614).  To  lay  by  the  heels,  to  confine, 
fetter,  jail  (1601) ;  to  lift  one's  heels,  to 
lie  down ;  to  turn  (or  topple)  up  the 
heels  (or  toes),  to  die :  see  Hop  the 
twig  ( 1592) ;  to  take  to  (or  show)  a 
pair  of  heels,  to  take  flight,  run 
away :  see  Burk  (1593) ;  his  heels,  the 
knave  of  trumps  at  cribbage  or  all- 
fours  :  hence,  two  for  his  heels,  two 
points  scored  (at  cribbage)  for  turning 
up  this  card  ;  to  tread  upon  (be  at,  or 
upon)  the  heels,  to  follow  close  or  hard 
after,  pursue  (1596) ;  to  go  heels  over 
head,  to  turn  a  somersault,  be  hasty, 
fall  violently :  also  top  over  tail 
(1540) ;  to  have  (or  get)  the  heels  of,  to 
outrun,  get  an  advantage  (1748); 
down  (or  out)  at  heel,  slipshod,  shabby, 
in  decay  (1605). 

Heeled.  Armed :  from  the  steel 
spur  used  in  cock-fighting. 

Heeler.  1.  A  follower  or  hench- 
man of  a  politician  or  a  party.  2. 
A  bar,  or  other  loafer ;  also  any  one 
on  the  lookout  for  shady  work.  3. 
An  accomplice  in  the  pocket-book 
racket  (q.v.) :  the  heeler  draws 
attention,  by  touching  the  victim's 
heels,  to  a  pocket-book  containing 
counterfeit  money  which  has  been 
let  drop  by  a  companion,  with  a  view 
to  inducing  the  victim  to  part  with 
genuine  coin  for  a  division  of  the  find. 
4.  (Winchester  College).  A  plunge,  feet 
foremost,  into  water  :  FT.,  chandeUe.\ 

Heel-taps.  1.  Liquor  in  the  bottom 
of  a  glass.  Bumpers  round  and  no 
heel  taps,  fill  full,  and  drain  dry  !  Fr., 


220 


Heifer. 


Hen-house. 


musique  (1795).  2.  A  dance  peculiar 
to  London  dustmen. 

Heifer.  A  woman ;  old  heifer 
(in  Western  America),  a  term  of  en- 
dearment. 

Heifer-paddock.     A  ladies'  school. 

Heigh  -  ho.  Stolen  yarn  :  from 
the  expression  used  to  apprise  a  fence 
that  the  speaker  had  stolen  yarn  to 
sell. 

Helbat.     A  table. 

Hell.  1.  Generic  for  a  place  of 
confinement,  as  hi  some  games 
(Sydney),  or  a  cell  in  a  prison  :  speci- 
fically, a  place  under  the  Exchequer 
Chamber,  where  the  king's  debtors 
were  confined  ( 1593).  2.  A  workman's 
receptacle  for  stolen  or  refuse  pieces, 
as  cloth,  type,  etc.  ;  one's  eye  (q.v.) ; 
also  hell  -  hole  and  hell  -  box.  Hell- 
matter  (printers')  old  and  battered 
type  (1589).  3.  A  gambling  house: 
whence  silver-hell,  a  gambling  house 
where  only  silver  is  played  for.  Danc- 
ing-hell, an  unchartered  hall ;  and  so 
forth  (1823).  Heaven,  Hell,  and  Purga- 
tory, three  ale-houses  formerly  situ- 
ated near  Westminster  Hall  (1610); 
hell  broke  loose,  extreme  disorder, 
anarchy  (1623);  hell  of  a  lark,  goer, 
row,  and  so  forth),  very  much  of 

a ,  a  popular  intensitive ;  all  to 

hett  (or  gone  to  hell),  utterly  ruined ; 
to  hope  (or  wish)  to  hell,  to  desire 
intensely  ;  to  play  (or  kick  up)  hell  and 
tommy,  to  ruin  utterly :  also  to  play 
hett  and  break  things,  to  raise  hett,  to 
make  heirs  delight  (1837) ;  to  lead 
apes  in  hett,  to  die  an  old  maid  :  from 
a  popular  superstition  (1599) ;  to  give 
hett,  to  trounce,  abuse,  punish  severely: 
also  (American),  to  make  one  smell 
hell ;  hett  for  leather,  with  the  utmost 
energy  and  desperation ;  like  hett, 
desperately,  with  all  one's  might;  go 
to  hett  !  an  emphatic  dismissal ;  hett 
and  scissors  I  an  ejaculation  of  sur- 
prise and  ridicule. 

Hell-bender.  A  drunken  frolic, 
a  tremendous  row  :  also  hell-a-popping 
and  hett's  delight. 

Hell  -  broth.  Bad  liquor :  see 
Drinks. 

Hell-cat  (hag,  hound,  kite, 
etc.).  A  man  or  woman  of  hellish 
disposition,  a  lewdster  of  either  sex : 
cf.  Hallion  (1606). 

Hell-driver.     A  coachman  (1696). 
Hellite.       A   professional   gambler 
(Ducange). 


Hellophone.  The  telephone  :  from 
Halloo  ! 

Help.  A  hired  assistant.  Lady- 
help,  a  woman  acting  as  a  companion 
and  undertaking  the  lighter  domestic 
duties  with  or  without  wages  (1824). 
So  help  (or  s'elp  or  s'welp)  me  God 
(Bob,  never,  or  say-so),  an  emphatic 
asseveration. 

Helpa.    An  apple. 

Helpless.     Drunk  :   see  Screwed. 

Hemp  (or  Hemp-seed,  Stretch- 
hemp,  Hemp-string,  or  Hempy). 
1.  A  rogue,  candidate  fit  for  the  gal- 
lows :  frequently  used  jocularly :  see 
crack-halter  (q.v.) :  FT.,  graine  de 
bagne.  2.  A  halter  (1754);  as  verb, 
to  choke,  strangle.  To  wag  hemp  in 
the  wind,  to  be  hanged  (1532). 

Hempen-bridle.  A  ship's  rope  or 
rigging. 

Hempen  Collar  (candle,  circle, 
cravat,  croak,  garter,  necktie,  or 
habeas).  The  hangman's  noose,  a 
halter :  also  hemp,  and  the  hearty- 
choke  (1530). 

Hempen  Fever.  To  die  of  a 
hempen  fever,  to  be  hanged :  see 
Ladder  (Grose). 

Hempen-fortune.  Bad  luck  :  also 
the  gallows. 

Hempen-squincy.  Hanging :  see 
Ladder  (1646). 

Hempen-widow.  A  woman 
widowed  by  the  gallows  (1696). 

Hen.  1.  A  woman :  specifically,  a 
wife  or  mistress  (1811).  2.  Drink 
money :  see  Hen  drinking.  As  verb, 
to  funk,  turn  tail ;  to  hen  on,  to  fear 
to  attempt.  Cock  and  hen  club,  club 
open  to  both  sexes.  Hens  and 
chickens,  pewter  measures — quarts 
and  pints  :  cf.  Cat  and  kittens  (1851). 

Hen-drinking.  A  Yorkshire 
marriage-custom :  on  the  evening  of 
the  wedding  day  the  young  men  of 
the  village  call  upon  the  bridegroom 
for  a  hen — meaning  money  for  re- 
freshments ....  should  the  hen  be 
refused,  the  inmates  may  expect  some 
ugly  trick  to  the  house  ere  the  festi- 
vities terminate. 

Hen  Frigate.  A  ship  commanded 
by  the  captain's  wife  :  cf.  Hen-pecked 
(Grose). 

Hen-fruit.     Eggs. 

Hen-  (or  Chicken-)  hearted. 
Timorous,  cowardly  (1529). 

Hen-house.  A  house  under  petti- 
coat government  (Grose). 


221 


Hen-party. 


High-fly. 


Hen-party  (convention,  or  tea). 
An  assemblage  of  women  for  political 
or  social  purposes. 

H  e  n-p  e  c  k  e  d.  Petticoat  govern- 
ment, ruled  by  a  woman  (1696). 

Hen-snatcher.     A  chicken  thief. 

Hens '-rights.     Women's  righto. 

Hen  -  toed.  To  turn  the  toes  in 
walking,  like  a  fowL 

Here.  Here's  to  you  (at  you, 
unto  you,  now,  or  luck),  an  invitation 
to  drink,  here's  a  health  to  you  (1651). 
Here's  luck,  I  don't  believe  you.  / 
am  not  here,  I  don't  feel  inclined  to 
work,  I  wish  to  be  left  alone. 

Here-and-Thereian.  A  rolling  stone, 
a  person  with  no  permanent  address 
(Lex.  Bal.,  1811). 

Hereford.  White :  Herefords 
are  white-faced. 

Herefordshire- weed.     An  oak. 

Her  Majesty's  Carriage.  A 
prison  van,  the  King's  'bus :  see 
Black  Maria:  FT.,  omnibus  A  pegres. 

Her  Majesty's  Tobacco  pipe. 
The  furnace  where  forfeited  tobacco 
from  the  Customs  House  was  burnt : 
now  a  thing  of  the  past :  the  tobacco 
being  distributed  to  workhouses,  etc.  : 
see  Tobacco-pipe. 

Herod.  To  out-Herod  Herod, 
to  out-do,  specifically  (theatrical)  to 
excel  in  rant  (1596). 

Herring.  Neither  fish,  flesh, 
fowl,  nor  good  red  herring,  neither  one 
thing  not  the  other  (1682) ;  to  throw  a 
sprat  to  catch  a  herring  (or  whole),  to 
forego  an  advantage  in  the  hope  of 
greater  profit  (1826) ;  dead  as  a  herring 
(or  shotten  herring),  quite  dead : 
herrings  die  sooner  on  leaving  the 
water  than  most  fish  (1596);  like 
herrings  in  a  barrel,  very  crowded ; 
the  devil  a  barrel  the  better  herring,  all 
alike,  indistinguishable. 

Herring  -  gutted.  Lanky,  thin 
(Grose). 

Herring  -  pond.  The  sea :  speci- 
fically, the  North  Atlantip  Ocean.  To 
be  sent  across  the  herring-pond,  to  be 
transported  (1722). 

Hertfordshire  -  kindness.  An 
acknowledgment,  or  return,  in  kind, 
of  favours  received :  spec,  drinking 
to  him  who  has  already  toasted  one. 

Hewgag.  The  Hewgag,  an  undeter- 
minate,  unknown,  mythical  creature. 

Hiccius  Doccius.  A  juggler  ;  also 
a  shifty  fellow  or  trickster  (1676).  As 
adj.,  drunk. 


Hie  Jacet.  A  tombstone ;  also 
a  memorial  inscription  (1598). 

Hick.  A  man ;  specifically  a 
countryman,  a  booby :  also  (American 
thieves')  hick- jo p  and  hicksam  (1696). 

Hickety  -  split.  With  all  one's 
might,  at  top  speed,  hammer  and 
tongs  (q.v.),  full  chisel  (q.v.). 

Hickey.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Hickory-shirt.  A  checked  shirt, 
cotton  or  wool 

Hide.  The  human  skin  :  once 
literary,  now  colloquial  or  vulgar 
(1568).  As  verb,  to  flog,  tan. 

Hidebound.  Barren,  intractable, 
niggardly,  pedantic,  utterly  immov- 
able (1606). 

Hiding.     A  thrashing. 

Higgledy-piggledy.  In  confusion, 
topsy  -  turvy,  at  sixes  and  sevens 
(1598). 

High.  1.  Drunk :  see  Screwed. 
2.  Stinking,  gamey  (q.v.) ;  whence, 
by  implication,  diseased,  obscene  in 
intention  and  effect.  The  High  and 
Dry,  the  High  Church  or  Anglo- 
Catholic  party  in  the  Establishment, 
as  opposed  to  the  Low  and  Slow  (q.v.), 
or  Evangelical  section :  cf.  Broad 
and  Shallow  (1854).  High  and  dry, 
stranded,  abandoned,  irrecoverable ; 
high  and  mighty,  arrogant,  imperious, 
proud,  on  the  high  horse  or  the  high 
ropes  (q.v.),  full  of  side  (q.v.) ;  too  high 
for  one's  nut,  out  of  one's  reach,  beyond 
one's  capacity,  over  one's  bend  (q.v.) ; 
you  cant  get  high  enough,  a  derisive 
comment  on  any  kind  of  failure ; 
how  is  that  for  high  ?  what  do  you 
think  of  it  T — once  a  tag  universal, 
common  wear  now  (1860). 

High-bellied  (or  High  in  the  belly). 
Pregnant :  also  High-waisted. 

Highbinder.  1.  A  Chinese  black- 
mailer. 2.  (political  American).  A 
political  conspirator  (Norton). 

High-bloke.  1.  A  judge.  2.  A 
well-dressed  man,  splawger  (q.v.). 

Highfalute.  To  use  fine  words, 
yarn  (q.v.):  FT.,faireCttroite.  Whence 
highfaluting,  bombast,  rant ;  and  as 
adj.,  bombastic,  fustian,  thrasonical 
(1860). 

High-feather.  In  high  feather,  in 
luck,  on  good  terms  with  oneself  and 
the  world. 

High-fly.  To  be  on  the  high-fly, 
specifically,  to  practise  the  begging- 
letter  imposture,  but  (generally)  to 
tramp  the  country  as  a  beggar  (1839). 


222 


Highflyer. 


High-tide. 


Highflyer.  1.  Anything  or  any- 
body out  of  the  common — in  opinion, 
pretension,  attire,  and  so  forth.  2.  A 
dandy,  male  or  female,  of  the  first 
water.  3.  A  fast  coach  (1690).  4.  A 
beggar  with  a  certain  style,  begging- 
letter  writer,  broken  swell  (1851).  5. 
A  swing  fixed  in  rows  in  a  frame  much 
in  vogue  at  fairs. 

High-flying.  1.  Extravagance  in 
opinion,  pretension,  or  conduct  (1689). 
2.  Begging,  the  high-fly  (q.v.),  Stilling 
(q.v.). 

High-gag.      A  whisperer  (Matsell). 

The  high  gag,  telling  secrets  (Matsell). 

High-game.     A  mansion  (thieves'). 

High  -  gig.     In  high  gig,  in  good 

fettle,  lively. 

High-go.     A  drinking  bout,  frolic. 
High  -  heeled     Shoes.      To    have 
high-heeled  shoes  on,  to  set  up   as  a 
person  of  consequence,  do  the  grand 
(q.v.). 

High  Horse.  To  go  (or  get)  on 
(or  ride)  the  high  horse,  to  give  oneself 
airs,  stand  on  one's  dignity,  take 
offence :  Fr.,  monter  sur  ses  grands 
chevaux  :  the  simile  is  common  to  most 
languages  (1716). 

High  -  jinks.  1.  An  old  game 
variously  played :  most  frequently 
dice  were  thrown  by  the  company, 
and  those  upon  whom  the  lot  fell  were 
obliged  to  assume  and  maintain  for  a 
time  a  certain  fictitious  character,  or  to 
repeat  a  certain  number  of  fescennine 
verses  in  a  particular  order.  If  they 
departed  from  the  characters  assigned 
.  .  .  they  incurred  forfeits,  which  were 
compounded  for  by  swallowing  an 
additional  bumper  (Guy  Manner  ing, 
Note  to  ch.  xxxii.)  (1696).  2.  A 
gambler  at  dice,  who,  having  a  strong 
head,  drinks  to  intoxicate  his  adver- 
sary or  pigeon.  Under  this  head  are 
also  classed  those  fellows  who  keep  little 
goes,  take  in  insurances  ;  also,  attend- 
ants at  the  races,  and  at  the  E  O 
tables  ;  chaps  always  on  the  lookout 
to  rob  unwary  countrymen  at  cards, 
etc.  (Grose).  3.  A  frolic,  row.  To 
be  at  his  high  jinks,  to  be  stilted  and 
arrogant  in  manner,  ride  the  high 
horse  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  faire  sa  merde  (or 
sa  poire). 

High-kicker.  Specifically  a  dancer 
whose  speciality  is  the  high  kick 
or  the  porte  d'  armes ;  whence,  by  meta- 
phor, any  desperate  spreester  (q.v.), 
male  or  female. 


High  -  kilted.  Obscene  or  there- 
abouts, full  flavoured  (q.v.). 

Highland-bail.  The  right  of  the 
strongest,  force  majeure  (1816). 

High  -  lawyer.  A  highwayman  : 
see  Thief  (1592). 

High  -  liver.  A  garrotter,  thief 
housed  in  an  attic  :  hence  high-living, 
lodging  in  a  garret  (Lex.  Bal. ). 

High-men.  Dice  loaded  to  run 
high:  also,  high-runners  (1594). 

High  -  nosed.  Very  proud  in  look 
and  hi  fact,  supercilious  hi  bearing 
and  speech,  superior  (q.v.). 

High  (or  gay)  old  time  (Game, 
Liar,  etc.).  A  general  intensitive:  e.g. 
high  old  time,  a  very  merry  time 
indeed  ;  high  old  liar,  a  liar  of  might ; 
high  old  drunk,  an  uncommon  booze 
(q.v.). 

High-pad  (Toby,  or  High-Toby- 
splice).  1.  The  highway :  also 
high-splice  toby  (1567).  2.  A  high- 
wayman :  also  high  -  toby  man  (or 
-gloak).  (1696).  3.  Highway  rob- 
bery (1819). 

High-pooped.    Heavily  buttocked. 

High  -  rented.  1.  Hot.  2.  Very 
well  known  to  the  police ;  hot  (q.v.). 

High-roller.  A  goer  (q.v.),  fast 
liver,  heavy  gambler,  highflyer  (q.v.). 

High  -  ropes.  To  be  on  the  high- 
ropes,  to  be  angry,  excited :  also  to 
put  on  airs,  stand  on  one's  dignity, 
ride  the  high-horse  (q.v.)  (1811). 

High-seasoned  (or  Highly-spiced). 
Obscene  :  cf.  Spicy. 

High-  (or  clouted-)  shoon.  A 
countryman,  joskin  (q.v.)  (1696). 

High-sniffing.  Pretentious,  super- 
cilious, very  obviously  better  than 
one's  company,  high-nosed  (q.v.). 

High-stepper.  An  exemplar  (male 
or  female)  of  what  is  fashionable, 
swell  (q.v.) :  also  a  person  of  spirit. 
Whence,  high-stepping  (or  high-pac- 
ing), conspicuously  elegant  or  gallant, 
in  dress,  speech,  manner,  conduct,  any- 
thing. 

High  -  stomached.  Proud,  dis- 
dainful, pot-valiant. 

High-strikes.     Hysterics  (1838). 

High-tea.  Tea  with  meat,  etc.  : 
in  Lancashire,  bagging  (q.v.). 

High-ti.  A  showy  recitation 
(American :  Williams  Coll.) ;  at  Har- 
vard, a  squirt  (q.v.). 

H  i  g  h-t  i  d  e  (or  water) .  Rich  for 
the  moment,  the  state  of  being  flush 
(q.v.)  (1696).  Up  to  high-water  mark 


223 


High-toby. 


Hittite. 


in  good  condition :  a  general  expres- 
sion of  approval. 

High-toby.    See  High  pad. 

High-toned.  Aristocratic ;  also, 
morally  and  intellectually  endowed, 
beyond  the  common.  High  •  souled, 
cultured,  fashionable.  High  -  toned 
nigger,  a  negro  who  has  raised  himself 
in  social  position.  [Once  literary ; 
now  utterly  discredited  and  never 
used,  save  in  ignorance  or  derision. 
Stokes,  the  maniac  who  shot  Garfield, 
described  himself  as  a  high-toned 
lawyer.] 

Highty-tighty  (or  Hoity-toity).  A 
wanton  (1696).  As  adj.,  peremptory, 
waspish,  quarrelsome. 

High  Wood.  To  live  in  high  wood, 
to  hide,  dissemble  of  purpose,  lie  low, 
keep  quiet. 

Higulcion  -  flips.  An  imaginary 
ailment. 

Hike.  To  move  about:  also  to 
carry  off,  arrest  (1811). 

Hilding.  A  jade,  wanton,  dis- 
reputable slut  (1593). 

Hill.  Not  worth  a  hill  of  beam, 
absolutely  worthless. 

Hills  (Winchester  Coll.).  1.  St. 
Catharine's  Hill.  2.  (Cambridge  Univ.) 
The  Gogmagog  Hills :  a  common  morn- 
ing's ride  (Gradus  ad  Cantab.). 

Hilly.  Difficult :  e.g.  hilly  reading, 
hard  to  read  ;  hilly  going,  not  easy  to 
do ;  etc. 

Hilt.  Loose  in  the  hilt,  unsteady, 
rocky  (q.v.),  lax  in  the  bowels  (1B39). 

Hind-boot.    The  breech. 

Hind-coachwheel.  A  five  shilling 
piece :  Fr.,  roue  de  derriere,  thune,  or 
palrt,  a  five  franc  piece  :  see  Rhino. 

H  i  n  d  - 1  e  g.  To  kick  out  a  hind 
leg,  to  lout,  make  a  rustic  bow.  To 
talk  the  hind  leg  off  a  horse  (or  dog) : 
see  Talk ;  to  sit  upon  one's  hind  legs 
and  howl,  to  bemoan  one's  fate,  make 
a  hullabaloo. 

Hindoo.  See  Know  -  nothing. 
Hindoo  punishment,  more  often  called 
the  muscle  grind,  a  rather  painful 


Hip.  To  have  (get,  or  catch)  on 
the  hip,  to  have  (or  get)  an  advantage 
( 1591). 

H  i  p  e.  A  throw  over  the  hip. 
Hence,  as  verb,  to  get  across  the  hip 
before  the  throw. 

Hip-hop.  To  skip  or  move  on  one 
leg,  hop :  a  cant  word  framed  by  the 
reduplication  of  hop  (Johnson)  (1700). 

Hip  -  inside.  An  inner  pocket 
Hip-outside,  an  outer  ditto. 

Hipped  (or  Hippish).  Bored,  melan- 
cholical,  out  of  sorts  (1710). 

Hippen.  A  baby's  napkin  (i.e. 
hipping  cloth).  Also  (theatrical),  the 
green  curtain. 

Hiren.  1.  A  prostitute:  a  cor- 
ruption of  Irene,  the  heroine  in  Poole's 
play  (1584).  2.  A  sword:  also  a 
roaring  bully,  fighting  hector :  from 
Irene,  the  Goddess  of  Peace,  a  lucus 
a  non  lucendo. 

Hishee  -  Hashee.  See  Soap-and- 
bullion. 

His  Nibs  (or  Nabs).    See  Nibs. 

Hiss.  The  hiss  (Winchester  Col- 
lege), the  signal  of  a  master's  approach. 

Historical-  (Wrought-,  or  Illus- 
trated-) Shirt.  A  shirt  or  shift 
worked  or  woven  with  pictures  or 
texts  (1596). 

History  of  the  Four  Kings.  See 
Four  Kings. 

Hit  A  success :  e.g.  to  make  a  hit, 
to  score,  profit,  excel  (1602).  As 
adj.  (Old  Bailey),  convicted.  Hard- 
hit,  sore  beset,  hard-up  (q.v.) :  also 
deep  in  love  (grief,  or  anger).  As 
verb,  to  arrive  at,  light  on.  To 
hit  it,  to  attain  an  object,  light  upon 
a  device,  guess  a  secret  (1594) ;  to  hit 
off,  to  agree  together,  fit,  describe 
with  accuracy  and  precision  (1857); 
to  hit  the  flat,  to  go  out  on  the  prairie 
(cowboy) ;  to  hit  the  pipe,  to  smoke 
opium ;  to  hit  one  where  he  lives,  to 
touch  in  a  tender  part,  hurt  the 
feelings,  touch  on  the  raw  (q.v.) ;  hit 
(or  struck)  with,  taken,  enamoured, 
prepossessed  :  also  hit  up  with  ;  hit 


exercise  upon  the  bar,  in  which  the     in  the  teeth,  to  reproach,  taunt,  fling 
arms  are  turned  backward  to  embrace    in  one's  face  (1663). 

Hitch.        1.  To  marry.      Hitched, 


the  bar,  and  then  brought  forward 
upon  the  chest,  in  which  position  the 
performer  revolves. 

Hind  -  shifters.  The  feet :  see 
Creepers  (1823). 

Hinges.  Off  the  hinges,  in  con- 
fusion, out  of  sorts,  not  quite  the 
thing. 


2-24 


1.  To  marry. 

married.  2.  To  agree :  also  to  hitch 
horses.  To  hitch  one's  team  to  the 
fence,  to  settle  down. 

Hittite.  A  prize  fighter.  Eng- 
lish synonyms  :  basher,  bruiser,  duke- 
ster,  fistite,  knight  of  the  fist,  gem- 
man  of  the  fancy,  milling-cove,  pug, 


Hive. 


Hodmandod. 


icher,    scrapper,    slasher,    slogger, 
jgger,  sparring- bloke  (1823). 
Hive.     To  steal.     To  get  hived,  to 
caught  in  a  scrape :   also  to   be 
idden.     To  be  hived  perfectly  frigid, 
i  be  caught  in  flagrante  delicto. 
Hivite.        A  student  of   St.  Bees' 
amberland). 
Hoaky.       By  the  hoaky,  a  popular 
rm  of  adjuration. 

Hoax.  A  jest,  practical  joke, 
te-in  :  originally  (Grose)  University 
it.  As  verb,  to  play  a  practical 

,  take-in,  bite  (q.v.). 
Hob  (or  Hobbinol).  A  clown  (Grose). 
Hob    and    Nob     (or     Hob    Nob). 
To  invite  to  drink,  clink  glasses 
1756).     2.   To  give  or  take,   to  hit 
miss  at  random  (1577).     3.  To  be 
terms   of   close  intimacy,  consort 
uniliarly  together. 
Hobbes's-voyage.     A  leap  in  the 
rk(1697). 
Hobbinol.       Countryman,     joskin 
1663). 

Hobble.     In  a  hobble  (or  hobbled), 
trouble,  hampered,  puzzled  :    also 
ieves'),  committed  for  trial :   FT., 
ber   dans  la  melasse    (to  come   a 
ropper),   and    faitre  (booked,    q.v.). 
lobbied  upon  the  legs,  transported  or 
the  hulks  (1777). 
Hobbledehoy.       A       growing 
gawk  :  as  in  the  folk-rhyme,  Hobble- 
dehoy, neither   man  nor  boy.     [For 
derivation,  see  Notes  and  Queries,  1  S., 
v.  468,  vii.  572;    4   S.,  ii.    297,   viii. 
451,  ix.  47  ;  7  S.,  iv.  523,  and  v.  58.] 
(1557).     Hence    Hobbledehoyish    and 
Hobbledehoyhood. 

Hobbledelee.  A  pace  be- 
tween a  walk  and  a  run,  a  jog-trot 
(1811). 

Hobble r.  A  coast-man  —  half 
smuggler,  half  handyman ;  an  un- 
licensed pilot :  also  a  landsman  acting 
as  tow-Jack  (Smyth).  Also  (Isle  of 
Man),  a  boatman. 

Hobby.  1.  A  hackney,  a  horse  in 
common  use  (1606).  2.  A  translation. 
To  ride  hobbies,  to  use  cribs  (q.v.). 
Sir  Posthumous  Hobby,  one  nice  or 
whimsical  in  his  clothes. 

Hobby-horse.  1.  A  whim,  fancy, 
favourite  pursuit.  Hence  Hobby- 
horsical,  strongly  attached  to  a  par- 
ticular fad  (1759).  2.  A  rantipole 
girl,  wench,  wanton  (1594).  3.  A 
witless,  unmannerly  lout  (1609).  As 
verb,  to  romp. 


Hob  -  collingwood.  The  four  of 
hearts  :  considered  an  unlucky  card. 

Hob- jobber.  A  man  or  boy  on 
the  look-out  for  small  jobs — holding 
horses,  carrying  parcels,  and  the  like. 

Hob-nail.  A  countryman,  joskin 
(1647). 

Hobnailed.  Boorish,  clumsy,  coarse, 
ill-done  (1599). 

Hobson's-choice.  That  or  none  : 
i.e.  there  is  no  alternative  :  popularly 
derived  from  the  name  of  a  Cam- 
bridge livery  stable  keeper,  whose  rule 
was  that  each  customer  must  take 
the  horse  next  the  door,  or  have  no 
horse  at  all. 

Hock.  1.  The  last  card  in  the 
dealer's  box  at  faro.  Hence,  from 
soda  (q.v.)  to  hock,  from  beginning  to 
end.  2.  In  pi.,  the  feet.  Curby 
hocks,  clumsy  foot :  see  Creepers 
(Grose).  Old  hock,  stale  beer  ;  swipes 
(q.v.).  In  hock,  laid  by  the  heels, 
fleeced,  bested  (q.v.);  and  (thieves'), 
in  prison. 

Hock-dockies.  Shoes  :  see  Trotter- 
cases  (1789). 

Hockey.  Drunk,  especially  on 
stale  beer  :  see  Screwed. 

Hocus.  1.  A  cheat,  impostor : 
see  Hocus-pocus  (1654).  2.  Drugged 
liquor  (1823).  As  adj.,  drunk:  see 
Screwed.  As  verb,  (1)  to  cheat, 
impose  upon  ;  (2)  to  drug,  snuff  (q.v.) 
(1836). 

Hocus-pocus.  1.  A  juggler's 
phrase :  hence  a  juggler's  (or  im- 
postor's) stock  in  trade  :  also  Hocus- 
trade  (1639).  2.  A  trickster,  juggler, 
impostor  (1625).  3.  A  cheat,  imposi- 
tion, juggler's  trick  (1713).  As  adj., 
cheating,  fraudulent  (1715).  As 
verb,  to  cheat,  trick. 

Hod  (or  Brother  Hod).  A  brick- 
layer's labourer.  Hod  of  mortar,  a 
pot  of  porter. 

Hoddy-doddy  (or  Hoddie-doddie). 
A  short  thick-set  man  or  woman : 
see  Forty -guts.  Also  a  fool  (1534). 

Hoddy-peak  (or  peke).  A  fool, 
cuckold  (1529). 

Hodge.  A  farm  labourer,  rustic 
(1589). 

Hodge-podge  (or  Hotch-potch). 
A  mixture,  medley :  Sp.,  commis- 
trajo  :  see  Hotch-potch  ( 1553). 

Hodman.  A  scholar  from  West- 
minster School  admitted  to  Christ 
Church  College,  Oxford  (1728). 

Hodmandod.      1.   A  snail  in    hia 


225 


Hoe. 


Holborn  HiU. 


shell  (Bacon):  see  Doddy  (1663).  2. 
A  Hottentot  (1686). 

Hoe.  To  hoe  in,  to  work  with 
rigour,  swot  (q.v.).  To  hoe  one'* 
own  row,  to  do  one's  own  work.  Hard 
row  to  hoe :  see  Hard  row. 

Hoe-down.  A  negro  dance,  break- 
down (q.v.). 

Hog.  1.  A  shilling :  also  a  six- 
pence :  and  (in  America)  a  ten-cent 
piece:  see  Rhino  (1686).  2.  A  foul- 
mouthed  blackguard,  dirty  feeder : 
also,  a  common  glutton  (1598).  3. 
(Cambridge  Univ. :  obsolete),  a 
student  of  St.  John's  :  also  Johnian 
Hog :  see  Crackle,  Bridge  of  Grunts, 
and  Isthmus  of  Suez  (1690).  4.  A 
yearling  sheep  (1796).  5.  An  inhabit- 
ant of  Chicago :  that  city  being  a 
notable  pig-breeding  and  pork-packing 
centre.  6.  A  Hampshireman  (1770). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  cheat,  humbug,  gam- 
mon (q.v.) ;  (2)  to  cut  short:  e.g.  to 
hog  a  horse's  mane.  A  hog  in  armour, 
a  lout  in  fine  clothes  :  also  a  Jack-in- 
office  (q.v.) :  Hog-in-togs  (in  America), 
a  well-dressed  loafer  (Grose).  Hog  and 
hominy,  plain  fare,  common  doings 
(q.v.) :  pork  and  maize  are  the  two 
cheapest  food  stuffs  in  the  U.S.A. 
To  go  the  whole  hog  :  see  Whole  animal. 
To  bring  one's  hogs  (or  pigs)  to  a  fine 
market,  to  do  well,  make  a  good  deal 
(q.v.) :  also  in  sarcasm,  the  opposite 
(1696).  To  drive  one's  hogs  (or  pigs) 
to  market,  to  snore  (1738). 

Hog  -  age.  The  period  between 
boyhood  and  manhood :  cf.  Hobble- 
dehoy. 

Hogan  -  mogan.  The  States- 
General  of  the  United  Provinces  were 
officially  addressed  as  High  and 
Mighty  Lords,  or  in  Dutch,  Hoogmo- 
genden  ;  hence  English  satirists  called 
them  hogans  -  mogans,  and  applied 
the  phrase  to  Dutchmen  in  general. 

Hog-grubber.  A  miser,  niggard, 
mean  cuss  (q.v.)  (1696). 

Hogmenay.  1.  New  Year's  Eve, 
which  is  a  national  festival :  the  origin 
of  the  term  has  been  the  subject  of 
much  discussion  (1776).  2.  Hence  a 
wanton :  the  feast  was  celebrated  with 
much  drink  and  not  a  little  license. 

Hogo.  A  flavour,  aroma,  relish. 
Hence,  in  irony,  and  by  corruption,  a 
stink  :  cf.  Fogo  :  from  FT.,  haul  gout 
(1569). 

Hogshead.  To  couch  a  hogshead,  to 
lie  down  to  sleep  (1567). 


Hog-shearing.  Much  ado  about 
nothing,  great  cry  and  little  wool 
(1696). 

Hogs-Norton.  To  have  been  born  at 
Hogs-Norton,  to  be  ill-mannered(  1666). 

Hog-wash.  1.  Bad  liquor ;  speci- 
fically, rot-gut  (q.v.).  2.  Worthless 
newspaper  matter,  slush,  swash,  and 
flub-dub  (q.v.). 

Hoi  Polloi.  The  candidates  for 
ordinary  degrees :  from  the  Greek : 
cf.  Gulf. 

Hoist.  A  shop-lifter  ;  also  a  con- 
federate hoisting  or  helping  a  thief 
to  reach  an  open  window.  The  hoist, 
shop-lifting.  To  go  upon  the  hoist,  to 
enter  a  house  by  an  open  window 
(Orose).  As  verb,  (1)  to  shop-lift,  rob 
by  means  of  the  hoist  (q.v.) ;  (2)  to 
run  away  :  see  Bunk  ;  (3)  to  drink : 
e.g.  Will  you  hoist  ?  will  you  have  a 
liquor  ?  hoisting,  drinking ;  on  the 
hoist,  on  the  drunk :  also  a  hoist  in. 
To  give  a  hoist,  to  do  a  bad  turn. 

Hoister.  1.  A  shop-lifter,  hoist 
(q.v.) :  also  a  pickpocket.  2.  A  sot : 
see  Lushington. 

Hoisting  (or  Hoist-lay).  1.  Shop- 
lifting, the  hoist  (q.v.) :  also  shaking 
a  man  head  downwards,  so  that  his 
money  rolls  out  of  his  pockets.  2.  A 
ludicrous  ceremony,  formerly  per- 
formed on  every  soldier  the  first  time 
he  appeared  in  the  field  after  being 
married,  as  soon  as  the  regiment,  or 
company,  had  grounded  their  arms, 
to  rest  awhile ;  three  or  four  men  of 
the  same  company  to  which  the  bride- 
groom belonged,  seized  upon  him,  and 
putting  a  couple  of  bayonets  out  of 
the  two  corners  of  his  hat,  to  represent 
horns,  it  was  placed  on  his  head,  the 
back  part  foremost,  he  was  then 
hoisted  on  the  shoulders  of  two  strong 
fellows,  and  carried  round  the  arms, 
a  drum  and  fife  beating  and  playing 
the  pioneers'  call,  named  Bound-heads 
and  Cuckolds,  but  on  this  occasion 
styled  the  Cuckold's  March  :  in  passing 
the  colours  he  was  to  take  off  his  hat 
....  This  in  some  regiments  was 
practised  by  the  officers  on  their 
brethren  (Orose). 

Hoit  (or  Hoyt).  To  be  noisily  or 
riotously  inclined  (1611). 

Hoity-toity.    See  Highty-tighty. 

Hokey-pokey.  1.  A  cheat,  swindle, 
nonsense :  from  Hocus-pocus.  2.  A 
cheap  ice-cream  sold  in  the  streets. 

Holborn  HilL     To  ride  back- 


Hold. 


Holy-land. 


wards  up  Holborn  Hill,  to  go  to  the 
gallows :  the  way  was  thence  to 
Tyburn,  criminals  riding  backwards 
(Grose)  (1614). 

Hold.  To  bet,  wager :  see  Do 
you  hold?  infra  (1534).  Phrases: 
To  hold  on  to,  to  apply  oneself,  be  per- 
sistent :  generally,  to  hold  on  like  grim 
death;  to  hold  up,  (1)  to  rob  on  the 
highway,  bail  or  stick  up  (q.v.) :  also 
as  subs.,  a  highwayman,  road-agent 
(q.v.) ;  (2)  to  arrest :  see  Nab  ;  to  hold 
the  stage,  to  have  the  chief  place  on  the 
boards  and  the  eye  of  an  audience  : 
FT.,  avoir  les  planches  ;  to  hold  a  candle 
to  (the  devil,  etc. ) :  see  Devil ;  to  hold 
a  candle  to,  to  vie  with,  be  comparable 
to,  assist  in  or  condone ;  to  hold  (or 
hang)  on  by  the  eyelids,  eyelashes  or  eye- 
brows, ( 1 )  to  pursue  an  object  desper- 
ately, insist  upon  a  point,  carry  on  a 
forlorn  hope :  see  Splash-board ;  (2) 
said  of  a  man  aloft  with  nothing  much 
to  lay  hold  of;  to  hold  in  hand,  to 
amuse,  possess  the  attention  of  the 
mind,  have  in  one's  pocket;  to  hold  the 
market,  to  buy  stock  and  hold  it  to  so 
large  an  extent  that  the  price  cannot 
decline ;  do  you  hold  ?  have  you  money 
to  lend  ?  can  you  stand  treat  ?  hold  your 
horses,  go  easy,  don't  get  excited  :  a 
general  injunction  to  calm  in  act  and 
speech ;  hold  your  jaw,  hold  your 
tongue,  stow  your  gab  (q.v.) ;  Hold 
hard  !  (or  on) !  wait  a  moment !  don't 
be  in  a  hurry !  (1761) ;  to  hold-stitch  : 
see  Stitch  ;  to  hold  water  :  see  Water. 
Hold-out.  An  old-fashioned 
apparatus,  in  poker,  for  holding  out 
desirable  cards. 

Hole.  1.  A  cell:  cf.  Hell,  sense  1. 
(1540).  2.  A  cock-robin  shop,  private 
rinting  office :  where  unlicensed  books 
ere  made  (Moxori),  (1683).  3.  A 
lifficulty,  fix,  hence  (on  the  turf),  to 
in  a  hole,  to  lose  (a  bet)  or  be  de- 
ited  (of  horses)  ( 1 760).  4.  A  place  of 
ibode :  specifically,  a  mean  habitation, 
i  dirty  lodging :  see  Diggings.  Phrases: 
hole  in  one's  coat,  a  flaw  in  one's 
ae,  weak  spot  in  one's  character. 
To  pick  a  hole  in  one's  coat,  to  find  a 
cause  for  censure  ;  to  make  (or  burn)  a 
le  in  one's  pocket,  said  of  money 
recklessly  spent ;  to  make  a  hole  in 
anything,  to  use  up  largely  (1663) ; 
make  a  hole  in  the  water,  to  commit 
suicide  by  drowning  ;  to  make  a  hole,  to 
break,  spoil,  upset,  interrupt ;  to  make 
a  hole  in  one's  manners,  to  be  rude; 


to  make  a  hole  in  one's  reputation,  to 
betray,  seduce  ;  to  make  a  hole  in  the 
silence,  to  make  a  noise,  raise  Cain 
(q.v.) ;  too  drunk  to  see  a  hole  in  a 
ladder,  very  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Hole-and-corner.  Secret,  under- 
hand, out  of  the  way :  e.g.  hole-and- 
corner  work,  shady  business. 

Holiday.  Unskilled,  indifferent, 
careless  (Grose).  Blind  man's  holi- 
day :  see  ante.  To  have  a  holiday  at 
Peckham,  to  go  dinnerless.  AU  holi- 
day at  Peckham,  no  work  and  nothing 
to  eat.  To  take  a  holiday,  to  be  dis- 
missed, get  the  gag  (q.v.),  or  sack 
(q.v.).  Gone  for  a  holiday,  said  of  a 
flaw,  lapse,  or  imperfection  of  any  kind 
(as  dropped  stitches,  lost  buttons, 
slurred  painting,  and  so  forth :  also 
(Grose),  any  part  of  a  ship's  bottom 
left  uncovered  in  painting  it,  and 
(Clark  Russell)  places  left  untarred  on 
shrouds,  backstays,  etc.,  during  the 
operation  of  tarring  them. 

Holler.  To  cry  enough,  give  in, 
cave  in  (q.v.)  (1847). 

H  o  1 1  i  s  (Winchester  College).  A 
small  pebble  (Notions). 

Hollow.  Complete,  certain,  de- 
cided :  as  adv.,  completely,  utterly  : 
e.g.  to  beat  or  lick  hollow  (1759). 

Holt.     To  take,  take  hold  of. 

Holus-bolus.  The  head :  also  the 
neck.  As  adv.,  belter  skelter,  alto- 
gether, first  come  first  served. 

Holy.  More  holy  than  righteous, 
said  of  a  person  in  rags,  or  of  a  tattered 
garment. 

Holy-boys.  The  Ninth  Foot,  now 
the  Norfolk  Regiment :  from  a  trick  of 
selling  bibles  for  drink  in  the  Penin- 
sula. 

Holy  -  father.  A  butcher's  boy 
of  St.  Patrick's  market,  Dublin,  or 
other  Irish  blackguard  ;  among  whom 
the  exclamation,  or  oath,  by  the  Holy 
Father  (meaning  the  Pope),  is  common 
(Grose). 

Holy  Iron.    See  Holy  Poker. 

Holy  Joe.  A  pious  person, 
whether  hypocritical  or  sincere :  also 
nautical),  a  parson. 

Holy  Jumping  Mother  of  Moses. 
See  Moses. 

Holy  -  lamb.  A  thorough-paced 
villain  (Grose). 

H  o  1  y  - 1  a  n  d  (or  G  r  o  u  n  d).  1. 
St.  Giles's,  Palestine  (q.v.)  (1819). 
2.  Generic  for  any  neighbourhood 
affected  by  Jews  :  specifically,  Bays- 


227 


Holy  Moses. 


Hook. 


water,  and  Brighton :  cf.  New  Jeru- 
salem, and  Holy  of  Holies. 
Holy  Moses.     See  Moses. 
Holy    of   Holies.       1.    The  Grand 
Hotel  at  Brighton  :  which  is  largely 
tenanted  by  Jews.    2.  A  private  room  ; 
a  sanctum  (q.v.). 

Holy  Poker  (or  Iron).  The  maoe 
carried  by  an  esquire  bedel  (of  Law, 
Physic,  or  Divinity)  as  a  badge  of 
authority  :  the  term,  which  is  applied 
to  the  bedels  themselves,  is  very  often 
used  as  an  oath. 

Holy-water  Sprinkler.  A  medi- 
eval weapon  of  offence ;  a  morning 
star  (q.v.). 

Home.  England.  To  get  home, 
1.  to  achieve  an  object,  succeed  per- 
fectly, and  (athletic)  to  reach  the 
winning  post.  2.  to  get  in  (a  blow) 
with  precision  and  effect,  land  (q.v.) : 
also(old)  to  give  a  mortal  wound  (1559) 
3.  To  recover  a  loss,  neither  to  win  nor 
lose,  come  out  quits :  also,  to  bring 
oneself  home.  To  make  oneself  at  home, 
to  take  one's  ease,  be  familiar  to  the 
point  of  ill-breeding.  To  come  home 
to,  to  reach  the  conscience,  touch 
deeply.  To  go  (send,  or  carry)  home 
(or  to  one's  last  home),  to  die,  kill, 
bury  :  the  Chinese  say,  To  go  home 
horizontally  :  see  Hop  the  twig  (1598). 
Home-bird.  A  hen-pecked  hus- 
band :  also  a  milksop :  Fr.,  chauffe- 
la-couche  (warming-pan). 

Home  for  lost  dogs.  A  large  and 
well-known  medical  school  in  London : 
from  the  fact  that  the  majority  of  its 
inmates  have  strayed  there  from  the 
various  hospital  schools,  as  a  last 
resource  toward  taking  a  degree. 

Home  -  rule.  Irish  whisky  :  see 
Drinks. 

Homo.  A  man :  generally  Omee 
(q.v.):  from  the  Latin:  see  Cove. 

Homoney.  A  woman,  also  a  wife  : 
see  Homo  (1754). 

Homo-opathise.  To  get  bills  (i.e. 
petitions)  through  Legislature,  Con- 
gress, or  City  Council,  by  means  of 
bills  (i.e.  bank-bills). 

Honest.  1.  Chaste  (1596).  2. 
Not  positively  illegal :  as  honest  penny 
or  shilling,  money  earned  by  means 
immoral  (as  by  prostitution)  but 
within  the  law.  To  turn  an  honest 
penny,  to  make  a  profitable  deal 
( 1677).  To  mate  an  honest  woman,  to 
marry  a  mistress  (1629).  As  honest 
•  man  as  when  kings  are  out,  knavish. 


Honest  as  the  skin  between  the  brows  (or 
horns),  as  honest  as  may  be  (1551). 

Honest  Injun  1  A  pledge  of  sincer- 
ity; honour  bright  (q.v.). 

Honey.  1.  A  good  fellow.  2. 
Money  :  see  Rhino.  3.  A  term  of  en- 
dearment. As  verb,  to  cajole,  ex- 
change endearments,  deceive  by  soft 
words  or  promises  (1596).  To  sell 
honey  for  a  halfpenny,  to  rate  at  a  vile 
price  (1592). 

Honey-blobs.  Large,  ripe,  yellow 
gooseberries  (1746). 

Honeycomb.  A  sweetheart:  a 
general  term  of  endearment  (1562). 

Honey-fogle  (or  fugle).  To  cheat, 
swindle,  humbug  :  see  Gammon. 

Honour  Bright  !  Upon  my  honour 
(1819). 

Hood.  Two  faces  under  one  hood 
(or  hat),  double-dealing.  To  put  a 
bone  in  one's  hood,  to  cuckold  (1560). 
Hoodlum.  A  young  rough  of 
either  sex :  also  (political),  a  low- 
class  voter  :  originally  Californian :  cf. 
Arab. 

Hoodman.  A  blind  man,  groper 
(q.v.).  As  adj.,  blind;  spec,  drunk: 
also  hoodman  blind,  blind  drunk :  Fr., 
berlu  and  sans  mirettes. 

Hoof.  A  foot :  see  Creepers  (1830). 
As  verb,  to  kick.  Hence,  to  hoof  out,  to 
eject,  dismiss,  discharge,  decline  to 
see.  To  hoof  it  (to  pad  or  beat  the 
hoof),  to  walk,  tramp  it,  run  away ; 
hence  Hoof-padding  (1596).  To  see 
one's  hoof  in  (a  thing),  to  detect  per- 
sonal influence  or  interference  in  a 
matter. 

Hoof-padder.     A  pedestrian. 
Hoofy.    Splay,  large. 
Hook.     1.  A  finger  :  see  Fork.     In 
pi.,  the  hands  :  also  Hooks  and  Feelers 
(q.v.).     2.  A  thief  (1562).     3.  A  catch, 
advantage,  imposture.   As  verb,  ( 1 )  to 
rob,  steal:  specifically,  to  steal  watches, 
rings,  etc.,  from  a  shop  by  cutting 
small  hole  in  the  window,  and  fish 
for  such  articles  with  a  piece  of  st 
with  a  hook  at  the  end  (1615) ;  (2) 
secure  (as  for  marriage),  marry. 
intj.    (Oxford    Univ.),   an  exj 
implying    doubt     Phrases :    On 
hook,  (1)  on  the  thieve,  on  the 
(q.v.);  (2)   on   the  hip  (q.v.),  at 
advantage  (1694) ;  hook  and  eye, 
and  arm  ;  to  take  (or  sling)  one's 
(or  to  hook  it),  to  decamp,  run  ai 
see  Bunk  ;  to  drop  (go,  or  pop)  off  i 
hooks,  (I)  to  die:  see  Hop  the 


Hook  and  Snivey. 


Hop. 


(1837) ;  (2)  to  get  married ;  to  hook 
on  to,  to  attach  oneself  to,  button- 
hole (q.v.),  follow  up;  on  one's  own 
hook,  on  one's  own  account  (risk,  or 
responsibility),  for  one's  own  sake, 
dependent  on  one's  own  resources  (or 
exertions) ;  by  hook  or  by  crook,  by 
some  means  or  other,  by  fair  means 
or  foul,  at  all  hazards :  probably  of 
forestal  origin  (1298) ;  with  a  hook  at 
the  end,  a  reservation  of  assent,  over 
the  left  (q.v.),  in  a  horn  (q.v.)  (1823) ; 
off  the  hooks,  out  of  temper,  vexed, 
disturbed,  out  of  sorts  :  Fr.,  sortir  de 
sea  gonds,  off  the  hinges  (q.v.) :  see 
Nab  the  rust. 

Hook  and  Snivey  (or  Hookum  Sni- 
vey). 1.  An  imposture:  specifically 
getting  food  on  false  pretences  (1781). 

2.  An  impostor  as  described  in  sense  1.. 

3.  A  contemptuous  or  sarcastic  affir- 
mation, accompanied  by  the  gesture  of 
taking    a     sight    (q.v.)    or    playing 
hookey  (q.v.).     4.   A  crook  of  thick 
iron  wire  in  a  wooden  handle,  used 
to  undo  the  wooden   bolts   of  doors 
from  without  (1801). 

Hooked.  Over-reached,  snapt, 
trickt. 

Hooker.  1.  A  thief  (q.v.), 
angler  (q.v.) :  also  (modern)  a  watch- 
stealer,  dip  (q.v.).  'These  hokers  or 
Angglers,  be  peryllous  and  most 
wicked  knaues, ....  they  customably 
carry  with  them  a  staffe  of  v.  or  vi. 
foote  long,  in  which,  within  one  ynch 
of  the  tope  thereof,  ys  a  lytle  hole 
bored  through,  [leaf  9]  in  which  hole 
they  putte  an  yron  hoke,  and  with 
the  same  they  wyll  pluck  vnto  them 
quickly  any  thing  that  they  may 
reche  ther  with'  (Harman).  2.  A 
prostitute. 

Hookey.  To  play  hookey,  to  play 
truant,  do  Charley- wag  (q.v.).  To 
do  (or  play)  hookey  (or  hooky),  to 
apply  the  thumb  and  fingers  to  the 
nose,  take  a  sight  (q.v.),  coffee-mill 
(q.v.). 

Hookey  Walker  !  (or  Walker  !) 
Be  off !  go  away :  also  implying 
doubt :  cf.  With  a  hook.  [Bee  :  From 
John  Walker,  a  hook  -  nosed  spy, 
whose  reports  were  proved  to  be  fabri- 
cations.] 

H  o  o  k  i  n  g-c  o  w.  A  cow  showing 
fight. 

Hook-pole  Lay.  Pulling  a  man  off 
his  horse  by  means  of  iron  hooks  at 
the  end  of  a  long  pole,  and  plundering 


him  (Smith,  Lives  of  Highwaymen,  III. 
192,  1720). 

Hook-shop.    A  brothel. 

Hoop.  1.  A  ring.  2.  See  Bull- 
finch. As  verb,  to  beat.  To  well 
hoop  one's  barrel,  to  thrash  soundly, 
tan  (Grose).  To  hoop  it  (or  go  through 
the  hoop),  (1)  to  pass  the  Insolvent 
Debtor's  Court ;  to  get  hooped  up, 
whitewashed  (q.v.) ;  (2)  to  run  away  : 
see  Bunk. 

Hoop-stick.    The  arm. 

Hoosier.  A  native  of  Indiana : 
perhaps  the  most  reasonable  of  several 
ingenious  explanations  is,  that  in  the 
early  days  the  customary  challenge 
or  greeting  in  that  region  was,  Who's 
yer  ?  (who's  here  ?) :  pronounced 
hoosier  (Norton)  (1843). 

Hooter.  1.  A  steam-whistle, 
American  devil  (q.v.).  2.  A  wooden 
trumpet,  so  contrived  as  to  make  a 
horrible  noise.  3.  A  corruption  of 
iota:  e.g.  I  don't  care  a  hooter  for 
him. 

Hooting-pudding.  A  plum-pudding 
with  such  a  paucity  of  plums  that  you 
can  hear  them  hooting  after  each 
other  (Slang,  Jargon,  and  Cant). 

Hop.  A  dance  :  generally  informal, 
as  a  Cinderella  (q.v.).  Also  (1579)  the 
motions  of  dancing.  Hop  -  and  -  go- 
kick,  a  lameter,  hop-and-go-one :  cf. 
Dot-and-carry-one.  To  hop  the  wag, 
to  play  truant,  or  Charley- wag  (q.v.) 
To  hop  (or  jump)  over  the  broom  (or 
broomstick),  to  live  as  husband  and 
wife,  live  (or  go)  tally  (q.v.)  (1811). 
To  hop  the  twig,  ( 1)  to  leave,  run  away, 
skedaddle  (q.v.):  see  Bunk  (1786); 
(2)  to  die,  kick  the  bucket  (q.v.),  to 
peg  out  ( q.  v. ) :  also  to  hop  off.  English 
synonyms :  to  be  content,  to  cock  up 
one's  toes,  to  croak,  to  cut  (or  let  go) 
the  painter,  to  cut  one's  stick,  to  give 
in,  to  give  up,  to  go  to  Davy  Jones' 
locker,  to  go  off  the  liooks,  to  go  under, 
to  go  up,  to  kick  the  bucket,  kickera- 
boo  (West  Indian),  to  lay  down  one's 
knife  and  fork,  to  lose  the  number  of 
one's  mess,  to  mizzle,  to  pass  in  one's 
checks,  to  peg  out,  to  put  on  a  wooden 
surtout,  to  be  put  to  bed  with  a 
shovel,  to  slip  one's  cable,  to  stick 
one's  spoon  in  the  wall,  to  snuff  it,  to 
take  an  earth  bath,  to  take  a  ground 
sweat.  On  the  hop,  (1)  unawares, 
at  the  nick  of  time,  in  flagrante  delicto  : 
also  on  the  h.  o.  p.  ;  (2)  on  the  go,  in 
motion,  unresting ;  (3)  See  Hip.  i 


229 


Hopeful. 


Horsebreaker. 


Hopeful  (or  Young  Hopeful).  A 
boy  or  young  man :  in  sarcasm  or 
contempt  (1856). 

Hop-  (or  Hap-)  Harlot  A  coarse 
coverlet :  cf.  Wrap- rascal. 

Hopkins  (Hoppy,  or  Mr  Hopkins). 
A  lameter  :  see  Dot- and -go -one -Giles 
(Qrose).  Don't  hurry,  Hopkins  I  iron- 
ical to  persons  slow  to  move  or  to 
meet  an  obligation. 

Hop  -  merchant  (or  Hoppy).  A 
dancing  master,  caper-  merchant  (q.v.). 
Also  a  fiddler  (1696). 

Hop-o'-my-thumb.  A  dwarf  (1599). 
English  synonyms :  go-by-the-ground, 
grub,  grundy,  Jack  Sprat,  little 
breeches,  shrimp,  stump-ot-the-gutter, 
torn-tit. 

Hopper.  The  mouth :  see  Potato- 
trap.  To  go  a  hopper,  to  go  quickly. 

Hopper  -  Hipped.  Large  in  the 
breech  :  also  snaggy- boned  :  also  as 
subs.  (1529). 

Hopper-docker.  A  shoe :  see 
Trotter-cases. 

Hop-picker.  1.  A  prostitute  :  also 
Hopping-wife.  2.  In  pi.,  the  queens  of 
all  the  four  suits. 

Hopping  -  Giles.  A  cripple  :  see 
Dot-and-go-one  (Qrose). 

Hopping- Jesus.  A  lameter  :  see 
Dot  and-go-one. 

Hopping-mad.     Very  angry. 

Hop-pole.  A  tall,  slight  person  : 
male  or  female :  see  Lamp- post. 

Horizontal  Refreshment.  Food 
taken  standing  ;  generally  applied  to  a 
mid-day  snack  at  a  bar. 

Horn.  1.  The  nose  :  also  horney  :  see 
Conk  (1823).  2.  A  drink ;  a  dram  of 
spirit*:  see  Go  (1849).  Phrases:  To 
draw  in  one's  horns,  to  withdraw, 
retract,  cool  down  (Qrose) ;  to  horn  off, 
to  put  on  one  side,  shunt :  as  a  bull 
or  stag  with  their  horns  ;  in  a  horn,  a 
general  qualification  (implying  re- 
fusal or  disbelief),  over  the  left  (q.v.) ; 
to  come  out  of  the  little  end  of  the  horn, 
to  get  the  worst  of  a  bargain,  be 
reduced  in  circumstances :  also,  to 
make  much  ado  about  nothing :  said 
generally  of  vast  endeavour  ending 
in  failure :  through  some  unexpected 
squeeze  (q.v.)  (1605). 

Hornet.  A  disagreeable,  cantanker- 
ous person. 

Hornie  (or  Horness).  1.  A  con- 
stable or  watchman :  also  a  sheriff.  2. 
The  devil :  generally  Auld  Hornie 
(q.v.). 


Hornswoggle.  Nonsense,  humbug 
(q.v.):  see  Gammon.  As  verb,  to 
humbug,  delude,  seduce. 

Horn-thumb.  A  pickpocket :  from 
the  practice  of  wearing  a  sheath  of 
horn  to*  protect  the  thumb  in  cutting 
out  (1569). 

Horrors.  1.  Delirium  tremens.  Also 
low  spirits,  or  the  blues  (q.v.).  2. 
Sausages :  see  Chamber  of  horrors.  3. 
Handcuffs :  see  Darbies. 

Horse.  1.  A  five- pound  note  :  see 
Finnup.  2.  Horsemonger  Lane  Gaol : 
also  the  old  horse.  3.  A  man,  a  term 
of  high  regard  and  esteem.  As  verb,  ( 1 ) 
a  workman  horses  it  when  he  charges 
for  more  in  his  week's  work  than  he 
has  really  done :  of  course  he  has  so 
much  unprofitable  work  to  get  through 
in  the  ensuing  week,  which  is  called 
dead  horse ;  also  (2)  for  one  of  two 
men  who  are  engaged  on  precisely 
similar  pieces  of  work  to  make  extra- 
ordinary exertions  in  order  to  work 
down  the  other  man :  this  is  some- 
times done  simply  to  see  what  kind 
of  a  workman  a  new  man  may  be,  but 
often  with  the  much  less  creditable 
motive  of  injuring  a  fellow  workman 
in  the  estimation  of  an  employer. 
Phrases :  The  gray  mare  is  the  better 
horse  :  see  Gray- mare  ;  horse  foaled  of 
an  acorn,  ( 1 )  the  gallows  :  see  Nubbing- 
cheat  (1760);  (2)  the  triangles  or 
crossed  halberds  under  which  soldiers 
were  flogged  ;  old  (or  salt-)  horse,  salt 
beef :  also  junk  and  salt-junk ;  one- 
horse,  comparatively  small,  insignifi- 
cant, unimportant  ( 1858) ;  to  be  horsed, 
to  be  flogged  (from  the  wooden-horse 
used  as  a  flogging-stool),  to  take  on 
one's  back  as  for  a  flogging ;  to  fall  away 
from  a  horseload  to  a  cartload,  ironically 
of  one  considerably  improved  in  flesh 
of  a  sudden  ;  to  flag  the  dead  horse  :  see 
Dead-horse  and  Horse ;  to  put  the 
cart  before  the  horse,  to  begin  at  the 
wrong  end,  set  things  hind-side  before 
(1696) ;  to  put  the  saddle  on  the  right 
horse,  to  apportion  accurately  (1696); 
to  ride  on  a  horse  with  (or  bayard  of)  ten 
toes,  to  walk,  use  the  marrowbone- 
stage:  cf.  Shanks' s  mare  (1606);  as 
good  as  a  shoulder  of  mutton  to  a  sick 
horse,  utterly  worthless  (1596);  as 
itrong  as  a  horse,  very  strong :  a 
general  intensitive  ;  horse  and  horse, 
neck  and  neck,  even. 

Horsebreaker    (or    Pretty  Horse- 
breaker).      A     woman     («.      I860), 


230 


Horse-buss. 


Hot-flannel. 


hired  to  ride  in  the  park ;    hence  a 
riding  demi-mondaine. 

Horse-buss.  A  loud-sounding  kiss, 
bite  (q.v.)  (Grose). 

Horse  -  capper  (coper,  coser, 
courser,  or  chaunter).  A  dealer  in 
worthless  or  faked  horses  :  originally 
good  English  —  to  cope,  to  barter  : 
see  Chanter.  Hence  Horse-coping  and 
Horse-duffing  (1616). 

Horse-collar.  1.  An  extremely  long 
and  wide  collar.  2.  A  halter.  To  die 
in  a  horse's  nightcap,  to  be  hanged  :  see 
Ladder.  English  synonyms  :  anodyne 
necklace,  Bridport  dagger,  choker, 
hempen  cravat,  hempen  elixir,  horse's 
neckcloth,  horse's  necklace,  neck- 
squeezer,  neck  weed,  squeezer,  St. 
Andrew's  lace,  Sir  Tristram's  knot, 
tight  cravat,  Tyburn  tiffany,  Tyburn 
tippet,  widow. 

Horse-editor.  A  sporting  editor. 
Horse-copy,  sporting  news. 

Horseflesh.  See  Dead  horse  and 
Horse. 

Horse  -  godmother.  A  strapping 
masculine  woman,  virago  :  Fr.,  femme 
hommasse  (Grose). 

Horse-latitudes.  A  space  in  the 
Atlantic,  north  of  the  trade  -  winds, 
where  winds  are  baffling. 

Horse-laugh.  A  loud,  noisy  laugh, 
guffaw  (1738). 

Horse  -  leech.  1.  An  extortioner, 
miser.  2.  A  horse  -  doctor  ;  also  a 
quack  (1594). 

Horse-marines.  A  mythical  corps, 
very  commonly  cited  in  jokes  and 
quizzies  on  the  innocent.  [The  Jol- 
lies (q.v.)  or  Royal  Marines,  being 
ignorant  of  seamanship,  have  always 
been  the  butt  of  blue- jackets.]  Tell 
that  to  the  marines  (or  horse-marines), 
the  sailors  won't  believe  it,  a  rejoinder 
to  an  attempt  at  imposition  or  cred- 
ulity :  often  amplified  with  when 
they're  riding  at  anchor. 

Horse  -  milliner.  1.  A  dandy 
trooper  (1778).  2.  A  saddler  and 
harness-maker  (1818). 

Horse-nails.  Money :  see  Rhino. 
To  feed  on  horse-nails,  to  play  so  as  not 
to  advance  your  own  score  so  much 
as  to  keep  down  your  opponent's. 
To  knock  into  horse-nails,  to  knock  to 
pieces,  be  absolutely  victorious. 

Horse-nightcap.  See  Horse's-collar. 

Horse-protestant.    A    churchman. 

Horse-sense.  Sound  and  practical 
judgment.  £•' 


Horse  "s-head.  The  boot-sole,  heel, 
and  what  is  left  of  the  front  after  the 
back  and  part  of  the  front  have  been 
used  to  fox  (q.v.)  other  boots. 

Horse 's-meal.  Meat  without  drink 
(Grose). 

Horse  -  sovereign.  A  twenty- 
shilling  piece  with  Pistrucci's  effigies 
of  St.  George  and  the  Dragon. 

Hose.  In  my  other  hose,  a  quali- 
fication of  refusal  or  disbelief,  in  a 
horn  (q.v.),  over  the  left  (q.v.)  (1598). 

Hoss.     See  Horse. 

Hoss-fly  (or  Old  Hoss-fly).  A 
familiar  address  :  see  Horse. 

Host.  To  reckon  without  one's 
host,  to  blunder  (1696).  Mine  host,  a 
taverner. 

Hosteler.    An  oat-stealer  (Grose). 

Hot  (Winchester  College).  1.  A 
mellay  at  football ;  and,  2.  a  crowd. 
As  adj.,  (1)  of  persons:  sexually  ex- 
citable, lecherous  ;  of  things  (as  books) 
obscene,  blue  (q.v.),  high -kilted 
(q.v.) ;  hot  member,  a  male  or  female 
debauchee,  a  man  or  woman  con- 
temptuous of  decorum ;  hot  as  they 
make  them,  exceedingly  amorous  or 
reckless ;  hot-blooded,  lecherous :  as  (in 
'Merry  Wives,'  v.  v.)  the  hot-blooded 
gods  assist  me ;  hot-house,  a  brothel 
(1383);  (2)  careless  of  decorum, 
boisterous,  utterly  reckless,  aban- 
doned ;  (3)  well  known  to  the  police, 
dangerous,  uncomfortable ;  (4)  violent, 
sharp,  severe,  passionate;  (5)  alive, 
vehement,  instant.  As  verb  (Win- 
chester College),  to  crowd,  mob.  To 
give  (get,  or  catch)  it  hot,  to  thrash  or 
reprove  soundly,  be  severely  beaten 
or  taken  to  task  (1859).  Like  a  cat 
on  hot  bricks,  uncomfortable,  restive. 
Hot  with,  spirits  with  hot  water  and 
sugar :  see  Cider,  and  Cold  without. 

Hot-beef.  To  give  hot-beef,  to  cry 
Stop  thief  :  also  Beef  (q.v.). 

Hot-cakes.  To  go  off  like  hot  cakes, 
to  sell  readily,  be  in  good  demand. 

Hot-foot.  1.  Instant  in  pursuit. 
2.  Restless. 

Hotch-potch.  A  medley,  hodge- 
podge (q.v.)  (1597). 

Hot-coppers.  The  fever  and  parched 
throat,  or  mouth  (q.v.),  attending  a 
debauch  :  see  Cool  one's  Copper  (1830). 
Hotel  Barbering.     Bilking. 
Hotel  warming-pan.    A  chamber- 
maid:  also  warming-pan  (q.v.):  Fr., 
limogere. 

Hot-flannel  (or  Flannel).    Gin  and 


231 


Hot-Jtouse. 


HuWe-biWe. 


beer,  with  nutmeg,  sugar,  etc.,  made 
hot  (1789). 

Hot-house.  A  brothel,  stew  (q.v.) 
orig.  a  public  bath  (1596). 

Hot  -  place.  Hell,  a  tropical 
climate. 

Hot-pot.  Ale  and  brandy  made 
hot  (Grose). 

Hot -potato.  To  drop  like  a  hot 
potato,  to  abandon  (a  pursuit,  a  person, 
a  thing)  with  alacrity. 

Hot-stomach.  So  hot  a  stomach  as 
to  burn  the  clothes  off  his  back,  said  of 
one  who  pawns  his  clothes  for  drink 
(Lex.  Bed.). 

Hottentot.  1.  A  stranger  (East 
End).  2.  A  fool :  see  Buffle. 

Hot  -  tiger.  Hot-spiced  ale  and 
sherry. 

Hot -water.  To  be  in  hot-water,  to 
be  in  trouble,  in  difficulties,  worried 
(1846). 

Hound  (Ring's  College,  Cam- 
bridge Univ.).  1.  An  undergraduate 
not  on  the  foundation,  nearly  the  same 
as  a  sizar.  2.  A  mean,  contemptible 
fellow,  scoundrel,  filthy  sneak. 

Hounslow-heath.  The  teeth  :  see 
Grinders :  also  Hampstead-beath. 

Houri  of  Fleet  Street.  A  pro- 
stitute. 

House.  An  audience.  To  bring 
down  the  house,  to  elicit  a  general 
burst  of  applause  :  FT.,  avoir  sa  totd- 
ette  boire  du  lait  (1823).  The  House, 
(1)  The  Stock  Exchange;  (2)  The 
House  of  Commons  ;  (3)  Christ  Church, 
Oxford.  House  (or  apartments)  to  let, 
a  widow  (Lex.  Bal.).  Father  of  the 
House,  the  oldest  elected  member  of 
the  House  of  Commons.  House  that 
Jack  built,  a  prison  :  see  Cage.  Like  a 
house  on  fire,  quickly,  with  energy :  see 
Like.  Safe  as  houses,  perfectly  safe. 

House -bit  (or  keeper,  or  piece). 
A  servant-mistress. 

House-dove.     A  stay-at-home. 

Household-brigade.  To  join  the 
household  brigade,  to  marry,  get 
spliced  (q.v.). 

House  of  Civil  Reception.  A 
brothel :  see  Nanny-shop  (Orose). 

House  of  Commons  (or  House  of 
Office).  A  W.C. :  see  Mrs.  Jones. 

House  -  tailor.  An  upholsterer 
(1696). 

Housewife  (Huswife,  or  Hussy). 
Primarily,  a  house  -  keeper.  Hence 
(a)  a  domestic  servant ;  (o)  a  wanton 
or  a  gad  -  about  wench  ;  and  (c)  a 


comic  endearment.  Hence,  too,  House- 
wifery  and  Housewife's  tricks,  wanton- 
MM  (1408). 

Housey  (Christ's  Hospital).  Belong- 
ing to  the  Hospital. 

Housle  (Winchester  College).  To 
hustle. 

Hoveller.     A  beach-thief. 

How.  How  came  you  so?  drunk:  KG 
Screwed  (1824).  How  much?  What 
do  you  say  T  What  do  you  mean  T 
What  price  T — a  general  request  for 
explanations.  How  are  you  off  for 
soap,  a  street  catch  (1833).  How  the 
blazes;  see  Blazes.  How  is  that  for 
high :  see  High.  How's  your  poor 
feet,  a  street  catch  :  orig.  a  dovetail  to 
a  gag.  How'U  you  have  it,  an  invita- 
tion to  drink :  see  Drinks.  How  we 
apples  swim,  (1)  said  in  derision  of  a 
parvenu,  of  a  person  in  better  com- 
pany than  he  (or  she)  has  any  right 
to  keep,  or  of  a  pretender  to  honour  or 
credit  he  (or  she)  does  not  deserve ; 
also  (2)  what  a  good  time  we're  having! 

Howard's  Garbage.  The  Nineteenth 
Foot,  now  the  Princess  of  Wales's 
Own  (Yorkshire  Regiment) :  also 
Green  Howards. 

Howard's  Greens.  The  Twenty- 
fourth  foot :  now  the  South  Wales 
Borderers:  from  its  facings  and  its 
Colonel's  name,  1717-37. 

How-do-you-do.  A  to-do,  a  kettle 
offish,  a  pass  (1835). 

Howler.  An  unblushing  falsehood, 
enormous  blunder,  serious  accident : 
and  so  forth.  To  come  (or  go)  a 
howler,  to  come  to  grief,  run  amuck. 

Howling.  A  general  intensitive 
e.g.  Howling  swell,  a  man  in  the 
extreme  of  fashion  ;  howling  -  lie,  a 
gross  falsehood  ;  howling-bags,  trousers 
extravagant  in  cut  or  pattern ; 
howling-cad,  etc. 

H  oxter.  1.  An  inside  pocket 
(1834).  2.  (Royal  Military  Academy). 
Extra  drill :  corruption  of  extra :  Fr.f 
ML 

Hoys.     See  Hoist. 

Hoyt.    See  Hoit 

Hub.  1.  Boston  :  also  Hub  of  the 
Universe;  the  description  is  Oliver 
Wendell  Holmes' s  :  since  extended  to 
other  centres  or  chief  cities.  2.  A 
husband  :  see  Hubby. 

Hubble-bubble.  1.  A  confused  noise 
made  by  a  talkative  person,  who 
speaks  so  quick  that  it  is  difficult  to 
understand  what  he  says  or  means 


Hubtte-de-shuff. 


Hum-box. 


(Dyche).  A  hubble-bubble  fellow,  a 
man  of  confused  ideas,  or  one  thick 
of  speech,  whose  words  sound  like 
water  bubbling  out  of  a  bottle  (Lex. 
Bal.).  2.  A  hookah,  a  pipe  by  which 
the  smoke  is  passed  through  water 
(1811). 

Hubble-de-shuff.     Confusedly. 

Hubbub.  1.  A  noise  in  the  streets 
made  by  the  rabble  (B.  E. ).  2.  A  noise, 
riot,  or  disturbance  (Grose). 

Hubby  (or  Hub).  A  husband  (1798). 

Huck.     To  chaffer,  bargain  (1577). 

Huckleberry.  Above  one's  huckle- 
berry (bend,  or  hook),  beyond  one's 
ability,  out  of  one's  reach  :  see  Bend 
(1848). 

Huckle-my-but.  Beer,  egg,  and 
brandy  made  hot  (Grose). 

Huckster.  1.  A  retailer  of  small 
goods,  pedlar  (1696).  2.  A  mean 
trickster  (1696).  In  huckster's  hands, 
At  a  desperate  pass,  or  condition, 
or  in  a  fair  way  to  be  lost  (B.  E, ). 

Hucksum  (Huckle,  Huckle-bone, 
or  Huck-bone).  The  hip  (1508). 

Hue.  '  The  Cove  was  Hued  in  the 
Naskin,  the  Rogue  was  severely  Lasht 
inBridewel'  (B.  E.). 

Huey.     A  town  or  village. 

Huff.  1.  An  outburst  of  temper, 
peevishness,  offence  at  some  real  or 
imaginary  wrong  or  slight.  Hence, 
to  get  (or  take)  the  huff,  to  fly  into  a 
passion  (1599).  2.  A  bully,  Hector 
(q.v.),  sharper :  also  Captain  Huff 
(1569).  3.  A  dodge,  trick.  4.  A  term 
in  the  game  of  draughts  :  the  penalty 
for  not  taking  a  piece.  5.  (Winchester 
College) :  see  Huff-cap.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  bluster,  bounce,  swagger  (1607) ; 
(2)  to  anger,  cheek  (q.v).,  get  angered 
(1708).  As  intj.,  an  exclamation  of 
defiance :  also  Huffa  and  Huffa- 
gallant ;  the  last  probably  the  oldest 
form  of  the  word  (1510).  To  stand 
the  huff,  to  stand  the  reckoning  (Lex. 
Bal.).  Also  huffy,  easily  offended ; 
huffed,  annoyed  ;  huffily,  testily,  in  a 
tantrum. 

Huff -cap  (or  Huff).  1.  Strong 
ale :  from  inducing  people  to  set  their 
caps  in  a  bold  and  huffing  style. 
(Nares)  (1579).  2.  A  swaggering  bully, 
Hector  (q.v.)  (1596).  As  adj.,  swag- 
gering, blustering,  rousing  (1597). 

Huffer.     A  swaggerer. 

Huffle.     To  shift,  hesitate,  waver. 

Huff-snuff.  A  person  apt  to  take 
offence  (1592). 


Huftie-tuftie.  Swaggering,  gallant 
(1596). 

Hug.  Garrotting  (q.v.):  also  verbally 
and  to  put  on  the  hug.  To  hug  brown 
bess  (q.v.) ;  to  hug  the  gunner's  daugh- 
ter, to  cuddle  a  gun  for  punishment ; 
to  hug  the  ground,  to  fall,  or  be  hit  off 
one's  legs ;  to  give  the  hug  (pugilists), 
to  close  with  and  grapple  the  body ; 
to  hug  the  shore  (bank,  or  wall),  to 
keep  close  to ;  Cornish  hug,  a  hold 
in  wrestling ;  to  hug  a  belief  (de- 
lusion, or  thought),  to  cherish ;  to 
hug  one's  chains,  to  delight  in 
captivity. 

Hugger-mugger.  Muddle,  confu- 
sion. As  adj.,  closely  or  by  stealth, 
under-board :  To  eat  so,  that  is,  to 
eat  by  one's  self  (B.  E.).  As  adj.,  con- 
fused, disorderly,  hap-hazard,  hand- 
to-mouth  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  meet  by 
stealth,  lay  heads  together.  In  hugger- 
mugger,  in  secret  (1565). 

Hugging.     Garrotting  (q.v.). 

Hugsome.    Attractive. 

Hulk  (Hulky,  or  Hulking).  A 
fat  person,  a  big  lout :  generally, 
great  hulk  of  a  fellow  ( 1 63 1 ).  As  verb, 
to  hang  about,  to  Mooch  (q.v.). 

Hull-cheese.  '  Hull-cheese  is  much 
like  a  loafe  out  of  a  brewers  basket, 
it  is  composed  of  two  simples,  mault 
and  water,  in  one  compound,  and  is 
cousin  germane  to  the  mightiest  ale 
in  England'  (John  Taylor). 

Hulverhead  (Hulverheaded).  A 
fool :  see  Buffle. 

Hum.  1.  A  kind  of  strong  liquor  : 
probably  a  mixture  of  beer  and  spirits, 
but  also  applied  to  old,  mellow,  and 
very  strong  beer :  also  Hum-cap 
(1616).  2.  A  trick,  delusion,  cheat, 
a  lie  (1756).  3.  A  church-goer.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  cheat,  bamboozle,  quiz 
(q.v. )  (1762) ;  (2)  to  mumble.  To  hum 
and  haw,  to  hesitate,  raise  objections 
(1469).  To  make  things  hum,  to 
force  the  pace,  keep  moving.  To 
hum  around,  to  call  to  account,  call 
over  the  coals  (q.v.). 

Human.    A  human  being. 
Humber-keels.     See  Billy-boy. 
Humble  Pie.     To  eat  humble  pie,  to 
submit,  apologise,  knock  under :  see 
Cave  in. 

Hum-box.  1.  A  pulpit  (1725).  Eng- 
lish synonyms :  autem,  cackle  tub, 
clack  loft,  cowards'  castle,  gospel 
mill  (also  a  church),  wood.  2.  An 
auctioneer's  rostrum. 


233 


Humbox  Patterer. 


Hurly-burly. 


Humbox  Patterer.  A  parson,  devil- 
dodger,  sky-pilot. 

|^  Humbug.  1.  A  hoax,  imposture, 
swindle  (1736).  2.  Deceit,  pretence, 
affection.  3.  A  cheat,  impostor,  pre- 
tender :  also  (old),  hummer  (1783).  As 
verb,  to  hoax,  swindle,  cajole  (1751). 
Hence,  humbugging,  hoaxing,  swind- 
ling ;  humbugable,  gullible ;  humbug- 
gery,  deception,  imposture ;  humbug- 
ger,  cheat,  hoaxer  (1783). 

Humdrum.  1.  A  tiresome  dullard, 
steady  -  going,  common  -  place  person 
(1596).  2.  Monotony,  lameness,  dull- 
ness (1823).  3.  The  same  as  humbug, 
(1596).  4.  A  wife;  also  a  husband. 
As  adj.,  dull,  tame,  common  -  place, 
monotonous  (1702). 

Humdurgeon.  1.  An  imaginary  ill- 
ness (Grose).  2.  Needless  noise,  ado 
about  nothing  (1815). 

Humdurgeoned.     Annoyed. 

Humguffin.  A  hobgoblin :  also  a 
derisive  address. 

Humgumptious.  A  knowing  sort  of 
humbug  is  humgumptious  (Bee). 

Hummer.  1.  Anything  of  magnitude 
or  note  (1696):  spec.  2.  a  man  or 
woman  of  notable  parts,  high  stepper 
(q.v.),  good  goer  (q.v.) :  cf.  Rustler. 
3.  See  Humbug. 

Humming.  Strong  —  applied  to 
drink ;  brisk — applied  to  trade  ;  hard 
—  applied  to  blows.  Humming 
October,  the  specially  strong  brew 
from  the  new  season's  hops,  stingo 
(q.v.)  (1696). 

Hump.  1.  To  spoil,  botch,  do  for. 
2.  To  shoulder  and  carry :  e.g.  to 
hump  one's  swag,  to  shoulder  one's 
kit.  To  hump  oneself,  to  stir,  prepare 
for  attack,  fancy  oneself  (1847).  To 
get  (or  hare.)  the  hump,  to  be  despon- 
dent, hurt,  put  out,  down  in  the 
mouth  (q.v.) :  also  to  have  the  hump 
up  (or  on)  (1599). 

Humpey.     A  pile  of  buffalo  robes. 

Humphrey.  A  coat  with  pocket  holes 
but  no  pockets  (Mateett).  To  dine 
with  Duke  Humphrey :  see  Dine,  Sir 
Thomas  Gresham,  and  Knights  (1592). 

Humpty-dumpty.  1.  A  short  and 
thick-set  person,  grundy  (q.v.),  hunch- 
back :  see  Forty-guts.  2.  Ale  boiled 
with  brandy  (1696).  As  adj.  and 
adv.,  short  and  thick,  all  of  a  heap, 
all  together. 

Hum-strum.  A  musical  instrument 
made  of  a  mop-stick,  a  bladder,  and 
some  packthread,  thence  also  called 


bladder  and  string,  and  hurdy  gurdy  ; 
it  is  played  on  like  a  violin,  which  is 
sometimes  ludicrously  called  a  hum- 
strum  ;  sometimes  instead  of  a  bladder 
a  tin  canister  is  used  (Grose). 

Hunch.  To  jostle,  shove,  squeeze 
(1696). 

Hung.  To  be  hung  up,  to  come  to  a 
standstill,  be  in  a  fix. 

Hungarian.  1.  A  hungry  man,  a 
rare  pecker  (q.v.)  (1608).  2.  A  free- 
booter. 

Hunk.  To  be  (or  get)  hunk  or  all  hunk, 
(1)  to  hit  a  mark,  achieve  an  object,  be 
safe.  Also  (2)  to  scheme  :  from  Dutch 
honk,  goal  or  home. 

Hunker  (or  Old  Hunker).  In  New 
York  (1844)  a  Conservative  Democrat, 
as  opposed  to  the  Young  Democracy  or 
Barn-burners  (q.v.).  Hence,  an  anti- 
progressive  in  politics. 

Hunks.  A  miser,  mean,  sordid 
fellow,  curmudgeon. 

Hunky.  Good,  jolly :  a  general 
superlative :  also  Hunkidorum. 

Hunt.  To  decoy  a  pigeon  (q.v.)  to 
the  tables.  Hence  hunting,  card- 
sharping,  flat -catching  (q.v.)  (1696). 
To  hunt  for  soft  spots,  to  make  one- 
self comfortable,  seek  one's  ease.  To 
hunt  grass,  to  be  knocked  down, 
grassed  (q.v.):  also,  to  be  puzzled, 
dumfoundered.  To  hunt  leather,  to 
field  at  cricket  To  hunt  the  dummy, 
to  steal  pocket  books.  To  hunt  the 
squirrel,  an  amusement  practised  by 
post  boys  and  stage-coachmen,  which 
consists  in  following  a  one  -  horse 
chaise,  and  driving  it  before  them, 
passing  close  to  it  so  as  to  brush  the 
wheel,  and  by  other  means  terrifying 
any  woman  or  person  that  may  be  in 
it :  a  man  whose  turn  comes  for  him 
to  drink,  before  he  has  emptied  his 
former  glass,  is  said  to  be  hunted 
(Grose).  In  (or  out  of)  the  hunt, 
having  a  chance  (or  none) ;  in  (or  out) 
of  the  swim  (q.v.),  admitted  to  (or 
outside)  a  circle  or  society. 

Hunt-about.  1.  A  prying  gossip.  2. 
A  street  walker. 

Hunt-counter.     A  beggar  (1598). 

Hunters.  Pitching  the  hunters,  the 
three  sticks  a  penny,  with  snuff-boxes 
stuck  upon  sticks  ;  if  you  throw  your 
stick,  and  they  fall  out  of  the  hole,  you 
are  entitled  to  what  vou  knock  off 
(Lond.  Lab.). 

Hurly-burly.  A  commotion,  bustle, 
uproar  (1509). 


234 


Hurrays-nest. 


Image. 


Hurra 's-nest.  The  utmost  confu- 
sion, everything  topsy  -  turvy,  sixes- 
and-sevens. 

Hurrah  in  Hell.  Not  to  care  a  single 
hurrah  in  hell,  to  be  absolutely  in- 
different. 

Hurry.  A  quick  passage  on  the 
violin,  or  a  roll  on  the  drum,  leading 
to  a  climax  in  the  representation. 

Hurry-durry.  Rough,  boisterous, 
impatient  of  counsel  or  control  (1677). 

Hurrygraph.  A  hastily  written 
letter. 

Husband's  -  boat.  The  Saturday 
boat  to  Margate  during  the  summer 
season  (1867). 

Husband 's-tea.  Weak- tea,  water 
bewitched  (q.v.). 

Hush.    To  kill  (Grose). 

Hush  -  money.  Money  paid  for 
silence,  to  quash  a  case,  or  stay  a  wit- 
ness, a  bribe,  blackmail  (1709). 

Hush-shop  (or  crib).  An  unlicensed 
tavern. 

Husky  (Winchester  College).  Goose- 
berry fool  with  the  husks  in  it :  obsolete 
(Notions).  As  adj.,  stout,  well  built. 

Husky-lour.  A  guinea  :  see  Rhino 
(1696). 

Hussy.  A  corruption  of  housewife 
(q.v.). 


Hustle.  To  bestir  oneself,  go  to 
work  with  vigour  and  energy  :  also  to 
hustle  around. 

Hustler.  An  active  man  or  woman, 
a  hummer  (q.v.),  rustler  (q.v.). 

Hutch.  A  place  of  residence  or 
employment,  diggings  (q.v.). 

Hutter.     See  Hatter. 

Huxter.  Money  :  also  Hoxter  :  see 
Rhino. 

Huzzy  (or  Huzzie).  A  case:  of 
needles,  pins,  scissors,  bodkins,  etc.,  a 
housewife's  companion. 

Hypernese.  A  dialect  of  school  crypt- 
oepy.  When  spoken  fast  it  defies  an 
outsider's  curiosity.  If  two  consonants 
commence  a  syllable,  the  former  ia 
dropped,  and  W  substituted :  thus 
breeches  would  be  wareechepes.  If  P 
commences  a  syllable,  G  is  interpolated: 
thus  penny  would  be  pegennepy  .... 
Bishop  Wilkins  described  it,  without 
mentioning  it  as  a  novelty,  a  couple  of 
centuries  ago. 

Hyphenated  American.  A  natural- 
ised citizen,  as  German  -  Americans, 
Irish- Americans,  and  the  like  (Norton). 

Hypocrite.  A  pillow  slip  or 
sham. 

Hyps  (or  Hypo).  The  blue  devils 
(q.v.)  (1710). 


Ice.  A  big  thing  on  ice,  a  profitable 
venture,  good  thing  ;  also  B.T.I. 

Icken.  Oak.  Icken-baum,  oak-tree  : 
from  the  German  (Matsdl). 

Ictus.  A  lawyer  :  see  Green-bag. 
[A  corruption  of  juris  consultas]. 

Idea-pot  (or  box).  The  head:  see 
Crumpet  (Grose). 

Identical.  Generally  the  identical, 
the  self-same  person,  point,  argument, 
or  action  (1664). 

I  desire.     A  fire. 

Ignoramus.  A  stupid  and  unlettered 
person,  male  or  female  :  first  applied  to 
ignorant  lawyers :  from  Latin,  we 
ignore  (it),  the  endorsement  by  which 
a  grand  jury  threw  out  a  bill  (1569). 

Ignoramus- jury.  A  Grand  Jury. 
(1696). 

I  k  e  y.  A  Jew  :  specifically  a  Jew 
fence  (q.v.):  a  corruption  of  Isaac: 
also  Ikey  Mo.  As  adj.,  smart,  fly 
(q.v.),  knowing  (q.v.). 

He.     See  Oil. 


111.  Vicious,  unpleasant,  ill-tem- 
pered :  cf.  Religious.  Also  ill  for, 
having  a  vicious  propensity  for  any- 
thing (Jamieson) :  cf.  Neither  is  it  ill 
air  only  that  makes  an  ill  seat,  but 
ill  ways,  ill  markets,  and  ill  neigh- 
bours (Bacon).  To  do  ill  to,  to  wrong 
a  woman. 

Illegitimate.  1.  A  counterfeit 
sovereign;  young  illegitimate,  a  half 
sovereign  (Bee).  2.  A  low  grade  coster- 
monger.  As  adj.,  applied  to  steeple- 
chasing  or  hurdle  -  racing,  as  distin- 
guished from  work  on  the  flat. 

Ill-fortune.  Ninepence  :  also  the 
picture  of  til-luck  (B.  E. ). 

Illuminate.  To  interline  with  a 
translation  (1856). 

Illustrated  Clothes.  See  Historical 
Shirt. 

I'm-afloat.  1.  A  boat.  2.  A  coat:  see 
Capella. 

Image.  An  affectionate  reproof  : 
e.g.  Come  out  you  little  image  ! 


236 


Immense. 


Infant. 


Immense.  A  general  superlative  : 
cf.  Awful,  Bloody,  etc.  (1771). 

Immensikoff .  A  fur-lined  overcoat : 
from  the  burden  of  a  song,  The  Shore- 
ditch  Toff,  sung  (e.  1868)  by  the  late 
Arthur  Lloyd,  who  described  himself 
as  Immensikoff,  and  wore  an  upper 
garment  heavily  trimmed  with  fur. 

Immortals.The  Seventy-Sixth  Foot: 
now  the  second  battalion  of  the  Duke 
of  Wellington's  (West  Riding  Regi- 
ment). [Most  of  its  men  were  wounded, 
but  escaped  being  killed,  in  India  in 
1806.]  Also  the  Pigs,  and  The  Old 
Seven  and  Sixpennies. 

Imp.  A  mischievous  brat,  a  small 
or  minor  devil :  originally  a  child. 
[Trench :  there  are  epitaphs  extant 
commencing,  Here  lies  that  noble  imp ; 
and  Lord  Cromwell,  writing  to  Henry 
VIII.,  speaks  of  That  noble  imp  your 
son.]  2.  A  man  who  gets  up  cases  for 
a  devil  (q.v.). 

Imperence.  Impertinence,  impud- 
ence, cheek  (q.v.)-  Also,  inferentially, 
an  impudent  person ;  e.g.  What's 
your  imperence  about  T  (1766). 

Imperial.  A  tuft  of  hair  worn  on  the 
lower  Up.  [It  was  introduced  by  the 
Emperor  Napoleon  IIL]  See  Goatee. 

Implement  (old).  A  Tool,  a  Pro- 
perty, or  Fool  easily  engaged  in  any 
(tho'  difficult  or  Dangerous)  Enter- 
prise (B.  E.). 

Importance.  A  wife :  also  com- 
fortable importance  (q.v.)  (1647). 

Impost  -  taker.  A  gambler's  and 
blackleg's  money-lender,  sixty-per- 
cent, (q.v.)  (1696). 

Improvement.  That  part  of  a 
sermon  which  enforces  and  applies  to 
everyday  life  the  doctrine  previously 
Bet  forth,  the  application. 

Impure.    A  wanton  (1511). 

In.  A  person  in,  or  holding  an 
office ;  specifically  (in  politics),  a 
member  of  the  party  in  office  :  cf.  Out 
(1768).  As  adv.,  various:  cricketers, 
at  the  wickets  ;  general,  in  season  ; 
also,  on  an  equality  with,  sharing,  or 
intimate  with,  or  fashionable ;  poli- 
tical, in  office  ;  thieves',  in  prison  ;  or 
quodded  (q.v.).  To  be  in  (or  in  it) 
with  one,  ( 1)  to  be  even  with,  on  guard 
against ;  (2)  to  be  on  intimate  terms 
(or  in  partnership)  with,  in  the  swim 
(q.v.).  To  be  in  for  it,  (1)  to  be  in 
trouble ;  generally  to  be  certain  to 
receive,  suffer,  or  do  (something) 
(1668) ;  (2)  To  be  with  child.  In  for 


the  plate,  venereally  infected.  For 
all  there's  in  it,  to  the  utmost  capacity 
(of  persons  and  things).  To  play 
one's  hand  for  all  there's  in  it,  to  use 
fair  means  or  foul  to  attain  an  object. 
To  get  it  in  for  one,  to  remember  to  one's 
disadvantage.  For  combinations  see 
Altitudes,  Arms  of  Morpheus,  Bad 
way,  Blues,  Bottom  of  the  bag,  Buff, 
Bunch,  Cart,  Click,  Clover,  Crack, 
Crook,  Cups,  Dead  earnest,  Difficulty, 
Hole,  Jiffy,  Jug,  Kish,  Know,  Laven- 
der, Limbo,  Liquor,  Lurch,  Patter, 
Pound,  Print,  Queer  Street,  Rags, 
Running,  Shape,  Shell,  Skiffle,  Slash, 
State  of  Nature,  Straw,  String,  Suds, 
Sun,  Swim,  Tin-pot  way,  Town, 
Twinkling,  Water,  Wind,  Wrong  box, 
etc. 

In-and-out.  The  detail  or  intricacies 
of  a  matter ;  generally  in  pL,  e.g.  To 
know  all  the  ins-and-outa  of  a  matter. 
As  adv.,  unequal,  variable :  ap- 
plied to  the  performances  of  a  horse 
which  runs  well  one  day,  and  on 
another  not. 

Inch.  To  encroach,  move  slowly 
(1696). 

Incog.  1.  Unknown,  in  disguise : 
also  as  subs.  [An  abbreviation  of 
incognito.]  (1696).  2.  Drunk:  i.e. 
disguised  in  liquor :  see  Screwed 
(1823). 

Incognita.  A  high-class  prostitute, 
anonyma  (q.v.). 

Incumbrance.     In  pi.,  children. 

Indentures.  To  make  indentures, 
to  stagger  with  drink  (1622). 

Indescribables.  Trousers :  see  Kicks 
(1835). 

Index.  The  face,  dial  (q.v.),  phiz 
(q.v.). 

Indian.  To  prowl  about,  live  like 
an  Indian. 

Indian-gift.  An  inadequate  return  or 
exchange,  a  sprat  for  a  whale.  Indian 
giver,  one  who  takes  back  a  gift. 

India-wipe.  A  silk  handkerchief 
(Grose). 

Indies.     See  Black  Indies. 

Indispensable s.  Trousers:  see 
Kicks. 

Indorse.  To  cudgel,  lay  cane  on 
Abel  (Grose). 

Ineffable.  In  pi.,  trousers;  see 
Kicks. 

Inexplicables.  Trousers  :  see  Kicks. 

Inexpressibles.  Trousers :  see  Kicks 
(1790). 

Infant    See  Woolwich  Infant 


236 


Infantry. 


Interloper. 


Infantry.  Children :  Fr.,  entrer  dans 
rinfanterie,  to  fall  with  child  (1623). 
Light  infantry,  fleas :  cf.  Heavy 
dragoons. 

Infare  (or  Infair).  An  installation 
with  ceremony  and  rejoicing  :  house- 
warming  :  more  particularly  an  enter- 
tainment given  by  a  newly  married 
couple  on  their  return  from  the  honey- 
moon (1375). 

Inferior  (Winchester  College). 
Any  member  of  the  School  not  a 
Praefect  (q.v.). 

Infernal.  An  intensitive :  detest- 
able, fit  only  for  hell :  cf.  Awful, 
Bloody  (1602). 

Infra  -  dig  (Winchester  College). 
Scornful,  proud :  e.g.  He  sported  infra- 
dig  duck,  or  I  am  infra-dig  to  it. 

Ingle.  An  intimate,  dear  friend. 
As  verb,  to  caress,  to  make  much  of 
(1599). 

Ingler.  A  fraudulent  horse-dealer 
(1825). 

Ingotted.  Rich,  warm  (q.v.),  well- 
ballasted  (q.v.). 

Iniquity  Office.     A  registry  office. 

Ingun.  To  get  upon  one's  ingun,  to 
get  angry,  turn  savage. 

Ink.  To  sling  ink,  to  make  a 
business  of  writing  :  see  Ink-slinger. 

Inkhorn  (or  Ink-pot).  Pedantic, 
dry,  smelling  of  the  lamp  (1579). 

Inkle.  To  warn,  give  notice,  hint 
at,  disclose  (1340). 

Inkle-weaver.  A  close  companion, 
chum  (q.v.)  (1725). 

Ink-slinger  (Inkspiller,  or  Ink- 
waster).  1.  A  journalist,  author, 
brother  of  the  quill  (q.v.) :  generally  in 
contempt  of  a  raw  hand :  Fr.,  marchand 
de  lignes, 

Ink-slinging.  Writing  for  the  press : 
Fr.,  scribouillage, 

Inky.  Used  evasively :  e.g.  of  a 
question  to  which  a  direct  answer  is 
undesirable  or  inconvenient. 

Inlaid  (or  Well-inlaid).  In  easy 
circumstances,  with  well-lined  pockets, 
warm  (q.v.)  (1696). 

Innards.  The  stomach  :  also  In- 
wards (1602).  To  fill  one's  innards, 
to  eat. 

Inner-man.     The  appetite. 

Innings.  A  turn,  spell,  chance  : 
from  cricket  (1836).  To  have  a  good 
innings,  to  be  fortunate :  especially 
in  money  matters.  To  have  a  long 
innings,  to  die  in  the  fulness  of 
years. 


Innocent.  1.  A  simpleton,  idiot 
(1598) :  see  Buffle.  2.  A  corpse, 
stiff  (q.v.).  3.  A  convict.  The  mur- 
der (slaughter,  or  massacre)  of  the 
innocents,  the  abandonment,  towards 
the  end  of  a  session,  of  measures 
whether  introduced  by  the  Govern- 
ment or  by  private  members,  when 
they  would  have  no  chance  of  passing 
(1859). 

Innominables.  Breeches,  trousers, 
inexpressibles :  see  Kicks. 

Inside.  A  passenger  riding  inside  a 
vehicle  :  see  Outside  (1816).  As  adj. 
and  adv.,  trustworthy,  pertinent,  in 
touch  with,  bottom  (q.v.).  To  know 
the  inside  of  everything,  to  be  well 
informed.  Inside  of,  within  the  limit, 
in  less  time  than.  To  take  the  inside 
out  of  (a  glass,  a  book,  etc.),  to  empty, 
gut  (q.v.)  (1843).  To  be  on  (or  to 
have)  the  inside  track,  to  be  on  the  safe 
side,  at  a  point  of  vantage,  or  (of  a 
subject)  to  understand  thoroughly. 
Inside  and  outside  !  A  toast. 

Insider.  1.  One  in  the  know 
(q.v.).  2.  One  who  has  some  special 
advantage,  as  in  a  business  enter- 
prise. 

Inside-lining.    Food. 

Inside-squatter.  A  settler  within  the 
bounds  of  civilisation :  see  Outside 
Squatter. 

Inspector  of  Pavements.  1.  A 
man  in  the  pillory  (1821).  2.  A  man 
out  of  work :  also  inspector  of  public 
buildings :  Fr.,  Inspecteur  de  monu- 
ments publiques. 

Inspire.  To  impart  a  tone,  pos- 
sibly official,  to  the  subject  matter  of 
a  newspaper  or  magazine  article. 

Inspired.  1.  Drunk:  see  Screwed. 
2.  See  Inspire. 

Institution.  A  practice,  idea,  in- 
vention, established  custom  or  usage 
(1851). 

Int.     A  sharper  (1621). 

Intense.  Serious,  soulful,  aesthetic 
(q.v.) ;  yearnest  (q.v.). 

Intimate.    A  shirt. 

Interesting  condition  (or  situation). 
To  be  in  a,  to  be  with  child  (1748). 

Interfere.     To  maltreat. 

Interloper.  An  unlicensed  trader, 
smuggler,  one  who  interferes,  or  inter- 
cepts unwarrantably.  Also,  « Hangers 
on,  retainers  to,  or  dependers  upon 
other  folks ;  also  Medlers  and  Busy- 
bodies,  intruders  into  other  Men's 
Professions,  and  those  that  intercept 


237 


It. 


the  trade  of  a  Company,  being  not 
legally  authorised  '  (B.  E.). 

Into.      To  be  into  a  man,  to  pitch 
into  him,  fight  him.     As  prep.,  short 
of,   wanting :    e.g.   I   thought  I  did 
pretty  well  delivering  all  the  load  into 
one  box  (i.e.  all  but  one  box). 
Invite.     An  invitation  (1615). 
Inward.   1.  An  intimate  (1603).    2. 
In  pL,  see  Innards. 

Irish.  Irish  whisky,  Fenian  (q.v.). 
To  get  one's  Irish  up,  to  get  angry : 
also  to  get  one's  dutch  (or,  in  America, 
Indian)  up.  As  adj.,  an  epithet  of 
contempt  and  derogation :  as,  Irish- 
arms  (or  legs),  thick  legs.  No  Irish 
need  apply,  phr.  (American).  You're 
not  wanted,  Git !  (q.v.).  You're 
Irish,  said  of  any  one  talking  un- 
intelligibly. 

Irish-apricot  (apple,  or  lemon). 
A  potato  :  see  Murphy  (Grose). 

Irish-assurance.  A  bold,  forward 
behaviour ;  it  is  said  a  dipping  in 
the  Shannon  annihilates  bashfulness 
(Grose). 

Irish-beauty.  A  woman  with  two 
black  eyes  (Grose). 

Irish-evidence.  A  false  witness 
(Grose). 

Irishman 's-dinner.     A  fast. 
Irishman 's-harvest      The  orange 
season. 

Irishman's -hurricane.  A  dead 
calm. 

Irishman's  -  reef.  The  head  of  a 
sail  tied  up  (Clark  Sussell). 

Irish-pennants.  Fag  ends  of  rope, 
rope-yarns,  etc. 

Irish-rifle.     A  small  tooth-comb. 
Irish-rise  (or  promotion).     A  re- 
duction in  position  or  pay. 

Irish  -  theatre.  A  guard  room  or 
lock-up  in  barracks  :  Fr.,  maison  de 
campagne. 

Irish-toyle.  '  The  Twelfth  Order  of 
Canters  :  also  Rogues  carrying  Finns. 
Points,  Laces,  and  such  like  Wares, 
and  under  pretence  of  selling  them, 
commit  Thefts  and  Robberies'  (B.  E.), 
Irish-wedding.  The  emptying  of  a 
cesspool :  see  Goldfinder.  To  have 
danced  at  an  Irish  wedding,  to  have 
got  two  black  eyes. 

Iron.  1.  Money):  see  Rhino  (Grose). 
2.  Courage.  3.  In  pL,  fetters :  see 
Darbies.  As  verb,  to  flatter  (1823). 
Bad  iron,  failure,  misadventure,  bad 
luck.  To  polish  the  king's  iron  with 
one's  eyebrow,  to  look  out  of  grated 


or  prison  windows  (Grote).     To  have 
many  irons  in  the  fire  (or  on  the  anvil), 
to  carry  out  many   projects  at  the 
same    time,    especially    schemes    for 
making  money  (1593). 
Ironbark.     See  Ironclad. 
Iron-bound.     1.  Laced  with  metal. 
Iron-bound   hat,    a   silver    laced    hat 
(Grose).     2.  A  hard-baked  pie. 

Ironclad.       1.    A    paragon :    as   a 
severely    chaste    girl,    popular    play, 
song,   horse,   etc.     2.    An   iron-cased 
watch.     As   adj.,    strong,    hard,    un- 
yielding: also  Ironbark  (q.v.). 
Iron-cow.     See  Cow. 
Iron-doublet.       1.    A   prison :    see 
Cage.     2.  Innocence. 

Iron-horse.  1.  A  locomotive.  2. 
A  tricycle  or  bicycle. 

Ironmonger 's-shop.  To  keep  an 
ironmonger's  shop  by  the  side  of  a 
common,  where  the  sheriff  sets  one  up, 
to  be  hanged  in  chains :  see  Ladder 
(Grose). 

Iron-rations.  Tinned  meat :  speci- 
fically boiled  salt  -  beef :  see  Bully- 
beef. 

Iron-toothpick.  A  sword,  poker 
(q.v.). 

Irrigate.  To  drink,  liquor  up  :  also 
to  irrigate  one's  canal  (1708). 

Isabella.  An  umbrella,  mushroom 
(q.v.). 

Island.  To  drink  out  of  the  island, 
1  he  drank  out  of  the  bottle  till  he  saw 
the  island :  the  island  is  the  rising 
bottom  of  a  wine  bottle,  which  ap- 
pears like  an  island  in  the  centre, 
before  the  bottle  is  quite  empty.'  (Lex. 
Bal.). 

Island  of  Bermuda.    See  Bermudas. 
Isle-of-fling.     A  coat :  see  Capella. 
Issues.     To  pool  one's  issues,  to 
work  in  unison,  come  to  an  under- 
standing for  mutual  advantage. 

Isthmus-of-Suez.  The  bridge  at  St 
John's  College,  Cambridge,  leading 
from  the  grounds  to  one  of  the  Courts 
familiarly  known  as  the  Bridge  of 
Sighs :  also  The  Bridge  of  Grunts. 
[From  its  slight  similarity  to  the 
Venetian  example  Sues,  swine,  in 
punning  reference  to  the  John! an 
hogs  (q.v.) :  see  Crackle  and  Hog. 

I  subscribe.  A  response  to  an  invita- 
tion to  drink  :  see  Drinks. 

I  suppose.     The  nose  :  see  Conk. 
It     A  chamber-pot.     English  syno- 
nyms: bishop,  chantie  (Scots'),  jerry, 
Jordan,  jerker,  jockum-gage,  lagging- 


23S 


Itchland. 


Jack. 


gage,  looking  -  glass,  member  -  mug, 
mingo,  piss-pot,  po,  smoker,  smoke- 
spell,  tea-voider,  thunder-mug,  twiss. 

Itchland  (or  Scratchland).  1. 
Wales  (B.  E.  1690) ;  2.  Scotland  (New 
Cant  Diet.).  Itchlander,  a  Scot. 

Itching-palm.     See  Palm. 

Item.  A  hint,  piece  of  news :  (in 
gaming)  a  signal  from  a  confederate  ; 
(American  journalist)  a  paragraph  of 
news  ;  (thieves')  a  warning  (1650). 

Ivories.  1.  The  teeth  :  see  Grind- 
ers (1782).  2.  Dice:  also  (cards') 
checks  and  counters.  English  syno- 
nyms (for  both  genuine  and  false 
pieces),  bones,  cogs,  fulhams,  devil's 
teeth,  devil's  bones,  gourds,  rattlers, 
tats,  high  men,  low  men,  uphills.  3. 


Billiard  balls.  To  flash  the  ivories, 
(1)  to  show  the  teeth  (Grose) ;  (2),  to 
be  dissected  or  anatomised  after 
execution,  the  skeleton  being  taken 
to  the  College  of  Surgeons  ;  prison, 
(3)  to  be  hanged.  To  sluice  (wash 
or  rince)  one's  ivories,  to  drink :  see 
Lush. 

Ivory-box.  The  mouth  :  see  Po- 
tato-trap. 

Ivory-Carpenter.  A  dentist,  snag- 
catcher  (q.v.). 

Ivory-thumper  (or  Spanker).  A 
pianist. 

Ivy-bush.  Like  an  owl  in  an  ivy 
bush,  a  simile  for  a  meagre,  or  weazle- 
faced  man,  with  a  large  wig,  or  very 
bushy  hair  (Grose). 


Jab  (or  Job).  A  prod,  poke,  stab.  As 
verb,  to  handle  harshly,  hustle,  prod, 
poke,  stab  (with  a  pointed  weapon). 

Jabber.  Chatter,  incoherent  or 
inarticulate  and  unintelligible  speech 
(as  a  foreign  language  heard  by  one 
ignorant  of  it)  (1706).  As  verb,  to 
Talk  thick  and  fast,  as  great  Praters 
do,  or  to  Chatter,  like  a  Magpye  (B.  E.) 
(1548) ;  to  speak  a  foreign  language 
(Grose).  Hence,  jabberer,  one  who 
jabbers ;  jabbering,  nonsense,  indistinct 
and  rapid  speech,  patter  (q.v.) ;  also 
jabberment ;  jabberingly,  indistinctly, 
nonsensically. 

Jabbernowl.     See  Jobbernowl. 

Jabers  (or  Jabez).  Be  (orby)  jabers 
(or  jabez),  an  oath  (1821). 

Jack.  1.  A  farthing  ;  also  (Ameri- 
can thieves'),  a  small  coin  (1690).  2. 
The  small  bowl  aimed  at  in  the  game  of 
bowls  (1605).  3.  A  contrivance  to 
assist  a  person  in  taking  off  his  boots, 
a  bootjack  (1696).  4.  The  knave  in 
any  of  the  four  suits  in  a  pack  of  cards  : 
Fr.,  galuchet,  larbin  savonne,  mistigris 
(1662).  5.  A  post-chaise  (Grose).  6. 
A  pitcher  varying  in  capacity  (gener- 
ally made  of  leather),  blackjack  (q.v.) 
(1592).  7.  A  Jacobite.  8.  A  term  of 
contempt.  [The  usage  is  common  in 
most  modern  languages :  e.g.  Fr., 
Jean-guetre,  peasant,  Jean-bete,  cab- 
bage-head, Jean-fesse  or  Jean-foutre, 
scamp;  It.,  Gianni,  whence  Zany ;  Sp., 
Juan,  as  6060  Juan,  foolish  John. 
See  also  many  combinations — To  play 


the  Jack,  to  act  the  fool  (or  goat,  q.v.) ; 
Cheap  Jack,  a  peddling  tradesman  ; 
Jack- fool  (Chaucer),  a  thundering 
idiot ;  Jack- friar,  a  hedge-priest  (q.v.) ; 
Jack-slave,  a  vulgarian ;  Jack-brag,  a 
boaster  ;  Jack-snip,  a  botching  tailor  ; 
Jack-straw,  a  low-born  rebel ;  Jack- 
sprat,  a  mannikin ;  skip-jack,  an  up- 
start ;  Jack-at-warts,  a  little  conceited 
fellow ;  Jack-in-the-box,  the  sacrament ; 
Jack-upaland  (Chaucer),  a  peasant. 
9.  A  counter  resembling  in  size  and 
appearance  a  sovereign ;  also  Half- 
jacks.  [They  are  all  made  in  Birm- 
ingham, and  are  of  the  size  and 
colour  of  the  genuine  sovereigns  and 
half  -  sovereigns  ....  Each  presents 
a  profile  of  the  Queen ;  but  instead  of 
the  superscription  Victoria  Dei  Gratia 
of  the  true  sovereign,  the  jack  has 
Victoria  Regina.  On  the  reverse,  in 
the  place  of  the  Britanniarum  Regina 
Fid.  Def.  surrounding  the  royal  arms 
and  crowns  is  a  device  (intended  for 
an  imitation  of  St.  George  and  the 
Dragon)  representing  a  soldier  on 
horseback — the  horse  having  three 
legs  elevated  from  the  ground,  while 
a  drawn  sword  fills  the  right  hand  of 
the  equestrian,  and  a  crown  adorns 
his  head.  The  superscription  is,  To 
Hanover,  and  the  rider  seems  to  be 
sociably  accompanied  by  a  dragon. 
Round  the  Queen's  head  on  the  half 
jack  is  Victoria,  Queen  of  Great 
Britain,  and  on  the  reverse  the  Prince 
of  Wales's  feather,  with  the  legend 


Jack. 


Jacket. 


The   Prince  of   Wales' s   Model   Hall 
Sovereign.]     10.    (a)    A    sailor :    also 
Jack-tar,  English-jack,  and  Spanish- 
jack  ;   (b)  an   attendant   at  a   boat- 
house;   also  Jack-in-the- water  (q.v.) 
(1788).     11.  A  stranger.     12.  A  male 
sweetheart:  cf.  GUI  (1500).     13.  The 
Union  Jack,   the   rag   (q.v.)    (1662). 
14.  A  seal:  see  Jark.     16.  A  police- 
man :  see  Copper.     16.  See  Jakes.     17. 
A  male :  as  in  the  compounds  jack- 
hare,     jack  -  crow,     jack  •  ass,     jack- 
rabbit,  etc.  (1563).     18.  An  ape.     19. 
A  peasant  (1513).     As  verb,   (1)   to 
brand     an     unmarked     yearling     or 
maverick   (q.v.).  ;    (2)   to   run   away 
quickly :     see    Bunk.     Phrases :     To 
lay  on  the  jack,  to  thrash  soundly, 
scold  in  good    round    terms,   baste, 
tan    (1557);    to   make  one's  jack,    to 
succeed,  gain  one's  point :  from  the 
game  of  faro ;  to  be  coppered  on  the 
jack,  to  fail,  lose  one's  point :  from  the 
game  of  faro  ;  to  play  the  jack,  to  play 
the  rogue   (1609);   to  be  upon  their 
jacks,  to   have  an  advantage ;    every 
man  jack  (or  every  jack-rag),  every 
one  without  exception  (1845);  Jack- 
at-a-pinch,  a  person  employed  in  an 
emergency,  stop-gap;    specifically,  a 
clergyman  who  has   no  cure,  but  on 
occasion    officiates    for    a    fee :    cf. 
Guinea-pig  (1696) ;  Jack-in-a  (or-the)- 
box,(\)  a  sharper,  cheat;  (2)  a  child's 
toy,  consisting  of  a  box  out  of  which, 
on  raising  the  lid,   a  figure  springs 
(1570);   (3)  a  game  in  which  some 
article,  of  more  or  less  value,  is  placed 
on  the  top  of  a  stick  standing  in  a 
hole,  and  thrown  at  with  sticks  :  if  the 
article  be  hit  so  as  to  fall  clear  of  the 
hole,  the  thrower  takes  it ;  (4)  a  small 
but  powerful   kind  of  screw,  used  by 
burglars  to  open  safes  (1848) ;  (5)  see 
Jack-in-the- cellar  ;  (6)  a  street-pedlar 
(1696);  (7)  the  sacrament;    Jack-in 
office,  an   over-bearing  petty  official, 
upstart,   Jack  -  in  -  the  -  pulpit   (q.v.) 
(1696);  Jack-in-the-cellar  (or  box),  a 
child   in   the   womb,    Hans-en-kelder 
(q.v.)     (1765);     Jack-in-the-dust,     a 
steward's  mate ;  Jack-in-the-green,  a 
chimney-sweep  enclosed  in  a  portable 
framework  of  boughs  for  the  proces- 
sions on  the  first  of  May  :  now  mainly 
a  thing  of  the  past ;  Jack-in-the-pulpit, 
a    pretender,    upstart,    Jack-in-office 
(q.v.);   Jack-in-the-water,   an  odd   or 
handy  man  at  a  boat-house  or  landing 
stage :    also   Jack   (q.v.,   sense    10) ; 


Jack-oj -all-trades,  one  who  can  (or 
pretends  to  be  able  to)  turn  his  hand 
to  any  business  :  now  usually  in  con- 
tempt, as  Jack  -  of  -  all  -  trades  and 
master  of  none  (1633);  Jack-of-legs, 
(1)  an  extra  tall  man,  lamp- post 
(q.v.);  (2)  a  large  clasp  knife:  see 
Jocteleg ;  Jack-on-both-siaes,  a  neutral; 
also  one  who  hunts  with  the  hounds 
and  runs  with  the  hare,  a  fence- 
rider  (q.v.)  (1594) ;  Jack-out-of-doors,  a 
vagrant  (1634);  Jack-out-of -office,  a 
discharged  official :  in  derision  (1592) ; 
Jack-the-painter,  a  much  adulterated 
green  tea  used  in  the  bush  ;  Jack-the- 
slipper,  the  treadmill,  wheel  of  life 
(q.v.);  to  jack  the  interim,  to  be  re- 
manded ;  to  jack  up,  to  clinch,  abandon, 
chuck  (q.v.);  jacked-up,  ruined,  done 
for. 

Jack  Adams.  A  fool :  see  Buffle 
(1696). 

Jack-a-dandy.  1.  A  little  fop,  cox- 
comb, dandiprat  (q.v.):  also  Jack 
Dandy  (1632).  2.  Brandy. 

Jack  -  a  -  green.  See  Jack-in-the- 
green,  under  Jack. 

Jack -a- lent.  (1)  A  dapperling, 
dwarf ;  and  (2)  a  simpleton :  also 
Jack-o'-lent  (1596). 

Jackanapes.  An  absurd  fop,  whip- 
per-snapper :  a  general  term  of  re- 
proach. Jackanapes  -  coat,  a  dandy- 
coat  (Pepys).  [Originally,  no  doubt, 
a  gaudy-suited  and  performing  ape 
(the  word  is  still  good  Scots  for  a 
monkey  ;  cf.  Scott,  Redgauntlet) ;  and, 
hence,  by  implication,  anybody  at 
once  ugly  (or  diminutive),  showy,  and 
impudent.  Also  a  Jack-of-apes  was  a 
man  who  exhibited  performing  apes] 
(1529). 

Jackaroo.  A  fresh  arrival  from 
England,  new  chum  (q.v.). 

Jackass.  A  stupid  ignoramus  :  see 
Buffle.  Also  Jackassism,  stupidity. 

Jackass  -  Frigate.  A  small  slow- 
sailing  frigate  (1833). 

Jack-cove.  A  mean  low  fellow, 
snide  (q.v.)  (Matsell). 

Jack  (or  Tom)  Drum's  Entertain- 
ment. Ill  -  treatment,  ignominious 
dismissal :  cf.  Stafford  law. 

Jacked.     Spavined,  lamed. 

Jackeen  (or  Dublin  Jackeen).  A 
Dublin  'Arry  (q.v.). 

Jacken-closer.     A  seal. 

Jackery.  A  favoured  station  hand 
(Australian). 

Jacket.      1.    The  skin  of  an  un- 


24U 


Jacketing. 


Jakes. 


pared  potato :  generally  in  phrase 
boiled  in  their  jackets.  2.  A  pinafore 
roundabout  (q.v.).  3.  A  folded 
docket- paper.  As  verb,  (1)  to  cheat, 
swindle,  betray  ;  (2)  to  thrash,  beat : 
also  to  trim  (du#t  or  lace)  one's  jacket 
(1704);  (3)  to  enclose  (a  document) 
after  scheduling  within  it  other  papers 
relating  to  the  same  subject,  docket ; 
(4)  to  denote,  point  out.  To  give  a 
red-laced  jacket,  to  flog.  To  line  one's 
jacket,  to  eat  or  drink,  fill  one's 
stomach  (1611).  Pull  down  your 
jacket  (or  vest),  keep  cool  !  don't  get 
excited  !  hold  your  hair  on  (q.v.). 
To  send  in  one's  jacket,  to  resign, 
deliver  up  one's  badge  of  office. 

Jacketing.   A  thrashing,  reprimand. 

Jacket-reverser.    A  turncoat. 

Jackey.     Gin  :  see  Drinks. 

Jack  Frost.  A  popular  personifica- 
tion of  frost :  cf.  John  Fog  and  Tommy 
Snow. 

Jack-gagger.  A  man  living  on  his 
wife's  immorality. 

Jack  Ketch  (or  Kitch).  A  hang- 
man or  executioner,  a  dancing-master 
(q.v.),  topsman  (q.v.).  [From  a 
famous  practitioner  of  that  name 
(circa  1663-86).  Before  his  time  the 
office  had  been  filled  by  men  whose 
names  each  and  all  became  popular 
colloquialisms:  e.g.  Derrick  (q.v.), 
Gregory  Brandon  (Gregorian  tree, 
(q.v.),  Dun  (q.v.)  (1676).  As  verb,  to 
hang.  Jack  Ketch's  kitchen,  a  room  in 
"fewgate,  where  the  hangman  boiled 
the  quarters  of  those  executed  and 
dismembered  for  high  treason.  Jack 
Ketch's  pippin,  a  candidate  for  the 

"Jows,  gallows-apple  (q.v.). 

Jack-leg.     Blackleg. 

Jackman.     See  Jarkman. 

Jack-nasty.  A  sneak,  sloven  :  cf. 
Tack-nasty-face  (1856). 

Jack-nasty-face.  1.  A  sailor :  specifi- 
cally a  cook  (1811).  2.  A  filthy 
unpleasant-looking  person :  cf. 
lack-nasty  (1823). 

Jack-pudding.    A    serving   merry- 
idrew,     low  -  class     buffoon :     Fr., 
pottage       (jack-soup),      Germ., 
ianswurst     (jack  -  sausage),     Dutch, 

kel-herringe,  It.,  macaroni.     Hence 

ck-puddinghood   (Walpole),  buffoon- 
(1650). 

Jack  Randall.    A  candle  :  the  name 

a  famous  pugilist. 

Jack  Robinson.  Before  one  can  say 
Jack  Robinson,  instantly,  in  the 


shortest  possible  time,  in  two-two'a 
(q.v.). 

Jackrum.  A  marriage  license 
(1825). 

Jack-sauce.  An  impudent  fellow, 
sauce-box  (q.v.)  (1571). 

Jack's  Delight.    A  sailor's  woman. 

Jack-shay.  A  tin  quart  used  for 
boiling  tea,  and  contrived  to  hold  a 
tin  pint. 

Jack-sprat.  An  undersized  man  or 
boy  (Orose)  (1570). 

Jack  -  straw.  1.  A  nobody  ;  and, 
2.  a  dwarf :  see  Hop-o'-my-thumb 
(1596). 

Jack  Tar.  1.  A  sailor ;  and,  2.  a 
hornpipe  (1781). 

Jack  Weight.  A  fat  man,  forty-guts 
(q.v.). 

Jack-whore.  A  large,  masculine, 
overgrown  wench  (Orose). 

Jacob.  1.  Rogues  called  Jacobs ; 
these  go  with  ladders  in  the  dead  of 
the  night,  and  get  in  at  the  windows, 
one,  two,  or  three  pair,  of  stairs,  and 
sometimes  down  the  area  (1753).  2. 
A  ladder  (1714).  3.  A  soft  fellow, 
spooney,  fool  :  see  Buffle  (Grose). 

Jacobite.  A  sham  shirt,  dickey 
(q.v.) ;  also  a  shirt-collar  (B.  E.). 

Jacob's  Ladder.  A  longitudinal  flaw 
in  the  leg  of  a  pair  of  tights ;  now 
applied  to  any  rent  of  which  only  the 
woof  threads  are  left  (1859). 

Jade.  1.  An  epithet  applied  to 
women :  in  contempt :  originally  a 
horse  or  man  (Chaucer) :  especially  (1) 
one  over-ridden  or  foundered ;  and 
(2)  unsafe  and  full  of  tricks :  jadish 
(Nashe),  malicious,  tricky,  untrust- 
worthy (1560) ;  2.  A  long  term  of  im- 
prisonment, stretch  (q.v.). 

Jag.  1.  A  scrap,  load,  parcel,  or 
lot :  e.g.  a  fare,  a  catch  of  fish,  etc. 
(1692).  2.  A  whim,  fancy.  3.  In- 
toxication :  e.g.  to  have  a  jag  on,  to  be 
drunk.  4.  A  drunkard,  Lushington 
(q.v.). 

Jagged.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Jagger.  l.A  gentleman  (1859). 
2.  A  hawker. 

Jague.     A  ditch  (1622). 
jail-bird      A  prisoner,  crack- 
halter  (q.v.)  (1603). 

Jakes.  A  privy,  house  of  office. 
[Century :  The  occurrence  of  dial. 
johnny,  a  jakes  —  also  called  Mrs. 
Jones  by  country  people  (Hattiwett), 
with  dial.  Tom,  a  close-stool,  suggests 
that  jakes  was  originally  Jake's  or 


241 


Jakes-farmer. 


Jawing. 


Jack's,  a  humorous  euphemism.] 
See  Ajax  (1550). 

Jakes-farmer.  An  emptier  of  cess- 
pools, goldfinder  (q.v.) :  also  jakes- 
raker  (Skdton),  and  jakes-barreller 
(1596). 

Jam.  1.  A  sweetheart,  mistress :  also 
bit  of  jam.  Lawful-jam,  a  wife.  2. 
A  certainty  of  winning,  clear  profit : 
also  real  jam.  3.  Excellence,  good 
luck,  happiness.  Jam-up,  the  pink 
of  perfection,  slap-up  (q.v.),  bang- 
up  (q.v.):  also  real  jam  (1855).  4. 
A  crush,  crowd  (1812).  5.  A  ring 
(Maxell).  6.  The  pool  at  Nap,  into 
which  each  dealer  pays,  the  winner  of 
the  next  nap  taking  the  lot.  As  adj., 
neat,  smart,  spruce.  As  verb,  to 
hang  (Grose). 

Jamboree  (or  Jimboree).  A  frolic, 
spree  (q.v.). 

James.  1.  A  crowbar,  jemmy  (q.v.) ; 
FT.,  Jacques  (1819).  2.  A  sovereign  or 
twenty  shillings  (1858).  3.  A  sheep's 
head:  more  frequently,  when  un- 
cooked, bloody  jemmy  (q.v.)  (1827). 

Jamie  Moore.  To  have  been  talking 
to  Jamie  Moore,  to  be  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Jammed.  To  be  jammed,  to  meet 
with  a  violent  death,  by  accident, 
murder,  or  hanging. 

J  a  m  - 1  a  r  t  (Stock  Exchange).  1. 
Exactly  the  market,  buyers  and 
sellers  at  the  same.  2.  A  wife  or 
mistress. 

Jams.  An  abbreviation  of  Jim- 
jams  (q.v.). 

Jan.    A  purse  (1610). 

Jane.     A  sovereign  :  see  Rhino. 

Jane-of-apes.  A  pert  forward  girl ; 
the  counterpart  of  Jackanapes  (q.v.) 
(1624). 

Jango.     Liquor  (1721). 

Janizary.  '  The  Mob  sometimes 
so  called,  and  Bailives,  Sergeants, 
Followers,  Yeomen,  Setters,  and  any 
lewd  gang  depending  upon  others' 
(B.  E.). 

Jannock  (or  Jonnok).  Sociable, 
fair,  just,  straightforward,  conclusive. 
To  die  jannock,  to  die  with  bravado. 

Janusmug.  A  go-between,  inter- 
mediary between  a  thief  and  a  re- 
ceiver. 

Jap.  1.  A  japanner  (Purchas); 
also,  2.  a  Japanese. 

Japan.  1.  To  ordain.  To  be 
japanned,  to  take  orders  (1756).  2. 
To  convert.  To  be  japanned,  to  be 


converted  (MatseU).  3.  To  black 
one's  boots:  FT.,  sabouler  (1712). 

Japanese  Knife  -  trick.  Eating 
with  one's  knife. 

Jap  per  s.     See  Jabera. 

Jargoozle.  To  mislead,  to  lead 
astray,  bamboozle  (q.v.). 

Jark.  1.  A  seal :  It.,  tirella  :  also 
Jack  (1567).  2.  A  watch,  ticker 
(q.v.).  3.  A  safe  -  conduct  pass, 
jasker  (q.v.).  To  jark  it,  to  run 
away  :  see  Bunk. 

Jarkman.  A  begging-letter  writer, 
fabricator  of  false  characters,  counter- 
feit-passes, and  certificates  (1567). 

Jarrehoe  (Wellington  College).  A 
man-servant. 

Jarvel.     A  jacket 

Jarvey  (or  Jarvis).  1.  A  hackney 
coachman  (1811).  2.  (old).  A  hackney 
coach  (1823). 

Jasey  (or  jazey).  1.  A  worsted  wig. 
Cove  unth  a  jazey,  a  judge  (1789).  2. 
A  man  with  an  enormous  quantity  of 
hair  upon  his  head  and  face  (Matsdl). 

Jasker.     A  seal  (Matidl). 

Jason's  fleece.  A  citizen  cheated  of 
his  gold  (B.  E.\. 

Jaum.    To  discover  ( 1 82 1 ). 

Jaw.  Abuse,  chatter,  impudence, 
any  sort  of  talk.  Hold  (or  stow)  your 
jaw,  hold  your  tongue.  All  jaw,  like 
a  sheep's  head,  nothing  but  talk.  Eng- 
lish synonyms :  chin-music,  gab  (or 
gob),  lingo,  lip,  lobs,  patter,  snaffle 
(1748).  As  verb,  to  chatter,  abuse, 
use  violent  language  :  FT.,  faire  ptter 
son  grelot,  or  jouer  du  mirliton  (1748). 
To  jaw  on  the  toby  (or  drum),  to  go 
on  the  road. 

Jawbation.  1.  A  general  confab 
(q.v.),  jawing- match  :  see  Jobation. 
2.  A  scolding. 

Jawbone.  Credit,  day  (q.v.).  To 
call  one's  jawbone,  to  live  on  credit, 
run  one's  face  (q.v.).  English  syno- 
nyms :  to  run  one's  face,  to  get  a 
light,  to  give  (or  strike)  on  the  mace, 
to  mace  it,  to  get  on  sock,  (or,  on  the 
nod),  to  go  tick. 

Jawbreaker  (or  Jawtwister.)  1. 
A  hard  or  many  -  syllabled  word. 
Jawbreaking,  difficult.  2.  A  hard 
punch  on  the  whisker. 

Jaw-cove.  1.  An  auctioneer  ;  and, 
2.  a  lawyer  (Matsett). 

Jawhawk.  To  abuse,  vilify,  jaw 
(q.v.). 

Jawing-  (or  Jaw-)  tackle.  The 
organs  of  speech.  To  have  one's 


242 


Jaw- smith. 


Jerry. 


jawing  tacks  aboard  (or  to  cast  off  one'* 
jaw-tackle),  to  talk  fluently  ;  jawing- 
match,  wordy  warfare  (Clark  Russell). 

Jaw-smith.  1.  An  orator;  also,  2.  a 
loud-mouthed  demagogue  :  originally 
an  official  orator  or  instructor  of  the 
Knights  of  Labour  (St.  Louis  Globe 
Democrat,  1886). 

Jay  (or  J).  1.  A  simpleton:  see 
Buffle.  To  play  (or  scalp)  one  for  (or 
to  flap)  a  jay,  to  dupe,  swindle :  FT., 
rouler  dans  la  farine.  2.  A  wanton. 
It.,  putta  (1596).  3.  An  amateur,  a 
poor  actor. 

Jayhawker.  A  freebooter,  a 
guerilla:  specifically  a  marauder 
during  the  Kansas  troubles,  and 
since  extended  to  all  bandits. 

Jeames.  1.  A  footman,  flunkey 
(q.v.).  2.  The  Morning  Post  news- 
paper. 

Jeff.  A  rope.  As  verb,  to  gamble 
with  quads,  as  with  dice. 

Jeffy.  Lightning  (Matsdl)  (1859). 
In  a  jeffey  :  see  Jiffey. 

Jegger.     See  Jigger. 

Jehu.  A  coachman,  driver :  from 
2  Kings,  ix.  20  (1660). 

Jelly.  A  buxom,  good-looking  girl : 
also  all  jetty  :  cf.  Scots  jelly,  excellent 
or  worthy. — A  jelly  man  well  worthy 
of  a  crown. 

Jelly-belly.  A  fat  man  or  woman, 
forty-guts  (q.v.). 

Jem.  A  gold  ring,  rum-gem,  a 
diamond  ring  (1725). 

Jemima.     A  chamber-pot :  see  It. 

Jeminy!  (or  O  Jeminy  I).  See 
Gemini. 

Jemminess.     See  Jemmy. 

Jemmy  (or  Jimmy).!.  A  short  crow- 
bar, usually  made  in  sections  screwing 
together :  used  by  housebreakers : 
also  James  (q.v.)  (1752).  English 
synonyms  :  bess,  betty,  crow,  dog, 
Jack-in-the-box,  James,  jilt,  lord- 
mayor,  persuading  plate,  pig's-foot, 
the  stick,  screw  (also  a  skeleton  key), 
tiwill,  twist,  twirl.  2.  A  sheep's  head. 

3.  A  shooting  coat ;  also  a  great  coat. 

4.  A  term  of  contempt.     All  jimmy, 

rot.  As  adj.,  (1)  spruce,  dandi- 
fied. Jemminess,  spruceness,  neatness 
(1754) ;  (2)  a  term  of  contempt. 

Jemmy  Ducks.  The  ship's  poulterer: 
also  Billy  Ducks. 

Jemmy  Jessamy.  A  dandy:  also 
as  adj.  (1753).  Jemmy  and  Jessamy, 
a  couple  of  lovers. 

Jemmy-john.     A  demijohn. 


Jemmy  O 'goblin.  A  sovereign:  sea 
Rhino. 

Jenkins'  Hen.  To  die  like  Jenkins' 
hen,  to  die  unmarried. 

Jeeny.  1.  A  she-ass.  2.  A  small 
crowbar;  formerly  betty  or  bess  (q.v.) : 
also  a  hook  on  the  end  of  a  stick 
(1696).  3.  A  losing  hazard  into  the 
middle  pocket  off  a  ball  an  inch  or 
two  from  the  side  cushion.  4.  A  hot- 
water  bottle. 

Jennylinda.    A  window. 

Jeremy  Diddler.  A  shark  (q.v.),  a 
shabby  swindling  borrower  (1803). 

Jericho.  1.  A  place  of  concealment 
or  banishment ;  latterly  and  speci- 
fically, a  prison :  e.g.  as  in  phr.  go  to 
Jericho,  go  to  the  devil :  genericafiy,  a 
place  of  retirement :  cf.  2  Sam.  x.  4 
and  5  (1635).  2.  A  water-closet.  3. 
A  low  quarter  of  Oxford.  From 
Jericho  to  June,  a  long  distance. 

Jerk.  1.  In  pi.,  delirium  tremens  : 
see  Gallon  distemper.  2.  In  pi.,  reli- 
gious paroxysm.  3.  A  retort,  jest, 
quirk  (1653).  4.  A  stripe,  lash  with 
a  whip.  Hence  jerking  (or  yerking), 
lashing,  stinging  ;  jerk,  verb,  to  lash ; 
and  to  cly  the  jerk,  to  be  whipped  at 
the  post  (1557).  5.  A  common  verb 
of  action,  especially  if  rapid  :  e.g.  To 
jerk  the  cat,  to  vomit ;  to  jerk  the 
tinkler,  to  ring  the  bell ;  to  jerk  one's 
juice  or  jetty  (also  to  jerk  off),  to  mas- 
turbate ;  to  jerk  chin  music,  to  talk  ; 
to  jerk  a  poem,  article,  or  book,  to 
write  ;  to  jerk  a  gybe,  to  counterfeit  a 
licence ;  jerked,  or  jerked  to  Jesus 
(American),  hanged ;  in  a  jerk,  in- 
stantly ;  Dr.  Jerk,  flogging  school- 
master. 

Jerker.  1.  A  tippler  :  see  Lush- 
ington.  2.  A  chamber-pot :  see  It. 
3.  A  steward.  4.  A  prostitute. 

Jerkey.  A  roughly-made  vehicle, 
bone-shaker  (q.v.). 

Jeroboam.  1.  A  four-fold  measure  of 
wine,  a  double-magnum  (q.v.):  one 
especially  apt  to  cause  Israel  to  sin 
(see  1  Kings,  xi.  28).  Also,  2.  a  large 
bowl  or  goblet.  3.  See  Jerry. 

Jerran.     Concerned. 

Jerry.  1.  A  chamber-pot,  jero- 
boam :  see  It.  2.  A  hat :  formerly 
Tom  and  Jerry  hat  (q.v.);  a  hard 
round  hat ;  a  pot-hat.  3.  A  celebra- 
tion of  the  completion  of  indentures  : 
Fr.,  roulance.  4.  A  watch,  ticker  (q.v.) 
Fr.,  babUlarde.  5.  A  fog  or  mist  (De 
Vaux).  As  adj.,  as  an  adjectival 


243 


Jerry-builder. 


Jigger. 


prefix  Jerry  is  frequently  used  in  con- 
tempt :  e.g.  jerry-go-nimble,  jerry- 
shop,  jerry-builder  (all  which  and 
others  see).  [An  abbreviation  of 
Jeremiah  :  perhaps  a  Restoration  jibe 
upon  the  Puritan  use  of  Old  Testa- 
ment names  ;  but  see  Jerry- builder.] 
As  verb,  to  jibe,  chaff  with  malice. 

Jerry-builder.  A  rascally  speculat- 
ing builder.  Jerry  built,  run  up  in  the 
worst  materials.  [The  use  of  the 
term  arose  in  Liverpool  circa  1830.] 

Jerrycummumble.  To  shake, 
tumble  about,  towzle  (Orose). 

Jerry-getting  (nicking  or  stealing). 
Stealing  watches. 

Jerry  -  go  -  nimble.  1.  Diarrhoea, 
back  -  door-  trot  (q.v.),  the  colly- 
wobbles (q.v.).  Formerly  thorough -go- 
nimble  (q.v.)  (1734).  2.  An  antic, 
jack-pudding  (q.v.). 

Jerry  Lynch.  A  pickled  pig's- 
head. 

Jerrymander.     See  Gerrymander. 

Jerry  -  shop.  A  beer-house  :  also 
jerry. 

Jerry-sneak.  1.  A  hen-pecked  hus- 
band (1763).  2.  A  watch  thief. 

Jerry  -  wag.  A  sprees ter  (q.v.) 
especially  one  half  drunk  (Bee). 
Jerrywag-shop,  coffee  shop. 

Jersey-Lightning.    Cider  brandy. 

Jerusalem.  An  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise. Oo  to  Jerusalem  I  Go  to  Jericho 
(q.v.).  Jerusalem  the  golden.  Brighton 
cf.  Holy  of  Holies. 

Jerusalem-pony.  1.  An  ass  (1842). 
2.  A  needy  clergyman  helping  for  hire. 

Jessamy.  See  Jemmy  Jessamy. 
(1684). 

Jesse  (Jessie,  or  Jessy).  To  give 
(or  raise)  jesse,  to  rate  with  vigour, 
thrash,  baste,  tan. 

Jester.  1.  A  general  term  of  banter 
for  a  man,  joker  (q.v.),  nice  'un  (q.v.). 
2.  See  Joker. 

Jesuit.  A  graduate  or  undergradu- 
ate of  Jesus  College,  Cambridge  (1771). 

Jet.  A  lawyer :  see  Green  bag. 
Autem-jet,  a  parson.  As  verb,  to 
strut,  walk  pompously :  see  Jetter 
(1557). 

Jetter.  A  pompous  man,  strut- 
noddy  (q.v.):  see  Jet  (1510). 

Jew.  A  cheat,  hard  bargainer, 
sharking  usurer  (1659).  As  verb,  to 
drive  a  hard  bargain,  beat  down  :  also 
to  cheat.  Worth  a  Jew's  eye,  ex- 
tremely valuable,  worth  its  weight  in 
gold :  in  the  Middle  Ages  the  Jews 


were  subject  to  great  extortions,  and 
many  stories  are  related  of  eyes  put 
out,  or  teeth  drawn,  to  enforce  pay- 
ment (1593). 

Jew-bail.  Straw-bail  (q.v.)  (Grose). 

Jew-butter.    Goose-grease. 

Jew-fencer.  A  Jew  street  buyer  (or 
salesman),  generally  of  stolen  goods. 

Jewhilikins !  A  general  exclamation 
of  surprise. 

Jewlark.  To  fool  around :  a  port- 
manteau verb  of  action  (1851). 

Jew's-poker.  A  woman,  living  by 
lighting  the  Jews'  fires  on  Saturdays. 

Jezebel.  An  objectionable  woman, 
termagant,  shrew  :  from  the  wife  of 
Ahab(1553). 

Jib.  1.  The  face  :  the  cut  af  one's 
jib,  the  peculiar  or  characteristic  ap- 
pearance of  a  person  (1825).  2.  A 
first-year's  man.  3.  A  horse  given  to 
shying,  jibber.  As  verb,  (1)  to  shirk, 
funk  (q.v.),  cut  (q.v.)  (Lex.  Bal.) ; 
(2)  to  depart,  be  off :  see  Bunk.  To 
be  jibbed  (Christ's  Hospital),  to  be 
called  over  the  coals,  get  into  trouble, 
be  twigged  (q.v.).  Jib-of-jibs,  an 
impossible  sail,  a  star-gazer  (q.v.), 
sky-scraper  (q.v.). 

Jibb.  1.  The  tongue:  hence,  2. 
language ;  speech. 

Jibber  the  kibber.     See  Kibber. 

Jibe.  To  agree,  live  in  harmony, 
jump  (q.v.). 

J  i  c  k  a  j  o  g.  A  commotion,  push 
(1614). 

Jiffy  (or  Jeffey).  The  shortest  pos- 
sible time  :  also  jiff  (1793). 

Jiffess.     An  employer's  wife. 

Jig.  1.  A  dance,  gig  (q.v.)  (B.  E.). 
2.  An  antic,  nonsense,  game,  lay 
(q.v.)  (1596).  3.  See  Jigger.  4. 
Short  for  giglot  (q.v.).  5.  (Win- 
chester College).  A  clever  man :  fifty 
years  ago  it  meant  a  swindler :  the 
word  has  now  the  meanings  (i)  a  low 
joke,  (ii)  a  swindle,  (iii)  an  object  of 
sport  (Notions)  (1610).  As  verb,  (1) 
to  cheat,  delude,  impose  upon ;  (2)  To 
dance  (1719). 

Jigamaree.  A  bit  of  chaff,  nonsense, 
any  triviality,  thingumbob  (q.v.). 

Jigga-joggy.  A  jolting  motion :  also 
jig-jog  (1605). 

Jigger.  1.  A  door:  also  Jig, 
Jegger,  and  Oyger  :  Fr.,  fendante,  guim- 
barde,  lourde :  It,  diorta,  introibo, 
turlante.  (1567).  2.  A  doorkeeper, 
screw  (q.v.),  a  jailer  or  turnkey  :  also 
jigger-dubber :  Fr.,  due  de  guicnt.  In 


244 


Jigger-dubber. 


Job. 


Hants,  a  policeman  (1749).  3.  A  key. 
4.  A  whipping- post  (1708).  5.  A  secret 
still.  Jiggerstuff,  illicitly  distilled 
spirits ;  Jigger-worker,  a  vendor  of 
the  same :  hence,  also,  a  drink  of 
whisky  (1823).  6.  The  bridge  or  rest 
for  the  cue  when  a  ball  is  beyond 
arm's  length.  7.  The  curtain,  or  rag 
(q.v.).  8.  A  guard-room  :  FT.,  boite: 
also  specifically :  an  interviewing 
chamber  (in  Newgate)  where  felons, 
on  payment,  saw  their  friends.  9. 
A  fiddlestick.  (Jigger  or  Jig  is  also 
applied  to  many  small  mechanical 
contrivances  or  handy  tools).  10.  A 
shifty  fellow,  trickster  (1675).  As 
verb,  (1)  To  bet,  wager ;  (2)  to  shake, 
jerk.  Not  worth  a  jigger,  valueless. 

Jigger-dubber.     See  Jigger. 

Jiggered.  To  be  jiggered,  used  as  a 
mild  imprecation  :  as  Blow  it !  (q.v.), 
Bust  me  !  (q.v.) :  also  in  astonishment. 

Jiggered  up.    Used  up,  exhausted. 

Jiggery-pokery.  Humbug,  non- 
sense. 

Jiglets.  His  jiglets  !  a  contempt- 
uous form  of  address  ;  his  nibs  (q.v.). 

Jig-water.  Bad  whisky,  rot-gut 
(q.v.) :  see  Drinks. 

Jiggumbob  (or  Jiggambob)  A 
knick-knack,  trinket,  anything  par- 
ticular, strange,  or  unknown:  cf. 
Thingumbob  (1640). 

Jill.     See  GUI. 

Jill-flirt.    See  Gill-flirt. 

Jilt.  1.  Specifically,  a  woman  who 
encourages,  or  solicits,  advances  to 
which  she  designs  there  shall  be  no 
practical  end.  Hence  jilted  and  jilt, 
verb.  2.  A  crowbar,  jemmy  (q.v.). 
In  pi.,  housebreaking  tools  generally. 
As  verb,  to  get  in  on  the  sly  or  false 
pretences  at  the  door,  and  sneaking 
what  can  be  found. 

Jilter.  Thieves  who  work  as  de- 
scribed under  Jilt. 

Jim-Brown.    Town. 

Jimcrack.     See  Gimcrack. 

Jimbugg.  A  sheep,  woolly-bird 
(q.v.)  (1854). 

Jim  Crow.     See  Billy  Barlow. 

Jimjams.  1.  Delirium  tremens, 
The  horrors  (q.v.) :  also,  the  jams  :  see 
Gallon-distemper.  2.  Distorted  views 
kinks  (q.v.). 

Jim-dandy.     Superfine. 

Jimmy.    1.  See  Jemmy.     2.  A  new 

chum  (q.v.):  specifically  (Australian 

convicts),  a  free  emigrant  (1859).     3. 

A  contrivance,  concealed  confederate, 


fake  (q.v.).     4.  A  coal  waggon.      All 
jimmy,  (1)  all  nonsense;  (2)  exactly, 
fit,  suitable  :  cf.  jemmy. 
Jimmy  Skinner.     A  dinner. 
Jimplecute    (or    Jimpsecute).     A 
sweetheart. 

Jing-bang.  A  lot  complete,  boiling 
(q.v.). 

Jingle.  A  hackney  carriage  (Dub- 
lin). 

Jingle-box.  A  leathern  jack  tipped 
with  silver,  and  hung  with  bells,  for- 
merly in  use  among  fuddlecaps 
(Grose). 

Jingleboy.     See  Gingle  boy  (1658). 
Jingler.     A  swindling  horse  dealer. 
Jinglebrains.  A  wild,  harum-scarum 
fellow  (B.  E.). 

Jingo.  1.  Used  in  mild  oaths :  as 
by  Jingo  !  or  By  Jings.  (Hdttiwett  :  a 
corruption  of  St.  Gingoulph  or  Gin- 
gulphus ;  by  others  from  Basque 
Jinkoa,  God :  also  By  the  Living 
Jingo)  (1691).  2.  One  of  that  party 
which  advocated  the  Turkish  cause 
againstJRussia,  in  the  war  of  1877-78  : 
hence,  one  clamorous  for  war,  one  who 
advocates  a  warlike  policy.  [In  this 
sense  taken  directly  from  the  refrain 
of  a  popular  music-hall  song  (c.  1874), 
We  don't  want  to  fight,  but  by  Jingo 
if  we  do,  We've  got  the  ships,  we've 
got  the  men,  we've  got  the  money 
too !].  Hence  Jingoism,  the  theory 
and  practice  of  the  Jingoes. 

Jiniper-lecture.  A  scolding  (B.  E.): 
cf.  Curtain  lecture. 

Jink.     1.  Coin,  money,  chink  (q.v.). 
2.  See  High  Jinks.     To  jink  one's  tin, 
to  pay   money,   shell   out,   rattle   or 
flash  (q.v.)  one's  cash. 
Jinny.    A  Geneva  watch. 
Jipper.     Gravy. 
Jo.     See  Joe. 

Joan.  A  fetter :  specifically  Darby 
and' Joan,  fetters  coupling  two  persons: 
see  Darbies.  Homely  Joan,  a  coarse, 
ordinary  looking  woman  (B.  E.). 
Joan  in  the  dark  is  as  good  as  my  lady, 
a  variant  of,  When  you  cannot  kiss 
the  mistress  kiss  the  maid,  or  When 
candles  are  out  all  cats  are  grey  (B.  E.). 
Job.  1.  Specifically,  robbery; 
generally,  any  unfair  arrangement,  or 
effect  of  nepotism  :  e.g.  the  obtaining 
of  an  office,  or  a  contract,  by  secret 
influence,  or  the  undertaking  of  a 
piece  of  business  ostensibly  for  public 
but  really  for  private  ends  (1667).  2. 
A  piece  of  work,  occurrence  (fortunate 


245 


Jobation. 


Joey. 


or  otherwise),  situation,  place  of 
employment.  A  bad  job,  an  unlucky 
occurrence,  misfortune,  unsuccessful 
attempt.  Hence  jobber,  one  who 
does  piece  or  occasional  work  (1658). 
3.  A  guinea :  also  jobe  (B.  E.).  4.  As 
subs.,  patience  ;  as  intj.,  take  time, 
don't  be  in  a  hurry  !  (Matsell).  5.  See 
Jab  (1827).  As  verb,  (1)  to  do  work 
(or  perform  duties),  ostensibly  pro 
bono  publico  but  in  reality  for  one's 
private  ends  or  advantage  (1731); 
(2)  to  thrust  violently  and  suddenly, 
prod,  jab  (q.v.)  (1557) ;  (3)  to  chide, 
reprimand  :  also  jobe.  To  be  on  the 
job,  to  mean  honestly,  be  genuine,  run 
straight,  work  quickly  and  steadily, 
achieve  complete  success,  be  bent  on. 
To  have  got  the  job,  to  have  a  commis- 
sion to  back  a  horse.  To  do  the  job 
for  one,  to  finish,  kill. 

Jobation  (Jawbation).  A  tedious 
rebuke,  prolonged  scolding,  dreary 
homily  (1746). 

Jobbernowl.  1.  A  fool's  head  :  see 
Crumpet  (1562).  2.  A  fool:  see 
Buffle(1598). 

Jobber.  1.  One  who  purchases 
goods  in  bulk  and  is  the  medium  of 
their  distribution,  a  middleman  (1662). 
2.  See  Job. 

Jobber-knot  (or  Jobber  nut).  A 
tall  ungainly  fellow  (1823). 

Jobbery.  The  practice  of  political 
corruption,  employment  of  unfair 
means  to  public  or  private  advantage 
(1857). 

Jobe.     See  Job. 

Job's-comfort.  Reproof  instead  of 
consolation.  Hence  Job's-comforter,  a 
sharp- tongued  friend :  also  a  boil  (in 
allusion  to  Job  ii.  7).  Job's  •  news, 
bad  news ;  Job's-poat,  a  messenger  of 
bad  news  ;  as  poor  as  Job's  turkey,  that 
had  but  one  feather  in  its  tail,  or,  that 
had  to  lean  against  a  fence  to  gobble. 
Job's  vrife,  a  whoring  scold.  Job's- 
dock,  a  hospital ;  Job  s-ward,  a  ward 
for  the  treatment  of  venereal  diseases 
(1738). 

Jock.  See  Jockey.  As  verb,  to 
enjoy  oneself. 

Jockey.  1.  A  professional  rider  ;  also 
a  horse-dealer  (1638) :  hence  (1690)  a 
sharper :  also  (colloquially)  jock  and 
gentleman-jock  and  jocker.  2.  In  pi., 
top -boot*.  3.  A  Scot  (1529).  As 
verb,  (1)  to  cheat,  ride  foul:  gener- 
ally.lto  use  dishonest  means  to  a 
profitable  end  :  see  Bamboozle  (1748). 


(2)  (Winchester  College  ),(i)  to  supplant, 
(ii)  to  appropriate;  (iii)  to  engage: 
t-.v..  He  jockeyed  me  up  to  books; 
Who  has  jockeyed  my  baker ;  This 
court  is  jockeyed :  probably  an  extended 
use  of  the  word  borrowed  from  turf 
slang.  Jockey  not,  the  Commoner  cry 
claiming  exemption,  answering  to 
feign  at  other  schools :  of  which  the 
college  '  finge '  seems  a  translation  : 
the  opposite  of  jockey  up,  to  lose  down 
(Notions).  To  jockey  (or  bay)  the  over, 
to  manage  the  running  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  get  all  the  bowling  to 
oneself. 

Jock  Blunt  To  look  like  Jock 
Blunt,  said  of  a  person  who  is  out 
of  countenance  at  a  disappointment 
(1723). 

Jock-te-leear.  A  small  almanack, 
i.e.  Jock  (or  John)  the  liar,  from  its 
loose  weather  forecasts. 

Jocteleg  (or  Jackyleg).  A  large 
pocket-knife  :  from  Jacques  de  Liege, 
a  famous  cutler :  see  Chive  (1730). 

Joe  (or  Joey).  1.  A  fourpenny  piece : 
see  Rhino :  these  pieces  are  said  to 
have  owed  their  existence  to  the 
pressing  instance  of  Mr.  Hume,  from 
whence  they,  for  some  time,  bore 
the  nickname.  2.  See  Joe  Miller.  3. 
A  watercloset.  4.  A  marine :  see 
Joseph.  5.  A  lobster  too  small  for 
sale ;  i.e.  one  under  ten  inches  long. 
6.  A  gold  coin  worth  8  to  9  dollars : 
also  Double  -  joe :  see  Rhino.  7.  A 
companion,  sweetheart  (1500).  As 
verb,  to  deride,  get  at  (q.v.),  take 
liberties  with  text,  business,  or 
audience.  Not  for  Joe :  see  Joseph. 
Joe  Manton,  a  name  given  to  fowling- 
pieces  made  by  Joseph  Manton,  a 
celebrated  London  gunsmith :  also 
Manton. 

Joe  Miller.  A  stale  joke,  dull  tale, 
chestnut  (q.v.) :  from  a  collection 
entitled  Joe  Miller's  Jest  Book,  pub- 
lished circa  1750,  the  term  having  been 
used  to  pass  off  not  only  the  original 
stock,  but  thousands  of  jokes  manu- 
factured long  after.  Hence  Joe- 
MUlerism  and  Joe-MUlerize, 
Joe  Savage.  A  cabbage. 
Joey.  1.  A  hypocrite  (Matsett).  2. 
See  Joe.  3.  A  familiar  name  for  any- 
thing young  or  small,  and  is  applied 
indifferently  to  a  puppy,  or  a  kitten, 
or  a  child.  Wood-and-ioater-joey,  a 
hanger  about  hotels,  and  a  doer  of  odd 
jobs.  4.  A  marine.  5.  A  clown : 


246 


Jogger. 


Joker. 


from  Joey  Grimaldi.  As  intj.,  a 
warning  cry  :  also  Jo  ! 

Jogger.  To  play  and  sing,  per- 
form. 

JoggeringOmey.  A  musician.  [It., 
giocar,  to  play,  and  uomo,  a  man.] 

Jog-trot  (or  Job-trot).  A  slow 
trot :  hence  a  dull  round,  unvarying 
and  uninteresting  method ;  as  adj., 
monotonous,  easy-going.  Hence,  adv., 
Jog-trotty  (1709). 

Jogue.  A  shilling :  see  Rhino  (Grose). 

Jogul.  To  play  up :  at  cards  or 
other  games  (Hotten). 

John  (Sandhurst).  A  first  year's 
cadet.  2.  A  priest :  also  Sir  John  and 
Mess-  (or  Mass-)  John  (q.v.)  (1383). 
3.  See  Poor  John. 

John 's  silver  pin.  A  piece  of  finery 
amongst  sluttery  and  dirt. 

John-a-nokes  (John-at-the-oaks). 
Anybody,  Mr.  Thingumbab  (q.v.) ; 
also  John-a-stiles  or  John-at-the-styles 
(1529). 

John-a-dreams.  A  dreamer,  man  of 
sentiment  and  fancy  as  opposed  to 
action,  futile  person  (1596). 

John-among-the-maids.  A  lady's 
man,  carpet-knight  (q.v.). 

John-and-Joan.  An  hermaphrodite. 

John-Audley.  A  signal  to  abridge 
the  performance :  when  another 
house  (q.v.)  is  waiting,  the  word  John 
Audley  is  passed  round :  also  John 
Orderly. 

John-Barleycorn.  Beer  :  see  Drinks 
(1791). 

John  Blunt.  A  plain-spoken  man  : 
also  Jock  Blunt. 

John-Cheese.  A  clown  :  also  John 
Trot. 

John  Collins.  A  mixture  of  soda 
water,  gin,  sugar,  lemon,  and  ice. 

John  Chinaman.  A  Chinaman,  the 
Chinese  collectively. 

John  Company.  The  Hon.  East 
India  Company  (1808). 

John  Davis.  Money  :  otherwise 
Ready  John  :  see  Rhino. 

Johnian.  A  student  of  St.  John's 
College,  Cambridge :  also  Johnian 
Pig  or  Hog.  Also  as  adj.  :  e.g. 
Johnian  blazer,  Johnian  melody,  etc. 
(1785). 

John  Long  the  Carrier.  To  stay  for 
(or  send  by)  John  Long  the  carrier,  to 
wait  a  long  time,  postpone  indefinitely. 

Johnnie  (Johnny).  1.  A  police- 
man :  also  Johnny  Darby  (1851).  2. 
An  acquaintance,  young  man  about 


town.  Also  a  sweetheart — male  or 
female:  e.g.  My  Johnny  (1724).  3. 
A  half  -  glass  of  whisky.  4.  See 
Johnny  Reb.  Johnny  -  bum,  a  jack- 
ass (Grose).  Johnny  -  cake,  a  New- 
Englander.  Johnny-haultant,  a  mer- 
chant sailor's  name  for  a  man-o'- 
war's-man  (Clark  Russell).  Johnny- 
Bates' -farm  :  see  Bates'  farm. 
Johnny-Bono,  an  Englishman.  Johnny- 
Darby,  (1)  a  policeman,  (2)  in  pi., 
handcuffs.  Johnny  Newcome,  a  new- 
born child ;  also  (nautical)  an  in- 
experienced youngster,  landsmen  in 
general  (1857).  Johnny  Raw,  (1)  a 
recruit,  novice  (1819);  (2)  a  morning 
draught.  Johnny  Reb  (or  Johnny),  a 
soldier  in  the  Confederate  ranks  during 
the  civil  war  1861-65:  see  Blue- 
bellies. 

John  Roberts.  A  measure  of  drink 
enough  to  keep  a  man  tipsy  from 
Saturday  to  Sunday  night,  is  univer- 
sally known  throughout  Wales  as  a 
John  Roberts :  it  derives  its  name  from 
the  author  of  the  Sunday  Closing  Act. 

John  the  Baptist.  A  one  cent  piece. 

John  Thomas.     A  flunkey. 

John  (or  Joan)  Thomson's  Man. 
An  uxorious,  or  faithful,  husband 
(1513). 

John  Trot.  A  clown :  also  John 
Cream  (1774). 

Join.     To  marry. 

Joint.  1.  An  opium  den,  gamb- 
ling saloon,  low-class  drinking  house 
of  any  kind.  2.  A  partnership  of 
thieves.  Hence,  to  work  the  joint,  to 
swindle  by  means  of  a  faked  lottery 
table. 

Joker.  1.  A  general  term  of 
banter,  nice  'un — as  cove,  codger, 
tulip  (1665).  2.  An  extra  card  used 
hi  certain  games :  it  is  blank  or  bears 
some  special  device,  is  always  a  trump, 
and  generally  the  highest :  often  called 
jotty  joker.  3.  '  These  little  jokers  were 
attached  to  the  left  thumbs  of  certain 
judges  of  election  as  the  ballots  were 
being  counted.  These  jokers  are 
made  of  rubber  and  have  a  cross  on 
them.  They  are  really  rubber  stamps. 
As  these  judges  picked  up  the  ballots 
they  took  hold  of  them  in  such  a  way 
that  their  left  thumbs,  with  the 
jokers  attached  thereto,  pressed  upon 
the  squares  opposite  the  name  of  the 
candidate  whom  they  wished  to  aid. 
By  thus  pressing  upon  said  squares 
crosses  were  left  in  them '  (R.  of  Rev.). 


247 


Jollock. 


Jug. 


Jollock.     A  parson. 

Jolly.  1.  The  head  :  also  Jolly  nob 
(1785).  2.  A  Royal  Marine:  cf. 
Tame  Jolly :  Fr.f  bigorneau  (1833).  3. 
A  dependent  or  confederate  of  a 
cheat  4.  A  pretence,  excuse.  5. 
Praise,  recommendation,  chaff,  abuse. 
To  chuck  a  jolly,  to  set  off  an  address 
to  one  or  other  of  these  ends :  see 
Chuck.  As  adj.  and  adv.,  (1)  fine, 
excellent,  very  good,  very,  exceedingly 
(1369);  (2)  slightly  drunk:  see 
Screwed;  (3)  fat,  fleshy.  As  verb, 
to  joke,  rally,  vituperate  (1610). 

Jolly-boys.  A  group  of  small  drink- 
ing vessels  connected  by  a  tube,  or 
by  openings  one  from  another. 

Jolly -dog.  A  boon  companion 
(Grose). 

]  oily- j  umper .  A  light  sail  set  above 
a  sky-scraper  (q.v.)  (Clark  Russell). 

Jolly-nob.     See  Jolly. 

Jolly-Roger.  A  pirate's  flag,  Death's 
head  and  cross  bones  (q.v.). 

Jolt -Head  (or  Jolter-head).  A 
blockhead:  see  Buffle  (1593). 

Jolt -headed  (or  Jolter  -  headed). 
Stupid,  dull,  chowder-headed  (q.v.). 

Jomer.    A  flame,  sweetheart. 

Jonah.  A  person  whose  presence 
brings  bad  luck  ;  specifically  a  clergy- 
man :  of  Biblical  origin.  Jonah-trip, 
an  unlucky  undertaking  (1594). 

J  o  n  n  i  c  k  (or  Jonnuk).  Right, 
correct,  proper.  To  be  jonnuk,  to  be 
fair,  share  equally. 

Jardan.  1.  A  slop-pail :  see  It. 
Short  for  Jordan  bottle,  a  memory  of 
the  Crusades.  2.  Hence  Jordan-headed 
(Dunbar)&n  opprobrious  epithet  ( 1 383). 
3.  A  stroke  with  a  staff  (1696).  4.  The 
Atlantic,  the  ditch  (q.v.),  the  herring- 
pond  (q.v.).  As  adj.,  disagreeable, 
hard  of  accomplishment. 

Jorum.  A  drinking- bowl ;  also 
a  portion  of  liquor,  a  neddy  (q.v.) 
(1796). 

Joseph.  1.  A  cloak :  specifically 
a  lady's  riding  habit  with  buttons  to 
the  skirts  :  also  (American  thieves')  a 
patched  coat:  cf.  Benjamin  (1671). 
2.  A  woman-proof  male.  To  wear 
Joseph's  coat,  to  defy  temptation,  as 
Joseph  with  Potiphar's  wife  (Grose). 
Not  for  Joseph,  a  contemptuous  re- 
fusal, a  sarcastic  dissent  Joseph's 
coat,  a  coat  of  many  colours,  a  dress 
of  honour. 

J  o  s  e  y.    To  go,  hasten :  see  Bunk. 

Josh.     1.  A  sleepy- head,  dolt    2. 


An  Arkansas  man.  As  verb,  to  chaff, 
quiz,  make  fun  of.  As  intj.,  a  word 
shouted  at  the  New  York  Stock 
Exchange  to  wake  up  a  slumbering 
member  (BartleU). 

Joskin.  A  bumpkin,  dolt :  see 
Buffle. 

Josser.  1.  A  simpleton,  flat, 
sponge  (q.v.),  old  roue :  also  as  adj. 
2.  A  parson  (Australian). 

J  o  s  s  o  p.  Syrup,  juice,  gravy, 
sauce  (Hotten). 

Jostle.    To  cheat 

Jounce.  A  jolt,  shake.  As  verb,  to 
jolt,  shake  by  rough  riding,  handle 
carelessly,  deal  severely  with  (1833). 
To  be  jounced,  to  be  enamoured  of. 

Journey.  Occasion,  juncture,  time. 

Journeyman  Soul-saver.  A  scrip- 
ture-reader, bible- woman:  also  jour- 
neyman-parson (London),  a  curate. 

Jove.    See  By  Jove. 

Jowl  (or  Jole).  The  cheek;  cheek 
by  jowl,  close  together  :  jowl-sucking, 
kissing  (1592). 

Joyful.  To  be  addicted  to  the  O  be 
joyful,  to  be  confirmed  in  tippling. 

Juba.    A  negro. 

Jubilee  (Winchester  College).  A 
pleasant  time :  e.g.  The  town  was 
all  in  a  jubilee  of  feasts  (Dryden). 

Judas.  1.  A  traitor.  Judas- 
coloured,  red  :  from  the  tradition  that 
Judas  had  red  hair  (1384).  2.  See 
Judas-hole. 

Judas-hole.  A  spy-hole  in  a  oell 
door :  also  Judas. 

Judge.  The  man  most  popular  with 
his  fellows  (American  cadet). 

Judge  and  Jury.  A  mock  trial,  the 
fines  being  paid  in  beer. 

Judy  (or  Jude).  1.  A  girl,  a  woman, 
especially  one  of  loose  morals :  also, 
a  sweetheart :  in  Anglo-Chinese  circles 
a  native  courtezan.  2.  A  simpleton, 
fool :  to  make  a  Judy  of  oneself,  to  play 
the  fool,  act  the  giddy  goat  (q.v.)  or 
saucy  kipper  (q.v.)  (1824). 

Juff.  1.  The  cheek.  2.  The  pos- 
teriors. 

Jug.  1.  A  prison  :  also  more  fre- 
quently stone-jug  (q.v.) :  see  Cage  : 
FT.,  boite  aux  cailloux ;  8p.,  tristura. 
[Skeat :  FT.,  joug,  a  yoke :  the  Eng. 
jug,  a  cant  term  for  a  prison  (also 
called  jocosely  a  stone-jug)  is  the  same 
word].  2.  A  bank.  A  broken  jugged 
one,  a  note  from  a  broken  bank  :  hence, 
jug-breaking,  bank  burglary.  3.  A 
mistress :  hence  a  term  of  endearment. 


248 


Jug-bitten. 


Jutland. 


4.  A  term  of  contempt  applied  in- 
differently to  both  the  sexes:  see 
Juggins.  As  verb,  (1)  to  imprison, 
lock  up,  run  in  ;  hence  to  hide  (1852) ; 
(2)  to  take  in,  do  (q.v.). 

Jug-bitten.  Drunk :  see  Screwed 
(1633). 

Jug-full.  Not  by  a  jug  full,  not  by 
a  good  deal,  by  long  chalks,  by  no 
means  (1834). 

Juggins  (or  Jug).  A  fool:  see 
Buffle. 

J  uggler '  s-box.     The  branding-iron. 

Juice.  To  stew  in  one's  own  juice 
(gravy,  or  grease) :  see  Stew. 

Juicy.  1.  Piquant,  racy,  bawdy ; 
2.  Amorous. 

Jukrum.     A  licence  ( B.  E. ). 

Julius  Caesar.  Dead  as  Julius 
Ccesar,  dead  past  doubting. 

Jumbaree.     Jewellery. 

Jumbo.  A  clumsy,  unwieldy  fellow 
(Bee). 

Jumble-gut-lane.  A  bad  or  rough 
road  (B.  E.). 

Jumbuck.  A  sheep,  woolly-bird 
(q.v.)  (1851). 

Jummix.  To  jumble  up,  mix 
together :  a  portmanteau  word  (q.v.). 

Jump.  1.  A  form  of  robbery :  see 
Jilt.  2.  A  window:  cf.  Back  jump.  3. 
(in  pi.),  The  fidgets,  delirium  tremens. 
4.  Loose  raiment :  see  Jumper  (1762). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  seize  upon  forcibly  or 
by  stealth,  cheat,  supplant :  e.g.  to 
jump  a  man,  to  pounce  upon  and  rob 
or  maltreat ;  to  jump  a  house,  to  rob  it ; 
to  jump  a  claim,  to  take  possession  of 
a  mining  right  in  the  absence  of  an 
owner :  FT.,  farguer  a  la  dure ;  (2)  to  try 
a  medicine.  From  the  jump,  from  the 
start  (1848).  To  jump  at,  (1)  to 
accept  eagerly.  (2)  To  guess.  To 
jump  (or  be  jump)  with,  to  agree,  co- 
incide, tally  (1567) ;  to  jump  one's  horse 
over  a  bar,  for  a  paltry  sum,  to  sell 
one's  horse,  saddle,  bridle,  and  all, 
to  the  lambing-down  landlord.  To 
go  a  jump,  to  enter  a  house  by  the 
window  (Matsett).  To  jump  a  bitt, 
to  dishonour  an  acceptance.  To  see 


how  the  cat  will  jump,  to  watch  the 
course  of  events,  sit  on  the  fence  (q.v.). 
To  jump  upon,  to  maltreat  (physically 
or  otherwise),  criticise  severely, 
take  it  out  of  (q.v.),  sit  upon  (q.v.). 
To  jump  bail,  to  abscond.  To  jump 
the  broomstick :  see  Broomstick.  To 
jump  up,  to  get  the  best  of  one,  or  the 
reverse.  To  jump  the  game,  to  raid  a 
gambling  den.  To  jump  up  behind,  to 
endorse  an  acceptance.  To  jump  out 
of  one's  skin  :  see  Skin.  On  the  keen 
jump,  on  the  go,  violently  at  work. 

Jump-down.  The  last  place  in 
course  of  erection  on  the  outskirts  of 
what  is  called  civilised  life.  Also 
jumping  off  place,  a  destination. 

Jumped-up.  Conceited,  arrogant, 
perturbed,  upset. 

Jumper.  1.  A  tenpenny-piece  (1821). 
2.  A  thief  who  enters  nouses  by  the 
windows:  cf.  Jilter  (1811).  3.  One 
who  illegally  appropriates  a  claim : 
cf.  Bounty -jumper.  4.  A  short  slop 
of  coarse  woollen  or  canvas. 

Jumping- Jack.     An  antic,  gull. 

Jumping  Jehosophat  (Jupiter,  or 
Moses).  See  By. 

Jumping  Cat.  The  cult  of  the  jump- 
ing cat,  the  practice  of  waiting  to  see 
the  course  of  events  before  acting  :  see 
Cat. 

Jumping-powder.  A  stimulant  to 
give  spirit  and  go  to  a  person  or 
animal. 

June.     To  go  [Germ.,  gehen]. 

Junesey.     A  sweetheart. 

Junk  (or  Salt-junk).     Salt  beef. 

Junket!  (Winchester  College). 
An  exclamation  of  self-congratulation : 
e.g.  Junket,  I've  got  a  remi.  As 
verb,  to  exult  over  (Notions). 

Junt.     A  wanton. 

Jupiter  (or  Jupiter- tonans).  The 
Times  newspaper:  see  Thunderer. 
Jupiter  junior,  The  Daily  Telegraph. 

Jurk.     A  seal,  jark  (q.v.)  (Matsett). 

Jury.     An  assertion,  profession. 

Just.     In  truth,  really,  rather. 

Jybe.     See  Gybe. 

Jutland.    The  posteriors  (1695). 


249 


Kafir. 


Kaffir.  1.  A  prostitute's  bully, 
ponce  (q.v.)  :  hence  a  general  term 
of  contempt.  2.  In  pi.  South  African 
mining  shares. 

Kail.  Kail  through  the  reek,  bitter 
language  or  hard  usage  :  in  allusion  to 
the  unpalatableness  of  smoky  broth. 
To  give  one  his  kail  through  the  reek, 
to  reprove  violently,  punish  with 
severity  (1817). 

Ka  me,  Ka  thee.  One  good  turn 
deserves  another,  scratch  my  back 
and  I'll  scratch  yours  :  also  A'a  and 


Kangaroo.  Kangaroo  droop,  a 
feminine  affectation  (cf.  Grecian  bend 
and  Roman  fall)  :  the  hands  are 
brought  close  to  the  breast  and  set  to 
droop  palm  downward,  as  if  mus- 
cular action  were  lost.  Kangaroo 
voting,  the  Australian  ballot  system  : 
adopted,  with  sundry  modifications, 
in  many  of  the  United  States  (Norton). 
Kanits.  A  stink.  Kanitseno,  a 
stinking  one. 

Kant     See  Cant 
Kanuck.     See  Canack. 
Karimption.     A  gang,  mob,  party. 
Karplunk.     See  Cachunk. 
Kate   (or  Katey).    1.  A   picklock: 
cf.  Betty   and   Jenny   (1696).     2.  A 
wanton:   Dutch,    Kat   (Matsdl):  see 
Kitty  (1721). 

Keek-handed.  Left-handed  :  prov. 
Eng.  Keck,  wrongly. 

Kedger.  A  mean  fellow,  cadger 
(q.v.):  one  in  everybody's  mess  but 
in  no  one's  watch  —  an  old  term  for  a 
fisherman  (Smyth). 

Keek-cloy.     See  Kicks. 
Keeker.     In   pi.,    the  eyes:    cf. 
Pintle-keek. 

Keel.  The  posteriors.  To  keel 
over,  to  come  to  grief. 

Keelbully.  A  lighterman  carrying 
coals  to  and  from  ships  (1696). 

Keelhaul  (or  Keelrake).  To  punish 
offenders  by  dragging  them  under 
water  on  one  side  of  a  ship,  and  up 
again  on  the  other,  by  ropes  attached 
to  the  yard-arms  on  either  side  ;  or 
in  small  vessels,  under  the  craft  from 
stem  to  stern.  Hence,  figuratively,  to 
treat  roughly,  chastise.  Keelhauling, 
a  good  rating,  rough  treatment  (Grose). 
Keen.  A  funny  story,  joke  :  to  get 
off  a  keen,  to  make  a  witty  remark. 


Keep.  1.  Board  and  lodging.  2. 
A  salaried  mistress.  As  verb,  to 
abide  (1593).  Phrases :  To  keen  one'* 
eyet  skinned  (polished,  or  peeled,  or 
one's  weather  eye  lifted,  nose  open,  or 
end  up,  etc.),  to  take  care,  maintain  a 
position,  be  wideawake,  or  fly  (q.v.) ; 
to  keep  company,  ( 1 )  to  go  into  society, 
entertain  often  and  be  often  enter- 
tained (1658) ;  (2)  to  sweetheart :  said 
of  both  sexes  (1835);  to  keep  a  pig 
(Oxford  University),  to  have  a  lodger : 
the  pig  (q.v.)  is  usually  a  freshman 
who,  the  college  being  full,  is  quartered 
on  a  student  whose  rooms  include  two 
bedchambers ;  To  keep  a  stiff  upper 
lip  (or  one's  pecker  up),  to  stand  firm, 
keep  up  a  heart,  chuck  out  one's 
chest ;  to  keep  the  doctor,  to  retail 
adulterated  drinks :  cf.  Doctor ;  to 
keep  chapel  (University),  to  go  to 
chapel ;  to  keep  cave  (Eton  College), 
to  watch  and  give  warning  of  a  tutor's 
approach  ;  to  keep  dark  (or  it  dark,  to 
keep  secret;  to  keep  sloom,  to  keep 
quiet ;  to  keep  it  up,  to  continue  any* 
thing  vigorously  (specifically  to  pro- 
long a  debauch)  (1773);  to  keep  dry, 
to  hold  one's  tongue,  keep  dark 
(q.v.) ;  to  keep  one  back  and  belly,  to 
feed  and  clothe  ;  for  keeps,  to  keep 
for  good  ;  to  keep  the  door,  to  play  the 
bawd  ;  to  keep  the  pot  boiling,  to  go  on 
with  anything,  keep  the  game  alive ; 
to  keep  (or  hold)  one's  hair  on  :  see 
Hair ;  to  keep  open  house,  to  sleep  in 
the  open  air,  do  a  star  pitch :  see 
Hedge-square  ;  to  keep  up  to  the  collar, 
to  keep  hard  at  work  ;  to  keep  sheep  by 
moonlight,  to  hang  in  chains ;  he  can't 
keep  a  hotel,  a  phrase  intimating  lack 
of  administrative  capacity. 

Keffel.     A  horse,  prad  (B.  E.). 

Keg.  The  stomach,  victualling 
office  (q.v.). 

Kegmeg.     Intimate  talk,  chat 

Ke-keya.    The  devil  (Matsdl). 

Kelder.  The  belly:  see  Hans-in- 
kelder  and  Jack-in-the-cellar  (1658). 

Kelp.  A  hat:  see  Golgotha,  To 
kelp,  to  raise  one's  hat  in  salutation 
(1754). 

Kelso-boots.  Heavy  shackles  put 
on  the  legs  of  prisoners  ;  by  some  sup- 
posed to  be  a  sort  of  stocks  (Jamie- 
son). 

Kelter  (or  Kilter).     1.  Order,  con- 


250 


Kdtie. 


Kick. 


dition,  form  (q.v.)  (1630).  2.  Money: 
see  Rhino. 

Keltic  (or  Kelty).  A  bumper :  im- 
posed as  a  fine  on  those  who  did  not 
drink  fair  :  said  to  be  so  called  from  a 
famous  champion  drinker  in  Kinross- 
shire. 

Kemesa.     See  Camesa. 

Ken.  A  house,  place :  generally 
in  combination :  e.g.  Boozing-ken, 
drinking  house  ;  a  bob-ken  (or  boioman- 
ken),  a  well-furnished  house.  To 
bite  (or  crack)  a  ken,  to  rob  a  house. 
English  synonyms :  carsey  (or  case), 
castle,  cat-and-mouse,  crack,  diggings, 
hang-out,  rootee,  roost,  shop,  panny 
(1567). 

Ken-cracker  (or  Miller)  A 
housebreaker  (B.  E.). 

Ken  -  crack  -  lay.  Housebreaking : 
see  Ken,  Crack,  and  Lay. 

Kennedy.  A  poker.  To  give  ken- 
nedy,  to  lay  on  with  a  poker. 

Kennel-raker.  A  scavenger,  one  fit 
only  for  low,  dirty  jobs  (1647). 

Kennurd.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Kent  (or  Kent -rag,  Kent -clout, 
etc. ) .  A  coloured  cotton  handkerchief. 

Kentish -fire.  A  prolonged  and 
ordered  salvo  of  applause :  from  the 
cheers  bestowed  in  Kent  upon  the 
No-Popery  orators  in  1828-29. 

Kent- street  Ejectment.  Removing 
the  street  door,  a  method  practised 
by  the  landlords  in  Kent  Street, 
Southwark,  when  their  tenants  are 
above  a  fortnight's  rent  in  arrear 
(Grose). 

Kerbstone-broker.  A  stockbroker 
doing  business  outside  the  Stock 
Exchange,  a  guttersnipe  (q.v.):  Fr., 
courtier  marron,  and  (collectively) 
coidissiers. 

Kerflop.  Onomatopoeic  :  in  imita- 
tion of  the  sound  of  a  body  falling  flat 
or  into  water.  Variants:  cachunk 
(q.v.),  kerslap,  kesouse,  keslosh,  ke- 
swosh,  kewosh,  keswollop,  kerchunk, 
kerplunk,  kerthump,  kershaw,  ker- 
slash, kerslosh,  kerswosh,  etc. 

Kerry-security.  Bond,  pledge,  oath, 
and  keep  the  money  (Orose). 

Ketch.  A  hangman,  Jack  Ketch 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  to  hang. 

Kettle.  1.  A  watch;  red -kettle, 
gold  watch  ;  2.  an  iron-built  vessel, 
ironclad.  Pot  calling  the  kettle  black, 
on  all  fours,  six  of  one  and  half-a- 
dozen  of  the  other.  A  pretty  (or 
fine)  kettle  (or  kiddle,  basket)  of  fish,  a 


mess  or  confusion  of  any  kind,  muddle 
(1750). 

Kettledrum.  1.  In  plural,  a  woman's 
breasts :  also  Cupid's  kettledrum. 
2.  An  afternoon  tea-party  (1867). 

Kew.    A  week. 

Key.  A  translation,  crib  (q.v.). 
To  have  the  key  of  the  street,  to  be 
locked  out-of-doors,  to  have  no  home 
(1836). 

Key -hole.  To  be  att  keyhole  (or 
keyholed),  to  be  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Keyhole-whistler.  A  night's  lodger 
in  a  barn  or  outhouse,  skipper  bird 
(q.v.). 

Keystone  State.  Pennsylvania : 
when  the  names  of  the  original  Thir- 
teen States  were  arranged  archwise  in 
their  natural  geographial  order,  Penn- 
sylvania occupied  the  central  position. 

Kibosh.  1.  Nonsense,  anything 
worthless :  also  Kiboshery.  2.  Snot 
(q.v.).  3.  Style,  fashion,  form,  the 
thing  :  e.g.  that's  the  proper  kibosh. 
As  verb,  to  spoil,  flummox  (q.v.), 
queer  (q.v.),  bewilder,  knock  out  of 
time.  To  put  the  kibosh  on,  (1)  to 
stop,  silence ;  (2)  to  wheedle,  talk 
over  ;  (3)  to  run  down  (1836). 

Kibsy.     See  Kypsy. 

Kick.  1.  The  fashion  (1696). 
2.  A  sixpence :  of  compound  sums 
only,  e.g.  three  and  a  kick,  3s.  6d.  : 
see  Rhino  (1725).  3.  A  moment,  jiffy 
(q.v.).  4.  A  pocket.  5.  A  grudge.  6. 
The  hollowin  the  butt  of  a  bottle  ( 1 85 1 ). 

7.  In    pi.,    breeches,    trousers :    also 
kicksters  and  kicksies.     English  syno- 
nyms:  arse-rug,   bum-bags,  bell-bot- 
toms, bum-curtain,  bags,  calf-clingers, 
canvasseens      (q.v.),      continuations, 
don't-name-'ems,    ducks,    gam-cases, 
hams,    inexpressibles,    ineffables,    in- 
imitables,     kicks,     kickseys,     moles, 
mustn't-mention-'ems,  peg-tops  (q.v.), 
pants,  rice-bags,  sit-upons,  skilts  (q.v.), 
slacks,   strides,    trolly-wags,    trucks, 
trunks    (q.v.),    unhmtables,    unmen- 
tionables,    unutterables,    unwhisper- 
ables,  whistling  breeches  (q.v.)  (1696). 

8.  A   sudden   and   strong   objection, 
unexpected  resistance.     As  verb,  (1) 
to  borrow,   beg,  break   shins  (q.v.); 

(2)  to  protest,  resist,  resent  (1611); 

(3)  to  recoil :  of  fire-arms  generally  ; 

(4)  to  jilt,   give   the   mitten  (q.v.); 

(5)  to   die :    an   abbreviation    of   to 
kick  the  bucket  (q.v.) ;  (6)  to  escape  : 
also      kick      it      (1725).       Phrases : 
kick  in  the  guts,  a   dram  of   spirits 


261 


Kirkrr. 


K  id  at- '/. 


(Grose) ;  to  get  more  kicks  than  ha'- 
pence (see   Monkey's   allowance) ;   to 
kick  over  the  traces,  (I)  to  go  the  pace 
(q.v.) ;  and   (2)  to  resist  authority  ; 
to  kick  up  a  breeze  (dust,  row,  diversion, 
lark,  shindy,  etc.),  to  create  a  disturb- 
ance, raise  Cain  (q.v.),  paint  the  town 
red  (q.v.)  (1750) ;  to  kick  the  wind,  to 
be  hanged  :  see  Ladder  ;  to  get  the  kick 
out  (or  dirty  kick  out),  to  be  summarily 
dismissed,    discharged,    kicked    out ; 
to  kick  the  bucket,  to  die  :  see  Hop  the 
twig  ;  the  allusion  is  thought  to  allude 
to  the  way  in  which  a  slaughtered  pig 
is  hung  up— viz.  by  passing  the  ends 
of  a  bent  piece  of  wood  behind  the 
tendons   of   the    hind    legs,    and    so 
suspending  it  to  a  hook  in  a  beam 
above :  this  piece  of  wood  is  locally 
termed  a  bucket,  and  so  by  a  coarse 
metaphor  the  phrase  came  to  signify  to 
die;  to  kick  down  the  ladder,  to  treat  with 
contumely  one's   means  of   advance- 
ment ;  to  kick  the  clouds  (or  wind),  to  be 
hanged :  see  Ladder  ;  to  kick  at  waist,  to 
misfit  at  the  waist ;  to  kick  for  the  boot, 
to  ask  for  money ;  to  kick  for  trade,  to 
ask  work  ;  to  have  the  kick,  to  be  lucky, 
havecocum  (q.v.) ;  to  kick  the  stuffing 
out  of  one,  to  maltreat,  take  a  rise  (or 
the  wind)  out  of,  get  the  better  of ; 
to  kick  (or  cool)  one's  heels,  (1) :   see 
Heels ;  (2)  to  die ;  to  kick  the  eye  out 
of  a  mosquito,  a  superlative  expression 
of  capacity ;  a  kick  in  one's  gallop,  a 
whim,  strange  fancy. 

Kicker.     1.    An    obstructionist, 

protestant.     2.  In  pi.,  the  feet :  see 

Creepers.     3.  A  dancing  master  ( 1 838). 

Kickeraboo.     See  ruck  the  bucket. 

Kicking-strap.     An    elastic   strap 

inside  a  habit. 

Kickseys.  1.  See  Kick.  2.  Shoes  or 
highlows :  also  Kicksies. 

Kickshaw.  A  trifle,  anything  fanci- 
ful or  unsubstantial,  something  fantas- 
tical or  with  no  particular  name : 
Skeat :  a  curious  corruption  of  Fr., 
quelque-chose  (pronounced  kick-chose) 
literally,  something ;  hence  a  trifle  or 
small  delicacy  (1598). 

Kick-shoe.  A  dancer,  caperer, 
buffoon. 

Kicksies.    See  Kicks. 
Kicksy.  Troublesome,  disagreeable. 
Kicksy-wicksy.  A  term  of  contempt 
for  a  woman  (1598).     As  adj.,  fantas- 
tic, restless. 

Kick-up.  A  row  :  also  rowdiness 
(1794). 


Kid.  1.  A  child  :  hence,  to  kid,  to 
lie  in,  get  with  child  ;  kidded  (or  with 
kid),  pregnant.  English  synonyms: 
brat,  encumbrance,  get,  imp,  infantry 
(collectively),  kinchin,  limb,  lullaby 
cheat,  monkey,  papoose,  youngster 
(1599).  2.  A  man  (1811).  3. 
policeman  (1879).  4.  A  thief:  speci- 
fically a  young  thief :  also  Kiddy. 
5.  A  kidnapper.  6.  Gammon  (q.v.), 
devilry,  chaff  (q.v.).  7.  In  pL,  Kid 
gloves :  e.g.  Kids  cleaned  for  2d.  a 
pair.  As  verb,  to  quiz,  wheedle,  to 
cheat  (1811) ;  To  kid  on,  to  lead  on  by 
gammon  or  deceit  (1851).  To  kid 
oneself,  to  .be  conceited.  Hard  kid, 
hard  lines,  bad  luck,  hard  cheese 
(q.v.). 

Kidden  (Kid-ken,  or  Kiddy-ken). 
A  lodging  house  frequented  by  young 
thieves  (1839). 

Kidder.  1.  A  forestaller.  2.  A 
glib  and  taking  speaker,  master  of 
chaff. 

Kiddier.     A  pork-butcher. 
K  i  d  d  i  1  y.     Fashionably,  showily, 
flashily :  also  Kiddy. 

Kid-lay  (or  rig).  '  One  who  meeting 
a  Prentice  with  a  Bundle  or  Parcel  of 
goods,  wheedles  him  by  fair  words, 
and  whipping  Sixpence  into  his  Hand, 
to  step  on  a  snort  and  sham  Errand  for 
him,  in  the  mean  time  runs  away  with 
the  goods'  (B.  E.). 

Kiddleywink.  1.  A  raffle.  2.  A  small 
village  shop ;  and,  3.  specifically  (in 
the  West  country),  an  ale-house.  4. 
a  woman  of  unsteady  habits. 

Kiddy.  1.  A  man,  boy,  young  fel- 
low :  a  diminutive  of  kid  (q.v.).  Also 
kidlct,  a  boy  or  girl.  2.  A  flash  thief ; 
rolling  kiddy,  a  dandy  thief  ( 1 780).  3. 
A  dandy  (1823).  4.  A  stage-coach 
driver.  As  adj.,  fashionable,  smart 
(q.v.). 

Kiddyish.  Stylish,  up  to  date  (q.v.). 
Kiddy  Nipper.    A  thief  who  cuts  off 
the    waistcoat    pockets    of     tailors, 
when  crosslegged  on  the  board,  there- 
by grabbling  their  bit  (Grose). 

Kidleybenders.  Ice  which  undulates 
under  the  feet  of  a  skater. 

Kidment.  1.  Humbug,  gammon 
(q.v.) :  also  (cheap  Jack's),  professional 
patter  (1836).  2.  A  pocket  handker- 
chief pinned  to  the  pocket  for  a  trap. 
As  adj.,  comical  (Matsett). 

Kidnap.   To  steal  children.    Hence, 
Kidnapper,  a  child-stealer  (1696). 
Kidney.     1.    Kind,   disposition, 


Kidney -hit. 


Kip. 


fashion  :  as,  Two  of  a  kidney,  two  of  a 
mind  ;  of  a  strange  kidney,  of  an  odd 
humour ;  of  a  different  kidney,  of 
different  habit  or  turn :  Fr.,  bouchon 
(1596).  2.  A  waiter,  grasshopper 
(q.v.)  (1710).  3.  A  fractional  part  of 
a  shilling :  a  corruption  of  Cadney, 
the  name  of  the  first  dealer  on  'Change 
known  to  deal  under  JL. 

Kidney-hit.  A  punch  in  the  short 
ribs. 

Kid's-eye.   A fippenny piece  (1821). 

Kidsman.  A  fellow  that  boards  and 
lodges  boys  for  the  purpose  of  teach- 
ing them  how  to  steal,  putting  them 
through  a  course  of  training,  as  a  dog 
trainer  will  train  dogs  for  the  hunt. 
The  kidsman  accompanies  the  kid, 
and  though  committing  no  depreda- 
tions himself,  he  controls  and  directs 
the  motions  of  the  others. 

Kilkenny.     A  frieze  coat  (Grose). 

Kill.  A  garment  utterly  spoiled. 
Dressed  to  kill :  see  Dressed  and 
Death. 

Kill-calf  (or  cow).  A  butcher,  a 
murderous  ruffian  :  also  Kill-buck. 

Kill-devil.  Rum  :  specifically  new 
spirit  (1696). 

Killers.  The  eyes :  see  Peepers 
(1780). 

Killing.  Fascinating,  bewitching, 
irresistible:  also  Killingly  (1619). 

Kill-priest.     Port  wine. 

Kill  -  the  -  beggar.  Whisky  :  see 
Drinks. 

Kill-time.     A  pastime. 

Kilmarnock-cowl.  1.  A  knitted 
night-cap  ;  and,  2.  by  implication  the 
wretch  that  wore  one  ( 1830). 

Kilmarnock-whittle.  A  person  of 
either  sex,  already  engaged  or  be- 
trothed (Jamieson). 

Kilter.     See  Kelter. 

Kilt.     Killed. 

Kimbaw.  1.  To  trick,  cheat,  cozen  : 
also,  2.  to  beat,  bully  (1696). 

Kimbo  (or  Kimbaw) .  To  set  the  arms 
akimbo,  to  set  hands  on  hips  with 
the  elbows  cocked  (1606). 

Kinchin  (or  Kinchen).  A  child, 
young  man  :  also  kinchen  cove  (q.v.). 
(1567). 

Kinchin-cove.  1.  A  child  :  see  Kin- 
chin (1567).  2.  An  undersized  man. 
3.  A  man  who  robs  or  kidnaps  chil- 
dren: hence,  kinchin  lay,  robbing 
children  ;  kinchin  mort,  a  little  girl. 

Kinder.  As  it  were  :  also  Kinder 
sorter. 


Kind-heart.  A  tooth-drawer :  from 
an  itinerant  dentist  so  named,  or 
nick-named,  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth 
(1614). 

King  Cotton.  Cotton,  the  staple 
of  the  Southern  States  of  America, 
and  the  chief  manufacture  in  England. 
Cotton-lord,  a  man  enriched  by  cotton. 
Kingdom  Come.  The  future  life ;  to 
go  to  kingdom  come,  to  die  :  Fr.,  para- 
douze  (or  part  -  a  -  douze  —  a  play  on 
paradis),  parabole ;  It.,  soprano  (higher) 
Sp.,  claro  (light). 

King  John 's  Man.  He  is  one  of  King 
John's  men,  eight  score  to  the  hundred, 
a  saying  of  a  little  undersized  man 
(Grose). 

King's  (or  Queen's)  Bad  Bargain. 

A  malingering  soldier,  deserter  (Grose). 

King  's-bencher.  The  busiest  of  the 

galley  orators,  a  galley-skulker($my<A). 

King's  Books.  A  pack  of  cards,  The 

history  (or  books)  of  the  four  kings, 

devil's  books  (q.v.)  (1653). 

King's  Cushion.  A  seat  formed  by 
two  persons  holding  each  other's 
hands  crossed  :  also  Queen's  cushion 
(or  chair),  cat's-carriage  (or  cradle). 

King's  (or  Queen's)  Head  Inn. 
Newgate  :  see  Cage  (1696). 

King's  Keys.  The  crow-bars  and 
hammers  used  by  sheriffs'  officers  to 
force  doors  and  locks.  [Roquefort : 
faire  la  clef  du  Roy,  ouvrir  les  clefs 
et  les  coffres  avec  des  instruments 
de  serrurier.] 

Kingsman.  1.  A  handkerchief  :  a 
yellow  pattern  upon  a  green  ground — 
the  favourite  coloured  neckerchief  of 
costermongers :  sometimes  worn  by 
women  thrown  over  their  shoulders. 
2.  A  member  of  King's  College,  Cam- 
bridge. 3.  In  pi.,  the  Seventy -eighth 
Foot,  now  the  2nd  battalion,  Sea- 
forth  Highlanders :  their  motto  is 
Cuidich'r  Rhi,  Help  the  King. 

King's  (or  Queen's)  pictures. 
Money :  see  Rhino.  To  draw  the 
Icing's  (or  queen's)  picture,  to  counter- 
feit money  (1632). 

King's  Plate.  Fetters  (Lex.  Eal.): 
see  Darbies. 

Kingswood  Lion.  An  ass,  Jerusalem 
pony  (q.v.). 

Kink.     A  crotchet,  whim  (1846). 
Kinky.   Eccentric,  short  tempered, 
twisty  (q.v.). 

Kip.  A  brothel.  To  tatter  a  kip, 
to  wreck  a  house  of  ill-fame  (1766).  2. 
A  bed.  English  synonyms :  breeding- 


263 


Kip-house. 


Kite-flying. 


cage,  bugwalk,  bunk,  cage,  cloth- 
market,  dab,  doss,  dossing  cnb,  downy, 
Feathers  Inn,  flea- pasture,  latty, 
letty,  libb,  lypken,  perch,  ruggins, 
shake-down,  snooze.  3.  A  fool,  silly 
fellow :  he's  a  kip,  he's  dull-witted 
(Matsell) :  see  Buffle.  As  verb,  (1)  to 

Elay  truant,  do  dolly ;  (2)  to  sleep, 
tdge. 

Kip-house.  A  tramps'  lodginghonse. 

Kipper.  To  die :  see  Hop  the  twig : 
on  the  Trent  a  .-.ilnion  is  said  to  be 
kipper  when  it  is  s^riousy  out  of  con- 
dition and  has  lost  about  half  its 
weight. 

Kipsy.     See  Kypsey. 

Kirjalis.  Who  fears  ?  I  fear  not ; 
come  on  !  (Matsell). 

Kirkbuzzer.  A  thief  whose  special- 
ity is  to  ply  in  churches  (Matsell). 

Kirkling.  Breaking  into  a  house 
while  the  occupants  are  at  church. 

Kirk's  Lambs.  The  Second  Regi- 
ment of  Foot,  now  the  Queen's 
(Royal  West  Surrey  Regiment):  from 
the  name  of  its  first  colonel  and  the 
Paschal  Lamb,  the  badge  of  Portugal, 
on  its  colours. 

K  i  s  k  y.  Drunk,  fuddled  :  see 
Screwed. 

Kiss.  1 .  A  drop  of  wax  by  the  side  of 
a  seal  on  a  letter.  2.  In  pi.,  Hotchkiss 
Ordnance  Co.  shares.  As  verb,  to  touch 
gently,  brush  :  in  billiards  and  other 
games  the  balls  are  said  to  kiss  when 
they  barely  touch  (1593).  To  kiss 
the  daws  (or  hands),  to  salute  (1630). 
To  kiss  the  counter,  to  be  confined  in 
the  Counter  prison  :  also  Clink  (1618). 
To  kiss  the  dust,  to  die  :  see  Hop  the 
twig.  To  kiss  the  hare's  foot,  to  be 
too  late  for  meals,  to  dine  with  Duke 
Humphrey  (q.v.).  To  kiss  the  master, 
to  hit  the  Jack  (q.v.)  at  bowls  (1579). 
To  kiss  the  post,  to  be  shut  out  (1600). 
To  kiss  the  maid, '  Kissing  the  Maid,  an 
Engine  in  Scotland,  and  at  Halifax 
in  England,  in  which  the  Head  of  a 
Malefactor  is  laid  to  be  Cut  off,  and 
which  this  way  is  done  to  a  hair,  said 
to  be  invented  by  Earl  Morton,  who 
had  the  ill  Fate  to  Handsel  it'  (B.  E.). 

Kiss-curl.  A  small  curl  twisted  on 
the  cheek  or  temple,  beau-catcher 

a'   ,v.) :  cf.  Aggrawator  and  Lovelock  : 
so  Kiss-me-quick. 

Kisser.  1.  The  mouth,  the  drip- 
ping (or  latch-)  pan  (q.v.) :  see  Potato- 
trap.  2.  In  pi.,  the  lips,  lispers  (q.v.), 
mums  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  balots. 


Kissing-crust.  The  soft-baked  sur- 
face between  two  loaves,  the  under 
crust  in  a  pudding  or  pie  (1708). 

Kissing-strings.  Ribands  hanging 
over  the  shoulders,  follow-me-lads 
(q.v.):  Fr.,  svivez-moi-jcune-homme 
(1705). 

Kissing-trap.  The  mouth,  whisker- 
bed  (q.v.) :  see  Potato-trap. 

Kiss-me- quick.  1 .  A  kiss-curl  (q.v.). 
2.  The  name  of  a  very  small,  once 
fashionable  bonnet  (1855).  3.  A 
compounded  drink. 

Kist-o '  - whustles.  An  organ  ( 1 640). 

Kit.  1.  A  dancing  master  (New 
Cant  Diet.).  2.  A  person's  baggage 
or  impediments,  an  outfit,  collection 
of  anything.  The  whole  kit,  the  lot, 
the  whole  gridiron,  or  the  whole  boil- 
ing: in  America,  the  kit  and  boodle. 

Kitchen.  The  stomach,  victualling 
office  (q.v.). 

Kitchener.  A  thief  frequenting  a 
thieves'  kitchen  (q.v.). 

Kitchenite.  A  loafing  compositor 
frequenting  the  kitchen  of  the  Com- 
positors' Society  house. 

Kitchen-Latin.  Barbarous  or  sham 
Latin,  dog- Latin  (q.v.). 

Kitchen-physic.  1.  Pot-herbs ;  and, 

2.  victuals  (1592). 
Kitchen-stuff.    A    female   servant 

(1658). 

Kite.  1.  A  fool,  sharper,  cruel  and 
rapacious  wretch :  Fr.,  buse :  see 
Buffle  (1534).  2.  An  accommodation 
bill,  fictitious  commercial  paper, 
(in  Scotland)  a  windmill-bill  (q.v.) : 
see  Kite-flying.  To  fly  a  kite,  (1)  to 
raise  money  or  keep  up  credit  by  the 
aforesaid  means  (181 7);  (2)  to  put  out  a 
feeler  before  a  definite  announcement. 

3.  Fancy  stocks  (Matsell).     4.  A  letter 
(Matsell).     5.  The  chief  of  a  gang  of 
thieves.     6.    A    recruiting    sergeant : 
from    Farquhar's    Sergeant    Kite    in 
The  Recruiting  Officer.     7.  The  belly 
(1554).     As  verb,  (1)  to  keep  up  one  s 
credit  by   means  of  accommodation 
bills,  obtain  money  by  bills ;  (2)  to 
speculate  wildly ;  (3)  to  be  restless, 
go  from  place   to  place,  slate  (q.v.) 
(Matsett). 

Kite-flyer.  One  who  raises  money  or 
sustains  his  credit  by  the  use  of 
accommodation  bills. 

Kite-flying.  The  fabrication  or 
negotiation  of  bills  of  accommodation 
or  bills  for  which  no  value  has  been 
received,  in  order  to  raise  money. 


254 


Kitten. 


Knight. 


Kitten.  A  pint  or  half-pint  pewter 
pot :  see  Cat.  As  verb,  to  be  brought  to 
bed,  bust  up,  explode. 

Kittie  (also  Kittock).  (1)  Generic 
for  a  girl ;  (2)  a  romping  wench  ;  (3)  a 
harlot  (1513). 

Kittle-breeks.    An  irritable  person. 

Kittle-pi tchering.  A  jocular  method 
of  hobbling  or  bothering  a  troublesome 
teller  of  long  stories ;  this  is  done  by 
contradicting  some  very  immaterial 
circumstance  at  the  beginning  of  the 
narration,  the  objections  to  which 
being  settled,  others  are  immediately 
started  to  some  new  particular  of  like 
consequence,  thus  impeding,  or  rather 
not  suffering  him  to  enter  into  the 
main  story.  Kittle-pitchering  is  often 
practised  in  confederacy  (Grose). 

K  i  1 1 1  e  r.      One  who  tickles    or 


Kitty.  1.  The  Bridewell  or  prison 
at  Durham :  hence  a  prison  or  gaol 
generally.  2.  In  pi.,  effects,  furniture, 
stock-in-trade,  marbles  (q.v.).  To 
seize  one's  kitty s,  to  take  one's  effects 
(Lex.  Bal.).  3.  A  pool.  4.  In  pi.,  The 
Scots  Guards. 

Kivey.  A  man,  fellow  :  a  diminu- 
tive of  cove  (q.v.)  (1854). 

K.  Legged.  Knock-kneed,  shaky 
on  the  pins. 

K 1  o  o  p  !  An  imitation  of  the 
sound  of  a  drawing  cork. 

Klem.    To  strike,  hit. 

Klep.  A  thief  (q.v.):  short  for 
kleptomaniac.  As  verb,  to  steal :  see 
Prig. 

Knab  the  Rust.     See  Rust. 

Knack.  ( 1 )  A  trick ;  and  (2)  a  trinket. 
\Tyrwhitt :  The  word  seems  to  have 
been  formed  by  the  knacking  or 
snapping  of  the  fingers  made  by 
jugglers.]  (1383). 

Knacker.  1.  An  old  horse.  2.  A 
horse-slaughterer.  3.  In  pi.,  Har- 
rison, Barber,  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  shares : 
an  amalgamation  of  horse- slaughter- 
ers. Knacker's  brandy,  a  beating. 

Knack-shop.  A  toy  shop,  a  nick- 
nackatory  (1696). 

Knap.  1.  To  steal,  receive,  accept, 
endure,  etc.  Thus,  to  knap  a  clout, 
to  steal  a  handkerchief ;  to  knap  the 
swag,  to  grab  the  booty ;  to  knap 
seven  (or  fourteen)  penn'orth,  to  get 
seven  or  fourteen  years'.  In  making 
a  bargain,  to  knap  the  sum  offered  is 
to  accept  it.  Mr.  Knap's  been  there, 
is  said  of  a  pregnant  woman.  To 


knap  the  rust,  to  fall  into  a  rage. 
Originally  knap  meant  to  strike : 
whence  knap  (theatrical),  a  manual 
retort  rehearsed  and  arranged ;  to 
take  (or  give)  the  knap,  to  receive  (or 
administer)  a  sham  blow ;  and 
knapper,  the  head  or  receiver  general 
(q.v.)  (1537).  2.  To  be  in  punish- 
ment (q.v.) ;  to  catch  it  (q.v.).  To 
knap  a  hot  'un,  to  receive  a  hard  blow. 
3.  To  arrest  (MatseU).  To  knap  the 
stoop,  to  go  hungry.  To  knap  a 
Jacob  from  a  danna-drag,  to  steal  the 
ladder  from  a  nightman's  cart,  while 
the  men  are  absent,  in  order  to 
effect  an  ascent  to  a  one-pair-of-stairs 
window,  to  scale  a  garden  wall  (De 
Vaux). 

Knapper 's-poll.  A  sheep's  head: 
see  Sanguinary  James. 

Knapping- jigger.  A  turnpike  gate  : 
i.e.  a  gate  for  the  receipt  of  tolls. 

K  n  a  r  k.  A  churl,  flintheart, 
nark  (q.v.).  (1851). 

Knat.  (1)  A  difficult  task ;  (2)  a 
tyrant ;  and  (3)  one  not  easily  hood- 
winked. 

Knave  (Christ's  Hospital).  A 
dunce  :  at  Hertford,  a  knack. 

Knee.  To  offer  (or  give)  the  knee, 
to  play  the  second  in  a  fight  (1856). 
Knee  high  to  a  mosquito  (a  toad,  a  chaw 
of  tobacco,  etc. ),  insignificant,  of  scant 
account.  To  sit  on  one's  knees,  to 
kneel  down. 

Knee-trick.     Kneeling  ( 1 632). 
Knick-knack.    A  trinket,  toy  :  see 
Nicknacks. 

Knife.  A  sword  (1270).  As  verb, 
(1)  to  stab ;  (2)  to  plot  against  the 
candidate  of  one's  own  party.  To 
lay  doum  one's  knife  and  fork,  to  die, 
peg  out  (q.v.),  to  snuff  it  (q.v.) :  see 
Hop  the  twig.  To  knife  it,  to  decamp, 
cut  it  (q.v.).  Knife  it  I  separate! 
leave  off :  go  away  !  To  play  a  good 
knife  and  fork,  to  eat  with  appetite. 
Before  one  can  say  Knife  !  instanter, 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  (q.v.) :  cf. 
Jack  Robinson. 

Knife-board.    A  seat  for  passengers 
running  lengthwise  on  the  roof  of  an 
omnibus :  now  mostly  superseded  by 
garden  seats  :  Fr.,  imperatrice  (1853). 
Knifer.     A  sharking  sponge. 
Knifish.     Spiteful. 
Knight.     An  ironical  prefix  of  pro- 
fession   or    calling  :    generic.     Thus  : 
knight  of   the  blade,  a  bully  (B.  E. 
1690) ;  knight  of  the  brush,  an  artist 


255 


Knitting  Needle. 


or  painter ;  knight  of  the  collar,  a 
gallows-bird ;  knight  of  the  cleaver, 
a  butcher ;  knight  of  the  cue,  a 
billiard-marker ;  knight  of  the  green 
cloth,  a  gamester ;  knight  of  Hornesy 
(or  of  the  forked  order),  a  cuckold  ; 
knight  of  industry,  a  thief ;  knight 
of  the  knife,  a  cut-purse ;  knight  of 
labour  (in  America),  a  working  man  ; 
knight  of  the  lapstone,  a  cobbler ; 
knight  of  the  napkin,  a  waiter ;  knight 
of  the  needle,  a  tailor ;  knight  of  the 
quill,  an  author  or  journalist ;  knight 
of  the  pencil,  a  book-maker  ;  knight  of 
the  pestle,  an  apothecary ;  knight  of 
the  pit,  a  cocker ;  knight  of  the 
petticoat,  a  bawdy-house  bully  ;  knight 
of  the  piss-pot,  a  physician,  an  apothe- 
cary ;  knight  of  the  post,  a  knight 
dubbed  at  the  whipping  post  or 
pillory,  also  a  rogue  who  got  his 
living  by  giving  false  witness  or  false 
bail ;  knight  of  the  rainbow,  a  foot- 
man (Grose,  1785) ;  knight  of  the  road, 
a  footpad  or  highwayman :  also 
knight  of  the  rumpad  ;  knight  of  the 
shears  or  thimble,  a  tailor  (Grose, 
1785) ;  knight  of  the  spigot,  a  tapster, 
a  publican ;  knight  of  the  sun,  an 
adventurer,  a  knight-errant ;  knight 
of  the  wheel,  a  cyclist ;  knight  of  the 
whip,  a  coachman ;  knight  of  the 
yard,  a  shopman  or  counter-jumper. 
To  be  knighted  in  Bridewell,  to  be 
whipped  in  prison  (1592). 

Knitting  Needle.  A  sword,  cheese- 
toaster  (q.v.). 

Knob.    1.  The  head,  nob  (q.v.) :  see 
Crumpet.     One  on  the  nob,  a  blow  on 
the    head    (Grose).     2.    (workmen's.) 
A  knobstick  (q.v.). 
Knobby.    See  Nobby. 
Knob-of-suck.     A  piece  of  sweet- 
meat. 

Knobstick  (or  Nobstick).  1.  A 
non-society  hand,  dung  (q.v.),  rat 
(q.v.) :  also  one  who  takes  work  under 
price,  or  continues  at  work  while  his 
fellows  are  on  strike.  2.  A  master 
who  does  not  pay  his  men  at  market 
rates  (1851). 

Knock.  A  lame  horse,  an  incur- 
able screw  (q.v.) :  the  horse-dealer  in 
Jonson's  Bartholomew  Fair  (1614),  is 
called  Knockem.  As  verb,  to  make  an 
impression,  be  irresistible,  fetch  (q.v.), 
floor  (q.v.).  Phrases :  To  knock  acock, 
to  floor,  flabbergast  (q.v.),  double  up ; 
to  knock  about  (or  round),  to  wander 
here  and  there,  lounge :  also  to  see 


life,  go  the  pace  (q.v.) ;  to  knock  about 
the  bub,  to  pass  round  the  drink :  see 
Bub ;  to  knock  (or  let)  daylight  into 
one :  see  Daylight ;  to  knock  all  of  a 
heap :  see  Heap ;  to  knock  at  the 
cobbler's  door :  see  Cobbler's  knock ; 
to  knock  down,  ( 1 )  to  appropriate,  em- 
bezzle ;  (2)  to  call  upon,  select  (1758) ; 
to  knock  down  for  a  song,  to  sell  under 
intrinsic  value  ;  to  knock  down  a  cheque 
(or  pile),  to  spend  one's  savings  lavishly, 
blew  (q.v.) ;  to  knock  down  fares,  to 
pilfer  fares  :  of  conductors  and  guards  ; 
to  knock  it  down,  to  applaud  by  ham- 
mering or  stamping ;  to  knock  one 
down  to,  to  introduce  (to  a  person) ; 
to  knock  in  (Oxford  University),  (1) 
to  return  to  college  after  gate  is  closed  ; 
(2),  to  take  a  hand  at  cards,  chip  in 
(q.v.) ;  to  knock  into  fits  (a  cocked 
hat,  the  middle  of  next  week,  etc.),  to 
confound,  floor  (q.v.),  punish  severely; 
to  knock  (or  take  it)  out  of  one,  to 
exhaust,  empty,  punish  severely ; 
to  knock  off,  (1)  to  leave  off  work, 
abandon :  FT.,  peter  sur  le  mastic 
(1662) ;  (2)  to  dispatch  with  ease,  put 
out  of  hand ;  (3)  to  deduct,  knock 
so  much  off  the  price ;  (4)  to  die ;  to 
knock  one  bandy,  to  astound,  flabber- 
gast (q.v.) ;  to  knock  on  the  head,  to 
frustrate,  spoil,  settle ;  to  knock  out, 
(1)  see  Knock-out;  (2)  to  bet  so 
persistently  against  a  horse  that  from 
a  short  price  he  retires  to  an  outside 
place,  drive  out  of  the  quotations  ;  (3) 
to  make  bankrupt ;  knocked  out,  un- 
able to  meet  engagements ;  (4)  see 
Knock  out  of  time ;  (5)  (Oxford 
University),  to  leave  college  after 
hours :  of  out  of  college  men  only : 
see  Knock  in  and  Knocking  out ;  to 
knock  out  of  time,  to  punish  an  op- 
ponent so  that  he  is  not  able  to  answer 
the  call  of  Time ;  to  knock  the  spots 
off  (or  out  of),  to  surpass,  confound, 
thrash,  excel ;  to  knock  the  bottom 
(stuffing,  wadding,  lining,  filling,  or 
inside)  out  of,  to  confound,  surpass, 
floor  (q.v.) ;  thrash,  finish  off ;  to 
knock  smoke  out  of,  to  try,  vanquish 
utterly ;  to  knock  saucepans  out  of,  to 
run  amuck ;  to  knock  out  the  wedges, 
to  desert,  leave  in  a  difficulty ;  to 
knock  round  :  see  To  knock  about ;  to 
knock  under,  to  yield,  give  out,  confess 
defeat  (1668);  to  knock  up  (Christ's 
Hospital),  (1)  to  gain  a  place  in  class : 
e.g.  I  knocked  up  and  I  knocked 
Jones  up :  the  Hertford  equivalent  is 


Knockabout. 


KnucUe-bone. 


ox  up  (q.v.);   (2)  to  achieve,  accom- 
plish ;  (3)  to  put  together  hastily,  as 
by  nailing  ;  (4)  to  exhaust,  tire  (1771) ; 
to  get   the   knock,    (I)   to   drink,   get 
screwed  (q.v.);  (2)  to  be  discharged, 
get  the   sack  or   bag   (q.v.) ;  to  take 
the  knock,  to  lose  more  to  the  book- 
makers than  one   can  pay,  be   dead 
broke  (q.v.) ;  to  be  knocked  off  one's 
pins,  to  be  flabbergasted  (q.v.);  that 
knocks  me,  that  confounds  (or  is  too 
much  for)  me ;  to  be  knocked  into  the 
middle  of  next  week,  to  be  astounded, 
et  badly  beaten,  be  knocked  into  a 
cocked  hat  (1823). 
Knockabout.     An  actor  of  violent 
id  noisy  pantomime  :  a  special  genre. 
Knockabout  man.     A  Jack-of-all- 
ies  (q.v.),  handy  man. 
Knock-down  (or  Knock-me-down). 
rong    ale,    stingo    (q.v.),   also,   gin 
(1515).     As  adj.,  rowdy  (1760). 
Knock-down    and    Drag-out.      A 
B-fight. 

Knock  -  'em  -  down       Business. 
Auctioneering. 

Knock  -  'em  -  downs.         Skittles 
(1828). 

Knocker.    In  pi.,  small  flat  curls 

orn  on  the  temples  ;  sixes  (q.v.).    Up 

the  knocker,  (I)  completely  equal 

,  perfect  in   appearance,  condition, 

Itness  ;  (2)  in  the  height  of  fashion. 

Knocker-face  (or  Head).     An  ugly 

"  person,  ugly-mug  (q.v.). 
Knocker-out.     See  Knock-out. 
Knock  -  in.     1.  The  game  of  loo. 
A  hand  at  cards.     3.  A  Knock- 
it  (q.v.) 

Knock-out.  1.  A  man  frequenting 
action  rooms  and  acting  in  concert 
buy  at  a  nominal  price.  One  of 
gang  is  told  off  to  buy  for  the 
and  after  a  few  small  bids  as 
ids,  the  lot  is  knocked  down  to 
tie  knock-out  bidders,  so  that  com- 
etition  is  made  impossible.  At  the 
ad  of  the  sale  the  goods  are  taken 
ray  and  resold  or  knocked  •  out 
the  confederates,  the  differ- 
ice  between  the  first  purchase  and 
second — or  tap-room  knock-out 
-being  divided.  The  lowest  sort  of 
aock-outs,  with  more  tongue  than 
*pital,  are  called  babes.  Hence 
auction  at  which  knocking-out 
practised.  Also  as  verb  and  adj. : 
Jy  a  thing  of  the  past.  2.  In  pi., 
3.  A  man  or  woman  (used 
ather  in  eulogy  or  in  outraged  pro- 


priety), a  warm  member  (q.v.)  one 
who  dpes  outrageous  things.  4.  A 
hit  out  of  the  guard  on  the  point  of 
the  chin  :  which  puts  the  recipient  to 
sleep,  and  ends  the  fight ;  hence, 
a  champion  of  any  sort  and  in  any 
walk  of  life.  Knocker-out,  a  pugilist 
who  is  an  adept  at  putting  to  sleep 
(q-v.). 

Knocksoftly.  A  fool,  soft  (q.v.): 
see  Buffle. 

Knot.  A  crew,  gang,  fraternity 
(1597).  To  knot  it,  to  abscond  :  see 
Bunk.  To  tie,  with  St.  Mary's  knot, 
to  hamstring.  To  tie  a  knot  with  the 
tongue  that  cannot  be  untied  with  the 
teeth,  to  get  married. 

Know.  To  know  what's  what 
(what's  o'clock,  a  thing  or  two,  one's 
way  about,  etc.),  to  have  knowledge 
(taste,  judgment,  or  experience),  to 
be  wide-awake  (q.v.),  equal  to  any 
emergency,  fly  (q.v.).  Not  to  know 
B  from  a  battledore :  see  B.  In  the 
know,  having  special  and  intimate 
knowledge,  in  the  swim,  on  the  ground 
floor  (q.v.).  All  one  knows,  the  ut- 
most. /  want  to  know,  Is  it  possible  ? 
You  surprise  me. 

Knowing.  Artful,  fly  (q.v. )  (1712). 
Knowing  bloke,  a  sponger  on  new 
recruits. 

Knowledge-box.  The  head,  nous- 
box  (q.v.) :  see  Crumpet  (1798). 

Knub.  To  rub  against,  tickle 
(1653). 

Knuck.  A  thief  (q.v.):  short  for 
knuckle  (q.v.)  (1834).  As  verb,  to 
steal :  see  Prig. 

Knuckle.  One  who  hangs  about  the 
lobbies  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament, 
the  Opera  -  House,  and  both  Play- 
Houses,  and  in  general  wherever  a 
great  crowd  assemble :  they  steal 
watches,  snuff-boxes,  etc.  (Parker, 
1781).  As  verb,  (1)  to  fight  with 
fists,  pummel ;  (2)  to  pick  pockets : 
applied  especially  to  the  more  refined 
or  artistic  branch  of  the  art,  i.e. 
extracting  notes  or  money  from  the 
waistcoat  or  breeches  pockets,  where- 
as buzzing  (q.v.)  is  used  in  a  more 
general  sense :  also  to  go  on  the  knuckle. 
To  knuckle  (knuckle  down  to,  or 
knuckle  under),  (1)  to  stoop,  bend, 
yield,  comply  with,  or  submit  to 
(1748) ;  (2)  to  apply  oneself  earnestly, 
engage  vigorously. 

Knuckle-bone.  Down  on  the  knuckle' 
bone,  hard-up,  stony  (q.v.). 


257 


Knuckled. 


Ladies'  Finger. 


Knuckled.     Handsome. 

Knuckledabs  (or  Knuckle-con- 
founders).  Handcuffs  (Grose):  see 
Darbies. 

Knuckle-duster.  1.  A  knuckle-guard 
of  iron  or  brass  which,  in  striking,  pro- 
tects the  hand  from  injury  and!  adds 
force  to  a  blow.  2.  A  large,  heavy, 
or  over-gaudy  ring. 

Knuckler.     A  pickpocket. 

Knuller.  1.  A  chimney-sweep 
who  solicits  custom  in  an  irregular 
manner,  by  knocking  at  the  doors  of 
houses  and  such  like  :  also  kneller.  2. 
A  clergyman. 

K  o  k  u  m.  Sham  kindness  :  see 
Cocum. 

Kone.    Counterfeit  coin  (Matsdl). 


Koniacker  (or  Cogniac  -  er).  A 
counterfeiter  (MatscU). 

Kool.     To  look. 

Kotoo  (or  Kotow).  To  bow  down 
to,  scrape  to,  lickspittle. 

Kosh  (or  Kosher).  1.  A  short  iron 
bar  used  for  purpose  of  assault.  2. 
A  blow.  As  adj.,  fair,  square  :  from 
the  Hebrew,  lawful 

Krop.     Pork. 

Kudos.  Glory  and  honour.  To 
kudos,  to  praise,  glorify :  from  Gr., 
kudos,  praised  (1793). 

Kye.    Eighteen  pence :  see  Rhino. 

Kynchen.     See  Kinchen. 

Kypsey.  A  wicker  basket :  also 
kipsey  (1754). 


L.  The  three  L's,  lead,  latitude,  and 
look-out  (Clark  Russell). 

Label.  A  postage  stamp  :  cf. 
Toadskin. 

Labour.     To  beat 

Labourer.  An  accoucheur,  midwife. 

Lace.  Strong  waters  added  to 
coffee  or  tea  :  also  (by  inference),  sugar 
(1712).  As  verb,  (1)  to  intermix  with 
spirits :  FT.,  consoler  son  cafe,  to  brandy 
one's  coffee  (1677);  (2)  to  flog:  also 
to  lace  one's  coat  (or  jacket)  (1599); 
(3)  to  wear  tight  stays. 

Lacedemonians.  The  Forty-sixth 
Foot,  now  the  second  battalion  of  the 
Duke  of  Cornwall's  Light  Infantry  : 
from  its  colonel  making  it  a  long 
speech  under  a  heavy  fire  about  the 
Lacedemonians  and  their  discipline : 
also  Murrays  Bucksand  The  Surprisers. 

Laced  Mutton.  A  woman,  especially 
a  wanton  (1578). 

Lacing.  1.  See  Lace.  2.  A  drub- 
bing, flogging,  lashing  (1696). 

Lach.     To  let  in. 

Lack-Latin.  An  ignoramus  :  speci- 
fically an  unlettered  priest  (1555). 

Ladder.  To  mount  a  ladder  (to  bed 
or  to  rest),  to  be  hanged  (1560).  Eng- 
lish synonyms :  to  cut  a  caper  upon 
nothing  (or  one's  last  fling),  to  catch 
(nab,  or  be  copped  with),  the  stifles, 
to  climb  the  stalk,  to  climb  (or  leap 
from)  the  leafless  (or  the  triple)  tree,  to 
be  cramped  (crapped,  or  cropped),  to 
cry  cockles,  to  dance  upon  nothing 
(the  Paddington  frisk,  in  a  hempen 


cravat,  or  a  Newgate  hornpipe  with- 
out music),  to  fetch  a  Tyburn  stretch, 
to  die  in  one's  boots  (or  shoes,  or  with 
cotton  in  one's  ears),  to  die  of  hempen 
fever  (or  squinsy),  to  have  a  hearty 
choke  with  caper  sauce  for  breakfast, 
to  take  a  vegetable  breakfast,  to 
marry  the  widow,  to"  morris  (Old 
Cant),  to  trine,  to  tuck  up,  to  swing, 
to  trust,  to  be  nubbed,  to  kick  the 
wind,  to  kick  the  wind  with  one's 
heels,  to  kick  the  wind  before  the 
hotel  door,  to  kick  away  the  prop,  to 
preach  at  Tyburn  cross,  to  make  (or 
have)  a  Tyburn  show,  to  wag  hemp  in 
the  wind,  to  wear  hemp  (an  anodyne 
necklace,  a  hempen  collar,  a  caudle, 
circle,  cravat,  croak,  garter,  necktie, 
or  habeas),  to  wear  neckweed,  (or  St. 
Andrew's  lace),  to  tie  Sir  Tristram's 
Knot,  to  wear  a  horse's  nightcap  (or 
a  Tyburn  tippet),  to  come  to  scratch 
in  a  hanging  (or  stretching  match  or 
bee),  to  ride  the  horse  foaled  of  an 
acorn  (or  the  three-legged  mare),  to 
be  stretched  (topped,  scragged,  or 
down  for  one's  scrag).  To  be  unable  to 
see  a  hole  in  a  ladder,  to  be  hopelessly 
drunk :  see  Screwed. 

Laddie.     A  lady. 

Ladies'  Cage.  That  portion  of  the 
gallery  in  the  Commons  which  is  set 
apart  for  ladies :  see  Cage. 

Ladies'  Fever.  Syphilis,  French 
gout  (q.v.). 

Ladies' Finger  (or  Wish).  A  taper- 
ing  glass  of  spirits,  especially  gin. 


258 


Ladies'  Grog. 


Lamb. 


Ladies' Grog.  Grog:  hot,  strong, 
sweet,  and  plenty  of  it  (Dickens). 

Ladies '  Mile.  Rotten  Row  in  Hyde 
Park — the  principal  airing  ground 
during  the  London  season. 

Ladle.  To  enunciate  pretentiously ; 
to  mouth  (q.v.). 

Lad  of  (or  on)  the  Cross.  See 
Cross. 

Lad  o'  Wax.  1.  A  cobbler,  cock  o' 
wax  (q.v.).  2.  A  boy,  doll  of  a  man, 
man  of  wax,  a  proper  man. 

Ladron.  A  thief  (q.v.) :  from  the 
Spanish  (1652). 

Lad's  Leavings  (A).    A  girl  (1737). 

Lady.  1.  A  very  crooked,  deformed, 
and  ill  -  shapen  woman  (1696):  cf. 
Lord.  2.  The  reverse  or  tail  (q.  v. )  of  a 
coin:  see  Head.  3.  A  quart  or  pint 
pitcher  wrong  side  uppermost.  4.  The 
keeper  of  the  gunner's  small  stores  : 
lady's  hole,  the  place  where  such  stores 
are  kept.  5.  A  woman  of  any  station  ; 
usually  in  combination,  as  fore-lady, 
sales -lady,  cook -lady.  6.  In  pi., 
cards,  devil's  books.  7.  A  sweet- 
heart. 

Ladybird.  (1)  A  wanton  ;  and  (2)  a 
term  of  endearment  (1595). 

Lady-chair.     See  King's  cushion. 

Lady  Dacre's  Wine.  Gin  (Lex. 
Bal.):  see  Drinks. 

Lady-feast.  A  bout  of  debauchery 
(1653). 

Lady  Fender.  A  woman  who  spends 
her  time  nursing  the  fire. 

Lady  Green.  A  clergyman;  speci- 
fically a  prison  chaplain. 

Lady-killer.  A  male  flirt,  a  general 
lover.  Lady  -  killing,  assiduous  gal- 
lantry. 

Lady  of  Pleasure.  A  prostitute: 
FT.,  fUle  de  joie  (1750). 

Lady's  Ladder.  Rattlins  set  too 
close. 

Lady  Ware.  Trinkets,  knick- 
knacks,  ribands. 

Lag.  1.  Sentence  of  transportation, 
penal  servitude.  2.  A  returned  trans- 
port, convict,  ticket  -  of  -  leave  man 
(1811).  3.  Water:  also  Lage  (1573). 
4.  (Westminster  School),  a  fag.  5.  A 
dialogue  or  scene  of  extra  length,  also  a 
wait.  As  verb,  (1)  to  transport,  send 
to  penal  servitude :  lagged,  sentenced, 
imprisoned  :  Fr.,  otter  d  la  grotto  ;  To 
lump  the  lighter  (q.v.)  (1819);  (2) 
to  steal,  prig  (q.v.) ;  (3)  to  catch 
(1580) ;  (4)  to  urinate ;  (5)  to  dally, 
wait,  drop  behind. 


Lage.  See  Lag.  As  verb,  to  wash 
down,  drink  (1567). 

Lager  Beer.  To  think  no  lager  beer 
of  oneself  :  see  Small  beer. 

Lag-fever.  A  term  of  ridicule  ap- 
plied to  men  who,  being  under  sentence 
or  transportation,  pretend  illness,  to 
avoid  being  sent  from  gaol  to  the 
hulks  (Lex.  Bal.). 

Lagger.  1.  A  sailor.  2.  An  infor- 
mer, witness. 

Lagging.  A  term  of  imprisonment : 
also  lag  (q.v.).  Hence,  lagging 
matter,  a  crime  rendering  persons 
liable  to  transportation  (Grose). 

Lagging-dues.  When  a  person  is 
likely  to  be  transported,  the  flash 
people  observe,  lagging-dues  will  be 
concerned  (Grose). 

Lagging-gage.  A  chamber-pot,  it 
(q.v.). 

Lagniappe    (or    Lagnappe).      The 
equivalent  of  the   thirteenth  roll  in 
a   baker's    dozen.     It    is    something 
thrown   in,  gratis  for  good  measure. 
The     custom     originated     in     New 
Orleans     city.       When     a    child    or 
servant  buys   something   ....    he 
finishes    the    operation    by    saying, 
'  Give  me  something  for  Lagniappe.' 
The  shopman  always  responds  .   .   . 
When  you  are  invited  to  drink,  and 
you  say,  I've  had  enough,  the  other 
says, '  But  just  this  one  time  more  this 
is  for  lagniappe  '  (Mark  Twain). 
Lagranged.    Vexed. 
Lag-ship.     A  convict  transport. 
Laid.     See  Lavender,  and  Shelf. 
Lala.     A  swell. 

Lally.  Linen,  lully  (q.v.)  (1800). 
Lallycodler.  One  eminently  success- 
ful in  any  particular  line. 
Lam.  See  Lamb. 
Lamb.  1.  A  quiet  easy  -  going 
person,  simpleton,  juggins  (q.v.) 
(1669).  2.  Ironically  used  of  a  rough 
(cruel,  or  merciless)  person :  speci- 
fically applied  to  Nottingham  roughs, 
and  hence  to  bludgeon  men  at  elec- 
tions :  the  head-money  given  is  called 
mint-sauce  ( q.  v. ).  Engli sh  synonyms  : 
barker,  basher,  blood-tub,  bouncer, 
bounder,  boy  of  the  Holy  Ground, 
bruiser,  dead  duck,  hoodlum,  larrikin, 
mug,  plug  -  ugly,  rabbit  (or  dead 
rabbit),  ramper,  roarer  (or  roaring- 
boy),  rough,  roustabout,  rouster, 
rowdy,  rustler,  short-ear.  3.  A  term 
of  endearment  (1595).  4.  An  elderly 
person  dressed  or  got-up  young.  5. 


259 


Lamback. 


Land- Security. 


See  Pet  Lamb.  6.  See  Kirke's 
Lambs.  As  verb,  to  beat :  also  lamb 
lambaste,  lamback,  and  lambeake  (1665). 
To  akin  the  lamb.  See  Skin. 

Lamback.     A  blow  (1591). 

Lambacker.  A  bully,  hector  (q.v.) 
(1593). 

Lamb  and  Salad.  To  give  one  lamb 
and  salad,  to  thrash  soundly. 

Lambaste.    See  Lamb. 

Lambasting.     A  thrashing. 

Lamb-down.  To  spend  all  in  drink, 
to  charter  the  bar  (q.v.),  to  knock 
down  one's  cheque  (q.v.),  to  blew  the 
lot  (q.v.). 

Lamb-pie.     A  drubbing  (B.  E.). 

Lambskin.  To  beat :  see  Lamb 
(1593). 

Lambskin-man.     A  judge  (B.  E.). 

Lamb's -wool.  Hot  ale,  spiced, 
sweetened,  and  mixed  withtthe  pulp  of 
roasted  apples  (1189). 

Lame-dog.  To  help  a  lame  dog  over 
a  stile,  to  give  a  hand,  help,  bunk  up 
(q.v.) :  FT.,  sauver  la  mise  a  quelqu'un 
(1605). 

Lame  duck.  1.  A  defaulter  on 
'Change,  who  has  to  '  waddle  out  of  the 
Alleyr:  cf.  Bear,  Bull,  etc.  (1766). 
2.  A  scapegrace. 

Lame-hand.  An  indifferent  driver, 
spoon  (q.v.). 

Lammas.  At  later  Lammas,  never, 
at  the  Greek  kalends  (q.v.),  at  Tib's 
eve  (q.v.)  (1576). 

Lammermoor  Lion.  A  sheep  :  cf. 
Cotewold  lion,  and  Essex  lion. 

Lammie  Todd  1    I  would  if  I  could. 

Lammikin.      A  blow  (1622). 

Lamming.  A  beating :  cf.  Lamb 
(1619). 

Lammy.  A  blanket :  originally  a 
thick  quilted  frock,  or  short  jumper 
made  of  flannel  or  blanket  cloth,  worn 
by  Bailors  aa  an  outside  garment  in 
cold  weather  (Gentlemen's  Magazine, 
1866). 

Lamp.  1.  An  eye.  2.  In  pi.,  spec- 
tacles, giglamps  (q.v.) :  see  Peepers. 
To  smell  of  the  lamp,  to  show  signs  of 
labour  or  study  (1615). 

Lamp  -  post.  A  tall  lanky  person. 
English  synonyms  :  clothes  -  prop, 
daddy-longlegs,  Duke  of  Lankester, 
Duke  of  Lamos,  gawk,  gas-pipe,  lath- 
legs,  long-ghost,  Long-shanks,  long- 
'un,  rasher-of-wind,  sky-scraper,  sky- 
topper,  spindle-shanks,  split-up,  tongs, 
matches. 

Lanceman     (Lance-knight,    or 


Lanceman-prigger).    A  highwayman 
(1591). 

Lancepresado.  One  who  has  only 
twopence  in  his  pocket ;  also  a  lance, 
or  deputy  corporal,  that  is,  one  doing 
the  duty  without  the  pay  of  corporal ; 
formerly  a  lancier  or  horseman,  who 
being  dismounted  by  the  death  of  his 
horse,  served  in  the  foot  by  the  title 
of  lansprisado  or  lancepesato ;  a 
broken  lance  (B.  E.  and  Grose). 

Land.  1.  To  deliver,  get  home 
(q.v.).  2.  To  bring  or  take  a  posi- 
tion or  place,  set  down,  catch,  arrive 
(1850).  3.  To  set  up,  make  all  right, 
secure.  4.  To  win,  gain.  To  land 
out,  to  decamp,  bunk  (q.v.).  To 
see  how  the  land  lies,  to  see  how 
matters  stand.  Who  has  any  land 
in  Appleby,  '  a  Question  askt  the 
Man  at  whose  Door  the  Glass  stands 
long'  (B.  E.). 

Land-broker.  An  undertaker  (Mat- 
sell). 

Land-carack.     A  mistress  (1629). 

Land-crab.     A  landsman. 

Landed  Estate.  1.  The  grave, 
Darby's  dyke  (q.v.).  2.  Dirt  in  the 
finger  nails. 

L  a  n  d  i  e  s  (Winchester  College). 
Gaiters  :  from  tradespeople — Landy 
and  Currell  —  who  supplied  them 
(Notions). 

Landlady.  To  hang  the  landlady,  to 
decamp  without  payment,  to  moon- 
shine, to  stand  off  the  tailor. 

Landlubber  (also  Land-leaper  and 
Land-loper).  A  vagabond,  one  who 
fled  the  country  for  crime  or  debt ; 
also  (nautical)  a  landsman,  in  varying 
degrees  of  contempt,  for  incapacity  in 
general  or  uselessness  as  sailors  in 
particular  :  Fr.,  jus  de  cancre,  terrien, 
or  failli  chien  de  terrien  (1362). 

Land  of  Nod.  Sleep.  To  go  to  the 
land  of  nod,  to  go  to  bed,  fall  asleep 
(1818). 

Land  of  Promises.  The  fair  expect- 
ation cherished  by  a  steady  novice  at 
Oxford  (Orose). 

Land  of  steady  habits.  Connecticut. 

Land  of  Sheepishness.  School- 
boy's bondage  (Orose). 

Land-packet     An  ox-team. 

Land-pirate  (or  Land-rat).  1.  A 
land  thief:  cf.  Water-rat  (1598).  2. 
See  Land-shark. 

Land-raker.  A  vagabond,  land- 
lubber (q.v.)  (1696). 

Land  Security.     See  Leg-bail. 


260 


Land-shark. 


Larking. 


Land-shark.  1.  A  boarding-house 
keeper,  runner,  crimp — any  one  living 
by  the  plunder  of  seamen :  FT.,  ver- 
mine  (1838).  2.  A  usurer.  3.  A  land- 
grabber,  one  who  seizes  land  by  craft 
or  force.  4.  A  custom-house  officer 
(1815). 

Land-swab.  A  landlubber  (q.v.), 
grasscomber  (q.v.). 

Land-yard.     A  cemetery. 

Lane.  1.  The  throat :  see  Gutter 
alley  :  also  Red  lane  and  Red  lion  lane 
(1534).  2.  The  course  laid  out  for 
ocean  steamers  between  England  and 
America :  there  are  two  lanes,  or 
lane-routes  both  narrowly  defined — the 
northern  for  westward  bound,  and  the 
southern  for  eastern  bottoms.  The 
Lane,  (1)  Drury  Lane  Theatre;  (2) 
Mincing  Lane ;  (3)  Mark  Lane ;  (4) 
Chancery  Lane ;  (5)  Petticoat  Lane,  and 
(6)  the  old  Horsemonger  Lane  Jail, 
now  demolished :  cf.  Cade,  House, 
Garden,  etc.  Harriet  Lane,  tinned  or 
preserved  meat. 

Langret.  In  pi.,  dice  loaded  so  as  to 
show  4  or  3  more  often  than  any  other 
number :  the  opposite  is  bardquater- 
tray  (1591). 

Lank.  After  a  lank  comes  a 
bank,  said  of  breeding  women 
(1767). 

Lank  Sleeve.  The  empty  sleeve  of 
a  one-armed  man.  A  fellow  with  a 
lank  sleeve  ;  a  man  who  has  lost  an 
arm  (Lex.  Bal.). 

Lanspresado  (or  Lansprisado). 
See  Lancepresado. 

Lant.  To  make  water,  stale  (q.v.) : 
also,  subs.,  urine  (Cotgrave). 

Lantern.  To  hang  from  a  lamp- 
post :  Fr.,  d  la  lanterne  :  see  Lanthorn. 

Lantern- jaws.  Lean,  thin-faced 
(1696). 

Lanthorn.  Dark  lanthorn,  the  ser- 
vant or  agent  that  receives  the 
bribe  (at  Court)  (B.  E.). 

Lap.  1.  Any  sort  of  potable 
(among  ballet-girls),  gin  :  also  lapper 
(1573).  2.  One  round  of  a  course 
(1861).  As  verb,  (1)  to  drink:  also, 
to  go  on  the  lap  (1819) ;  (2)  in  running 
a  race  in  laps,  to  overtake :  as,  to  be 
one  or  more  laps  ahead  ;  (3)  to  pick  up, 
take,  steal  (Matsell) ;  (4)  to  seat  a  girl 
on  one's  knees ;  (5)  to  throw  candy, 
papers,  etc.  into  the  laps  of  passen- 
gers. To  lap  the  gutter :  see  Gutter. 
To  lap  up,  to  wipe  out,  put  out  of  sight. 
Cat-lap  (see  ante). 


Lap-ear.  1.  A  student  of  a  religious 
turn  of  mind.  2.  A  donkey. 

Lap-ful.  1.  A  lover  or  husband ;  2. 
an  unborn  child. 

Lapland.     The  society  of  women. 

Lapper.  1.  Drink,  lap  (q.v.) : 
hence,  2.  rare-lapper,  a  hard  drinker. 

Lap-feeder.    A  silver  table-spoon. 

Lappel.  To  ship  the  white  lappel,  to 
be  raised  from  the  ranks. 

Lap-priest.  A  clerical  apple-squire 
(q.v.),  a  servant  (q.v.)  (1690). 

Lap-tea.  An  informal  afternoon 
meal. 

Lardy.  Grand,  rich,  swell  (q.v.). 
Lardy  -  dardy,  affected,  effeminate  : 
lardy-dah  (or  la-di-da),  a  swell  or  fop. 
To  do  (or  come)  the  lardy-dah,  to  dress 
for  the  public. 

Lareover.  Lareovers  for  medlers,  an 
answer  frequently  given  to  children, 
or  young  people,  as  a  rebuke  for 
their  impertinent  curiosity,  in  en- 
quiring what  is  contained  in  a  box, 
bundle,  or  any  other  closed  convey- 
ance (Grose). 

Large.  A  vulgarism  expressive  of 
excess  :  thus,  to  dress  large,  to  dress 
showily ;  to  go  large,  to  go  noisily ; 
to  play  large,  to  play  high  ;  to  talk  large, 
to  brag,  etc.  (1852).  Large  blue  kind, 
a  general  intensitive ;  e.g.  a  mon- 
strous lie,  bad  headache,  interesting 
book,  and  so  forth. 

Large  House.  A  workhouse.  English 
synonyms :  big-house,  grubbing-ken, 
lump,  Lump-Hotel,  pan,  spinniken, 
wool-hole. 

Large  Order.  A  difficult  undertak- 
ing, something  exaggerated  (exten- 
sive, or  big). 

Lark.  1.  A  piece  of  merriment 
(1811).  2.  A  boat  (Lex.  Bal.).  As 
verb,  (1)  to  sport,  tease,  spree  (q.v.). 
(2)  See  Larking.  (3)  A  boy  who 
steals  newspapers  from  doorsteps. 

Larking.  1.  To  clear  a  jump,  go  over 
like  a  bird.  2.  Exclusive  of  work  for 
horses  when  hounds  are  running,  there 
is  another  way  of  making  use  of  horse- 
flesh in  Leicestershire ;  and  that  is, 
in  coming  home  from  hunting,  or 
what  in  the  language  of  the  day  is 
called  larking.  One  of  the  party 
holds  up  his  hat,  which  is  a  signal  for 
the  start;  and,  putting  their  horses' 
heads  in  a  direction  for  Melton,  away 
they  go,  and  stop  at  nothing  till  they 
get  there  (Nimrod).  3.  Frolicking.horse- 
play,  rowdyism.  As  adj . ,  Larkish  (q. v. ) 


261 


Larkish. 


Lay. 


'    Larkish  (Larky  or  Larking).  Frolic- 
some, rowdy. 

Larky  Subaltern's  Train.  See 
Cold  meat  train. 

Larrence.     See  Lazy  Laurence. 

Larrey.     Artful  (MatseU). 

Larrikin.  A  rough  :  cf.  Arab,  cab- 
bage-tree, mob,  hoodlum,  etc.  '  It  was 
in  a  Sydney  newspaper  that  I  read 
about  Larrikins,  but  the  term  would 
appear  to  have  spread  throughout 
Australia.  H.  de  8.  tells  me  that 
larrikin  was  originally  Melbourne 
slang,  applied  to  rowdy  youngsters, 
who,  in  the  early  days  of  the  gold 
fever,  gave  much  trouble  to  the  police. 
An  Australian  born  spells  the  word 
larakin  ....  Finally,  Archibald  Forbes 
tells  me  :  A  larrikin  is  a  cross  between 
the  street  arab  and  the  hoodlum,  with 
a  dash  of  the  rough  thrown  in  to  im- 
prove the  mixture.  It  was  thus  the 
term  had  its  origin.  A  Sydney  police- 
man of  the  Irish  persuasion  brought  up 
a  rowdy  youngster  before  the  local 
beak.  Asked  to  describe  the  conduct 
of  the  misdemeanant,  he  said,  '  Av 
it  please  yer  honnor,  the  blaggard 
wor  a  larrakin'  (larking)  all  over  the 
place.'  The  expression  was  taken 
hold  of  and  applied '  (Sola).  As  adj., 
rowdy.  Larrikinism,  rowdyism. 

Larrup.  To  flog:  Fr.,  cotter  du 
rotate. 

Larruping.  A  thrashing :  Fr., 
schlague  (1844). 

Larry  Dugan's  Eye-water.  Black- 
ing (Grose). 

Lash  (Blue  Coat  School).  To  envy : 
usually  used  in  the  imperative  as  a 
taunt  (Blanch). 

Lashings  (or  Lashins).  Plenty, 
abundance  :  also  lashin's  and  lavin's, 
plenty  and  to  spare  (1841). 

Lask.     A  looseness  of  the  bowels. 

Lass  in  a  red  petticoat.  A  wife 
with  a  good  portion. 

Last  Compliment.     Burial  (1780). 

Last-feather.  The  latest  fashion 
(1607). 

Latch.     To  let  in  (New  Cant  Diet. ). 

Latch-drawer.  A  thief  (q.v.)  who 
stole  into  houses  by  drawing  the 
latch  (1362). 

Latch -pan.  The  under -lip;  to 
hang  one's  latch-pan,  to  pout,  to  sulk. 

Late-play  (Westminster  School).  A 
half-holiday  or  holiday  beginning  at 
noon. 

Lath-and-plaster.     A  master. 


Lather.  To  beat,  thrash:  also 
Leather  (q.v.)  (1849). 

Lathy.    Thin  (1748). 

Latitat  An  attorney  (Grose) :  from 
an  obsolete  form  of  writ  (1771). 

Latter-end.     The  breech. 

Lattice.    See  Red  lattice. 

Latty.     See  Letty. 

Laugh.  To  laugh  on  the  wrong  (or 
other)  side  of  one's  mouth  (or  face),  to 
cry  (1811). 

Launch.  A  lying-in  (Grose).  As 
verb,  'I  had  [at  Sandhurst  about 
1815]  to  undergo  the  usual  torments  of 
being  launched,  that  is  having  my  bed 
reversed  while  I  was  asleep  ;  of  being 
thrown  on  the  floor  on  my  face,  with 
the  mattress  on  my  back  and  all  my 
friends  or  foes  dancing  on  my  prostrate 
body'  (Berkeley). 

Laundress.  A  bed  maker  in 
chambers. 

Laurence.     See  Lusty  Laurence. 

Lavender.  To  lay  (or  put)  in  laven- 
der, (1)  to  lay  up  or  put  aside  care- 
fully ;  as  linen  among  lavender. 
Hence  (2)  to  pawn;  (3)  to  leave  in 
lodging  for  debt ;  (4)  to  hide  from  the 
police ;  and  (5)  on  the  turf,  to  be  ill 
or  out  of  the  way  (1592). 

Lavender  -  cove.  A  pawnbroker, 
uncle  (q.v.). 

Law.  A  time  allowance  :  hence  a 
preliminary  notice,  a  chance  of  escape 
(Grose).  To  stab  the  law,  to  rail  against 
authority. 

Lawful  Blanket  (or  Jam).  A 
wife  :  see  Dutch  (Lex.  Bal.). 

Lawful  pictures.  Money  :  see  Rhino 
and  cf.  King's  pictures  (1607). 

Lawk  !  (or  Lawks !)  An  exclama- 
tion of  surprise. 

Lawful  Time  (Winchester  College). 
Recess,  playtime. 

Lawn.  A  handkerchief  (Grose). 
The  lawn,  the  lawn  on  the  course  at 
Ascot :  cf.  House,  Lane,  etc. 

Lawrie  (or  Laurie).     A  fox  (1567). 

Lawyer.  High  (or  highway) 
lawyer,  a  mounted  robber  or  high- 
wayman (1592). 

Lay.  1.  A  pursuit,  scheme,  device, 
lurk.  Also  in  combination,  kinchin- 
lay  (q.v.);  avoirdupois-lay  (q.v.); 
ken-crack-lay,  house-breaking ;  fancy- 
lay,  pugilism.  English  synonyms : 
dodge,  game,  huff,  job,  knack,  lay-out, 
line,  lurk,  lug,  move,  outfit,  racket, 
shake,  show,  swim.  2.  A  wager  (1591). 
3.  A  quantity  (1821).  4.  Goods  (18211 


262 


Laycock, 


Leary-cum-Fitz. 


5.  On  American  whaling  ships  the 
ciistom  is  not  to  pay  fixed  wages, 
but  a  lay  or  proportion  of  the  catch 
which  varies  from  a  sixteenth  to  a 
twelfth  to  the  captain  down  to  a  three- 
hundredth  to  the  cabin  -  boy.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  wager ;  to  lay  one's  shirt, 
to  stake  one's  all.  English  synonyms  : 
to  lump  on,  to  plank  down,  to  do  a 
flutter,  to  wire,  to  slant,  to  snap,  to 
tot  (1563).  (2)  To  watch,  search,  lie  in 
wait.  On  the  lay,  on  the  alert,  at  work : 
also  to  lay  for  and  to  lay  by  (1603). 
Phrases :  to  lay  about,  to  strike  on  all 
sides,  fight  vigorously ;  to  lay  at,  to 
attempt  to  strike,  aim  a  blow ;  to  lay  by 
the  heels,  to  put  in  prison  or  the  stocks  : 
see  Heels  ;  to  lay  down,  to  play  cards  ; 
to  lay  down  one1 8  knife  and  fork,  to  die, 
go  aloft  (q.v.),  hop  the  twig  (q.v.); 
to  lay  a  duck's  egg  (see  Duck's  egg) ; 
to  lay  in,  to  attack  with  vigour ;  to 
lay  in  one's  dish,  to  object  a  thing  to 
a  person,  make  an  accusation  against 
him  (1615) ;  to  lay  into,  to  thrash 
(1838) ;  to  lay  it  on  (and  superlatively, 
to  lay  it  on  thick),  to  exceed — in  speech, 
splendour,  expense,  charges,  praise, 
etc.  (1560) ;  to  lay  off,  to  give  over ; 
to  lay  oneself  forth  (or  out),  to  exert 
oneself  rigorously  and  earnestly ; 
to  lay  oneself  open,  to  expose  oneself  ; 
to  lay  oneself  out  for,  to  be  ready  and 
willing  to  take  part  in  anything;  to 
lay  out,  (1)  to  get  the  better  of,  dis- 
able (as  with  a  blow),  kill,  cook  one's 
goose  (q.v.) ;  (2)  to  intend,  purpose, 

E'opose  ;  to  lay  over,  to  excel ;  a  good 
y,  an  economical  method  of  cutting, 
anything  beneficial. 

Laycock.     See  Miss  Laycock. 

Layer.  A  bookmaker,  a  betting 
man. 

Lay-out.  A  company,  outfit  (q.v.), 
spread  (q.v.). 

Layover.     See  Lareover. 

Laystall  (Leystall,  or  Layston). 
A  dunghill. 

Lay-up.     A  drink,  go  (q.v.). 

Lazy.  Lazy  as  Ludlam's  (or  David 
Laurence's)  dog,  excessively  indolent : 
also  Lazy  as  Joe  the  marine  who  laid 
down  his  musket  to  sneeze  (1670). 

Lazy-bones.  A  loafer;  also  lazy- 
boots:  Fr.,  loche  (1593). 

Lazy  -  Lawrence  (or  Larrence). 
An  incarnation  of  laziness :  a  tradi- 
tional tale  has  been  handed  down  from 
age  to  age  that  at  the  execution  of  St. 
Lawrence  he  bore  his  torments  without 


a  writhe  or  groan,  which  caused  some 
of  those  standing  by  to  remark,  '  How 
great  must  be  his  faith ! '  but  his 
pagan  executioner  said,  '  It  is  not  his 
faith,  but  his  idleness ;  he  is  too  lazy 
to  turn  himself.' 

Lazy-man's  load.  More  than  one 
can  carry. 

Lazy-tongs.  An  instrument  like  a 
pair  of  tongs  to  take  anything  off  the 
ground  without  stooping. 

Lead.  (1)  A  leading  or  principal 
part;  (2)  the  person  who  plays  it. 
Friendly  lead,  an  entertainment — 
sing-song,  dance,  or  drinking  party — 
got  up  to  assist  a  friend  in  trouble 
(q.v.):  Fr.,  bouline  (1851).  To  lead 
apes  in  hell,  the  employment  jocularly 
assigned  to  old  maids  in  hell  (1575). 

Leading  Article.  The  nose  :  see 
Conk. 

Leaf.  Autumn  :  cf .  Fall  of  the  leaf. 
To  go  off  with  the  fall  of  the  leaf,  to  be 
hanged ;  criminals  hanged  in  Dublin 
being  turned  off  from  the  outside  of 
the  prison,  by  the  falling  of  a  board, 
propped  up,  and  moving  on  a  hinge  like 
the  leaf  of  a  table  (Grose). 

Leafless-tree.  The  gallows :  see 
Nubbing-cheat :  Fr.,  sansfeuille. 

Leak.  1.  To  impart  a  secret  (Mat- 
sett).  2.  To  make  water  (Grose). 
Hence,  to  spring  a  leak,  to  urinate. 

Leaky.  1.  Inclined  to  blab  (q.v.). 
2.  Incontinent  of  urine. 

Lean.  Unremunerative  ;  the  re- 
verse of  fat  (q.v.):  also  as  subs., 
unprofitable  work. 

Lean  -  and  -  fat.  A  hat :  see  Gol- 
gotha. 

Lean-and-lurch.     A  church. 

Lean-away.  A  drunkard :  see  Lush- 
ington. 

Leap.  All  safe  (New  Cant  Diet.). 
To  take  a  leap  at  Tyburn  (or  in  the 
dark),  to  be  hanged  (1600).  To  leap 
(or  jump)  the  book  (broomstick,  broom, 
besom,  or  sword),  to  marry  in  an  in- 
formal fashion,  to  dab  it  up  (q.v.) ; 
to  live  tally :  cf.  Bush  -  ring.  Let 
the  best  dog  leap  the  stile  first,  let  the 
worthiest  take  preference.  To  leap 
over  the  hedge  before  you  come  at  the 
stile,  to  be  in  a  violent  hurry  (1670). 
To  be  ready  to  leap  over  nine  hedges, 
exceeding  ready  (1767). 

Leaping-house.     A  brothel  (1598). 

Leary  (or  Leery).  1.  Artful,  downy 
(q.v.).  2.  Drunk:  see  Screwed. 

Leary-cum-Fitz.  A  vulgarian  actor. 


263 


Legem  pone. 


Least.  Least  in  sight,  in  hiding,  out 
of  the  way,  scarce  (Grow). 

Leather.  1.  A  pocket  book :  see 
Reader.  2.  In  pi.,  the  ears,  lugs  (q.v.); 
3.  A  cricket-,  or  foot- ball ;  to  hunt 
leather  (cricket),  to  field ;  leather-hunting 
(sabs.),  fielding.  As  verb,  to  beat,  tan 
.(q.v.),  dust  (q.v.)  (1763).  To  go  to 
leather,  to  grasp  hold  of  the  horn  of 
a  saddle.  To  lone  leather,  to  be  saddle- 
galled  (Grose).  Leathers,  a  postboy. 

Leatherhead.  1.  A  swindler :  see 
Rook  (1696).  2.  A  policeman,  watch- 
man. 

Leather-hunting.     See  Leather. 

Leathering.    A  thrashing. 

Leathern-convenience.  A  stage- 
coach, carriage  (1696). 

Leatherneck.  A  soldier:  see  Mud- 
crusher. 

Leathernly.  Clumsily,  sordidly, 
poorly  (1594). 

Leave.  A  favourable  position  for 
a  stroke  (billiards).  To  take  French 
leave  (see  French  leave).  To  leave 
in  the  air  (see  Air).  To  leave  in  the 
lurch  (see  Lurch). 

Leav  ing- shop.  An  unlicensed 
pawnbrokery,  dolly-shop  (q.v.) :  see 
Uncle  (1867). 

Led  -  captain.  A  toady,  sponge 
(q.v.),  pimp  (1672). 

Led-friend.     A  parasite  (1710). 

Leeds.  Lincolnshire  and  Yorkshire 
ordinary  stock. 

Leek.  The  leeks  are  men  who  have 
not  been  brought  up  to  the  trade  of 
chimney-sweeping,  but  have  adopted 
it  as  a  speculation,  and  are  so  called 
from  their  entering  green,  or  inex- 
perienced into  the  business  (Mayhew). 

Leekshire.     Wales. 

Leer.     A  newspaper  ( 1 780). 

Leery.    On  one's  guard  (Grose). 

Left  Over  the  left  (or  left  shoulder), 
used  in  negation  of  a  statement,  and 
sometimes  accompanied  by  pointing 
the  thumb  over  the  left  shoulder :  in 
Florio, '  in  my  other  hose '  ( 1 682).  To 
get  (or  be  left),  (1)  to  fail,  and  (2)  to  be 
placed  in  a  difficulty.  To  be  left  in 
the  basket  (see  Basketed). 

Left-forepart.     A  wife :  see  Dutch. 

Left-handed.  Sinister,  untoward, 
evil:  Ger.,  link  (1620). 

Left-handed  Wife.  A  concubine :  cf. 
Fr.,  manage  de  la  main  gauche,  a 
morganatic  union  (1663). 

Left-hander.  A  blow  delivered  with 
the  left  hand. 


Leg.  1.  A  swindling  gamester  (1836). 

2.  A  chalk  or  point  scored  in  a  game. 

3.  In  pi.,  a  lanky-built  man  or  woman, 
lamp-post  (q.v.).    4.  A  bow  :  sec  Make 
a  leg  ( 1596).     As  verb,  ( 1 )  to  trip  up ; 
(2)  see  Leg  it.     To  make  (or  scrape)  a 
leg,  to  bow,  curtsey:  also  to  leg  it  ( 1 592). 
To  leg  it,  (I)  to  run  away  :  cf.  Leg-bail 
and  to  give  legs ;  (2)  See  Make  a  leg. 
To  break  a  leg,  to  be  seduced  (1684). 
To  cut  one's  leg,  to  get  drunk :  see 
Screwed  (1767).     To  get  a  leg  in,  to 
obtain  one's  confidence.     A   leg  (or 
leg  up),  help  (1836).     To  have  a  bone 
in  one's  leg  (arm,  or  throat),  to  be 
incapable  of  action  :  a  playful  refusal 
(1542).     To  shake  a  free  (or  a  loose) 
leg,  to  live  as  one  likes,  go  on  tramp 
(1834).     To  give  (or  show)  legs  (or  a 
dean  pair  of  legs),  to  decamp,  run 
away.     Not  a  leg  (or  a  leg  to  stand  on), 
at  the  end  of  one's  resources.     In  high 
leg,   in   high   feather.     On  one's  last 
legs,  on  the  verge  of  ruin,  at  the  end 
of   one's    tether   (1763).     To   be   (or 
get)  on  one's  legs,  to  rise  to  speak,  be 
speaking.     To    stand    on    one's    own 
legs,  to  depend  on  oneself.      To  set 
one  (or  get)  on  one's  legs,  to  restore  or 
attain    to    good    circumstances.     To 
show  a  leg,  to  get  out  of  bed.     To  have 
the  legs  of  one,  to  outrun.     To  fight 
at  the  leg,  to  take  unfair  advantages, 
it   being   held    unfair   by   backsword 
players  to  strike  at  the  leg.     To  fatt 
on  one'slegs  (or  feet),  to  prosper  (1841). 
To  have  legs,  to  be  reputed  fast  (as  a 
ship,  a  horse,  a  runner).     To  feel  one's 
legs,  to  be  sure  of  one's  ground.     To 
put  one's  best  leg  foremost,  ( 1 )  to  make 
haste  ;  and  (2)  to  exert  oneself  (1599). 
As  right  as  my  leg,  as  right  as  may  be. 
To  put  the  boot  on  the  other  leg,  to  turn 
the  tables.     To  stretch  one's  legs,  to 
take  a  walk  :  hence,  leg-stretcher  (q.v.), 
a   drink.     To    make    indentures   with 
one's  legs,  to  be  drunk :  see  Screwed. 
More  belongs  to  marriage  than  four 
bare  legs  in  a  bed,  said  of  an  engage- 
ment   or    wedding    of  a   portionless 
couple. 

Leg-and-leg.  The  state  of  the  game 
when  each  player  has  won  a  leg  (q.v.), 
horse-and -horse  (q.v.). 

Leg-bags.  1.  Stockings;  and,  2. 
trousers. 

Leg-bail  (or  Leg  -  bail  and  land 
security).  Escape  from  custody  : 
Fr.,  lever  le  pied  (\151). 

Legem  pone.    Money :  generic :  see 


Leger. 


Letter-racket. 


Rhino.  [Nares :  The  origin  of  the 
phrase  is  doubtless  this :  The  first 
psalm  for  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  the 
month  has  the  title  Legem  pone,  being 
the  first  words  of  the  Latin  version. 
This  psalm  is  the  fifth  portion  of  the 
119th  psalm,  and,  being  constantly 
used  on  the  first  great  pay  day  of  the 
year,  March  25,  was  easily  connected 
with  the  idea  of  payment,  while  the 
laudable  practice  of  daily  attendance 
on  the  public  service  was  continued.] 
(1557). 

Leger.  A  cant  term  for  a  Londoner 
who  formerly  bought  coals  of  the 
country  colliers  at  so  much  a  sack,  and 
made  his  chief  profit  by  using  smaller 
sacks,  making  pretence  he  was  a 
country  collier.  This  was  termed 
legering. 

Legerdemain.  Sleight  of  hand 
(1535). 

Legged.    In  irons. 

Legger  (or  Sham  Legger).  A  cheat 
who  pretends  to  sell  smuggled  goods, 
but  in  reality  only  deals  in  shop- 
keepers' old  and  damaged  wares. 

Leggings.     Stockings. 

Leggism.  The  character,  practices, 
or  manners  of  a  leg  (q.v.). 

Leggy.     Long-legged  (1848). 

Legitimate.  1.  Flat-racing  as  dis- 
tinguished from  steeple  -  chasing  or 
hurdle-racing  ;  and,  2.  drama — especi- 
ally the  Shakespearean  —  as  opposed 
to  burlesque. 

Leglin-girth.  To  cast  a  leglingirth, 
to  be  got  with  child. 

Leg  of  mutton.  A  sheep's  trotter. 
As  adj.,  leg-of-mutton  shaped  ;  as  in 
the  case  of  sleeves,  whiskers,  sails,  etc. 

Leg  of  mutton  Fist.  See  Mutton  fist. 

Leg  of  the  Law.  A  lawyer:  also  limb 
of  the  law. 

Legs-and-arms.  Bodiless  beer :  for 
synonyms,  see  Drinks  and  Swipes. 

Leg-shaker.  A  dancer :  Fr. ,  gamb  U- 
leur. 

L  e  g  s  h  i  r  e.  The  Isle  of  Man  :  in 
allusion  to  the  heraldic  bearings. 

Leg-stretcher.  A  drink :  i.e.  an 
inducement  or  a  pretext  for  going 
out :  see  Go. 

Lemon  Jolly.     See  Colly  molly. 

Lend.  A  loan :  e.g.  For  the  lend 
of  the  ass  you  might  give  me  the  mill 
(Old  Ballad). 

Length.  1.  Six  months'  imprison- 
ment :  see  Dose.  2.  Forty- two  lines 
(theatrical)  (1781).  To  get  the  length 


of  one's  foot,  to  fascinate,  understand 
how  to  manage  a  person. 

Lenten-faced.  Starved,  sad-looking 
(1621). 

Lenten-fare.    Spare  diet. 

Ler-ac-am.     Mackerel. 

Lericompoop  (Leripup,  Leripoop, 
or  Luripup).  Originally  an  academi- 
cal scarf  or  hood.  Hence  (1)  know- 
ledge or  acuteness ;  (2)  a  man  or 
woman  of  parts  ;  (3)  a  swindle,  jest,  or 
trick  ;  and  (4)  a  cheat,  buffon,  or  jester. 
Thence,  to  play  one's  liripups,  (1)  to 
undergo  examination  for  a  degree ; 
and  (2)  to  play  the  fool  (from  the  con- 
tempt into  which  scholastic  subtle- 
ties had  in  the  end  to  fall).  Also  as 
verb,  to  deceive,  cheat  (1584). 

Lesson.     See  Simple  Arithmetic. 

Let.  Let  alone,  much  less,  not  men- 
tioning (1831).  To  let  the  cat  out  of 
the  bag,  to  reveal  a  secret,  put  one's 
foot  in  it :  see  Cat.  To  let  daylight 
into,  to  stab,  shoot,  kill.  To  let  down 
gently  (or  easy),  (1)  to  be  lenient 
(1836) ;  (2)  to  disappoint,  rebuff.  To 
let  drive,  to  aim  a  blow,  attack  (1593). 
To  let  fly,  to  aim  at,  strike  (1647).  To 
let  go  the  painter :  see  Painter.  To 
let  in,  ( 1 )  to  deceive,  victimise,  cheat ; 
(2)  to  give  custom  to,  patronise,  consort 
with.  To  let  into,  to  attack,  beat, 
abuse.  To  let  off  steam :  see  Steam. 
To  let  on,  to  betray,  admit,  seem 
(1725).  To  let  oneself  loose,  to  speak, 
launch  out,  abandon  restraint.  To 
let  out,  (1)  to  disclose;  (2)  to  speak 
strongly  ;  (3)  to  strike  out ;  (4)  to  do, 
a  general  verb  of  action.  To  let  out 
a  reef,  to  loosen  one's  clothes  after  a 
meal :  Fr.,  Idcher  un  cran.  To  let 
rip  :  see  Rip.  To  let  slide  :  see  Slide. 
To  let  up,  to  stop :  also  (as  subs.)  let 
up  (q.v.).  To  let  the  finger  ride  the 
thumb  too  often,  to  get  drunk :  see 
Screwed.  For  other  combinations 
see  Disinfect,  Flicker,  In,  Marks, 
Monkey,  Play,  Pockets,  Slide,  Stimu- 
late, Tucks,  Up,  etc. 

Let-down.  A  decline  in  circum- 
stances, come  down. 

Lets.     No  lets,  no  hindrances. 

Letter.  Letter  -  in  -  the  •  post  -  office : 
see  Flag.  To  go  on  the  letter  Q,  to  play 
billiards. 

Lettered.  Branded,  burnt  in  the 
hand. 

Letter-racket.  Men  or  women  of 
genteel  address,  going  about  to  re- 
spectable houses  with  a  letter  or 


266 


Letty. 


Lifer. 


statement,  detailing  some  case  of 
extreme  distress,  as  shipwreck,  suffer- 
ings by  fire,  etc.,  by  which  many 
benevolent  but  credulous  persons 
are  induced  to  relieve  the  fictitious 
wants  of  the  impostors  (Grose). 

Letty.  A  bed,  a  lodging :  see  Kip. 
Also  verbally,  to  lodge. 

Let-up.  1.  A  pause,  breach.  2. 
(Stock  Exchange).  A  sudden  dis- 
appearance of  artificial  causes  of  de- 
pression. 

Levant.  To  abscond.  To  do 
(throw,  or  run)  a  levant  (gaming),  to 
stake  and  skip  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  /at re  voile 
en  Levant :  It.,  andare  in  Levante. 
Also  (1714)  to  play  without  any  money 
in  one's  pocket.  Levant  me  I  an  im- 
precation :  cf.  Blow  me  (1760). 

Levanter.  A  defaulting  debtor, 
welsher  (q.v.)  (1598). 

Level.  To  work  (or  act)  on  a  broad 
level,  to  be  stable,  trustworthy. 
Broad  •  level  price,  the  lowest  fixed 
price. 

Level-best.  The  best  one  can  do, 
the  utmost  of  one's  power. 

Level  -  headed.  Well  -  balanced, 
steady,  judicious. 

Levite.  1.  A  parson,  devil-doger 
(q.v.)  (1663).  2.  A  fashionable  dress 
for  women  (c.  1780):  a  man's  bed- 
gown bound  round  with  a  belt  (Horace 
Walpole). 

Levy.  1.  A  shilling.  2.  Elevenpence : 
in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, and  Virginia,  the  Spanish  real, 
or  eighth  part  of  a  dollar,  or  twelve 
and  a  half  cents :  sometimes  called 
an  elevenpenny  bit  (Bartlett). 

Leystall.     See  Laystall. 

Liar.  I'm  something  of  a  liar  my- 
self, a  retort  upon  a  Munchausen 
(q.v.). 

Lib.  1.  Sleep.  Long  lib,  death 
(1622).  2.  A  bank-note  :  see  Flimsy. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  lie  down:  also  Lyp 
(1572) ;  (2)  To  castrate  (1598). 

Libbeg  (or  Lybbeg).    A  bed  (1573). 

L  i  b  b  e  n.  A  private  house  :  cf. 
Libken  (1696). 

Liberty-hall.  A  house  where  every 
one  can  do  his  pleasure  (1773). 

Lib-ken  (or  Lypken).  Orig.  (Far- 
man),  a  house  to  lie  in,  a  lodging 
house. 

Lick.  1.  A  blow:  hence,  his  licks, 
a  thrashing  (1701).  2.  A  stroke, 
effort :  big  licks,  hard  work  ( 1847).  3. 
A  drinking  book  As  verb,  (1)  to 


beat  (1573) ;  (2)  to  surpass,  vanquish, 
puzzle,  astound  :  Fr.,  bouler ;  (3)  to 
sleek,  tittivate  (q.v.),  smooth  over, 
(with  varnish,  rouge,  and  so  forth), 
fashion  (1594) ;  (4)  to  coax.  To  lick 
into  shape,  to  fashion,  train  :  from  the 
roune  are 


>rn  shapeless  and  are  licked  into  shape 
by  the  dam  ( 1663).  To  lick  spittle,  to 
fawn  upon  :  hence,  lickspittle,  a  para- 
site or  talebearer.  A  lick  and  a  pro- 
mise, a  piece  of  slovenliness.  To  lick 
the  eye,  to  be  well  pleased.  A  lick 
and  a  smell,  a  dog' s  portion  (q.v.).  To 
lick  the  trencher,  to  play  the  parasite 
(1608).  To  lick  ants  dish,  to  drink 
(Ray). 

Lick-box  (dish,  fingers,  pan,  pot, 
sauce,  or  trencher).  A  scullion, 
sloven,  parasite,  toadeater  :  a  general 
epithet  of  abuse  (1571). 

Licker.  Anything  monstrous  (ex- 
cessive, or  unusual),  whopper  (q.v.), 
thumper  (q.v.),  spanker  (q.v.). 

Lickety-split  Headlong,  violently, 
full-chisel  (q.v.). 

Licking.  A  thrashing,  tanning 
(1820). 

Lick-penny.  An  extortioner 
(1450). 

Lick-spigot.     A  tapster  (1599). 

Lick-spittle.  A  toady  :  Fr.,  ttchc- 
bottes  :  also  as  verb  (1629). 

Lie.  See  Whole  cloth  and  White  lie. 
As  verb,  to  be  in  pawn :  see  Pop 
(1609).  To  lie  low,  to  conceal  one's 
thought,  or  intentions :  also  to  keep 
to  one's  bed  (1847).  To  lie  off,  to 
make  a  waiting  race.  To  lie  out  of 
one's  ground,  to  lie  off  too  long,  so  as 
to  be  unable  to  recover  lost  ground. 
To  lie  around  loose,  to  loaf,  be  out  of 
employment.  To  lie  flat :  see  Lie  low, 
To  lie  like  truth,  to  lie  with  verisimili- 
tude and  propriety.  To  lie  down,  to 
be  brought  to  bed  (1582).  To  lie  in, 
to  keep  one's  room  when  supposed  to 
be  out  on  leave  (Royal  Military  Aca- 
demy). Lie  with  a  latchet  (or  lie 
made  of  whole  cloth),  an  out  and  out 
falsehood :  also  lie  laid  on  with  a 
trowel.  A  lie  nailed  to  the  counter,  a 
detected  falsehood  or  slander. 

Lie-abed.     A  sluggard  (1763). 

Life.     See  Bet  and  Death. 

Life  -  preserver.  A  slung  shot 
(Matsett). 

Lifer.  1.  Transportation  for  life : 
Fr.,  fagot  a  perte  de  vue,  bonnet  vert  a 
perptte.  2.  Penal  servitude  for  life. 


1266 


Lift. 


Lily-liver. 


Lift.  1.  A  thief  (q.v.):  also  lifter 
(1592).  2.  A  theft,  plunder,  swag  (q.v.): 
also  lifting  (1592).  3.  Assistance  in 
general  as  a  lift  in  a  vehicle  ;  a  lift  in 
fife  :  also  lifting  (1711).  4.  A  kick.  As 
verb,  ( 1 )  to  seal,  convey  (q.v. ) ;  specific- 
ally to  steal  cattle  and  horses  (1591) ; 
(2)  to  transfer ;  (3)  to  help ;  (4)  to 
break  (in  a  walking  race)  into  an  unfair 
pace.  To  lift  one's  hand  (elbow,  little 
finger,  etc. ),  to  drink  :  also  see  Leg  : 
see  Drinks  (Qrose).  To  lift  hair,  to 
scalp  (1848).  On  the  lift ,  on  the  move, 
ready  to  depart. 

Lifter.  1.  A  thief  (q.v.) :  see  Lift. 
2.  In  pi.,  a  crutch  (1696). 

Lift-leg.     Strong  ale,  stingo  (q.v.). 

Lig.  1.  A  bed  (New  Cant  Diet.). 
also  a  bedstead  (Matsell).  2.  A  lie. . 

Ligby.  A  bedfellow  :  specifically  a 
concubine :  cf.  Ludby  and  Loteby 
(1632). 

Light.  1.  Credit :  to  get  a  light,  to 
get  credit ;  to  have  one's  light  put  out, 
to  exhaust  one's  credit,  go  stony 
(q.v.).  2.  A  model,  example :  gener- 
ally shining  light.  3.  In  pi.,  the  eyes  : 
also  daylights  (q.v.)  and  top-lights 
(q.v.)  (1820).  4.  In  pi.,  a  fool:  see 
Buffle.  As  adj.,  wanton :  hence, 
light  -  given,  lewd  of  habit ;  light- 
heeled  (q.v.) ;  light  -  o'  -  love  (q.v.) ; 
light-skirts  (q.v.) ;  and  so  forth  (1538). 
To  put  out  one's  light,  to  kill  (1602). 
To  hold  a  light  (or  candle)  to  the  devil : 
see  Devil.  To  light  the  lumper :  see 
Lumper.  To  light  out,  to  leave  secret- 
ly and  hastily,  as  when  pursued  by 
an  enemy. 

Light  -  blue.  Gin :  see  Drinks 
(1820). 

Light  -  bob.  1.  A  light  infantry 
soldier :  see  Mud-crusher  ( 1785).  2.  In 
pi.,  The  Forty-third  Foot,  now  the  first 
battalion  Oxfordshire  Light  Infantry. 

Lighter.     See  Lump. 

Light-fantastic.  Dancing :  e.g.  to 
work  the  light  fantastic,  Come  and  trip 
it  as  you  go,  On  the  light  fantastic 
toe  (Milton) :  Fr.,  sauterie. 

Light-feeder.      A  silver  spoon. 

Light-fingered.  Dextrous  in  steal- 
ing, given  to  thieving  (1560). 

Light-frigate.     A  wanton  (B.  E.). 

Light-heeled.  1.  Wanton  (1633);  2. 
Slothful :  e.g.  A  light-heeled  mother 
maketh  a  heavy  -  heeled  daughter  : 
because  she  doth  all  the  work  her- 
self, and  her  daughter  meantime  sit- 
ting idle,  contracts  a  habit  01  sloth: 


cf.  Mere  piteuae  fait  sa  fille  rogneuse, 
a  tender  mother  breeds  a  scabby 
daughter  (Ray). 

Light-heels.     See  Light-skirts. 

Light  -  house.  A  red  -  nosed  man 
(Grose).  Thou  art  our  Admiral,  thou 
bearest  the  lantern  in  the  poop  ('  1 
Hen.  IV.,'  m.  iii.). 

Light-infantry.  Fleas,  F  sharps 
(q.v.) :  cf.  Heavy  Dragoons :  Fr.,  saute- 
rette  and  sauteuse. 

Lightmans.  The  day  :  cf.  Dark- 
mans,  night :  Fr.,  matois  ;  It.,  specchio 
(1573). 

Lightness.  Wantonness  :  see  Light 
(1614). 

Lightning.  Gin :  flash  of  lightning  (or 
dap  of  thunder),  a  glass  of  gin :  see 
Drinks  (1780). 

Light-o'-love.     A  wanton  (1589). 

Light-skirts.  A  strumpet :  also 
Lightheels  (1602). 

Light-troops.     Lice  (1823). 

Light-weight.  1.  Of  little  import- 
ance, weak.  2.  Under  twelve  stone 
(Qrose) 

Light- wet.  Gin  :  see  Drinks  (1822). 

Like.  This  word  enters  into  numer- 
ous combinations  indicating  energetic, 
rapid,  or  intense  action,  motion,  and 
thought.  The  chief  are  : — Like  (or 
as)  anything  ;  a  basket  of  chips,  beans, 
billy-ho,  a  bird,  blazes,  boots,  or  old 
boots,  bricks,  or  a  thousand,  or  a  cart- 
load, of  bricks,  a  dog  in  a  fair,  fun, 
a  house  on  fire,  hell,  hot  cake,  mad, 
one  o'clock,  shit  to  a  shovel,*a  shot,  a 
streak,  thunder,  the  very  devil,  winkey 
or  winky  (1542).  Like  one  o'clock 
half  struck,  hesitatingly.  Like  a 
whale :  see  Whale.  Like  Christmas 
beef  :  see  Beef.  Like  a  birch  -  broom 
in  a  fit :  see  Birch  -  broom.  /  like 
that  I  a  derisive  answer  to  a  question- 
able statement :  e.g.  I  am  a  capital 
pedestrian,  I  Like  that !  You  talk 
like  a  halfpenny  book  (or  penny  book), 
said  in  derision  of  a  fluent  or  affected 
speaker. 

Likeness.  A  phrase  used  by  thieves 
when  the  officers  are  examining  their 
countenances  ;  as,  the  traps  are  taking 
our  likeness  (Grose). 

Lil  (or  Lill).  A  book,  document  of 
any  kind,  a  five  pound  note:  in  America 
a  dollar  (1821). 

Lilliputian.     A  dwarf  (1823). 

Lily-Benjamin.  A  white  greatcoat : 
see  Benjamin. 

Lily-liver.    A  coward. 


267 


Lily-livtred. 


Lingua  Franca. 


Lily-livered.     Cowardly,  dastardly 


Lily  of  St  Clements.  See  8t  Cle- 
ments. 

Lily-shallow.  A  white  driving  hat 
(Grose). 

Lilywhite.  1.  A  negro,  chimney- 
sweep (1696).  2.  In  pi.,  the  Seven- 
teenth Foot,  now  the  Leicestershire 
Regiment  :  from  its  facings  :  also 
Bengal  Tigers  (q.v.).  Also,  3.  the 
Fifty-ninth  Foot,  now  the  second 
battalion  East  Lancashire  Regiment. 

Lillywhite  Groat  A  shilling  :  see 
Rhino. 

Limb.  1.  A  mischievous  child,  imp: 
also  (in  depreciation  of  older  persons)  : 
e.g.  Limb  of  Satan,  etc.  2.  A  leg  : 
spec.  American  :  '  if  we  know  anything 
of  English  conversation  or  letters,  we 
speedily  find  out,  even  if  stone  blind, 
that  British  men  and  women  have 
arms  and  legs,  but  in  Canada  ....  one 
would  learn  that  both  sexes  have  limbs 
of  some  sort  ....  but  we  could  not  tell 
whether  their  limbs  were  used  to  stand 
on  or  hold  by  '  (Geikie).  3.  In  pi.,  a 
gawk  :  also  Duke  (or  Duchess)  of 
Limbs  (1785).  As  verb,  to  cheat. 
Limb  of  the  law,  a  lawyer  or  lawyer's 
clerk:  also  Limb  (1762). 

Limbo.  1.  A  prison,  place  of  confine- 
ment :  from  limbus  patrum,  purgatory 
(  1  553).  2.  A  pawnshop,  uncle's  (q.v.), 
in  limbo,  in  pawn  (1693). 

Lime-basket  To  be  dry  as  a  lime- 
basket,  to  be  very  dry,  spit  sixpences 
(q.v.):  also  to  have  hot  coppers 
(q.v.)  (1838). 

Lime-juice.  A  young  man  newly 
arrived  in  the  colonies  from  the  old 
country  is  styled  a  new  chum  or  a 
lime-juice. 

Limejuicer.  A  British  ship  or  sailor  : 
in  allusion  to  the  lime-juice  served  out 
as  an  anti-scorbutic. 

Li  metwig.  1  .  A  snare,  trick  :  hence, 
2.  any  means  of  swindling  :  also  as 
adj.  (1592). 

Limlifter.  A  landlubber  (q.v.) 
(1598). 

Limping-Jesus.  A  lameter,  dot- 
and-carry-one  (q.v.). 

Lindabrides.     A  wanton  (1663). 

Line.  1.  A  calling,  profession, 
lay  (q.v.)  (1655).  2.  A  hoax,  fool- 
trap.  3.  In  pi.,  a  marriage  certificate. 
4.  In  pi.,  reins;  ribbons  (q.v.).  On 
the  line,  hung  on  the  line  at  the  Royal 
Academy.  Aa  verb,  to  fill  :  as  to  line 


one'*  stomach,  to  eat ;  to  line  one's 
pockets,  to  take  money.  A  line  of 
the  old  author,  a  dram  of  brandy  :  see 
Go  (1696).  To  yet  into  (or  on)  a  line, 
to  engage  in  conversation  while  a 
confederate  is  robbing  the  person  or 
premises ;  to  banter  or  jest  with  a 
man  by  amusing  him  with  false 
assurances  or  professions,  is  also 
termed  stringing  him,  getting  him  in 
tow,  or  on  a  line ;  to  keep  anybody 
in  suspense  on  any  subject  without 
coming  to  a  decision  is  called  keeping 
him  in  tow,  in  a  string,  or  in  a  tow- 
line  :  to  cut  the  line,  or  the  string,  is  to 
put  an  end  to  the  suspense  in  which 
you  have  kept  any  one,  by  telling  him 
the  plain  truth,  coming  to  a  final 
decision,  etc.  :  a  person  who  has  been 
telling  another  a  long  story,  until  he  is 
tired,  or  conceives  his  auditor  has  been 
all  the  while  secretly  laughing  at  him, 
will  say  at  last,  I've  just  dropped 
down,  you've  had  me  in  a  fine  line  or 
string,  I  think  it's  time  to  cut  it  On 
the  other  hand,  the  auditor,  having  the 
same  opinion  on  his  part,  would  say, 
Come,  I  believe  you  want  to  string 
me  all  night,  I  wish  you'd  cut  it; 
meaning,  conclude  the  story  at  once. 
To  line  one's  jacket :  see  Jacket  The 
devil's  regiment  of  the  line,  felons, 
convicts,  the  police-van  corps. 

Line-age.     Payment  by  line. 

Linen.  The  linen,  the  stage  curtain, 
the  rag  (q.v.).  To  wrap  up  in  clean 
linen,  to  deliver  sordid  or  smutty 
(q.v.)  matter  in  decent  language 
(Ray).  To  cool  in  one's  linen,  to  die. 

Linen-arbor.     A  dormitory. 

Linen-armourer.  A  tailor :  see  Snip 
(1696). 

Linen-draper.     Paper. 

Linenopolis.  Belfast:  cf.  Cotton- 
opolis. 

Liner.  1.  A  casual  reporter,  paid 
by  lineage  (q.v.) :  short  for  penny-a- 
liner.  2.  A  picture  hung  on  the  line 
(q.v.). 

Lingo.  A  foreign  language,  un- 
intelligible speech  (1699). 

Lingua  Franca.  Specifically  the 
corrupt  Italian  (dating  from  the  period 
of  the  Genoese  and  Venetian  suprem- 
acy) employed  as  the  language  of  com- 
mercial intercourse  with  the  Levant : 
other  examples  of  trade  jargon  are 
Hindustani  in  India,  Swahilli  and 
Houssa  in  Africa,  Pidgin  in  China, 
and  Chinook  in  America  (1619). 


Hi 


Little  Englander. 


Lining.     See  Inside  lining  (1632). 
Link.    To  turn  out  a  pocket  (1821). 
Linsey-woolsey.    Neither  one  thing 
nor  the  other  (1592). 

Lint-scraper.  A  surgeon :  cf.  Crocus 
and  Squirt :  also  Lint  (1763). 

Lion.  1.  Polite  men  of  the  town 
give  the  name  of  a  lion  to  any  one 
that  is  a  great  man's  spy  (Guardian, 
1713).  2.  An  object  (animate  or 
inanimate)  of  interest.  To  see  the 
lions,  to  go  sight-seeing  (1590).  3. 
The  name  given  by  the  gownsmen  of 
Oxford,  to  inhabitants  or  visitors. 
4.  A  hare  :  We  call  it  a  lion  because  of 
the  game  laws  (Lytton,  '  Pelham ').  5. 
In  pi.,  the  Fourth  Foot,  now  the 
Bong's  Own  Royal  Lancaster  Regi- 
ment :  from  its  ancient  badge.  As 
verb,  to  make  a  loud  noise,  substitute 
noise  for  good  sense,  frighten,  bluff. 
Cotswold  lion,  a  sheep  :  see  Cptsold  and 
Lammermoor  lion  (1537).  To  tip  the 
lion,  to  squeeze  the  nose  flat  to  the 
face  with  the  thumb.  To  put  one's 
head  into  the  lion's  mouth,  to  put  one- 
self into  a  desperate  position.  As 
valiant  as  an  Essex  lion,  as  valiant  as 
a  calf  (Say). 

Lion-drunk.  '  Now  have  we  not  one 
or  two  kinde  of  drunkards  onely, 
but  eight  kinde  .  .  .  The  second  is  lion 
drunk,  and  he  flings  the  pots  about  the 
house  .  .  .  breakes  the  glasse  windows 
with  his  dagger,  and  is  apt  to  quarrele 
with  any  man  that  speaks  to  him" 
(Nashe). 

Lioness.  1.  A  female  celebrity, 
woman  of  note  (1825).  2.  A  lady 
visitor  at  Oxford,  especially  at  Com- 
memoration. 3.  A  wanton  (1596). 

Lion-  (or  Leo-)  hunter.  One  who 
runs  after  celebrities  :  popularised  by 
Dickens  in  the  Mrs.  Leo  Hunter  of 
'  Pickwick.' 

Lionism.  Attracting  attention  as 
a  lion  (q.v.) ;  also,  sight-seeing. 

Lionize.  1.  To  go  sight-seeing :  also 
To  play  the  lion  (q.v.).  2.  To  make 
much  of,  to  treat  as  a  lion  (q.v.). 
3.  To  show  the  sights  of  a  place, 
play  the  cicerone.  4.  To  go  sight- 
seeing. 

Lion's  Provider.  A  sycophant, 
jackal  (q.v.). 

Lion's  Share.    The  bigger  part. 

Lip.       Impudence,   sauce    (q.v.). 

To  give  lip,  to  cheek  (q.v.)  (1821).     As 

verb,  (1)  to  sing  :  Fr.,  rossignoler  ;  (2) 

to  speak  (1789).     To  button  up  the  lip 


(or  mouth),  to  silence.  Button  your 
lip  I  hold  your  tongue,  stow  it  (q.v.) 
(1747).  To  fall  betwixt  cup  and  lip: 
see  Slip.  To  keep  (or  carry)  a  stiff 
upper  lip,  to  be  self  -  reliant  under 
difficulties,  unflinching  in  the  attain- 
ment of  an  object  (1833).  To  make  a 
lip,  to  mock,  grimace  (1610). 

Lip-clap.  A  kiss  :  also  Lip-favour 
(1592). 

Lipey.  A  mode  of  address :  e.g. 
Whatcher,  lipey  ! 

Lip-labour  (or  work).  1.  Talk,  jaw 
(q.v.):  also  flattery  (1575).  2.  Kiss- 
ing (1582). 

Lip -salve  (or  wash).  Flattery 
(1594). 

Liquid  -  fire.  Bad  whisky :  see 
Drinks. 

Liquor.  A  drink.  As  verb,  to  drink, 
treat :  generally,  to  liquor  up :  also 
to  liquor  one's  boots  (q.v.)  (1607). 
which  also,  among  Roman  Catholics, 
means  to  administer  the  extreme 
unction.  In  liquor,  the  worse  for 
drink:  see  Screwed  (1756). 

Liquor-pond  Street.  To  come  from 
Liquor-pond  Street,  to  be  drunk :  see 
Screwed  (1828). 

Lispers.  The  teeth  :  see  Grinders 
(1800). 

List.     See  Add. 
Listeners.     The  ears  (1827). 
Listman.      A   ready-money   book- 
maker,   betting   according   to   prices 
on  a  list  exhibited  beside  him. 
Litter.    A  muddle  (B.  E.). 
Little.    Mean,  paltry,  contempt- 
ible (B.  E.). 

Little  Alderman.    A  jemmy  (q.v.) 
made  in  sections  :  see  Alderman. 
Little  Barbary.    Wapping  (B.  E.). 
Little    Ben.       A    waistcoat :    see 
Benjamin. 

Little  Bird.    See  Bird. 
Little  Breeches.   A  familiar  appella- 
tion for  a  boy. 

Little  Church  around  the  Corner. 
A  drinking  saloon  :  see  Lush-crib. 

Little    clergyman.       A     young 
chimney-sweep  (Grose). 
Little  Devil.     See  Devil. 
Little-ease.   The  pillory,  stocks  (or 
any    similar    mode    of    punishment), 
prison-cell. 

Little  England.  Barbadoes  :  see 
Bim. 

Little  Englander.  An  anti-Jingo 
(q.v.);  an  opponent  of  the  Imperial 
idea. 


269 


Little  Fighting  Fours. 


Loblolly-boy. 


Little  Fighting  Fours.  The  Forty- 
fourth  Foot,  now  the  Essex  Regiment : 
from  the  prowess  of  ite  men,  who  are 
of  small  stature. 

Little-finger.  To  cock  one's  little 
finger,  to  drink  much  and  often  :  see 
Screwed. 

Little-go.  The  public  examination 
which  students  at  the  English  Univer- 
sities have  to  pass  in  the  second  year 
of  residence  :  also  called  the  previous 
examination  (as  preceding  the  final 
one  for  a  degree),  and,  at  Oxford, 
smalls  (q.v.). 

Little-go-vale.  Orderly  step  to  the 
first  examination  (Grose). 

Little-guid.  The  devil,  skipper 
(q.v.). 

Little- joker.  The  pea  under  the 
thimble  in  the  thimble-rigging  game. 
See  also  Joker,  sense  3. 

Little-side  (Rugby).  A  term  ap- 
plied to  all  games,  organised  between 
nouses  only. 

Little-snakesman.  A  young  thief 
passed  into  a  house  through  a  window 
so  that  he  may  open  the  door  to  the 
gang  (1781). 

Little  Spot.    See  Spot 
Little  William.    A  bill  of  exchange. 
Live.       Energetic,    active,    intelli- 
gent.    To  live  under  the  cafe  paw : 
see  Cat's-paw.     To  live  to  the  door,  to 
live  up  to  one's  means. 
Live-eels.     The  fields. 
Live-horse.     Work  done  over   and 
above   that  included   in   the  week's 
charge-sheet :  cf.  Dead -horse. 

Live-lumber.  Landsmen  on  board 
ship  (Orose). 

Livener.     A  morning  dram,  pick- 
me-up  (q.v.) :  see  Go. 
Liver.     See  Curl. 

Liverpool-button.  A  kind  of  toggle 
used  by  sailors  when  they  lose  a 
button. 

Liverpool  Blues.  The  Seventy- 
ninth  Foot  (1778-84). 

Liverpool  Tailor.  A  tramping 
workman,  one  who  sits  with  his  coat 
and  hat  on,  ready  for  the  road. 

Liverpudlian.  A  native  or  inhabi- 
tant of  Liverpool. 

Live-stock.  Fleas,  bugs,  lice — all 
body  vermin  (Orose). 

Liza.     Outside  Liza  I  Be  off  ! 

Load.   An  excess  of  food  or  drink : 

cf .  Jag.  Loaded,  drunk :  also  loaded  for 

bears  (or  to  the  gunwales)  (1767).     As 

verb,  ( 1 )  to   introduce  well  -  greased 


shot  into  the  throat  of  a  roaring  or 
broken-winded  horse :  this  conceals 
the  defect  for  a  few  hours,  during 
which  a  sale  is  effected  ;  (2)  (Stock 
Exchange),  to  buy  heavily :  to  un- 
load, to  sell  freely.  Load  of  hay,  a 
day.  Like  a  load  of  bricks  :  see  Like. 
To  lay  on  load,  to  thrash  (1537). 

Loaf.  1.  A  lounge,  dawdle,  idling  : 
e.g.  to  do  a  loaf.  2.  See  Loaves  and 
Fishes.  As  verb,  (1)  to  lounge,  idle, 
mike  (q.v.):  Yr.,louper  and  gouspiner  ; 
(2)  to  borrow,  especially  with  no  inten- 
tion of  return.  To  be  in  bad  loaf,  to  be 
in  a  disagreeable  situation,  in  trouble 
(Grose)  (1786). 

Loafer.  An  idler.  English  syno- 
nyms: baker,  beat,  bummer,  crow- 
eater,  draw-latch,  flunk,  ham-fatter, 
hayseed,  heeler,  inspector  of  pave- 
ments, lamb,  Laurence  (or  lazy 
Laurence),  lazybones,  miker,  moucher, 
practical  politician,  Q.H.B.,  raff, 
scow-banker,  striker,  wood-and-water 
Joey :  see  Cadger. 

Loaferish.     Lounging. 
L  o  a  fi  n  g.     Aimless  lounging :  Fr., 
loupe.     As   adj.,   lounging. 

Leaver.  Generic  for  money  :  see 
Rhino. 

Loaves  and  Fishes.  Emolument, 
profit,  temporal  benefits:  from  John 
vi.  26  (1787). 

Lob  (or  Lobb).  1.  Any  receptacle 
—box,  till,  etc.  (1718).  2.  A  block- 
head, a  lubber  :  see  Buffle  (1577).  3. 
A  large  lump.  4.  A  slow  underhand 
ball ;  delivered  low  and  falling  heavily, 
its  course  a  decided  curve :  at  Win- 
chester, fo6  =  yorker  (q.v.).  See  also 
snorter,  undergrounder,  trimmer,  tea- 
pot, swiper,  stringer,  grubber,  yorker. 
5.  The  head  :  see  Crumpet.  To  frisk 
(dip,  pinch,  or  sneak)  a  lob,  to  rob  a 
till.  To  go  on  the  lob,  to  go  into  a 
shop  for  change  and  to  steal  some : 
hence  lob  -  sneaking,  robbing  tills  ; 
lob -crawler,  a  till  -  thief  (1742).  As 
verb,  (1)  to  droop,  sprawl  (1599) ;  (2) 
to  bowl  a  ball  as  a  loo  (q.v.). 

Lobcock.    A  blockhead :  see  Buffle : 
also  adj.  (1534). 

Lobkin.      A  house,  a  lodging : 
Lipken  (1662). 

Loblolly.     1.  A  lubber,  lout,  fool: 
see    Buffle    (1604).     2.    Water-j 
spoon-meat  (1621). 

Loblolly-boy.    A  surgeon's 
on  board  a  man-of-war :  in  America, 
a  bayman  or  nurse  (q.v.)  (1617). 


270 


Lobs. 


Lodging-slum. 


Lobs.  1.  An  assistant  watcher, 
under-gamekeeper.  2.  An  abbrevia- 
tion of  lobster  (q.v.).  As  intj.,  a 
signal  of  a  master's  approach. 

Lobscouse.  A  hash  of  meat  and 
vegetables,  olio,  gallimaufrey  (q.v.) : 
see  Soap-and-bullion.  Other  nautical 
food  names  (mostly  derisive)  are 
choke-dog,  daddy  funk,  dead  horse, 
dogbody,  dough  Jehovahs,  hishee- 
hashee,  measles,  sea-pie,  soft  tack, 
soap  -  and  -  bullion,  tommy,  twice- 
laid. 

Lobscouser.  A  sailor :  i.e.  an  eater 
of  lobscouse  (q.v.). 

Lobsneak  (or  -crawler)  1.  A  till- 
robber,  a  till  -  sneak  (q.v.).  2.  A 
lob  (q.v.). 

Lobsneaking.  Till  -  robbing :  FrM 
coup  de  radin. 

Lob  's-pound.  A  prison,  pound,  the 
stocks :  generic  for  any  place  of  con- 
finement (1603). 

Lobster.  A  soldier.  The  nick- 
name of  lobsters,  now  mwappled  to 
soldiers,  seems  to  have  been  first  ap- 
plied to  Sir  A.  Hazilrigg's  regiment  of 
cavalry,  completely  armed  with  cors- 
lets (Somers,  1642).  Also  boiled  lob- 
ster, in  contradistinction  to  raw 
lobster  (q.v.),  which  formerly  was  a 
sailor.  Unboiled-lobster  (q.v.)  also, 
a  policeman.  A  bowler  of  lobs 
(q.v.).  As  verb  (Winchester  College), 
to  cry.  [Notions  :  Probably  a  varia- 
tion of  lowster  or  louster  (Hants)  to 
make  any  unpleasant  noise].  To  boil 
one's  lobster,  means  for  a  churchman 
to  turn  soldier  ;  lobsters,  which  are  of  a 
bluish-black,  being  made  red  by  boil- 
ing: Butler's  ingenious  simile  will  occur 
to  the  reader  : — When,  like  a  lobster 
boiled,  the  morn  From  black  to  red 
began  to  turn. 

Lobster-box.  A  barrack ;  also  a 
transport. 

Lobster-cart.  To  upset  one's  lobster- 
cart,  to  knock  one  down :  see  Apple- 
cart. 

Lobtail.  To  sport  or  play  :  as  a 
whale,  by  lifting  his  flukes,  and 
bringing  them  down  flat  on  the 
water. 

Local.  An  item  of  news  of  local 
interest,  a  chip  (q.v.). 

Lock.  1.  The  magazine  or  ware- 
house whither  the  thieves  carry  stolen 
goods  to  be  secured  (B.  E.).  2.  A 
receiver  of  stolen  goods,  a  fence  (q.v.) : 
also  Lock-all-fast  (1696).  3.  A  line  of 


business  or  conduct :  cf.  Lurk.  4.  See 
Lovelock. 

L  o  c  k  e  e  s  (Westminster  School). 
Lockhouse. 

Locker.  1.  A  thieves'  middle- 
man (1718).  2.  A  bar-room,  groggery 
(q.v.).  To  be  laid  in  the  locker,  to  die  : 
see  Hop  the  twig.  For  synonyms  see 
Aloft.  Davy  Jones'  locker  :  see  Davy 
Jones.  Shot  in  the  locker :  see 
Shot. 

Lockeram  -  jaw'd  (or  Lockram- 
j  awed).  Thin  -  faced,  lanthorn- 
jawed  (q.v.)  (B.  E.). 

Locksmith's  Daughter.  A  key: 
also  blacksmith's  daughter  (Grose). 
English  synonyms:  betty,  blacksmith's 
daughter  (or  wife),  gUkes  (skeleton 
keys),  Jack-in-the-box,  screw,  sket, 
twirl. 

Lock-up-chovey.  A  covered  cart 
(Grose). 

Lock-up  House.  A  spunging  house, 
a  public-house  kept  by  sheriffs  officers, 
to  which  they  convey  the  persons  they 
have  arrested,  where  they  practise 
every  species  of  imposition  and  ex- 
tortion with  impunity ;  also  houses 
kept  by  agents  or  crimps,  who  inlist,  or 
rather  trepan  men  to  serve  the  East 
India  or  African  company  as  soldiers 
(Grose). 

Lock-ups  (Harrow  School).  Deten- 
tion in  study. 

Loco-foco.  1.  A  self -Ugh  ting  match 
or  cigar.  2.  A  nickname  of  the 
American  Democratic  party  (1834-5). 
[At  a  meeting  held  in  Tammany  Hall 
the  chairman  left  his  seat,  and  the 
lights  were  suddenly  extinguished  with 
a  view  to  breaking  up  the  meeting. 
Thereupon  a  section  of  the  audience 
relighted  the  lights  by  means  of  their 
loco-focos  and  continued  the  meeting] : 
also  as  adj.,  Democratic,  belonging  to 
the  loco-foco  party. 

Locomote.     To  walk  (1847). 

Locomotive.  1.  A  mixed  hot  drink: 
of  Burgundy,  curacoa,  yolks,  honey, 
and  cloves.  2.  In  pi.,  the  legs,  pins 
(q.v.). 

Locomotive  Tailor.  A  tramping 
workman. 

Locust.  1.  Laudanum.  2.  A 
truncheon.  As  verb,  to  put  to  sleep 
with  chloroform  :  a  thief's  term. 

Lodger.  1.  A  convict  waiting  for 
his  discharge.  2.  A  person  of  no 
account :  e.g.  only  a  lodger  :  cf.  Hog. 

Lodging  -  slum.     Hiring  furnished 


271 


Log. 


Long  Eliza. 


lodgings    and    robbing    them    of    all 
portables  of  value  (Grose). 

Log.  The  last  boy  of  his  form  or 
house. 

Loge.  A  watch,  clock:  i.e.  Fr., 
hortoge  (IQQ6). 

L  o  g  e  s.  'A  passe  or  warrant :  a 
Feager  of  logos,  one  that  beggeth  with 
false  passes  (Rowland*,  1610). 

Loggerhead.  A  blockhead :  see 
Buffle  (1589).  As  adj.,  stupid:  also 
Loggerheaded  (q.v.)  (1596).  To  be 
at  (or  come  to)  loggerheads,  to  quarrel, 
come  to  blows  (1678).  Loggerheaded, 
blockheaded  :  also  log-headed  (1567). 

Logic.  1.  Sham  jewellery :  from 
David  Logie,  the  inventor.  2.  (Win- 
chester School).  Sewage. 

Log-roller.  1.  A  conditional 
ally  in  passing  a  bill  through  the 
Legislature  without  reference  to  the 
merits  or  demerits  of  the  measure  so 
advanced ;  and,  2.  a  venal  critic, 
assistant,  or  friend  :  see  Log-rolling. 

Log-rolling.  Co-operation  in 
the  pursuit  of  money,  business,  or 
praise. 

Logy.     Dull. 

Loll.  1.  A  favourite  child  (Grose). 
2.  See  Loll  poop.  As  verb,  to  lounge, 
lie  lazily,  sprawl  (1362). 

Loller.     See  Lollpoop. 

Lollipop  (or  Lollypop).  A  sweet- 
meat :  also  lolly. 

Lollop.  To  lounge  about,  loaf : 
hence,  a  lazybones,  loafer;  lollopy, 
lazy  (1745). 

Lollop-fever.     Laziness. 

Lolloping.  Idle,  lounging, 
slovenly. 

Lollpoop  (Loll,  or  Loller).  A 
lazy,  idle  drone  (Grose). 

Loll -tongue.  To  play  a  game  at 
lott-tongue,  to  be  salivated  (Grose). 

Lolly.  1.  The  head  :  see  Crum- 
pet 2.  See  Lollipop. 

Lollybanger.  A  ship's  cook :  see 
Loblolly. 

Lombard-fever.  The  idles,  loafing 
(1767). 

Lombard  St.  All  Lombard  Street 
to  a  china  orange,  said  of  a  certainty, 
the  longest  possible  odds.  There  are 
several  of  these  fanciful  forms  of 
betting — Chelsea  College  to  a  sentry- 
box,  Pompey's  pillar  to  a  stick  of 
sealing-wax,  etc.,  etc. 

London.  To  turn  (or  put)  the 
beat  aide  to  London,  to  show  one's  best : 
of.  Humphrey's  toppers. 


London  -  ivy  (or  London  Parti- 
cular). A  thick  fog. 

London  Ordinary.  The  beach  at 
Brighton  :  where  trippers  feed. 

Lone  -  star  State.  Texas :  from 
the  flag,  which  has  a  single  star  in  the 
centre. 

Long.  1.  A  bull  (q.v.) ;  cf.  Short, 
2.  A  rifle  :  cf.  Short,  a  revolver.  3. 
See  John  Long.  As  adj.,  tall  (1189). 
The  long,  the  summer  vacation.  The 
longs  (Oxford  University),  the  latrines 
at  Brasenose :  built  by  Lady  Long. 
As  adj.,  heavy,  great :  as  a  long  price, 
long  odds,  etc.,  etc.  The  long  and 
the  short  of  it,  the  sum  of  a  matter,  the 
whole :  see  Long  attachment.  Long 
in  the  mouth,  tough.  Long  in  the 
tooth,  elderly. 

Long  Acre.  A  baker,  burn-crust 
(q.v.). 

Long  -  attachment.  A  tall  man 
and  short  woman  walking  together, 
or  vice  versa :  also  the  long  and  the 
short  of  it 

Long  -  bill.  A  long  term  of  im- 
prisonment. Short-bill,  a  short  term. 

Long  -  bit.  A  defaced  20  cent 
piece  (MatseU) ;  also  15  cents  in 
Western  U.S.  (Century).  Short-bit, 
10  cents  (Century). 

Long-bow.  To  draw  (or  pull)  the 
long  bow,  to  tell  improbable  stories. 
Hence,  long-bow  man,  a  liar.  English 
synonyms :  to  climb  a  steep  hill,  to 
come  (or  cut)  it  strong  (or  fat,  or 
thick),  to  embroider,  to  gammon 
(q.v.),  to  lay  it  on  thick,  to  put  on  the 
pot,  to  pull  a  leg,  to  slop  over. 

Long  Chalk.  By  a  long  chalk,  by 
far,  in  a  large  measure. 

Long-crown.  A  clever  fellow:  aa 
in  the  proverb,  That  caps  long-crown, 
and  he  capped  the  devil. 

Long-dispar  (Winchester  ( 
lege).     There    were    six    dispars 
portions  to  a  shoulder,  and  eight  t 
feg  of  mutton,  the  other  joints  being 
divided  in  like  proportion.     All  them 
dispars  had  different  names  ;  the  ' 
slice  out  of  the  centre  of  the  leg 
called  a  middle  cut . . .  the  ribs,  racl 
the  loin,  long  dispars  (Mansfield). 

Long  Drink.    A  considerable  quan- 
tity, as  compared  to  a  nip  (q.v.),  i.e 
a  drop  of  short  (q.v.). 

Long-ear.  1.  A  reading  man ; 
sober  student :  see  Short-ear.  2.  In  i  ' 
a  donkey,  moke. 

Long    Eliza.     The  trade  term 


•272 


Long-faced  One. 


Long-shore  Butcher. 


certain  blue  and  white  vases  orna- 
mented with  figures  of  tall  thin  china- 
women, is  a  name  derived  undoubt- 
edly from  the  German  or  Dutch. 
Our  sailors  and  traders  called  certain 
Chinese  vases,  from  the  figures  which 
distinguished  them,  lange  Lischen 
(tall  Lizzies),  and  the  English  sailors 
and  traders  promptly  translated  this 
into  long  Elizas. 

Long-faced  One.  A  horse :  see 
Prad. 

Long  -  feathers.  Straw,  etrommel 
(q.v.) :  Fr.,  plume  de  Beauce. 

Long-firm.  A  body  of  phantom 
capitalists  who  issue  large  orders  to 
supply  an  infinite  variety  of  goods — 
from  herrings  to  harmoniums,  from 
cotton-twist  to  pictures ;  the  ledger 
of  the  long  firm  has  room  for  the  most 
multifarious  transactions.  The  rule  of 
procedure  with  the  long  firm  is  simple  : 
a  noble  order,  a  moderate  sum  paid 
on  account,  bills  for  the  remainder,  an 
order  to  deliver  the  goods  at  some 
country  warehouse  or  depository — and 
exit.  In  the  next  town  he  changes 
his  name  and  his  partners,  and  re- 
peats the  operation.  From  Liver- 
pool and  Manchester  he  flings  the  bait 
to  London  tradesmen,  and  now  and 
then  a  fish  is  hooked.  Fr.,  bande 
noire.  A  somewhat  similar  mode  of 
swindling  is  described  in  Parker's 
View  of  Society  (ii.  33,  1781). 

Long-fork  (Winchester  College).  A 
piece  of  stick  serving  as  a  toasting  fork. 

Long-gallery.  Throwing,  or  rather 
trundling,  the  dice  the  whole  length  of 
the  board. 

Long-ghost.  A  gawk  :  see  Lamp- 
post. 

Long  -  glass  (Eton  College).  A 
glass  nearly  a  yard  long,  shaped  like 
the  horn  of  a  stage-coach  guard,  and 
with  a  hollow  globe  instead  of  a  foot. 
It  held  a  quart  of  beer,  and  the  cere- 
mony of  drinking  out  of  it  constituted 
an  initiation  into  the  higher  circles  of 
Etonian  swelldom.  There  was  long- 
glass  drinking  once  or  twice  a  week 
during  the  summer  half.  The  invites 
attended  in  an  upper  room  of  Tap 
after  two,  and  each,  before  the  long 
glass  was  handed  to  him,  had  a  nap- 
kin tied  round  his  neck.  It  was  con- 
sidered a  grand  thing  to  drain  the  glass 
without  removing  it  from  the  lips,  and 
without  spilling  any  of  its  contents. 
This  was  difficult,  because  when  the 


contents  of  the  tubular  portion  of  the 
glass  had  been  sucked  down,  the  beer  in 
the  globe  would  remain  for  a  moment 
as  if  congealed  there:  then  if  the  drinker 
tilted  the  glass  up  a  little,  and  shook 
it,  the  motionless  beer  would  give  a 
gurgle  and  come  with  a  sudden  rush 
all  over  his  face.  There  was  a  way  of 
holding  the  long  glass  at  a  certain 
angle  by  which  catastrophes  were 
avoided.  Some  boys  could  toss  off 
their  quart  of  ale  in  quite  superior 
style,  and  I  may  as  well  remark  that 
these  clever  fellows  could  do  little 
else  (Brinsley  Richards). 

Long  -  haired  Chum.  A  female 
friend,  sweetheart. 

Long-headed.  Shrewd,  far-seeing, 
clever  :  also  long-headedness  (1696). 

Long  -  hogs.  The  first  growth  of 
wool  on  a  sheep. 

Long-home.     The  grave  (1701). 

Long  -  hope.  At  Oxford  .  .  .  the 
symbol  of  long  expectations  in  study- 
ing for  a  degree  (Grose). 

Long-lady.     A  farthing  candle. 

Long-lane.  The  throat :  see  Gutter- 
alley.  For  the  long  lane,  said  when  a 
thing  is  borrowed  without  intention  of 
repayment. 

Long-legs  (or  Long- 'un).  A 
tall  man  or  woman  :  see  Lamp-post. 

Long-meg.  A  very  tall  woman 
(B.  E.). 

Long-oats.  A  broom  or  fork-handle 
used  to  belabour  a  horse  :  cf.  Thorley's 
food  for  cattle. 

Long-one.     A  hare :  cf.  Long-tail. 

Long-paper  (Winchester).  Paper 
for  writing  tasks  on. 

Long-pig.  Human  flesh  when  ex- 
posed for  sale. 

Long-robe.     A  lawyer  (1611). 

Long-row.    See  Hoe. 

Longs  and  Shorts  (also  Longs 
and  Broads).  Cards  so  manu- 
factured that  all  above  the  eight  are 
a  trifle  longer  than  those  below  it : 
nothing  under  an  eight  can  be  cut, 
and  the  chances  against  turning  up  an 
honour  at  whist  are  reduced  to  two  to 
one  :  cf.  Brief  and  Concave. 

Long-sauce.  Beets,  parsnips,  or 
carrots,  in  contradistinction  to  short- 
sauce  (q.v.),  onions,  turnips,  etc.  :  an 
old  English  usage. 

Long-shanks.  A  tall  man :  see 
Lamp- post  (B.  E.). 

Long-shore  Butcher.  A  coast- 
guardsman,  shingle-tramper  (q.v.). 


273 


Long-shot. 


Loose-legged. 


Long-shot  A  bet  made  at  large 
odds :  as  100  to  1  on  anything  not 
in  favour. 

Long-sleeved  Top.  A  silk  hat 
(1880). 

Long-sleeved  'un.  A  long  glass : 
Fr.,  wagon. 

Long-stomach.  A  voracious  eater, 
wolfer  (q.v.)  (Grose). 

Long-tail.  1.  A  greyhound : 
hence,  as  dogs  unqualified  to  hunt 
were  curtailed,  gentlefolk  (1596).  2. 
A  pheasant.  3.  A  native  of  Kent 
(1628).  4.  A  canting  term  for  one  or 
another  (Johnson). 

Long-tailed.  Of  gentle  birth,  good 
standing  (1662). 

Long  -  tailed  Beggar.  A  cat. 
English  synonyms:  baudrons  (Scots'), 
gib,  grimalkin,  masheen,  nimshod, 
puss,  Thomas,  Tyb. 

Long  -  tailed  Finnips  (or  Long- 
tailed  *uns).  Banknotes  for  high 
amounts. 

Long  -  tea.  Tea  poured  from  a 
pot  held  high. 

Long-tongue.  A  tale-bearer, 
chatter-box  (1560). 

Long-tongued.     Talkative  (1593). 

Long-togs.  Shore-going  clothes  in 
general,  and  dress-clothes  in  parti- 
cular. 

Long-tot.  A  long  set  of  figures  for 
addition  :  as  in  examinations. 

Long-winded.  Diffuse,  protracted, 
loquacious. 

Lonsdale's  Ninepins.  The  nine 
boroughs  for  which  Lord  Lonsdale 
used  to  send  up  members  to  St. 
Stephens. 

Loo.  1.  A  company,  community 
(Orose).  2.  A  half  mask.  As  verb,  to 
vanquish. 

Looby.  A  fool,  idle  dullard :  see 
Buffle  (1362). 

Look.  To  look  a  gift  horse  in 
the  mouth,  to  criticise  a  present  or 
favour :  from  ascertaining  the  age 
of  horses  by  looking  at  their  teeth 
(1663).  To  look  alive,  to  bestir  one- 
self, be  on  the  alert:  also  to  look 
slimy.  To  look  cu  if  butter  would  not 
melt  in  one's  mouth :  see  Butter.  To 
look  at  the  maker's  name,  to  drain  (a 
glass)  to  the  bottom,  bite  one's  name 
in  the  pot  (q.v.).  To  look  babies  (or 
for  cuptds)  in  the  eyes,  to  look  closely 
and  amorously  into  the  eyes  for  the 
reflected  figures  (1593).  To  look 
big  :  see  Big.  To  look  blue  :  see  Blue. 


To  look  botty:  see  Botty.  To  look 
down  one's  nose,  to  look  glum,  have 
the  blues  (q.v.).  To  look  lively,  to  be 
drunk :  see  Screwed.  To  look  for  a 
needle  in  a  bottle  of  hay  (or  in  a  hay- 
stack), to  seek  what  it  is  impossible  to 
find :  bottle,  a  quantity  of  hay  or 
gran  tied  or  bundled  up :  Fr.,  botte 
(1592).  To  look  sharp,  ( 1 )  to  exercise 
great  vigilance,  be  extremely  careful 
(1711);  (2)  to  be  quick,  make  haste. 
To  look  through  a  glass,  to  get  drunk  : 
see  Screwed.  To  look  towards  one, 
to  drink  one's  health.  To  look  up,  ( 1 ) 
to  show  a  tendency  to  improvement, 
recover ;  (2)  to  pay  a  visit 

Look-in.     A  chance  of  success. 

Looking-glass.  A  chamber  pot: 
see  It  (1696).  To  look  on,  said  of  a 
horse  not  meant  to  do  ito  best  To 
look  nine  ways  for  Sundays,  to  squint : 
Fr.,  vendre  des  guignes. 

Loon  (Loun,  or  Lown).  A  lout, 
varlet,  rogue  (1500).  To  play  the 
loon,  to  play  the  wanton  ( 1568). 

Loonslate  (or  Loonslatt).  Thir- 
teen pence  halfpenny  :  cf.  Hangman's 
wages  (B.  E.). 

Loony  (or  Luny).  Crazy :  short  for 
lunatic :  also  a  fool,  natural :  see 
Buffle. 

Loose.  1.  Wanton,  blue  (q.v.). 
Hence,  loose-legged,  loose  in  the  hilts 
(or  haft),  incontinent ;  loose-girdled 
(or  gowned),  approachable ;  loose- 
woman,  a  wanton  ;  loose  -  liver,  a 
whoremaster,  etc.  (1595).  2.  Dis- 
sipated. On  the  loose,  ( 1)  on  the  town ; 

(2)  on  the  drink,  on  the  spree  (q.v.). 
To  play  fast  and  loose :  see  Fast     To 
run  loose,  to  run  unbacked.     To  have 
a  screw  loose :  see  Screw.     Loose  in  the 
haft  (or  hilt),  (1)  wanton,  (2)  diarrhoeic, 

(3)  untrustworthy    (1662).     Turned 
loose,  handicapped  in  a  race  at  a  very 
low  rate.     At  loose  ends,  neglected. 

Loose -bodied  (or  Loose-ended). 
Lewd  (1607). 

Loose  -  bodied  gown.  A  wanton 
(1602). 

Loose-box.     A  brougham  or  other 
vehicle  kept  for  the  use  of  a  mistress 
a  mot-cart  (q.v.). 

Loose-fish.     1.  A  dissipated  c 
acter,  bad-egg  (q.v.)  (1827).     2.  An 
independent  member  or  voter. 

Loose-hung.     Unsteady. 

Loose-kirtle.  A  wanton  :  cf.  Loose- 
bodied  gown. 

Loose-legged.    Incontinent  (1 


274 


Loot. 


Lowing-cheat. 


Loot.      1.    Plunder.     2.    A   roue, 
vagabond  :  also  lootie. 
Lop.     To  lounge,  flop. 
Lope.     1.   To  run  away.     2.   To 
steal. 

Loplolly.  A  servant  who  makes 
himself  generally  useful,  and  is  always 
at  the  beck  and  call  of  his  employer  : 
see  Loblolly. 

Lord.  1.  A  deformed,  ill-shapen 
person,  hunch- back :  cf.  Lady.  2.  In 
pi.  (Winchester  College).  The  first 
eleven.  3.  See  Lord  of  the  Manor. 
Drunk  as  a  lord  (prince,  or  emperor), 
very  drunk  (1653). 

Lord-Baldwin.     See  Queen  Anne. 

Lord-Harry.    See  Old  Harry. 

Lord  -  John  -  Russell.  A  bustle, 
bird-cage  (q.v.). 

Lord-lovel.     A  shovel. 

Lord  -  Mansfield's  -  Teeth.  The 
spikes  round  the  wall  of  the  Bang's 
Bench  (Grose). 

Lord  -  Mayor.  A  large  crowbar, 
jemmy  (q.v.). 

Lord-Mayor  "s-Coal.    A  slate. 

Lord- Mayor's- Fool.  Like  the 
Lord  Mayor's  fool,  fond  of  everything 
that  is  good. 

Lord  -  of  -  the  -  Manor.  A  tanner 
(q.v.) :  see  Rhino. 

Lose.  See  Combination,  Hair, 
Mess,  Shirt. 

Loser.  A  stroke  in  which  the 
player  pockets  his  own  ball,  after 
striking  either  his  opponent's  or  the 
red. 

Lost-cause.  Secessionism :  a 
Southern  euphemism  after  the  civil 
war,  1860-65. 

Lot.  A  person,  male  or  female  : 
mostly  in  sarcasm  or  contempt ;  as, 
a  bad  lot,  a  nice  lot,  etc. 

Loteby  (or  Ludby).  A  lover 
(1360). 

Lothario.  A  seducer  of  married 
women  (1630). 

Lothbury.  To  go  by  way  of  Loth- 
bury,  to  be  loth :  cf.  Needham  Shore, 
Peckham,  etc  (1580). 

Lotion.     Drink. 

Loud.  1.  Showy.  2.  Strong- 
smelling.  Loud  one,  a  big  lie  (1767). 

Lounce.  A  drink :  specifically  a 
pint  of  beer :  i.e.  allowance. 

Lounge  (Eton  and  Cambridge). 
1.  A  treat,  a  chief  meal.  2.  A  loiter- 
ing place,  gossiping  shop  (Grose).  3. 
The  dock  in  a  criminal  court. 

Lour  (Loure,  or  Lowre).    Money  : 


see  Rhino.  Fr.,  louer,  to  hire :  '  It  was 
granted  him  in  lower  of  his  servyse  ' 
(Merlin,  E.E.T.S.,  i.  50). 

Louse.  To  care  not  a  louse,  to  be 
utterly  indifferent  (1719).  Not  worth 
a  louse,  utterly  worthless  (1617). 

Louse-bag.  A  black  bag  worn  to 
the  hair  or  wig  (Grose). 

Louse  -  house.  The  round-house 
or  cage  (Grose). 

Louse  -  ladder.  A  stitch  fallen 
in  a  stocking,  a  Jacob's  ladder  (q.v.) 
(Grose). 

Louseland.  Scotland  (1696):  cf. 
Itchland. 

Louse-trap.  A  comb  :  Ital., 
gattetto  (1696). 

Louse-walk.  A  back-hair  parting 
(Grose). 

Lousy.  1.  Paint  which,  from 
keeping,  has  become  full  of  skin.  2. 
Filthy,  contemptible  (1690). 

Lout.  1.  A  clumsy  stupid  fellow, 
fool :  see  Buffle.  2.  (Rugby  School). 
Any  one  of  the  poorer  classes :  not 
necessarily  an  awkward,  lubberly  in- 
dividual. 

Love.  No  score :  Love-att,  no 
points  on  either  side :  Fr.,  cherche ; 
also  baiser  le  cut  de  la  vieille,  to  make 
no  score  (1780).  Cupboard  love,  in- 
terested love  (1688). 

Loveage.  Taplashes,  alls  (q.v.), 
ullage  (q.v.). 

Love  -  child  (or  Love  -  brat).  A 
bastard. 

Love-ladder.  A  lace  petticoat. 
Lovelock  (or  Lock).  A  falling 
curl  by  the  ear :  fashionable  more  or 
less  from  the  time  of  Elizabeth  to 
Charles  I.  ;  worn  on  the  left  side,  and 
hanging  by  the  shoulder,  sometimes 
even  to  the  girdle  :  also  heart- breakers 
(q.v.)  (1592). 

Lovely.  Attractive,  alluring 
(1653). 

Love-pot.  A  drunkard :  see 
Lushington. 

L  o  v  e  y  (or  Lovey-dovey).  A 
term  of  endearment  (1763). 

Low.      To  lie  low,  to  keep  quiet, 
bide  one's  time.     Low  in  the  lay,  in 
straits,  hard  up  (q.v.). 
Low-down.     Vulgar. 
Lowdowner.     A  general  byword. 
Lower.     To  drink :  see  Lush. 
Lower   Regions.     Hell :    Fr.,  pac- 
quelin  du  raboin. 

Lowing  -  cheat  (or  chete).  A  cow 
(1567). 


275 


Lowing-lay. 


Lumper. 


Lowing  -  lay  (or  rig).  Stealing 
oxen  or  cows  (Grose). 

Low-lived.  Mean,  shabby,  vul- 
gar (1766). 

Low-man  (Cambridge  University). 
A  Junior  Optime  as  compared  to  a 
Senior  Optime  or  a  Wrangler. 

Low-men.  False  dice  ;  so  loaded  as 
to  show  low  numbers:  also  low-runners: 
see  Fulhains  (1594). 

Low-pad.    A  foot-pad  ( 1696). 

Lowre.    See  Lour. 

Low-water  (or  tide).  To  be  in 
low-water  (or  at  low-tide),  to  be  in  diffi- 
culties, penniless  (1696). 

L.  S.  D.     Money :  see  Rhino. 

Lubber  (or  Lubbard).  A  hulking 
lout,  lumpish  oaf  :  specifically  (nauti- 
cal) a  bad  seaman  (1362).  As  adj., 
clumsy,  clownish  :  also  lubberly  (1580). 

Lubberland.  The  Paradise  of 
indolence  (1767). 

Lubber's  -  hole.  An  opening  in 
the  maintop,  preferred  before  the 
shrouds  by  raw  hands  and  timid 
climbers  (1794). 

Lubricate.     To  drink :  see  Lush. 

Luck.  Down  on  one1 8  luck,  unlucky, 
in  trouble,  hard  up  (1846).  Greasy 
luck,  a  full  cargo  of  oil.  Fishermen's 
luck,  wet,  cold,  hungry,  and  no  fish. 

Lucky.  Plunder  (1852).  As  adj., 
handy  (1703).  To  cut  (or  make)  one's 
lucky,  to  decamp,  amputate,  ske- 
daddle. 

Lucky-bone.  The  small  bone  of  a 
sheep's  head,  supposed  to  bring  good 
luck  to  a  beggar  during  the  day. 

Ludby.     See  Loteby. 

Ludlam's  Dog.  A  culmination  of 
laziness ;  sailors  say :  as  lazy  as  Joe 
the  marine,  who  laid  down  his  musket 
to  sneeze. 

Lud's-bulwark.  Ludgate  prison 
(1696):  see  Cage. 

Luff.     1.  Speech.     2.  A  lieutenant 

Lug.  1.  The  ear :  Fr.,  isgourde 
(1592).  2.  Affected  manners,  airs: 
e.g.  to  put  on  lugs,  to  be  conceited. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  drag ;  also  to  take  by 
the  ears  (1189) ;  (2)  to  drink  steadily. 
In  lug,  in  pawn,  in  pledge,  up  the 
spout  (q.v.).  To  lug  in,  to  include, 
insert  unnecessarily  or  unexpectedly 
(1762).  To  lug  out,  to  draw  (as  a 
sword)  (1688).  To  blow  in  one's  lug, 
to  cajole,  flatter :  hence,  blaw-in-my- 
lug,  a  flatterer,  wheedler.  //  worth 
his  lugs  (he  would  do  such  a  thing), 
used  in  approbation,  or  the  reverse  : 


from  the  medieval  punishment  of 
lopping  the  ears  (1362)  To  have  a 
flea  in  one's  lug :  see  Ear.  To  lay 
one's  lugs,  to  wager. 

Lug  -  chovey.  A  pawnbroker's 
shop. 

Lugger.     A  sailor  (Matsett). 

Lug-loaf.  A  blockhead  :  see 
Buffle  (1606). 

Luke.     Nothing  (Haggart). 

Lull.     Ale  (1636). 

Lullaby-cheat     A  baby  (1671). 

Lully.  Linen  hung  out  to  dry : 
hence  luUy-prigger,  a  filcher  of  wet  or 
drying  linen  :  Fr.,  defleurir  la  picouse, 
lully -prigging  (1754). 

Lumb.   Too  much  (New  Cant  Diet.). 

Lumber.  1.  A  room  :  from  the 
Lombard  Room  in  which  the  mediaeval 
pawnbrokers  and  bankers  stored 
their  pledges.  2.  A  prison,  quod 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  to  pawn,  (2)  to 
imprison.  Live  lumber,  soldiers  or 
passengers  on  board  a  ship  are  so 
called  by  the  sailors  (Grose). 

Lumberer.  1.  A  swindling 
tipster.  2.  A  pawnbroker,  uncle 
(q.v.). 

Lumberer  -  crib.  A  pawnbroker's 
shop. 

Lumber-house.  A  house  for  stor- 
ing stolen  property. 

Lumber-state.     Maine. 

Lummoking.     Heavy,  awkward. 

Lummy.     First-rate  (1843). 

Lump.  1.  Anything  exceptional : 
e.g.  a  lump  of  a  man  ;  I  like  that  a 
lump ;  that's  a  lump.  2.  The  work* 
house,  pan  (q.v.) :  also  Lump  hotel. 
3.  A  party,  association.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  beat,  tan  (1785);  (2)  to  dislike: 
If  he  does  not  like  it  he  may  lump  it, 
if  he  isn't  satisfied  he  may  do  the  other 
thing  :  also  to  take  without  choice  (i.e. 
to  swallow  whole)  (1833) ;  (3)  to  take 
off  at  a  draught ;  (4)  to  stake  heavily, 
to  plunge  (q.v.).  To  knock  lumps  out 
of,  to  command  a  great  deal  of  ap- 
plause. To  lump  the  lighter,  to  be 
transported  (Grose). 

Lumper.  (1)  A  riverside  labourer ; 
(2)  a  riverside  thief;  and  (3)  a  contrac- 
tor in  a  small  way  for  labour  and 
materials  for  unloading  and  loading 
ships  (1781) ;  (4)  a  vendor  of  linens, 
cottons,  or  silks,  which  might  be 
really  the  commodities  represented ; 
but  which,  by  some  management  or 
other,  were  made  to  appear  new  when 
they  were  old,  or  solid  when  they 


276 


Lump  Hotel. 


Lu*h. 


were  flimsy  (Mayhew) ;  (5)  a  militia- 
man ;  (6)  in  pi.,  potatoes  ;  murphies 
(q.v.);  (7)  one  who  lumps  together 
several  species :  as  opposed  to  a 
splitter  (q.v.). 

Lump  Hotel.     See  Lump. 

Lumping.  Heavy,  bulky,  awk- 
ward (1678). 

Lumpish.  Melancholy,  dull, 
dispirited,  heavy  (1592). 

Lump  of  Coke.  A  bloke  (q.v.),  a 
man. 

Lump  of  Lead.  The  head,  crumpet 
(q.v.). 

Lumpshious.  Delicious :  cf. 
Scrumptious. 

Lumpy.  1.  Drunk :  see  Screwed. 
2.  Pregnant.  3.  Costly.  4.  Rough, 
uneven :  as  applied  to  the  ground. 

Lumtum.  A  fashionable  thief 
(q.v.). 

Lun.  (1)  A  harlequin  (Grose).  (2) 
a  clown  (Matsett). 

Lunan.     A  girl. 

Luncheon  Reservoir.  The 
stomach,  victualling  office. 

Lung-box.  The  mouth :  see  Potato- 
trap. 

L  u  n  g  i  s.  An  idle,  lazy  fellow 
(1562). 

Lungs.  A  large  and  strong- voiced 
man ;  also  a  chymical  servant,  a  sort 
of  underworkman  in  the  art. 

Lunkhead.  An  ill-bred,  ill-looking 
horse;  a  screw  (q.v.). 

Lunk-headed.     Senseless. 

Luny.     See  Loony. 

Lurch.  A  cheat  (1597).  As  verb, 
to  steal,  cheat,  trick  (1563).  To 
leave  in  the  lurch,  pawned  for  the 
reckoning  or  left  at  stake  to  smart 
for  any  plot  (B.  E.).  Fr.,  laisser 
qudqu'un  bear.  To  give  a  lurch,  to 
tell  a  lie,  deceive. 

Lurcher.  1.  A  rogue  (1603).  2. 
A  bum-bailiff :  also  lurcher  of  the  law 
(1785). 

Lurden.  A  rogue  :  hence  lurdenry, 
roguery  (1513). 

Lurk.  Many  kinds  of  thieving  as 
well  as  begging  are  termed  lurking — 
the  dead  lurk  for  instance,  is  the 
expressive  slang  phrase  for  the  art  of 
entering  dwelling-houses  during  divine 
service.  The  term  lurk,  however,  is 
mostly  applied  to  the  several  modes 
of  plundering  by  representations  of 
sham  distress  (Mayhew).  As  verb, 
to  beg  with  false  letters. 

Lurker.      1.   A  begging  impostor, 


silver   beggar   (q.v.):   also  lurksman. 
2.  A  Jack-of-all-trades  (q.v.). 

Lurries.  Belongings,  » money, 
valuables  :  generic  (1696) :  see  Rhino. 

Lurry.  1.  Gabble  (1649).  2. 
See  Lurries. 

Lush.  1.  Drink :  from  Lushington, 
a  once  well-known  London  brewer : 
see  Drinks.  2.  A  drinking  bout.  3. 
(Eton  College),  a  dainty.  As  verb,  ( 1 ) 
to  drink,  and  (2)  to  stand  treat. 
English  synonyms :  to  barley-bree,  to 
beer,  to  bend,  to  blink,  to  boose,  to 
bub,  to  budge,  to  cover,  to  crack  (or 
crush)  a  bottle  (a  quart,  or  cup),  to 
crook,  to  crook  (lift,  or  tip)  the  elbow 
(or  little  finger),  to  damp,  to  damp 
one's  mug,  to  dip,  to  dip  one's  beak  (or 
nose),  to  disguise  oneself,  to  do  a 
dram  (or  wet),  to  drown  the  shamrock, 
to  nicker,  to  flush,  to  fuddle,  to  gargle, 
to  give  a  bottle  a  black  eye,  to  guttle, 
to  guzzle,  to  go  and  see  a  man  (or — of 
women — one's  pa),  to  grog,  to  have,  get, 
or  take  an  ante-lunch,  a  little  anti- 
abstinence,  an  appetiser,  a  ball,  a  bead, 
a  bit  of  tape,  a  bosom  friend,  a  bucket, 
a  bumper,  a  big  reposer,  a  chit-chat,  a 
cheerer,  a  cinder,  a  cobbler,  a  corker, 
a  cooler,  some  corn  juice,  a  damp, 
something  damp,  a  damper,  a  dannie, 
a  drain,  a  dram,  a  doch-an-dorroch,  a 
digester,  an  eye-opener,  an  entr'acte,  a 
fancy  smile,  a  flash,  a  flip,  a  forenoon, 
a  go,  a  hair  of  the  dog  that  bit  one, 
a  heeltap,  an  invigorator,  a  Johnny, 
a  jorum,  a  leaf  of  the  old  author,  a 
morning  rouser,  a  modicum,  a  nip,  or 
nipperkin,  a  night-cap,  a  nut,  one's 
medicine,  a  pistol  shot,  a  pony,  a 
pill,  a  quantum,  a  quencher,  a  re- 
fresher, a  revelation,  a  rouser,  a  re- 
poser,  a  smile,  a  swig,  a  sleeve-button, 
a  something,  a  slight  sensation,  a 
shant,  a  shout,  a  sparkler,  a  settler, 
a  shift,  a  stimulant,  a  sneaker,  a 
snifter,  a  soother,  a  thimbleful,  a  tift, 
a  taste,  a  toothful,  a  Timothy,  a 
warmer,  a  willy-wacht,  to  huff,  to 
irrigate,  to  knock  about  the  bub,  to 
lap,  to  lap  the  gutter,  to  liquor,  to 
liquor  up,  to  load  in,  to  look  thro'  a 
glass,  to  lower,  to  lug,  to  make  fun, 
to  malt,  to  moisten  (or  soak)  the 
chaffer  (clay,  or  lips),  to  mop,  to  mop- 
up,  to  mug,  to  peg,  to  potate,  to  prime 
oneself,  to  pull,  to  put  (or  drive) 
another  nail  in  one's  coffin,  to  read  the 
maker's  name,  to  revive,  to  rince,  to 
rock,  to  save  a  life,  to  scamander,  to 


277 


LusJiborough. 


Macaroni. 


shed  a  tear,  to  shake  a  cloth,  to  sherry- 
fog,  to  shift,  to  shout,  to  slosh,  to 
sluice  (or  wet)  the  bolt,  gob,  or  ivories, 
to  soak,  to  splice  the  mainbrace,  to 
squiff,  to  stab,  to  suck  the  monkey,  to 
swill,  to  swig,  to  swipe,  to  swizzle,  to 
take  the  pin  out,  to  take  a  drop  in  the 
eye,  to  take  in  some  O  be  joyful,  to 
tiff,  to  tipple,  to  toddy,  to  wet,  to  wet 
one's  whistle,  to  wine. 

Lushborough.  A  light  coin  imported 
into  England  from  Luxembourg, 
whence  the  name.  The  importation  of 
this  false  money  was  frequently  for- 
bidden, viz.  in  1347,  1348,  and  1351. 

Lush-crib  (or  ken).  A  public 
house,  tavern,  hotel,  club,  etc.  Eng- 
lish synonyms  :!  ale  draper's,  black- 
house,  boozer,  budging-ken,  church, 
cold-blood  house,  confectionery,  cross- 
dram,  devil's-house,  dive,  diving-bell, 
drum,  flash  -  case  (drum,  ken,  or 
panny),  flat-iron,  flatty-ken,  gargle- 
factory,  gin-mill,  grocery,  groggery, 
grog-shop,  guzzle  -  crib,  jerry  -  shop, 
hash-shop,  hedge-house,  kiddly-wink, 
little  church  round  the  corner,  lush- 
house  (panny,  or  ken),  lushery,  mop- 
up,  mug-house,  O-be-joyful  works, 
panny,  patter  -  crib,  piss  -  factory, 
pot-house,  pub  (or  public)  red-lattice, 
roosting-ken,  rum  -  mill,  shanty,  she- 
been, side  -  pocket,  sluicery,  suck- 
casa,  tippling  -  shop,  Tom-and-Jerry 
shop,  whistling-shop,  wobble-shop. 

Lushing-muzzle.  A  blow  on  the 
mouth  (Grose). 

Lushington.  A  sot :  also  lushing 
man  and  lushing  cove.  English  syno- 
nyms :  admiral  of  the  red,  after-dinner 
man,  ale-knight,  ale-wisp,  artilleryman, 
bang- pitcher,  beer-barrel,  belch-guts, 
bencher,  bench-whistler,  bezzle.bibber, 


black  pot,  bloat,  blomboll,  boozer, 
boozington,  borachio,  bottle-sucker, 
brandy-face,  brewer's  horse,  bubber 
(or  buoster),  budge  (or  lm<l:'<  r).  bung- 
eye,  burster,  common  sewer,  copper- 
nose,  drainist,  drainpipe,  'liv 
D-T-ist,  elbow-crooker,  emperor,  en- 
sign -  bearer,  fish,  flag  -  of  -  distress, 
fluffer,  fuddle-cap  (or  fuddler),  full- 
blown angel,  gargler,  gin-crawler,  (or 
slinger),  ginnums,  gravel  -  grinder, 
grog-blossom,  guttle  (or  guttle-gute), 
guzzler  (or  guzzle  -  guts),  high-goer, 
jolly-nose,  lapper,  love-pot,  lowerer, 
lug  -  pot,  moist-'  un,  mooner,  mop, 
(or  mopper-up),  nazie-cove  (or  mort), 
nipster,  O  -  be  -  joyfuller  (or  O  -  be- 
joyful-merchant),  pegger,  piss-maker, 
potster,  pot-walloper,  pub-ornament, 
sapper,  shifter,  si  pater,  soaker,  sponge, 
swallower,  swill-pot  (or  tub),  swigsby, 
swigster,  swipester,  swizzle  -  guts, 
Thirstington,  tipple-arse,  toddy-cask, 
toss-pot,  tote,  tun,  wet-quaker,  wet- 
subject,  wetster. 

Lushy.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Lustres.     Diamonds   (Matedl). 

Lux  (Blue-coat  School).  A  gi 
thing ;  a  splendid  thing ;  e.g.  My 
knife  is  wooston  a  lux.  Probably 
short  form  of  luxuriant.  Hertford 
word  (Blanch). 

Luxer  (Winchester  College).  A 
handsome  fellow,  I  presume  from 
luxuries,  it  being  a  pleasure  to  look  at 
him  (Adams). 

Luxuries.     See  Bar. 

Lyb-beg.     A  bed  (Harmon). 

Lyerby   (or  Lig-by).     A  mist 

Lyp.     To  lie  down  (Harman). 

Lypken.     See  Labken. 

Lyribliring.  Warbling,  singing 
(1580). 


M.  To  have  an  M  under  (or  by) 
the  girdle,  to  have  a  courteous  ad- 
dress :  by  using  the  titles  Mr.,  Mrs., 
Miss,  etc.  (1597). 

Mab.  1.  A  cabinet  (1823).  2.  A 
slattern  (1696).  3.  A  prostitute.  As 
verb, '  Drest  carelessly,  like  a  Slattern ' 
(B.  E.). 

Macaroni.  1.' In  the  first  Place  I  must 
observe  that  there  is  a  Set  of  merry 
Drolls  whom  the  Common  People  of  all 
Countries  admire,  and  seem  to  love  so 


well  that  they  could  eat  them,  accord- 
ing to  the  old  Proverb  :  I  mean  those 
circumforaneous  Wits  whom  every 
Nation  calls  by  the  Name  of  that  Dish 
of  Meat  which  it  loves  best.  In 
Holland  they  are  termed  Pickled 
Herrings ;  in  France,  Jean  Pottages ;  in 
Italy,  Maccaronies ;  and  in  Great 
Britain,  Jack  Puddings.  These 
merry  Wags,  from  whatsoever  Food 
they  receive  their  Titles  that  they 
may  make  their  Audiences  laugh, 


278 


Mwaroni-stake. 


Maggoty. 


always  appear  in  a  Fool's  Coat,  and 
commit  such  Blunders  and  Mistakes  in 
every  Step  they  take,  and  every  Word 
they  utter,  as  those  who  listen  to  them 
would  be  ashamed  of  (Addison,  1711). 
It.,  maccarone,  now  maccherone,  a 
blockhead :  cf.  Ger.,  Hanswurst ; 
Fr.,  Jean-farine ;  and  Jack-pudding. 

2.  A  dandy  from  1760-75  :  from  the 
Macaroni     Club,     which     introduced 
Italian  macaroni  at  Almack's  (1764). 

3.  A   Maryland   regiment   noted   for 
its  smartness,  which  took  part  in  the 
Revolution — Stuck  a  feather  in  his 
cap    and    call   it    macaroni  (Yankee 
Doodle).     4.    A    pony.     As   adj.,    (1) 
foppish,  affected ;  and  (2)  a  kind  of 
burlesque    poetry,    consisting    of    a 
jumble  of  words  of  different  languages 
with  words  of  the  vulgar  tongue  latin- 
ized, and  Latin  words  modernised :  also 
macaronian  and  macaronical. 

Macaroni-stake.  A  race  ridden  by 
a  gentleman- Jock  (q.v.)  (Bee). 

Macaroon.  An  affected  blockhead  : 
see  Buffle(  1650). 

Mace.  A  rogue  assuming  the 
character  of  a  gentleman,  or  opulent 
tradesman,  who  under  that  appearance 
defrauds  workmen,  by  borrowing  a 
watch  or  other  piece  of  goods,  till  one 
he  bespeaks  is  done  (Grose).  As  verb, 
to  defraud  :  macing  means  taking  an 
office,  getting  goods  sent  to  it,  and  then 
bolting  with  them ;  or  getting  goods 
sent  to  your  lodgings  and  then  remov- 
ing :  also,  on  the  mace,  and  to  strike  the 
mace ;  to  mace  the  rattler,  to  travel  by 
rail  without  paying  the  fare.  On 
the  mace,  on  credit,  tick  (q.v.). 

M  a  c  e  m  a  n  (Mace-cove,  Mace- 
gloak,  or  Macer).  A  swindler  :  spec. 
(1)  a  loan-office  sharp,  and  (2)  a  swell 
mobsman. 

Machine.  1.  A  bicycle  or  tricycle  ; 
a  carriage  (Scots') ;  and  (in  America)  a 
fire-engine  (1797).  2.  A  party,  a  party 
organization  (American  politics). 

Machiner.     A  coach-horse. 

Mackerel  (printers').  Smeared, 
blurred,  indistinct. 

Mackerel-back.  A  very  tall,  lank 
person  (B.  E.). 

Mad.  Angry,  vexed.  To  get  one's 
mad  up,  to  get  angered  :  also  as  verb 
(1369).  Like  mad:  see  Like.  Mad 
as  a  hatter,  violently  angry,  crazy. 
Mad  as  a  March  hare,  as  mad  as  may 
be  (1535). 

Madam.      1.     A    pocket-handker- 


chief, wipe  (q.v.):  Fr.,  fassollette.  2. 
A  mistress  (1634).  3.  A  bold  girl, 
artful  woman.  4.  An  ironical  ad- 
dress (1726). 

Madam  Van.     A  wanton  (1696). 

Madcap.  A  whimsical  humourist, 
rashling  :  Fr.,  lanturlu  :  as  adj.,  wild, 
freakish. 

Mad-dog.  Strong  ale  :  see  Drinks 
(1586). 

Made.     See  Make. 

Made  -  beer  (Winchester  College). 
College  swipes  bottled  with  rice,  a 
few  raisins,  sugar,  and  nutmeg  to 
make  it  up  (Mansfield). 

Madge.  1.  A  private  place.  2.  A 
woman :  partly  in  sport  and  partly 
in  contempt  (Jamieson). 

Mad-pash.     A   madman. 

Mad-Tom.  A  man  feigning  mad,  a 
Tom  of  Bedlam  (q.v.). 

Mad-woman.    An  empty  coach. 

M  a  d  z  a.  Half.  Madza-caroon, 
half  a  crown  ;  madza  -  saltee,  a  half- 
penny :  It.,  mezza.  Medza-beargered, 
half-drunk. 

Mag.  1.  Talk,  chatter,  jaw  (q.v.) : 
also  a  jabberer :  Fr.,  caquet-bon-bec 
(1778).  2.  A  halfpenny:  see  Rhino: 
also  make  and  magpie :  In  pi.  (in 
Scotland),  a  gratuity  expected  by  ser- 
vants :  cf .  Meg,  guinea  ( 1 567 ).  3.  A  half  - 
cent.  4.  The  same  as  Magpie.  5.  A 
magazine  (1796).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
talk  (1836);  (2)  to  steal  (1818);  (3) 
to  get  money  by  cheating  countrymen 
with  balls,  patent  safes,  etc.  Mag's 
diversion :  see  Meg. 

Maga.     Blackwootfs  Magazine. 

Magdalene.  A  reformed  prostitute 
(1693). 

Mag-flying.  Pitch  and  toss:  cf. 
Mag,  a  halfpenny. 

Maggie.  A  wanton :  cf.  Kitty 
(1603). 

Maggie  Rab  (or  Robb).  1.  A  bad 
halfpenny :  see  Rhino.  2.  A  bad 
wife. 

Magging.     Talking. 

Maggot.  1.  A  whim,  crotchet, 
fad  (q.v.) :  cf.  (Scots')  Bee  in  bonnet : 
Fr.,  rats  dans  la  tfte  (1655).  2.  'A 
whimsicall  Fellow,  full  of  strange 
Fancies  and  Caprichios.  Maggotty, 
Freakish'  (B.E.). 

Maggot  -  boiler.  A  tallow  chan- 
dler (Grose). 

Maggoty  (Maggot-headed  or 
pated).  Fanciful,  eccentric,  full  of 
whimsies  (1687). 


•279 


Magistrand. 


Make. 


Magistrand  (Aberdeen  University). 
A  student  in  art*  of  the  last  year : 
of.  Be  Jan. 

Magistrate.  A  herring :  see  Glas- 
gow magistrate. 

Magnificent.  High  and  mighty; 
in  pL,  a  state  of  dignified  resent- 
ment 

Magnify.  It  doesn't  magnify,  it 
doesn't  signify. 

Magnum.  A  double  quart :  cf.  Jero- 
boam, Rehoboam,  etc.  (1796). 

Magpie.  1.  A  bishop :  from  his 
vestments  of  black  and  white.  2.  See 
Mag.  3.  A  pie,  pastry :  Fr.,  par  fond. 
4.  A  shot  striking  a  target,  divided 
into  four  sections,  in  the  outermost 
but  one :  it  is  signalled  with  a  black 
and  white  disk :  cf.  Bull's  eye. 

Magsman.  A  street  swindler,  a  con- 
fidence-trick man  :  from  mag,  to  talk  : 
Fr.,  chevalier  de  la  retourne. 

Mahogany.  1.  A  dining- table:  also 
mahogany-tree  (1840).  2.  Salt  beef, 
old  horse  (q.v.).  3.  A  drink,  made 
of  two  parts  gin,  and  one  part  treacle, 
well  beaten  together  (Boswett).  To 
have  one's  feet  under  another  man's 
mahogany,  to  live  on  some  one  else. 
To  amputate  one's  mahogany,  to  run 
away,  cut  one's  stick  (q.v.). 

Mahogany-flat.  A  bug :  cf.  Heavy 
cavalry  :  see  Norfolk  Howard. 

Mahometan-gruel.    Coffee  (Grose). 

Maiden.  1.  A  decapitating 
machine.  Which  fatal  instrument, 
at  least  the  pattern  thereof,  the  cruel 
Regent  [Earl  Morton]  had  brought 
from  abroad  to  behead  the  Laird  of 
Pennecuik  of  that  ilk,  who  notwith- 
standing died  in  his  bed,  and  the  un- 
fortunate Earl  was  the  first  himself 
that  handselled  that  merciless  maiden 
(Pennecuik).  2.  In  cricket,  an  over 
with  no  runs ;  in  racing,  a  horse 
which  has  never  run  :  also  as  adj.,  as,  a 
maiden-speech,  a  maiden-attempt,  etc. 
(1696). 

Maidenhead.  Newness;  freshness; 
uncontaminated  state :  this  is  now 
become  a  low  word  (John-son). 

Maiden-town.  Edinburgh,  Auld 
Reekie :  from  a  tradition  that  the 
maiden  daughters  of  a  Pictish  King 
sought  protection  there  during  a  time 
of  civil  war. 

Maid  Marian.  A  wanton :  the  char- 
acter in  the  old  morris  -  dance  was 
taken  by  a  loose  woman  (1598). 

Maids-adorning.     The  morning. 


Maidstone- jailer.  A  tailor :  see 
Prick-louse. 

Mail.  In  pi.,  Mexican  railway 
•hares.  To  get  up  the  mail,  to  find 
money  to  defend  a  prisoner. 

Main.  The  averages  of  the  number 
to  be  thrown  at  dice ;  at  (cock-fighting) 
the  advantage  on  a  series  of  battles 
(Bee).  To  turn  on  the  main,  to  weep, 
nap  a  bib. 

Main-brace.  To  splice  the  main- 
brace,  to  serve  an  allowance  of  grog ; 
hence  to  drink  (1834). 

Main-chance.     See  Chance. 

Main-sheet.  Drink :  specifically 
brandy :  see  Drinks. 

Main-toby.  The  highway,  main 
road :  see  Toby. 

Majority.  Togo  over  to  (or  join)  (he 
majority  (or  great  majority),  to  die : 
see  Hop  the  twig.  [The  expression 
It  TXttWr  iK^ff^ai  is  found  in 
Crinagoras  (Anthol.  Point.  11,  42), 
and  penetrare  ad  plures  in  Plautus 
(Trin.,  ii.  2,  14).  A  correspondent 
of  the  Illustrated  London  Neu-s  (Echoes, 
Sept.  9,  1883)  writes:  "The  phrase, 
joining  the  majority,  is  a  free  transla- 
tion of  the  sepulchral  formula,  Abier- 
unt  ad  multos,  used  by  the  Roman 
legionaries  in  Britain ;  but  in  all  proba- 
bility the  English  use  of  the  ex- 
pression  was  popularised  by  Young.] 

Make.  See  Mag.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
steal :  see  Prig  (1696) ;  (2)  (Winchester 
College),  to  appropriate ;  (3)  to  earn. 
On  the  make,  intent  on  (1)  booty,  or 
(2)  profit.  To  make  up  one's  mouth, 
to  get  one's  living.  To  make  away 
(with  oneself),  to  commit  suicide 
(1633).  To  make  dainty,  to  scruple. 
To  make  nice,  to  scruple  or  object. 
To  make  up,  ( 1 )  to  dress :  as  an  actor 
for  a  part:  see  Make-up  (1602);  (2) 
to  get  up,  invent :  as  a  catch  or  take 
in.  To  make  (or  take)  it  up,  to  be 
reconciled  after  a  quarrel  (1598). 
To  make  mouths,  to  jeer,  grin.  To 
make  hay,  to  tumble,  confuse,  dis- 
order. To  make  meat  of,  to  kill.  To 
make  a  house,  to  gather  a  quorum  (40 
members).  As  good  (bad,  hot,  drunk, 
etc.)  as  they  make  them,  as  good,  bad, 
etc.  as  may  be.  Make  him  swim  for  it, 
cheat  him  out  of  his  share.  See  also 
Back,  Bacon,  Bates,  Beef,  Blue,  Bones, 
Books,  Buttons,  Children's  shoes, 
Clean  breast,  Clean  sweep,  Clink, 
Crimson,  Ducks-and-drakea,  Face, 
Feather,  Figure,  Fish,  Flash,  Fool, 


280 


Makepeace. 


Mandozy. 


Fun,  Fur,  Good,  Hair,  Hand,  Hare, 
Hash,  Hay,  Honest  woman,  Kiss,  Leg, 
Lip,  Long-arm,  Lucky,  Man,  Meal, 
Meat,  Mouth,  Night,  Pile,  Play,  Point, 
Queen  Anne's  fan,  Raise,  Running, 
Scarce,  Show,  Splash,  Split,  Stand, 
Things,  Tracks,  Turkey  -  merchant, 
Two  come,  Virginia  fence,  Water, 
Whack,  Whole  cloth,  Woman,  etc., 
etc. 

Makepeace.     A  birch. 

Maker.     A  tailor,  pricklouse  (q.v.). 

Makeshift.     A  thief  (q.v.)  (1584). 

Makesures.  Petty  pilferings,  fluff 
(q.v.),  cabbage  (q.v.) :  FT.,  gratte. 

Make-up.  1.  The  arrangement  of  an 
actor's  face  and  dress  :  see  to  make  up. 
Make  up  box,  a  box  of  materials — 
rouge,  sponges,  grease-paint,  and  the 
like — used  in  making-up.  2.  A  piece 
of  deception,  barney  (q.v.),  gammon 
(q.v.),  humbug  (q.v.),  take-in  (q.v.). 

Make- weight.  1.  A  small  candle 
(Grose).  2.  A  short  slender  man 
(Grose). 

Makings.  1.  Material  for  anything 
(1836).  2.  Profits,  earnings  :  Fr.,  jus. 

Malinger.  To  sham  illness,  shirk 
duty. 

Malingerer.  A  shirker  under  pre- 
tence of  sickness  (Grose). 

Malkin  (Maukin,  Mawkin).  1. 
Originally  (Johnson)  a  kitchen- wench  : 
hence,  a  dish- clout,  scarecrow,  wisp : 
and  so,  slattern  (1579).  2.  A  hare; 
also  (old)  a  cat. 

Malkin-trash.  One  in  dismal  garb 
(B.  E.). 

Malmsey  -  nose.  A  red-pimpled 
snout,  rich  in  carbuncles  and  rubies 
(Grose) :  cf.  Grog-blossom. 

Malt.  To  drink  beer  (1828).  To 
have  the  malt  above  the  wheat  (water, 
or  meal),  to  be  drunk :  see  Screwed 
(1767). 

Maltooling.  Picking  pockets  in 
omnibuses :  cf.  Molltooler. 

Maltout.    A  sailor:  cf.  Fr.,  matelot. 

Malt  -  worm  (bug,  or  horse).  A 
tippler,  Lushington  (q.v.)  (1551). 

Mammet.     A  puling  girl  (1595). 

Mammy.  1.  Mother :  an  endear- 
ment (1560).  2.  A  negro  nurse, 
maumer. 

Man.  1.  A  husband,  lover  :  gener- 
ally, my  man  (1369).  2.  The  head 
or  obverse  of  a  coin  used  in  tossing : 
cf.  Woman  (1828).  3.  Any  under- 
graduate from  fifteen  to  thirty  :  as,  a 
man  of  Emanuel — a  young  member  of 


Emanuel.  Dead  man,  a  supernumer- 
ary. Man  alive!  A  mode  of  salutation: 
used  in  remonstrance  or  surprise. 
Man  of  many  morns,  a  procrastinator. 
Man  of  the  world,  a  knowing  man 
(Grose).  Man  -  Friday,  a  factotum  : 
from  the  character  in  Robinson  Crusoe. 
Man-a-hanging,  a  man  in  difficulties. 
The  man  in  the  moon,  (1)  a  mythical 
personage  who  finds  money  for  elec- 
tioneering, and  for  such  electors  as 
vote  straight.  (2)  A  dolt :  see  Buffle 
(1621).  //  my  aunt  had  been  my 
uncle  she'd  have  been  a  man,  said  in 
derision  of  a  ridiculous  surmise  : — If 
wishes  were  horses,  beggars  would 
ride,  If  pigs  had  wings,  what  lovely 
birds  they'd  make  !  (1767).  He'tt  be 
a  man  before  his  mother :  see  Mother. 
To  go  out  and  see  a  man,  to  drink  :  an 
excuse  for  a  glass.  The  man  in  the 
street,  everybody.  To  get  behind  a 
man,  to  endorse  a  bill.  Old  man,  an 
employer,  chief,  governor  (q.v.),  the 
father  of  a  family,  a  husband.  The 
sick  man,  Turkey.  Man  about  town, 
'a  Lew'd  Spark,  or  very  Debaushe' 
(B.  E.).  Man  of  Kent,  all  the  in- 
habitants of  Kent,  east  of  the  river 
Medway,  are  called  men  of  Kent,  from 
the  story  of  their  having  retained  their 
ancient  privileges,  particularly  those 
of  gavel-kind,  by  meeting  William  the 
Conqueror  at  Swanscomb-bottom ; 
each  man,  besides  his  arms,  carrying 
a  green  bough  in  his  hand ;  by  this 
contrivance  concealing  their  number 
under  the  appearance  of  a  moving 
wood.  The  rest  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  county  are  styled  Kentish-men 
(Grose).  A  man  or  a  mouse,  something 
or  nothing  (Florio),  one  on  the  other 
(1547).  Nine  tailors  make  a  man: 
see  Ninth. 

Manablins.  Broken  victuals  :  Fr., 
arlequin,  and  bijou :  also  manavilins. 

Manarvel.     To  pilfer  small  stores. 

Man-box.     A  coffin  (1820). 

Manchester.  The  tongue,  prating- 
cheat  (1819). 

Manchester-silk.     Cotton. 

Manchester  Sovereign.  A 
shilling :  see  Rhino. 

Manchet.     See  Brewer's-basket. 

Man-chovey.     See  Chovey. 

Mander.     A  remand. 

Mandozy.  (1)  A  telling  hit ;  and  (2) 
a  term  of  endearment  among  East- 
end  Jews :  both  from  the  fighter, 
Mendoza. 


281 


Man;j. 


Marley  -stopper. 


Mang.    To  talk,  brag,  boast  (1819). 

Manger.     Seo  Dog. 

Manhandle.  To  maltreat,  handle 
roughly,  thrash,  tan. 

Man-in-black.     A  parson  (1691). 

Man-in-blue.  A  policeman  :  see 
Beak. 

Manners.  After  you  is  manners, 
a  jocular  implication  of  inferiority 
(1659). 

Mannish.     Amorous  (1382). 

Manoeuvre.     See  Apostle. 

Man-of-straw.     See  Straw. 

Man  (or  Lad)  of  wax.  A  sharp, 
clever  fellow  ;  a  model  man  (1595). 

Man-trap.  1.  A  widow,  house  to 
let  (q.v.)  (1773).  2.  A  lump  of  ex- 
crement, a  quaker  (q.v.). 

Manual-compliment  (or  subscrip- 
tion). A  blow,  sign-manual  (q.v.) 
(1750). 

Manufacture.  Liquors  prepared 
from  materials  of  English  growth 
(Lex.  Bed.). 

Map.     A  dirty  proof. 

Marble  (or  Marvel).  To  move  off, 
absquatulate  (q.v.). 

Marbles.  Furniture,  movables ; 
Money  and  marbles,  cash  and  effects : 
Fr.,  meubles:  hence,  and  substantial 
quid  pro  quo.  English  synonyms : 
belongings,  household  gods,  lares  and 
penates,  movables,  sticks,  sprats, 
slows,  traps. 

March.     See  Dirty-shirt  march. 

Marching-regiment.  An  infantry 
regiment  of  the  line :  in  disparage- 
ment. 

Marchioness.  A  slatternly  maid-of- 
all-work,  slavey  (q.v.):  from  the 
character  in  The  Old  Curiosity  Shop. 

Mare.  A  woman,  a  wife.  The 
grey  mare  is  the  better  horse,  the  wife 
rules  the  husband.  To  win  the  mare 
or  lose  the  halter,  to  play  double  or 
quits.  Money  makes  the  mare  go, 
money  does  anything  you  will  (1605). 
Shank's  mare :  see  Shanks.  To  go 
before  the  mare  to  market,  to  do  prepos- 
terous things  (Ray). 

Mare's-nest.  A  supposed  discovery, 
hoax,  delusion :  also  to  find  a  mare's 
nest  and  laugh  at  the  eggs  (1647).  The 
mare  with  three  legs,  the  gallows,  the 
triple  tree  (q.v.). 

Mare 's- tails.  Feather  -  like  clouds 
indicative  of  wind. 

Margery-prater.  A  hen,  cackling 
cheat  (q.v.)  (1573). 

Maria.     See  Black  Maria. 


Marigold  (or  Marygold).  I. 
One  million  sterling.  2.  A  gold  coin  : 
from  the  colour  (1663). 

Marinated.     Transported  (Orose). 

Marine  (or  Marine  Officer,  Dead 
Marine).  1.  William  IV.  seemed  in 
a  momentary  dilemma  one  day,  when, 
at  table  with  several  officers,  he 
ordered  one  of  the  waiters  to  '  take 
away  that  marine  there,'  pointing  to 
an  empty  bottle.  '  Your  majesty  ! ' 
inquired  a  colonel  of  marines,  '  do  yon 
compare  an  empty  bottle  to  a  member 
of  our  branch  of  the  service  ?  '  '  Ye*,' 
replied  the  monarch,  as  if  a  sudden 
thought  had  struck  him  ;  '  I  mean  to 
say  it  has  done  its  duty  once,  and  is 
ready  to  do  it  again '  (Mark  Lemon). 
2.  A  man  who  is  ignorant  and  clumsy 
about  seaman's  work,  greenhorn,  land- 
lubber. Tell  that  to  the  marines :  see 
Horse  marines. 

Mark.  1.  A  preference,  fancy 
(1760).  2.  A  person,  pig  (q.v.),  raw 
(q.v.).  Old  mark,  a  lady.  3.  The  pit 
of  the  stomach :  also  Broughton's 
mark.  4.  See  Mark  of  the  beast.  5. 
A  victim.  6.  A  street-walker.  As 
verb,  to  watch,  pick  out  a  victim  :  see 
Marking.  To  toe  the  mark :  see  Toe. 
To  mark  up,  verb,  to  know  all  about 
persons.  Mark  of  mouth,  the  tale 
told  by  the  teeth :  originally  horse- 
copers'  :  cf.  You  mustn't  look  a  gift 
horse  in  the  mouth. 

Marker  (Cambridge  University). 
A  person  employed  to  walk  up  and 
down  chapel  during  a  part  of  the 
service,  picking  off  the  names  of  the 
students  present. 

Market  The  betting  ring.  To 
drive  pigs  to  market :  see  Pigs. 

Market-dame.    A  strumpet  (1705). 

Marketeer.  A  betting  man  who 
devotes  himself,  by  means  of  special 
information,  to  the  study  of  favourites 
and  their  diseases :  the  principal 
agent  in  all  milking  (q.v.)  and  knock- 
ing out  (q.v.)  transactions. 

Market-fever.    See  Pencil-fever. 

Market-horse.  A  horse  kept  on  the 
lists  for  the  sake  of  the  betting. 

Market-place.     The  front  teeth. 

Marking.  1.  A  watcher,  stall 
(q.v.)(Matsett).  2.  Observing  ;  taking 
notice. 

Marley  -  slopper.  A  splay-footed 
person.  Marley  is  a  corruption  of 
marble  ....  In  playing  it  is  common 
for  a  boy  to  put  his  heels  together,  and 


Marmalade, 


Masher. 


turn  out  his  toes  ....  to  stop  an 
eccentric  marble. 

Marmalade.  True  marmalade.,  a 
variant  of  real  jam  (q.v.). 

Marmozet.  An  endearment :  also, 
in  jocular  contempt,  as  monkey  (q.v.) 
(1607). 

Marm-puss.     A  wife. 

Maroon.  To  abandon  on  a  desert 
isle,  with  a  little  powder  and  shot 
and  a  flask  of  water  ;  hence  maroon,  a 
man  marooned. 

Marplot.  An  officious  bungler,  spoil 
sport  (q.v.) :  from  a  character  in  The 
Busybody. 

Marquis  of  Granby.  A  bald- 
head,  bladder  of  lard. 

Marquis  of  Marrowbones.  See 
Marrowbone. 

Marriage  -  music.  The  crying  of 
children  (1696). 

Married.  Chained  or  handcuffed 
together  (Grose).  Married  on  the 
carpet  and  the  banns  up  the  chimney, 
living  as  man  and  wife  ;  tally  (q.v.). 

Marrow.  A  partner,  an  equal : 
specifically  (Old  Scots')  a  lover  or 
spouse  :  amongst  colliers,  mate  (q.v.) 
(1513). 

Marrowbone.     In  pi.,  the    knees : 
Ital.,     devoti     (worshippers)     (1553). 
tarquess  of  marrowbones,    a   lackey 
(1502). 

Marrowbones  and  Cleavers. 
Butcher's  music  to  new  -  married 
couples  :  formerly  there  was  a  regular 
peal  in  every  parish  (Grose). 

Marrowbone-  (or  Marylebone) 
stage  (or  coach).  To  ride  in  (or 
go  by)  the  marrowbone-stage,  to  go  on 
foot,  by  Shanks' s  mare. 

Marrowskying.  At  the  London 
University  they  had  a  way  of  dis- 
guising English  (described  by  Albert 
Smith,  in  Mr.  Ledbury,  1848,  as  the 
Gower  Street  dialect),  which  consisted 
in  transposing  the  initials  of  words : 
as  poke  a  smipe,  smoke  a  pipe  ;  flutter- 
by,  butterfly ;  stint  of  pout,  pint  of 
stout,  etc.  :  this  is  often  termed 
Marrowskying  :  also  Medical  (or  Hos- 
pital) Greek. 

Marshall.  A  five  pound  Bank  of 
England  note :  cf.  Abraham  New- 
Ian. 

Martext.  A  clergyman :  speci- 
fically a  blundering  or  ignorant 
preacher  (1600). 

Martin.  1.  An  honest  man  (1612). 
2.  A  boot.  3.  See  St.  Martin. 


Martin-drunk.  '  When  a  man  is 
drunk,  and  drinkes  himselfe  sober 
ere  he  stirre '  (Nashe) :  see  Screwed. 

Martinet.  A  military  term  for  a 
strict  disciplinarian :  from  the  name  of 
a  French  general,  famous  for  restoring 
military  discipline  to  the  French 
army.  He  first  disciplined  the 
French  infantry,  and  regulated  their 
method  of  encampment :  he  was 
killed  at  the  siege  of  Doesbourg  in 
the  year  1672  (Lex.  Bal.). 

Martingale.  Doubling  a  stake  at 
every  loss  :  from  the  fact  that,  as  in 
all  fair  games,  a  player  must  win  once, 
there  is  a  safe  hold  of  fortune  :  the 
difficulty  is  to  command  a  big  enough 
bank,  or,  having  the  bank,  to  find  some 
one  to  follow  in  a  fair  game  (1823). 

Martin 's-hammer.  Martin' s-ham- 
mer  knocking  at  the  wicket,  said  of 
twins. 

Marvel.  To  walk,  be  off  :  e.g.  He 
marvelled  for  home :  also  Marble 
(q.v.). 

Mary  !  No  score,  or  love,  in  j  eff- 
ing (q.v.)  with  quads.  To  tie  with 
St.  Mary's  knot,  to  hamstring  (1784). 

Mary- Ann.  1.  The  dea  ex  machind 
evolved  from  trades  -  unionism  at 
Sheffield,  to  the  utter  destruction 
of  recalcitrant  grinders :  cf.  Molly 
Maguires.  2.  A  dress  stand. 

Marygold.     See  Marigold. 

Maryland  -  end.  The  hock  of  a 
ham ;  cf.  Virginia-end  (Bartlett). 

Marylebone  Stage.  See  Marrow- 
bone Stage. 

Mary-  Walkers.  Trousers :  see 
Kicks.  After  Dr.  Mary  Walker,  who 
adopted  Turkish  trousers. 

Mascot.  A  luck  piece,  talisman, 
somebody  (or  something),  which 
ensures  good  fortune  to  the  owner : 
la  mascotte :  if  the  luck  -  piece  be 
alive,  the  master- quality  disappears 
with  the  loss  of  his  (or  her)  virginity. 

Mash.  A  sweetheart :  also  Masher. 
As  verb,  to  court,  ogle,  lay  oneself  out 
for  the  practical  approval  of  the 
other  sex  :  hence,  on  the  mash  ;  mashed, 
amorous,  spoony  ;  mashed  on,  in  love  : 
see  Masher. 

Masher.  (1)  A  species  of  Don 
Juan  in  a  small  way  of  business : 
specifically  among  choristers  and 
actresses ;  hence  (2)  a  dandy,  and  as 
adj.,  smart,  dapper.  [The  particle 
mashed  was  in  use,  in  America,  before 
the  substantive.  A  person  who  was 


283 


Mrnler. 


very  spoony  on  another  was  said  to 
be  mashed.  Then  came  the  verb  to 
mash,  and  latterly  the  noun  masher; 
i.e.  he  who  produces  the  effect,  or  at 
least  who  imagines  himself  a  lady- 
killer.  Men  of  this  calibre  are  often 
fops  or  dandies  T  Hence,  the  word 
masher  as  now  understood  here.] 

Masherdom.  Tho  world  of  mashers 
(q.v.). 

Mash-tub.  A  brewer :  hence 
(Fleet  St.)  The  Morning  Mash -tub, 
The  Morning  Advertiser. 

Maskin.     Coal. 

Mason.  One  who  swindled  farmers, 
etc.  by  giving  worthless  notes  for 
horses,  etc.  bought  by  them.  The 
dealers,  called  masons  ....  giving 
notes  for  money,  and  never  to  pay  it 
(Poulter,  1754) :  also  as  verb. 

Masonry.  Secret  signs  and  pass- 
words. 

Mason 's-mawn'd.  'A  Sham  sore 
above  the  Elbow,  to  counterfeit  a 
broken  Arm,  by  a  Fall  from  a  Scaffold, 
expos'd  by  subtil  Beggars,  to  move 
Compassion,  and  get  Money '  (B.  E.). 

Massacre.     See  Innocents. 

Masse  -  stapler.  A  rogue  dis- 
guised as  a  woman. 

Master-can  (or  more).  A 
chamber-pot  (Fergusson)  (1776). 

Master  -  of  -  the  -  black  -  art  A 
beggar :  see  Cadger. 

Master  -  of  -  the  -  Mint  A  gar- 
dener :  cf.  Burn-crust,  Corks,  etc. 

Master  -  of  -  the  -  Rolls.  A  baker 
(1641).  English  synonyms:  bum- 
crust,  doughy,  dough-puncher,  crumbs, 
fourteen-to-the-dozen. 

Master  -  of  -  the  -  Wardrobe.  One 
who  pawns  his  clothes  to  buy  liquor 
(Grose). 

Masterpiece.  A  culmination  :  the 
best  that  can  be  (1715). 

Match.  1.  In  pi.,  Bryant  and  May, 
Limited,  Stock.  2.  A  stripling :  see 
Lamp- post 

Mate.  A  companion,  partner, 
pal  (q.v.) :  also  matey  (1580). 

Mater.  A  mother,  the  Old  woman 
(q.v.):  Fr.,  materneUe  (1869). 

Matin  -  bell.  A  thieves'  rendez- 
vous, evening  chimes  (q.v.). 

Matriarch.    An  old  dowager. 

Matter.  As  near  at  no  matter,  very 
nearly,  as  near  a  may  be. 

Maukes  (Maux,  or  Mawkes).  See 
Mawkes. 

Maukin.     See  Malkin. 


Mauled.  1.  Swingingly  drunk: 
see  Screwed.  2.  Soundly  beaten. 

Mauley  (Morley,  or  Mawley). 
1.  A  fist,  a  hand.  To  tip  a  mauley,  to 
give  a  hand  ;  /am  the  nundey,  shake 
hands  (1800).  2.  A  signature,  hand- 
writing, fist  (q.v.). 

Maund  (or  Maunder).  1.  To  beg. 
To  maund  upon  the  pad  (or  on  the 
fly),  to  beg  in  the  highway  or  the 
street ;  maunding,  begging :  from 
maund,  a  basket :  cf.  Beg  from  bag 
(1531).  2.  To  ask  (1567). 

Maunder.  A  beggar,  cadge-gloak 
(q.v.) :  also  maunder er  and  maunding- 
cove  (1611). 

Maundring  -  broth.  A  scolding 
(B.E.). 

Maverick.  An  unbranded  yearling  : 
from  one  Maverick. 

Maw.  The  mouth  (1502).  Hold 
your  maw  I  stop  tallring 

Mawkes.  1.  A  vulgar  slattern 
(Grose).  2.  A  wanton. 

Mawley.     See  Mauley. 

Maw-wallop.  A  filthy  composition, 
sufficient  to  provoke  vomiting  (Grose). 

Mawworm.  A  hypocrite :  from 
Bicker-staffs  play,  The  Hypocrite  :  also 
as  adj.  (1823). 

Mawpus.    See  Mopus. 

Mawther.  1.  A  girl  (Jonson).  2.  An 
old  drudge  (Dickens). 

Max.  Gin :  see  Drinks :  from 
maxime,  and  so  properly  applied  only 
to  the  best  quality  spirit  (1823).  As 
verb,  at  West  Point  (United  States) 
to  gain  the  maximum  of  marks ; 
hence,  to  do  well. 

May  (Cambridge  University).  The 
Easter  Term  examination. 

May  -  gathering.  Sheep-stealing, 
fleecy-claming  (q.v.),  bleat- marching 
(q.v.). 

Mazarine.  1.  A  Common  Council- 
man of  the  City  of  London  :  from  the 
robe  of  mazarine  blue  (1761).  2. 
A  platform  under  the  stage. 

Mazzard  (Mazard,  or  Mazer). 
The  head,  face  (1602).  As  verb,  to 
knock  on  the  head. 

M.  B.Coat  (or  Waistcoat).  A 
long  coat  worn  by  some  clergymen : 
i.e.  Mark  of  the  Beast  (1853). 

Meacock.  1.  A  milksop,  fool ;  see 
Buffle  (1563).  2.  A  hen  -  pecked 
husband.  As  adj.,  cowardly  (1593). 

Meal.     See  Square-meal. 

Mealer.  1.  A  partial  abstainer: 
pledged  to  take  intoxicants  only  at 


284 


Meal-mouth. 


Member. 


meals.  2.  One  who  lodges  at  one 
place  and  boards  elsewhere. 

Meal-mouth.  '  A  sly  sheepish  Dun, 
or  Sollicitor  for  Money  '  (B.  E.). 

Meal  -  tub  (or  sack).  The  stock 
of  sermons  :  e.g.  I've  nothing  in  my 
meal-tub,  I've  no  sermon  ready. 

Mealy-  (or  Meal-)  mouthed  (or 
mealy).  1.  Fluent,  plausible,  per- 
suasive (1587).  2.  One  that  is  faint- 
hearted, bashful,  or  afraid  to  speak 
his  mind  freely  (Dyche). 

Mean.  1.  Disobliging,  petty,  stingy. 
To  feel  mean,  to  feel  guilty.  2.  A 
general  epithet  of  disparagement : 
mean  night,  a  bad  night ;  mean  horse, 
a  sorry  screw ;  mean  crowd,  a  man  of 
no  account ;  mean  bit,  a  worn-out, 
haggard  woman.  Mean  enough  to 
steal  acorns  from  a  blind  hog,  as  mean 
as  may  be. 

Mean  White  (American  negro).  A 
white  man  working  with  his  hands, 
poor  white  trash  (q.v.). 

Measly.     Contemptible. 

Measure.  The  distance  of  duellers. 
To  break  measure,  to  be  out  of  the 
adversary's  reach  (B.  E.).  To  measure 
out,  to  knock  down  flat,  to  kill.  To 
take  (or  get)  one's  measure,  ( 1 )  to  marry ; 
(2)  to  appreciate,  to  size  up  (1859). 
To  be  measured  [for  a  part,  etc.],  to  get 
a  part  written  to  one's  liking  or  capa- 
city, to  be  exactly  suited.  To  have 
been  measured  for  a  new  umbrella,  (1) 
to  appear  in  new  but  ill-fitting  clothes  ; 
whence  (2)  to  pursue  a  policy  of 
doubtful  wisdom.  To  be  measured 
for  a  suit  of  mourning,  to  get  a  pair 
of  black  eyes.  Measured  for  a  funeral 
sermon,  at  death's  door. 

Meat.  To  chew  one's  own  meat,  to 
do  a  thing  oneself  ;  hence,  to  chew  meat 
for  one,  to  do  another's  work  for  him. 

Meat-and-drink.  1.  Strong  drink  ; 
also  liquor  thickened  with  yolk  of 
eggs,  etc.  2.  Delight  (1600). 

Meat-axe.  Savage  as  a  meat-axe, 
extremely  hungry. 

Meat-bag  (or  safe).  The  stomach, 
victualling-office. 

Meat  -  in  -  the  -  pot.  A  revolver. 
English  synonyms :  barker,  barking 
iron,  black-eyed  Susan,  blazer,  bull- 
dog, Colt,  the  democratiser  (Ameri- 
can :  as  making  all  men  equal),  un- 
converted friend,  pop  (or  pop  -  gun), 
persuader,  shooting  -  iron,  shot  -  gun, 
six-shooter,  stick,  towel,  two  -  pipe 
scatter-gun. 


Meaty.     1.  Plump.     2.  Enjoyable. 

Mechanic.  A  tradesman ;  also  a 
mean,  inconsiderable,  contemptible 
fellow  (B.  E.).  As  adj.,  common, 
vulgar,  mean. 

Med  (Medic,  Medical,  or  Medico). 
A  medical  man  (or  student)  (1823). 

Meddler.  Lay-overs  for  meddlers  : 
see  Lare-over. 

Medes  and  Persians  (Winchester 
College).  Jumping  on  a  man  (q.v.) 
when  in  bed. 

Medical  Greek.  See  Marrow- 
skying. 

Medicine.  Liquor :  hence  to  take 
one's  medicine,  to  drink. 

Medium.  A  person  engaged  by  a 
squatter,  part  of  whose  run  is  offered 
by  Government  at  a  land  lottery : 
the  medium  takes  lot- tickets,  as  if  bent 
upon  cultivation,  attends  the  drawing, 
and  if  his  ticket  be  drawn  before  his 
principal's  land  is  gone,  selects  it, 
and  hands  it  over  on  payment  of 
the  attendance  fee. 

Medlar.     A  dirty  person. 

Meech,  Meeching.     See  Mike. 

Meerschaum.    The  nose  :  see  Conk. 

Meetinger.    A  chapel  goer. 

Meg.  LA  guinea :  see  Rhino. 
2.  In  pi.,  Mexican  Railway  First  Pre- 
ference Stock.  3.  A  wench.  Meg 
Dorts,  a  pert  girl ;  Meg-harry  (Lane.), 
a  hoyden.  Roaring  Meg,  a  monster 
piece  of  ordnance  ;  hence,  an  unfailing 
antidote  (1624). 

Megrim.  (1)  A  crotchet;  and  (2) 
a  headache  :  Fr.,  migraine  (1520). 

Meg's  Diversions.  (1)  Whimsical 
pleasantry ;  and  (2)  Old  Harry  (q.v.). 

Megsman.     See  Magsman. 

Mej  oge.  A  shilling:  see  Rhino  ( 1 754). 

Mell.     The  nose  :  see  Conk. 

Mel  low.  Slightly  drunk :  see 
Screwed  (1696). 

Melon.      A  new  cadet. 

Melt.  To  spend,  blew  (q.v.)  (1696). 
To  look  as  if  butter  would  not  melt  in 
the  mouth :  see  Butter.  'Twill  cut 
butter  when  it's  melted :  see  Butter. 

Melting.  A  sound  drubbing,  all 
one  way.  A  melter  is  he  who  pun- 
isheth,  and  the  thing  administered 
is  a  melting — a  corruption  of  mallet- 
ting  (Bee). 

Melton.     Dry  bread. 

Member.  A  person  :  almost  ex- 
clusively with  qualifying  terms,  as 
hot  (q.v.);  rum  (q.v.);  warm  (q.v.) 
and  the  like. 


286 


Member-mug. 


Mess-mate . 


Member-mug.  1.  A  chamber-pot : 
see  It  ( 1696).  2.  (Westminster  School) 
An  out-of-door  boy. 

Men.     See  Man  for  all  senses. 

Menagerie.     The  orchestra. 

Menavelings.  Odd  money  in  the 
daily  accounts,  fluff  (q.v.),  overs  and 
shorts :  cf.  Manablins. 

Mend.  To  mend  fences,  to  mind  one's 
own  business,  attend  to  one's  interest. 
To  correct  (or  mend)  the  magnificat,  to 
correct  that  which  is  faultless  (Ray) 
(1670). 

Mentor.     A  second  in  the  ring. 

Mephisto.    A  foreman. 

Merchant.  A  term  of  abuse  (1555). 
To  play  the  merchant,  to  best  (q.v.), 
get  the  bulge  on  (q.v.),  get  to  wind- 
ward of  (q.v.)  (1593). 

Mercury.  1.  A  messenger ;  also 
applied  in  cant  phrase  to  the  carriers 
of  news  and  pamphlets  (Johnson). 
2.  Wit ;  hence  mercurial,  witty 
(1696).  3.  A  thief  (q.v.),  trickster 
(1599). 

Mercury-women.  Wholesale  news- 
sellers  who  retail  to  the  hawkers 
(B.  E.). 

Meridian.  Refreshment  taken  at 
noon  ;  hence  ante-meridian,  a  morn- 
ing dram,  post-meridian,  an  appetiser 
before  dinner  (1818). 

Merkin.  1.  Fur  (1678).  2.  Hair 
dye  (1859). 

Mermaid.    A  strumpet. 

Merry.    Wanton  (1610). 

Merry-andrew  (or  Mr  Merriman). 
The  jack-pudding,  jester,  or  zany  of 
a  mountebank,  usually  dressed  in  a 
parti-coloured  coat. 

Merry  -  begot  (or  begotten).  A 
bastard. 

Merry-cain.  See  Cain,  Raise,  and 
Jesse. 

Merry  -  dancers.  The  Northern 
Lights :  Fr.,  chevres  dansantes  (dancing 
goats). 

Merry-dog.  A  boon  companion, 
a  jolly-dog  (q.v.). 

Merry  Dun  of  Dover.  A  ship 
so  large  that,  passing  through  the 
Straits  of  Dover,  her  flying  jib-boom 
knocked  down  Calais  steeple ;  while 
the  fly  of  her  ensign  swept  a  flock  of 
sheep  off  Dover  Cliff.  She  was  so 
lofty  that  a  boy  who  went  to  her 
mast-head  found  himself  a  grey  old 
man  when  he  reached  the  deck  again. 
[This  yarn  is  founded  on  a  story  in 
Scandinavian  mythology.] 


Merry-go-down.  Strong  ale,  stingo 
(q.v.) :  see  Drinks  (1530). 

Merry-go-sorry.     Hysteria  ( 1 600). 

Merry-go-up.     Snuff  ( 1 82 1 ). 

Merry  Greek.  A  jolly  companion 
(1602). 

Merryman.     See  Merry-Andrew. 

Merry  -  men  -  of  -  may.  Currents 
formed  by  the  ebb-tides. 

Merry-pin.  A  happy  chance,  jolly 
time,  gay  mood.  In  a  merry  pin, 
jovially  inclined.  [The  Dutch,  and 
English  in  imitation  of  them,  were 
wont  to  drink  out  of  a  cup  marked 
with  certain  pins,  and  he  accounted  the 
man  who  could  nick  the  pin ;  where- 
as, to  go  above  or  beneath  it,  was  a 
forfeiture  (Fuller).] 

Merry  Thought.  The  furcula  or 
forked  bone  of  a  fowl's  breast. 

Mesopotamia.  Belgravia,  Cubit- 
opolis  (q.v.):  cf.  Asia  Minor,  New 
Jerusalem,  etc.  The  true  Mesopo- 
tamia ring,  high-sounding  and  pleasing 
but  wholly  past  comprehension.  [In 
allusion  to  the  story  of  the  old  woman 
who  told  her  pastor  that  she  found 
great  support  in  that  blessed  word 
Mesopotamia.] 

Mess.  1.  A  difficulty,  fiasco, 
muddle.  To  make  a  mesa  of  it,  to 
fail  utterly  or  permanently.  2.  (Win- 
chester College).  The  Prefects'  tables 
in  Hall  were  called  Tub,  Middle,  and 
Junior  mess  respectively.  The  boys 
who  dined  at  each  were  also  so  named. 
Any  number  of  boys  who  habitually 
breakfasted  together  were  so  called, 
with  some  distinguishing  prefix,  such 
as  Deputy's  mess.  In  Chambers,  tea 
was  called  mess ;  as  was  also  the 
remains  of  a  joint  of  meat.  Lest 
the  reader  should  make  a  mess  of  all 
these  different  meanings,  I  will  give 
a  sentence  in  which  they  shall  all 
figure,  Look  ....  Junior  mess  has  sat 
down  at  Tub  mess,  but  as  they  will 
find  nothing  left  but  a  mess,  they  had 
better  go  down  to  chambers  as 
is  ready  (Mansfield).  To  mess 
(1)  to  take  liberties ;  (2)  to  play 
and  loose,  swindle,  put  off.  To 
the  number  of  one's  mess,  to  die : 
Hop  the  twig. 

M  e  s  s  e  1.     A    partner, 
(1605). 

Mess- John.    A  clergyman  :  in  con- 
tempt :   i.e.   JfoM-john. 

Mess-mate.  A  companion,  comrade, 
one  eating  at  the  same  table. 


286 


Mesting. 


Milk. 


Mesting.     Dissolving,  melting. 

Met.  1.  A  member  of  the  Metropoli- 
tan (or  New  York)  Base-ball  Club.  2. 
In  pi.,  Metropolitan  Railway  Shares. 
The  Met,  the  Metropolitan  Music- 
hall. 

Metal.  1.  Money :  see  Rhino.  2. 
See  Mettle. 

Metallician.  A  bookmaker  :  from 
the  use  of  metallic  books  and  pencils. 

Metal-rule.  An  oath,  obscenity. 
[From  the  use  of  ' — '  in  print]. 

Mettlesome.  Bold,  spirited  (Orose). 

Mew-mew  !  In  sarcasm  :  tell  that 
to  the  Marines  (q.v.). 

Mice-feet.  To  make  mice-feet,  to 
destroy  wholly. 

Mich,  Micher,  Michery,  Miching. 
See  Mike,  Miker,  Mikery,  and  Miking. 

Michael.     A  man  (1647). 

Mick  (Mike,  or  Micky).  1.  An 
Irishman.  2.  A  young  wild  bull. 

Mid  (or  Middy).  A  midshipman 
(1812). 

Midden.  A  foul  slattern  ;  a  heap 
(q.v.).  An  eating  midden,  a  glutton, 
belly-god. 

Middies.  Midland  Railway  Ordinary 
Stock. 

Middle.  1.  The  waist  (1640).  2. 
(Fleet  Street).  A  writer  of  social, 
literary,  and  scientific  articles  for  the 
press  is  said  to  be  a  writer  of  middles, 
or  a  middleman.  3.  A  finger. 

Middle-cut  (Winchester  College). 
There  were  .  .  .  eight  [portions]  to  a  leg 
of  mutton  .  .  .  the  thick  slice  out  of  the 
centre  of  the  leg  was  called  a  middle 
cut  (Mansfield). 

Middle-match.     See  Match. 

Middle-mess.     See  Mess. 
'•  Middle-piece.  The  stomach,  victual- 
ling-office (q.v.) :  also  middle-pie  and 
middle-story  (1675). 

Middling.  Tolerably,  moderately. 
Also  (tailors'),  I  don't  think  so.  I 
don't  believe  what  you  say. 

Middy.     See  Mid. 

Midge.  A  small  one-horse  carriage 
used  in  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

Midge-net.     A  lady's  veil. 

Midget.  Anything  small  of  its 
kind  ;  e.g.  a  sprightly  child. 

Midnight.  Sarsaparilla.  Midnight 
without,  sarsaparilla  without  ice.  As 
white  as  midnight,  as  black  as  may  be 
(1557). 

Midshipman '  s-half-pay.  Nothing 
a  day  and  find  yourself  :  cf.  Monkey's 
allowance. 


Midshipman 's-nuts.  Broken  bis- 
cuit, eaten  by  way  of  dessert. 

Midshipman's  Watch  and  Chain. 
A  sheep's  heart  and  pluck. 

Midshipmite.  A  diminutive  mid- 
shipman. 

Miff.  A  petty  quarrel,  tantrum 
(1623).  As  verb,  (1)  to  offend;  (2) 
to  fall  out.  As  adj.,  angered ;  also 
miffed. 

Miff-maff.     Nonsense,  rot  (q.v.) 

Miffy.  The  devil,  Old  Scratch 
(q.v.). 

Mifty.    Apt  to  take  offence. 

Mighty  (Mightily).  In  a  great 
degree.  Not  to  be  used  but  in 
very  low  language  (Johnson).  Also 
mightily  (1596).  High  and  mighty, 
consequential,  full  of  airs. 

Mike.  1.  An  Irishman.  2.  See 
Miker.  3.  See  Micky.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  lurk,  skulk,  hang  about :  also  to  do 
a  mike  (or  mouch)  (1490) ;  (2)  to  play 
truant,  Charley  -  wag  (q.v.);  (3)  to 
hang  about :  for  alms,  a  job,  or  a 
chance  to  pilfer :  also  on  the  movxh ; 
(4)  to  steal  (1655). 

Miker  (Moucher,  or  Moocher). 
A  skulker,  petty  thief,  beggar :  also 
a  truant :  see  Loafer  (1360). 

Miking  (Mooching,  or  Mouching). 
(1) Prowling;  (2)  pilfering ;  (3)  playing 
truant.  Also  michery  and  mickery 
(1393).  As  adj.,  (1)  skulking;  (2) 
lurking  ;  (3)  mean  (1500). 

Milch-cow.  One  who  is  easily 
tricked  out  of  his  property :  a  term 
used  by  gaolers  for  prisoners  who  have 
money,  and  bleed  freely  (Orose). 
Hence,  any  living  source  of  alms  or 
revenue  (1696). 

Mild.  Second-rate,  feeble,  in- 
efficient. Draw  it  mild  I  see  Draw. 

Mild-bloater.    See  Bloater. 

Miler  (or  Myla).     An  ass. 

Miles' s  Boy.     See  Ralph. 

Milestone.  A  country  booby  ( Vaux). 

Milestone-monger.    A  tramp. 

Milk.  1.  To  plunder  (1536).  2. 
To  bet  against  a  horse,  which  is  one's 
own  property  but  is  not  meant  to  win, 
to  keep  him  a  favourite  at  short  odds 
for  a  race  in  which  he  has  no  chance 
whatever  (or  in  which  he  will  not  run). 
3.  To  get  possession  by  artifice  :  as,  to 
milk  a  telegram,  to  get  access  to  it 
before  the  addressee  :  see  Milker.  4. 
To  exhaust,  drain  (1642).  To  give 
down  milk,  to  pay  (1655).  To  milk 
the  pigeon,  to  attempt  impossibilities  : 


287 


Mdk-and-molasses. 


Mitt-tog. 


cf.  Pigeon's  Milk.  To  milk  the  street, 
to  hold  stock  so  well  in  band  as  to 
make  it  fluctuate  aa  you  will :  a  Wall 
Street  phrase.  To  milk  over  the  fence, 
to  steal  milk  from  cans.  No  milk  in 
the  cocoa-nut,  silly,  crazed.  Bristol- 
milk  :  see  Bristol. 

Milk  -  and  -  molasses.  The  people 
of  this  country  (United  States)  are 
of  two  colours,  black  and  white .  .  . 
or  half  •  and  -  half  sometimes  at  the 
south,  where  they  are  called  milk- and  - 
molasses  (Neal). 

Milk-and-water.  A  stuff  under  this 
strange  designation  appears  in  16th 
century  inventories,  but  we  have  no 
guide  as  to  what  determined  its 
title  (Draper's  Diet.)  (1665).  As  adj., 
insipid,  undistinguished,  harmless 


Milker.  1.  When  a  telegram  sent 
to  a  specific  person  is  surreptitiously 
made  use  of  or  drawn  from  by  others, 
it  is  said  to  have  been  milked  ;  and 
those  who  thus  steal  are  called  milkers. 
To  guard,  as  far  as  possible,  against 
this  being  done,  important  special 
and  press  messages  from  abroad,  and 
sometimes  home  telegrams  also,  are 
written  in  cipher :  see  Milk.  2.  A 
milk-giver. 

Milker's -calf.  A  calf  yet  with 
the  cow ;  hence,  a  mother's  boy  or 
girl. 

Milk-fever.     See  Pencil-fever. 

Milk -hole  (Winchester  College). 
The  hole  formed  by  the  roush  (q.v.) 
under  a  pot  (q.v.)  (Notions). 

Milking-pail.  To  work  (or  carry)  the 
milking -pau :  see  Milk. 

Milk  -  livered.  Timid,  cowardly 
(1605). 

Milk -shop  (Milk- walk,  or  Milky- 
way).  The  paps  :  see  Dairies  (1640). 

Milk-sop.  A  coward,  ladified  man, 
novice,  meacock  (q.v.)  (1390). 

Milk-woman.  A  wet-nurse. 
Green-milk-woman,  a  woman  recently 
delivered. 

Milky  ones.  White  linen  rags. 
Milky -duds,  white  clothes  (MatseU). 

Mill.  1.  A  fight,  set-to  (q.v.) 
(1785).  2.  The  treadmill.  3.  A 
prison.  4.  The  old  Insolvent  Debtor's 
Court :  hence,  to  go  through  the  mill, 
to  be  adjudicated  bankrupt.  5.  A 
guard-room  in  barracks,  jigger  (q.v.). 
6.  A  chisel  (Grose).  As  verb,  (ft  to 
fight,  pummel,  kill,  to  mill  the  nob,  to 
punch  the  head  (1748);  (2)  to  rob, 


break,  force :  mill-lay,  burglary  (1567) ; 
(3)  to  send  to  the  tread-mill  (1838). 
To  go  through  (or  be  on)  the  mill,  (1)  to 
go  through  the  Bankruptcy  Court, 
be  whitewashed  (q.v.);  (2)  to  pass 
through  a  more  or  less  severe  course 
of  discipline,  experience,  or  training 
(1829);  (3)  See  Mill.  To  bring  grist 
to  the  mill,  to  be  a  source  of  profit 
(1726).  To  put  through  the  mill,  to 
put  to  trial :  as  a  horse  before  a 
race. 

Mill-clapper.  The  tongue  :  speci- 
fically of  women  (1696). 

Mill -doll.  The  Bridewell,  once 
situate  in  Bridge  Street,  Blackfrian 
(1781).  As  verb,  to  beat  hemp  in 
Bridewell,  do  work  on  the  treadmill : 
see  Mill-dolly  (1751). 

Mill-dolly.  Hard  labour  in  Bride- 
well. 

Mill-dose.  Prison  labour  (Matsett). 
Mill-lay.  To  force  open  the  doors 
of  houses  in  order  to  rob  them  (Grose). 
Miller.  1.  A  pugilist  (1823).  2.  See 
Joe  Miller.  3.  A  vicious  horse  (1825). 
4.  A  white  hat.  5.  A  murderer.  To 
give  the  miller,  to  wrap  flour  in  thin 
paper,  which,  when  thrown,  breaks 
and  smothers  the  person  of  whom 
a  target  is  made.  To  drown  the 
miller,  (1)  to  water  overmuch  :  origin- 
ally to  drown  the  miller's  thumb,  i.e. 
the  thumb  mark  on  the  glass  (1767) ; 
(2)  to  go  bankrupt  (Jamieson)  (1805). 
Miller 's-eye.  A  lump  of  flour  in  a 
loaf.  To  put  the  millers  eye  out,  to 
be  sparing  of  flour. 

Miller's- thumb.  See  Cobbler's 
thumb. 

Mill-ken.     A  housebreaker. 
Milling.     1.  A  beating :  also  fight- 
ing (1810).     2.  Stealing.     Milling  in 
the  dar  lemon's,  murder  oy  night. 
Milling-cove.     A  pugilist  (Grose). 
Mill  -  round.      Routine :     see   Go 
through  the  mill. 

Millstone.  To  see  (or  look)  through 
a  millstone  (or  brick-u-all),  to  be  well- 
informed,  judge  with  precision,  be 
quick  of  perception  (1582).  To  weep 
millstones,  said  of  a  person  not  likely 
to  cry  (1597).  To  run  one's  head 
against  a  millstone  (milestone,  or 
brick  watt),  to  resist  mulishly,  attempt 
impossibilities.  To  run  a  milestone, 
to  strike  one  die  dead  and  let  the  other 
run  as  it  will. 

Mill- tog  (tag,  or  twig).  A 
shirt:  see  Camesa  (1821). 


Mill-wash. 


Moab. 


Mill -wash.     Vest  canvas. 
Milton.     An  oyster  ( 1 84 1 ). 
Milvader.     A  blow.     MUvadering, 
boxing. 

Mince.     To  dissect. 
Mince-pies.    The  eyes :  also  mutton- 
pies  (q.v.). 

Minckins.     See  Minx. 
Mind.    See  P's  and   Q's.     Mind 
your  eye,  be  careful :  also  (nautical) 
mind  your  helm. 

Minden  Boys.   The  Twentieth  Foot, 
now  the  Lancashire  Fusiliers :   from 
their  bravery  at  Minden,  1759. 
Minder.     A  child  put  out  to  nurse. 
Mine-arse.     See  Bandbox. 
Mine  Uncle.     See  Uncle. 
Mingle  -  mangle.     A    hotch-potch 
(1550). 

Minikin  (or  Minnikon).  An  en- 
dearment, '  a  daintie  lasse,  a  minnikin, 
smirking  wench '  (Florio) ;  A  little  man 
or  woman,  also  the  smallest  sort  of 
pin  (Grose).  Also  as  adj.,  diminutive, 
dainty,  delicate. 

Minor  (Eton  College).  1.  A  younger 
brother.  2.  A  water-closet  (Grose). 
Minor  clergy,  young  chimney  sweeps. 
Mint.  Money  :  also  mint-sauce  or 
mint  -  drops  :  see  Rhino  (1420).  As 
adv.,  plenty  of  money  (Lex.  Bal. ) :  also 
a  mint  of  money,  a  big  sum  (Grose). 

Minx.     1.  A  woman  :  in  contempt ; 
and,    2.    a    wanton :    also    minckins 
503). 

Mischief.  1.  A  vexatious  person : 
,  2.  ruin.  To  go  to  the  mischief,  go 
the  bad ;  what,  who,  or  where  the 
ischief,  what,  who,  or  where  the 
ill,  or  the  devil ;  to  play  the  mischief, 
to  play  havoc,  disorder ;  with  a  mis- 
chief, with  a  vengeance  (1614).  A 
man  loaded  with  mischief,  a  man  with 

wife  on  his  back. 
Misery.     GUI  :  see  Drinks. 
Misfit.     An  awkward  man. 

ih.      A    shirt    or    chemise :    cf. 
esa :    an    abbreviation    of    corn- 
ion  (q.v.)  (1665). 
Mishmash.    Chaos,  confused  lump, 

ess  mass  (Florio). 
Mish-topper.     A  coat,  petticoat. 
Miss.     1.  A  wanton  (1662).     2.  A 
young  girl  (1695).     3.  A  girl  from 
t  10  to  15  years  of  age :  before 
after,  a  child  and  a  young  lady 
tively.     A  miss  is  as  good  as  a 
'e,  a  narrow  escape  is  as  good  as  an 
y  one.     To  miss  the   cushion,    to 
foolishly,  be  wide  of  the  purpose 


(1598).  To  miss  one's  tip:  see  Tip. 
To  miss  the  figure :  see  Combination 
and  Slump. 

Miss  Nancy.  An  affectedly  prim 
person  :  male  or  female  :  hence,  Miss 
Nancyism,  affected  nicety,  effeminacy. 

Missus  (The).  1.  A  wife  ;  and,  2. 
among  servants,  a  mistress. 

Mist.     Scotch  mist,  rain. 

Mistake.  And  no  mistake,  unques- 
tionably, without  fail. 

Mistress.  The  mark  in  the  game  of 
bowls,  the  Jack  (q.v.)  (1580). 

Mistress  Roper.  A  marine :  because 
handling  the  ropes  awkwardly. 

Mite  (or  Mitey).  A  cheesemonger  : 
cf.  Burn-crust,  Corks,  etc.  (1765). 

Mitre.  A  hat :  see  Tufts  and 
Golgotha. 

Mitten.  1.  A  hand  :  see  Bunch  of 
fives  (Grose).  2.  A  boxing  glove, 
muffler  (q.v.) :  also  mitts.  As  verb,  to 
jilt :  also  to  give  the  mitten  :  in  Devon- 
shire, to  give  one  turnips.  To  handle 
without  mittens,  to  handle  roughly : 
a  low  phrase  (Johnson).  Easy  as 
mittens,  free. 

Mitten-mill.     A  glove  fight. 

Mivvy.  1.  A  woman  :  in  contempt ; 
hence,  2.  a  lodging  -  house  landlady, 
cat  (q.v.).  3.  A  marble. 

Mix.  A  muddle,  mess.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  confuse ;  and  (2)  to  involve  or 
implicate :  also  to  mix  up :  spec,  to 
agree  secretly  how  to  make  up  a  tale 
or  colour  a  transaction  in  order  to 
cheat  or  deceive  another  party,  as 
in  case  of  a  justice  -  hearing,  of  a 
law  -  suit,  or  a  cross  in  a  boxing- 
match  for  money. 

Mixed.  1.  Confused,  muddled, 
bewildered.  2.  Foul,  bad,  inferior 
(1280).  3.  Slightly  drunk:  see 
Screwed. 

Mix- metal.    A  silversmith  (Grose). 

Mixum.     An  apothecary  (1635). 

Mizmaze.  A  cant  word  formed  from 
maze  by  reduplication :  a  maze,  a 
labyrinth  (Johnson). 

Mizzard.  The  mouth  :  cf.  Mazzard. 

Mizzle.  To  decamp,  amputate 
(q.v.),  skedaddle  (q.v.)  (1781). 

Mizzler.  A  fugitive.  Rum  mizzler,  a 
a  good  hand  at  dodging  or  getting  off. 

Moab.  1.  A  hat :  specifically,  the 
turban-shaped  hat  fashionable  among 
ladies  1858-59 :  from  the  Scripture 
phrase,  Moab  is  my  washpot  (Ps.  Ix. 
8).  2.  (Winchester  College).  On  the 
west  side  of  school  court,  a  spacious 


289 


Moabite. 


Alolly-coddlish. 


room,  nicknamed  Moab,  with  numer- 
ous marble  basins,  and  an  unlimited 
supply  of  fresh  water  (M  ant  field). 

Moabite.  A  bailiff,  Philistine  (q.v.) 
(Grose). 

Mob.  1.  The  populace,  the  crowd  : 
a  contraction  of  mobile  vulgus :  also 
mobility  and  moboeracy  (1686).  2. 
A  number  of  thieves  working  together. 
3.  A  number  of  horses,  or  cattle, 
part  of  a  flock  of  sheep  :  a  flock  is  the 
total  number  of  fleeces  tended  by 
one  shepherd ;  any  portion  of  it  being 
a  mob.  4.  A  wanton.  As  verb,  to 
crowd,  hustle,  annoy  :  hence  mobbing 
(1741).  See  Swell-mob. 

Mobility  (or  Moboeracy).  See 
Mob. 

Mobsman.  A  pickpocket:  i.e.  a 
member  of  the  swell-mob  (q.v. )  ( 1851 ). 

Mockered.  Full  of  holes :  e.g. 
a  ragged  handkerchief,  a  blotched  or 
pitted  face. 

Mocteroof.  To  doctor  or  fake 
(q.v.)  damaged  produce  :  e.g.  pines  are 
washed  with  a  solution  of  gum  ;  chest- 
nuts shaken  in  a  bag  with  bees-wax. 

Model  (The).     Pentonville  Prison. 

Modern  Babylon.  London. 
Modern  Athens,  Edinburgh. 

Modest.  A  vulgarism  expressive 
of  moderation  ;  the  reverse  of  large 
(q.v.).  Hence,  modest  quencher,  a 
small  drink. 

Mods  (Oxford  University).  The 
first  public  examination  for  degrees : 
an  abbreviation  of  Moderations. 

Moey.  1.  The  mouth  :  see  Potato- 
trap.  2.  A  petition. 

Moffling-chete.   See  Muffling-cheat. 

Mofussil.  Any  part  of  India  ex- 
cept the  three  capitals,  Calcutta, 
Bombay,  and  Madras :  specifically, 
rural,  provincial  (1772). 

Moggy.  1.  A  badly  -  dressed 
woman,  guy  (q.v.).  2.  A  calf. 

Mogue.  To  gammon,  throw  dust 
in  one's  eyes. 

Mohair.  1.  An  upholsterer :  cf. 
Burn-crust.  2.  A  man  in  the  civil  line, 
a  townsman  or  tradesman,  a  military 
term,  from  the  mohair  buttons  worn 
by  persons  of  those  descriptions,  or 
any  others  not  in  the  army ;  the 
buttons  of  military  men  being  always 
of  metal ;  this  is  generally  used  as  a 
term  of  contempt  (Grose). 

Mohawk  (or  Mohock).  A  ruffian 
who  infested  the  streets  of  London 
at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth 


century :  at  the  Restoration,  the  s 
bullies  were  called  Muns  and  Ti 
TUB  ;  then  Hectors  and  Scourers  ; 
Nickers  and  Hawcubites ;  and  1 
Mohocks  or  Mohawks:  also  as 
(1711). 

Mohican.  A  tremendously  heavy 
man,  who  rides  five  or  six  miles  [in  an 
omnibus]  for  sixpence  (Tait'a  Mag.). 

Moiety.     1.  Fifty.     2.  A  wife. 

Moisten.  To  drink,  lush  (q.v.): 
also  to  moisten  one's  chafer  (or  day). 

Moke.  1.  An  ass.  English  syno- 
nyms :  baldwin,  cuddy  Don  Key 
Dick,  Edward,  Issachar,  Jack,  Jenny, 
Jerusalem,  Jerusalem  pony,  King  of 
Spain's  trumpeter,  long-ears,  myla, 
Neddy.  2.  A  dolt :  see  Buffle.  3.  A 
variety  artist  who  plays  on  several 
instruments.  4.  A  negro,  snow- 
ball (q.v.). 

Moko.  A  pheasant  shot  by  mistake 
before  the  end  of  the  close  time :  the 
tail  feathers  are  pulled  out :  cf.  Lion. 

Moll.  1.  A  girl.  2.  A  female 
companion.  3.  A  prostitute.  Moiled 
up,  arm-in-arm  with,  or  accompanied 
by  a  woman. 

Moll  -  blood.  The  gallows  :  aee 
Ladder  (1818). 

Moll  -  buzzer.  A  thief  devoting 
himself  to  picking  women's  pockets. 

M  o  1 1  i  e.  Whenever  the  whaling 
fleet  is  stopped  for  a  number  of  days  in 
the  ice,  it  is  the  practice  for  the  cap- 
tains to  assemble  on  board  one  or 
other  of  the  ships  to  discuss  the  pro- 
spects of  the  season's  catch.  These 
interviews  are  called  mollies  and  are 
announced  by  a  bucket  hoisted  as  • 
signal  at  the  fore-royal  mast-head 
. . .  Generally  speaking,  a  mollie  mean* 
making  a  night  of  it  (Rescue  of  Greeley). 

Mo  11  is  her.  A  thief  s  mistress, 
moll  (q.v.). 

Moll-sack.  A  lady's  hand-bag, 
market  basket. 

Moll  -  Thompson 's  -  mark  (M.T.) 
Empty  packages  are  said  to  be  so 
marked  :  as  adj.,  empty  (Grose). 

Moll-tooler.  A  female  pickpocket : 
see  Thief. 

Molly  (Miss  Molly,  or  Molly- 
coddle). 1.  An  effeminate  person, 
milk-sop  (q.v.).  2.  A  prostitute.  3. 
A  country  wench. 

Molly-coddle.  To  pamper:  also 
moddley-coddley. 

Molly-coddlish.  Effeminate:  also 
mollyish  (ISOl). 


290 


Motty  grubs. 


Monkey-loot. 


Mollygrubs.     See  Mulligrubs. 

Molly  Maguires.  1.  An  Irish  secret 
society  (c.  1843)  formed  to  intimidate 
bailiffs  and  process  -  servers.  These 
Molly  Maguires  were  generally  stout 
active  young  men,  dressed  up  in 
women's  clothes,  with  faces  blackened 
or  otherwise  disguised ;  sometimes  they 
wore  crape  over  their  countenances 
sometimes  they  smeared  themselves 
in  the  most  fantastic  manner  with 
burnt  cork  about  their  eyes,  mouth, 
and  cheeks.  In  this  state  they  used 
suddenly  to  surprise  the  unfortunate 
grippers,  keepers,  or  process-servers, 
and  either  duck  them  in  bog  holes,  or 
beat  them  in  the  most  unmerciful 
manner,  so  that  the  Molly  Maguires 
became  the  terror  of  all  our  officials 
(Trench).  2.  A  secret  society  formed 
in  1877  in  the  mining  districts  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  members  sought 
to  effect  their  purpose  by  intimida- 
tion, carried  in  some  cases  to  murder. 
Several  were  brought  to  justice  and 
executed. 

Molly-puff.  A  gamblers'  decoy 
(1629). 

Molocker.  A  renovated  hat :  also  as 
adj.  and  verb. 

Mome.  A  blockhead :  see  Buffle 
(1550). 

Monarch.  1.  A  name  :  also  moneker, 
moniker,  monarcher,  and  monick.  2. 
(Eton  College).  The  ten-oared  boat. 
3.  Formerly  a  guinea ;  now  a  sovereign : 
see  Rhino.  Big  monarcher,  a  person  of 
note,  big-bug  (q.v.). 

M  o  n  a  s.  Isle  of  Man  Railway 
Shares. 

Monday.     See  St.  Monday. 

Monday.  An  intensitive :  Awful 
Bleeding,  Bloody,  etc. 

Mondayish  (or  Mondayfied). 
Sunday  is  not  a  day  of  rest  to  him 
[the  clergyman] ;  it  is  a  day  of  grate- 
ful work,  in  which  many  week  duties 
are  laid  aside  ;  but  it  is  a  day  of  work, 
the  reaction  from  which  has  created 
the  clerical  slang  word  Mondayish 
(Eraser's  Mag.).  English  synonyms : 
hi  the  idles,  not-up-to-work,  run 
down,  seedy,  off  colour,  off  it,  off  the 
spot,  out  of  it,  shilly-shally,  soft  in 
the  back,  stale. 

Mondongo.     See  Mundungus. 

Money.  1.  Money's  worth,  a  way 
or  a  line  of  investing  money.  Eggs 
for  money,  an  excuse,  trick  (1604). 
Bard  money,  coin.  Soft  money,  notes. 


Money  makes  the  mare  to  go  :  see  Mare. 
Pot  of  money,  a  large  amount. 

Money-bags.  A  miser,  usurer,  man 
of  means. 

Money-dropper.  A  swindler  who 
lets  money  drop  before  some  flat,  and 
offering  to  share  it  with  him,  passes  off 
counterfeit  coin  in  return  for  good 
change  (1748). 

Money-grubber.     A  miser. 

Mongrel.  A  hanger  on  amongst 
cheats,  a  spunger  ;  also  a  child,  whose 
father  and  mother  are  of  different 
countries  (Grose). 

Moniker.     See  Monarch. 

Monk.  1.  A  term  of  contempt.  2. 
(printers'),  An  over-hiked  spot  in  a 
printed  sheet,  a  dark  patch,  a  black- 
ened or  wasted  impression :  see 
Friar. 

Monkery.  1.  The  country,  Daisy- 
ville  (q.v.)  (1819).  2.  Tramps,  vag- 
rants :  collective.  On  the  monkery, 
on  tramp. 

Monkey.  LA  term  of  real  or 
affected  displeasure  :  also,  an  endear- 
ment (1602).  2.  Five  hundred  pounds 
sterling  ;  also  (in  America)  $500  :  see 
Rhino  (1856).  3.  A  hod.  4.  A  pad- 
lock (1819).  5.  A  rocket-driving 
instrument.  6.  A  vessel  hi  which  a 
mess  receives  its  full  allowance  of  grog. 
7.  A  small  bustle,  which  in  the  days  of 
very  short  waists  was  worn  just  below 
the  shoulder  blades.  As  verb,  to 
trifle,  play,  fool  about.  Monkey  on 
horseback,  a  bad  horseman.  Monkey 
on  a  wheel,  a  cyclist:  FT.,  imbecile  d 
deux  roues.  Monkey  with  a  long 
tail,  a  mortgage ;  a  monkey  up  the 
chimney,  &  mortgage  on  one's  house. 
To  get  one's  monkey  up,  (1)  to  get 
angry :  hence,  (2)  his  monkey  is  up 
(or  he  has  a  monkey  on  his  back),  he 
is  angry  :  Fr.,  reniquer.  To  suck  the 
monkey,  ( 1 )  to  drink  rum  out  of  cocoa- 
nuts,  emptied  of  milk  and  filled  with 
spirits ;  (2)  to  liquor  from  a  cask 
through  a  gimlet-hole  and  a  straw 
(called  tapping  the  admiral,  which  see) ; 
and  (3)  to  drink  from  the  bottle  (1811). 
Monkey  with  a  tin  tool,  a  phrase  ex- 
pressive of  impudence  or  self-content : 
e.g.  Oh,  they're  as  cocky  as  monkeys 
with  tin  tools. 

Monkey  -  board.  The  conductor's 
place  on  an  old-style  omnibus  (1860). 

Monkey  -  boat.  A  long,  narrow 
canal  boat :  also  a  small  boat  used 
in  the  docks. 


291 


Monkey-cage. 


Moonlight- flitting. 


Monkey-cage.  The  grated  room  in 
which  a  convict  Bees  his  friends  :  Fr., 
parloir  des  singes. 

Monkey  -  coat  (or  jacket).  A 
short,  close-fitting  jacket,  a  coat  with 
no  more  tail  than  a  monkey :  see 
Capella. 

Monkey-pump.  The  straw  used  in 
Bucking  the  monkey  (q.v.). 

Monkey 's-allowance.  More  kicks 
than  halfpence  (Orose). 

Monkeyshines  (Monkeytricks,  or 
Monkeyings).  1.  Antics.  2.  Tricks. 

Monkey's -money.  1.  Goods.  2. 
Labour.  3.  Words  :  Fr.,  monnaie  des 
singes  (1653). 

Monkey 's-tail.  '  Youngster,  hand 
me  that  monkey's  tail ! '  I  saw 
nothing  like  a  monkey's  tail,  but  I  was 
so  frightened  that  I  snatched  up  the 
first  thing  that  I  saw,  which  was  a 
very  short  bar  of  iron,  and  it  so  hap- 
pened that  it  was  the  very  article 
wanted  (Marryatt). 

Monmouth-street  Finery.  Tawd- 
riness,  pretence.  [Monmouth  Street 
(now  Dudley  Street)  was  long  a  mart 
for  second-hand  clothes.] 

M  o  n  n  i  k  e  r  (or  Monick).  See 
Moneker. 

Monocular-eyeglass.     The  breech. 

M  o  n  s  (Winchester  College).  A 
crowd :  also  as  verb :  e.g.  Square 
round  there,  don't  mons  (Notion*). 

Monstrous.     A  general  intensitive. 

Montem  (Eton  College).  An  Eton 
custom  up  to  1847,  which  consisted 
in  the  scholars  going  in  procession 
on  the  Whit-Tuesday  of  every  third 
year  to  a  mound  (Lat.,  ad  montem), 
near  the  Bath  road,  and  exacting  a 
gratuity  from  persons  present  or 
passing  by.  The  collection  was  given 
to  the  captain  or  senior  scholar  and 
helped  to  defray  his  expenses  at  the 
University. 

Month.  A  bad  attack  of  the  end  of 
the  month,  impecuniosity. 

Month-of -Sundays.  An  indefinitely 
long  time  :  cf.  Greek  Kalends. 

Month's  mind.  Longing:  from 
the  cravings  of  pregnant  women  (1565). 

Mooch.     See  Mike. 

Moocher.     See  Miker. 

Mooching.    See  Miking. 

Mooer.  A  cow,  wet-'un :  also  mooler 
and  moo-cow. 

Moon.  1.  A  month :  specifically 
(thieves')  a  term  of  imprisonment, 
e.g.  one  (two,  or  three)  moons ;  long 


moon,  a  calendar  month  (or  callingder). 
(1823).  2.  A  large,  round  biscuit.  3. 
A  wig:  also  half -moon  (1608).  AM 
verb,  to  wander,  lounge  as  in  a  dream 
(1856).  To  make  believe  the  moon  it 
made  of  green  cheese,  to  hoax  (1562). 
A  blue  moon,  an  indefinite  time, 
never,  Greek  Kalends  (q.v.),  Tib's 
eye  (q.v.)  (1528).  Minions  of  the 
moon :  see  Moonman.  Man  in  the 
moon :  see  Man.  To  shoot  (or  bolt) 
the  moon,  to  clear  a  house  by  night  to 
evade  distraint  or  payment  of  rent, 
do  a  moonlight  flitting ;  to  move  in  the 
blind,  to  go  between  the  moon  and 
the  milkman ;  hence  moonshooters. 
To  cry  for  the  moon,  to  crave  for  the 
impossible :  Fr.,  vouloir  prendre  la 
lune  avec  les  dents.  To  cast  beyond 
the  moon,  to  make  extravagant  con- 
jectures (1606).  To  level  at  the  moon, 
to  be  very  ambitious.  To  find  an 
elephant  in  the  moon,  to  find  a  mare's 
nest.  [Sir  Paul  Neal,  a  seventeenth 
century  virtuoso,  gave  out  that  he  had 
discovered  an  elephant  in  the  moon. 
It  turned  out  that  a  mouse  had  crept 
into  his  telescope.  See  Butler,  The 
Elephant  in  the  Moon.] 

Moon-calf.  1.  A  monster  (1609). 
2.  A  false  conception  (1598).  3.  A 
blockhead :  see  Buffle :  also  moon* 
calfy  (1693). 

Moon-curser.  A  link-boy,  glim- 
jack  :  his  services  were  not  required 
on  moonlight  nights  (1696). 

M  o  o  n  e  r.  An  idler,  gape  -  seed 
(q.v.). 

Moon-eyed.     Squinting. 

Moonnaw.  Moonfiaw  in  the  brain, 
an  idiosyncrasy,  craze  :  see  Bee  in  the 
bonnet  (1659). 

Moonlight  (orMoonshine). 
Smuggled  spirits :  from  the  night- 
work  of  smugglers.  Moonlight  on 
the  lake,  sarsaparilla.  A  rush  for 
moonlight,  an  attempt  at  the  prize 
for  elocution. 

Moonlighter.  1.  A  prostitute.  2. 
In  pi.,  men  (c.  1880)  enforcing  the 
decrees  of  secret  societies  by  violence : 
their  action  was  chiefly  confined  to 
the  western  counties,  and  their  raids 
were  nocturnal,  whence  the  name : 
their  notices  were  signed  Captain 
Moonlight.  3.  The  same  as  Moon- 
shiner (q.v.). 

Moonlight-flitting,  iee  Shooting- 
the  moon :  also  London  -  flitting 
(1802). 


Moonlighting. 


Morocco-man. 


Moonlighting.  Playing  the  moon- 
lighter (q.v.). 

Moon-man.  1.  A  lunatic.  2.  A 
gipsy.  3.  A  nocturnal  thief  (q.v.): 
also  minions  of  the  moon  (1597). 

Moon-raker.  1.  An  imaginary  sail 
above  the  sky-scraper  (q.v.),  moon- 
sail  (q.v.).  2.  A  Wiltshire  man.  3. 
A  smuggler.  4.  A  blockhead :  see 
Buffle. 

Moon-raking.     Wool-gathering. 

Moonshine.  1.  Anything  unreal  or 
unsubstantial,  humbug  (q.v.),  rot 
(q.v.)  (1593).  2.  The  white  brandy 
smuggled  on  the  coasts  of  Kent  and 
Sussex,  and  the  gin  in  the  north  of 
Yorkshire  (Grose).  3.  A  month  (1605). 
4.  A  dish  of  poached  eggs  served  with 
a  sauce  (1605).  As  adj.,  (1)  noctur- 
nal ;  (2)  empty  ;  and  (3)  trivial  (1596). 
Gilded  moonshine,  bogus  bills  of  ex- 
change. 

Moonshiner.  1.  A  manufacturer  of 
illicit  whisky.  2.  Fly-by-night  persons 
who  cheat  their  landlords  and  run  away 
by  night ;  when  'tis  illegal  to  detain 
the  goods  (Bee). 

Moonshining.     Illicit  distilling. 

Moonshiny.     Unreal. 

Moonshooter.  See  To  shoot  the 
moon. 

Moon's- minion.  1.  A  watchman, 
Charley  (q.v.)  (1828).  2.  See  Moon- 
man. 

Moony.  A  noodle.  As  adj.,  (1) 
silly  :  also  moonish  (1600).  (2)  Drunk  : 
see  Screwed. 

Moose  -  face.  A  rich,  ugly-faced 
man. 

Mop.  1.  An  annual  fan*  in  the  west 
of  England  where  farmers  usually  hire 
their  servants.  2.  A  confirmed  drunk- 
ard, Lushington  (q.v.).  3.  A  drinking 
bout ;  on  the  mop,  on  the  drink.  4. 
endearment :  also  moppet  and  mopsy 
(1388).  5.  A  grimace  (1609).  6.  A 
fool  (1399).  As  verb,  (1)  to  drink  up, 
guzzle  :  see  Lush  :  also  mop  up  (1675) ; 
(2)  to  collect :  also  mop  up.  To  mop 
up,  to  stop  talking.  To  mop  (or 
wipe)  the  floor  (ground,  or  earth)  with 
one,  to  knock  one  down.  To  be 
mopped  (or  wiped)  out,  to  be  ruined, 
floored  (q.v.),  killed.  All  mops  and 
brooms,  drunk:  see  Screwed  (1828). 
In  the  mops,  sulky. 

Mope.  1.  A  dullard  (1621).  2.  In 
pi.,  low  spirits,  the  hump  (q.v.),  the 
blues  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  despond 
(1594). 


Moped.  Stupid,  melancholy  :  also 
mopish,  moping,  and  mope-eyed  (1621). 

Moppet.     See  Mop. 

Moppy.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Mop-squeezer.  A  housemaid  (Grose). 

Mopsy.  1.  A  familiar  term  for  a 
woman :  specifically  a  young  girl ; 
a  mop.  2.  A  dowdy,  or  homely 
woman  (1696). 

M  o  p  u  s.  1.  A  drone,  a  dreamer 
(1755).  2.  A  small  coin :  said  to  be 
a  corruption  of  the  name  of  Sir  Giles 
Mompesson,  a  monopolist  of  the 
reign  of  James  I.  3.  In  pi.,  (mopusses) 
money :  see  Rhino. 

Moral.  1.  An  exact  counterpart 
(1590).  2.  Abbreviation  of  moral 
certainty :  see  Cert ;  anything  that  is 
highly  promising. 

Moral-shocker.  A  novel  dealing 
with  sex,  a  hill-topper  (q.v.). 

Moray-coach.     A  cart  (1808). 

More.  See  Elbow,  Power,  Sacks, 
Seven,  Twelve.  More  so,  a  general 
intensitive. 

Moreish.  Wishing  for  more  :  when 
there  is  scarcely  enough  of  an  eatable 
or  drinkable,  it  is  said  to  taste  more- 
ish. 

Morgan.     A  bare-faced  imposture. 

Mork.     A  policeman. 

Morning.  An  early  dram,  an 
eye  -  opener  (q.v.)  :  also  morning- 
rouser  (1814).  The  top  of  the  morning, 
a  cheery  greeting. 

Morningdrop.  The  gallows  :  see 
Nubbing-cheat. 

Morning  -  hills  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). On  holidays  and  Remedies  we 
were  turned  out  for  a  couple  of  hours 
on  to  St.  Catherine's  Hill  ....  once 
before  breakfast  (Morning  Hills),  and 
again  in  the  afternoon  (Middle  Hills) 
(Mansfield). 

Morning-rouser.     See  Morning. 

Morning-sneak.  Going  out  early 
to  rob  private  houses  or  shops,  by 
slipping  in  at  the  door  unperceived, 
while  the  servant  or  shopman  is  em- 
ployed in  cleaning  the  steps,  windows, 
etc.  (Vaux). 

Morning-star.  A  weapon  used  by 
the  London  train-bands,  temp.  Henry 
VIII.  :  it  consisted  in  a  spiked  ball 
chained  to  a  staff :  called  also  Holy- 
water  sprinkler. 

Morocco-man.  A  lottery  assurance 
agent.  In  1796,  the  great  State 
lottery  employed  7500  morocco  men. 
Their  business  was  to  go  from  house  to 


293 


Morpheus. 


Mouldy-grubs. 


house  among  the  customers  of  the 
assurances,  or  to  attend  in  the  back 
parlours  of  public-houses,  where  the 
customers  came  to  meet  them. 

Morpheus.  In  the  arms  of  Mor- 
pheus :  asleep :  see  Murphy. 

Morris  (or  Morrice).  To  decamp 
(1773). 

Morsel.  1.  A  person.  2.  A  harlot 
(1529). 

Mort.     1.  A  woman,  chaste  or  not. 

2.  A  yeoman's  daughter :   also  mot. 
Hence,  autem-mort,  a  married  woman  ; 
walking  (or  strolling)  mart,  a  female 
tramp  ;    kinchin  -  mart,  a  little  girl ; 
dimber-mort,  a  pretty  wench  (1567). 

3.  A  large  quantity,  a  great  number 
(1694).     All  amort:  see  Amort 

Mortal.  1.  Extreme:  cf.  Awful, 
Jolly,  etc.  (1679).  2.  Drunk:  see 
Screwed  (1808).  3.  Expletive  and  in- 
tensitive  (1755).  As  adv.,  extremely : 
also  Mortally  (1625). 

Mortar  -  board  (or  Mortar).  The 
trencher-cap  worn  at  certain  public 
schools  and  at  the  Universities 
(1600). 

Mortgage  -  deed.  A  pawnticket, 
tombstone  (q.v.). 

Moses.  To  stand  Moses,  to  be 
subject  to  a  bastardy  order.  By  the 
piper  that  played  before  Moses,  an  oath  : 
also  by  the  holy  jumping  mother  of 
Moses. 

Mosey.  To  decamp  (1838).  To 
mosey  along,  (1)  to  jog  along ;  (2)  to 
bustle  about. 

M  o  s  h.  To  leave  a  restaurant 
without  paying :  a  corruption  of 
mouch  (mike,  q.v.). 

Moskeneer.  To  pawn  for  more 
than  the  pledge  is  worth.  Maskers, 
(q.v.),  men  who  make  moskeneering  a 
profession  :  also  as  subs.,  the  agent. 
k-fMosker.  One  who  makes  a  living 
by  taking  advantage  of  the  business 
incapacity  of  persons  engaged  in  the 
pawnbroking  trade,  and  by  subtle 
wiles  and  subterfuge  imposes  on  their 
credulity  and  weak  good  nature. 

Mosque.     A  church  or  chapel. 

Moss.  Blue  pigeon  (q.v.).  2. 
Money  :  generic  :  see  Rhino. 

Mossyback.  1.  A  man  hiding  in 
woods  or  swamps  —  (till  the  moss 
grew  on  his  back)  —  to  escape-  the 
conscription  for  the  Southern  army  : 
also  Mossback.  2.  An  extreme  con- 
servative in  politics.  3.  An  old- 
fashioned  person,  back-number  (q.v.). 


Mossyface  (or  old  Mossyface). 
The  ace  of  spades. 

Most.  Dining  at  an  eating  house 
and  leaving  without  making  payment 
(Matsell). 

Mot  (Mort).    See  Mort 

Mot-cart.  1.  A  brougham.  2.  A 
mattress. 

Moth.  A  prostitute,  fly-by-night 
(q.v.). 

Mother.  1.  A  bawd  :  also  Mother- 
abbess,  Mother  midnight  (1696).  2. 
A  familiar  mode  of  address  ( 1647).  3. 
Hysteria  (1605).  Does  your  mother 
know  you're  out  ?  a  derisive  street 
catch  -  phrase  (1836).  Has  your 
mother  sold  her  mangle  f  a  catch 
phrase.  Teach  your  mother  (or  grand- 
mother) to  roast  (or  suck)  eggs,  a  derisive 
retort  upon  a  piece  of  information  or 
an  offer  of  help  :  Fr.,  les  oisons  veulent 
mener  les  oies  pattre,  the  goslings  want 
to  drive  the  geese  to  pasture  (1670). 
He'll  be  a  man  before  his  mother,  a 
derisive  retort 

Mother-and-daughter.     Water. 

Mother  -  Carey's  Chickens.  1. 
Snow,  goose  -  fluff  (q.v.):  Fr.,  les 
mouches  fhiver.  2.  To  fare  alike 
and  pay  the  same  (Bee). 

Mother-in-law.  A  mixture  of  old 
and  bitter  ales.  Mother-in-law's  bit, 
a  small  piece,  mothers-in-law  being 
supposed  not  apt  to  overload  the 
stomachs  of  their  husband's  children 
(Grose). 

Mother-midnight  1.  A  midwife. 
2.  A  bawd  (1696). 

Mother  Morey.  I'll  teU  you  a  story 
of  old  Mother  Morey,  in  derision  of  an 
inconsequent  yarn :  an  allusion  to 
the  nursery  rhyme. 

Mother 's-milk.  Gin:  see  Drinks: 
also  spirits  of  any  kind. 

Mother  "s-son.     A  man. 

Mottob.     Bottom. 

Mouch.     See  Mike. 

Moucher.     See  Miker. 

Mouchey.     A  Jew,  Yid. 

Mouching.     See  Miking. 

Moulder.  A  lumbering  boxer,  one 
who  fights  as  if  he  were  moulding  clay 
(Bee). 

Mouldy.  A  purser's  steward.  As 
adj.,  (1)  grey-headed :  mouldy-pate, 
a  lackey  in  powder ;  (2)  worthless : 
e.g.  a  mouldy  offer. 

Mouldy  -  grubs.  Travelling  show- 
men, mountebanks  who  work  in  the 
open  without  tent  or  covering. 


294 


Mouldy-'un. 


Mrs.  Partington. 


Mouldy-grubbing,     working     as     de- 
scribed. 

Mouldy-  'un.     A  copper. 

Mounch-  (or  Munch-)  present.  1. 
'  He  that  is  a  great  gentleman,  for 
when  his  mayster  sendeth  him  with  a 
present,  he  wil  take  a  tast  thereof  by 
the  way :  this  is  a  bold  knave,  that 
sometyme  will  eate  the  best  and  leave 
the  worst  for  his  mayster '  (Avxttey). 
2.  A  glutton.  3.  One  who  takes  bribes. 

Mounseer.     A  Frenchman  (1627). 

Mount.  1.  A  saddle-horse  (1856). 
2.  A  bridge.  As  verb,  (1)  to  wear, 
carry  as  an  equipment  (1822) ;  (2)  to 
prepare  for  representation  on  the 
stage  :  (3)  to  swear  falsely,  give  false 
evidence  :  for  hire  (1789).  To  mount 
the  ass,  to  go  bankrupt :  in  France  it 
was  once  customary  to  mount  a  bank- 
rupt on  an  ass,  face  to  tail,  and  ride 
him  through  the  streets. 

Mountain  -  dew.  Scotch  whisky  : 
see  Drinks. 

Mountain-pecker.     A  sheep. 

Mounter.  Men  who  give  false 
bale ;  or  who,  for  a  consideration, 
will  swear  to  anything  required. 
Fellows  who  hire  clothes  to  wear  for 
a  particular  occasion ;  those  who 
wear  second-hand  clothes  (Matsdl). 

Mounts-of-lilies.  The  paps  :  see 
Dairy  (1694). 

Mourner.  One  taking  a  drink,  a 
spreester  (q.v.)  (1847). 

Mourning.  Full  mourning,  two 
black  eyes  ;  half-mourning,  one  black 
eye,  or  a  mouse  :  Fr.,  ceufs  sur  le  plat, 
yeux  au  beurre  noir,  yeux  poches.  As 
adj.,  bruised  :  also  in  mourning  (1708). 

Mourning-shirt.  An  unlaundered 
shirt  (1650). 

Mouse.  1.  A  black  eye.  2.  A 
term  of  endearment  (1593).  3.  The 
face.  4.  The  mouth  :  also  as  verb, 
to  bite  :  cf.  mousle  (1557).  5.  Mouse- 
piece  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  go  mouse- 
like :  i.e.,  as  in  depreciation  of  one's 
self.  As  intj.,  be  quiet,  be  still,  talk 
low,  whisper,  step  light,  softly.  To 
speak  like  a  mouse  in  a  cheese,  to  speak 
faintly  or  indistinctly.  As  drunk  as  a 
mouse,  very  drunk :  see  Screwed  (1508). 

Mouse  -  digger  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). A  kind  of  diminutive  pick-axe. 

Mouse-hunt.     A  wencher  ( 1595). 

Mousepiece  (Mouse  -  buttock,  or 
Mouse).  A  piece  of  beef  or  mutton 
below  the  round,  the  part  immedi- 
ately above  the  knee  joint  (1691). 


Mousetrap.  1.  The  mouth,  potato- 
trap  (q.v.).  2.  A  sovereign,  canary 
(q.v.) :  see  Rhino.  The  parson's 
mousetrap,  matrimony. 

Mousle.  1.  To  nibble.  2.  To 
kiss. 

Mouth.  1.  A  noisy  fellow,  prating 
fool,  scold,  virago :  also  Mouth- 
almighty  (1696).  2.  See  Cheek.  3. 
The  after-affects  of  a  debauch,  hot 
coppers  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  rant 
(1590).  To  give  mouth,  (1)  to  put 
into  words ;  (2)  to  speak  loudly  and 
distinctly:  also  mouth  it  (1840). 
Down  in  the  mouth,  dejected  (1608). 
To  laugh  on  the  wrong  (or  other)  side 
of  one's  mouth  (or  face),  to  cry.  See 
also  All  mouth,  Big  -  mouth,  Bone, 
Cat,  Silver-spoon,  Lion,  Water. 

Mouth-bet.     A  verbal  bet. 

Mouther.  A  blow  on  the  mouth 
(1821). 

Mouth-glue.     Speech  (1600). 

Mouthing.     Crying. 

Mouthpiece.  A  counsel:  Fr.,  les- 
siveur,  whitewasher,  medecin,  doctor  : 
cf.  malade,  prisoner,  I'hopital,  prison ; 
parrain. 

Move.  Any  action  or  operation 
in  life  :  the  secret  spring  by  which  any 
project  is  conducted,  as,  There  is  a 
move  in  that  business  which  you  are 
not  down  to.  To  be  flash  to  every 
move  upon  the  board,  is  to  have 
a  general  knowledge  of  the  world,  and 
all  its  numerous  deceptions  ( Vaux). 

Moveables.  1.  Furniture.  2.  Rings 
watches,  or  any  toys  of  value  (1599). 

Moved.     Bowed  to. 

Mow.     To  kiss. 

M  o  z  z  y.  Judy  :  Swatchell,  Mr. 
Punch. 

M.  P.     A  policeman. 

Mr.  Ferguson,  Mr.  Knap,  Mr. 
Nash,  Mr.  Palmer,  Mr.  Pullen. 
See  Ferguson,  Knap,  Nash,  Palm, 
and  Pull. 

Mrs.  Goff.     A  woman. 

Mrs.  Grundy.  A  personification  of 
respectability,  society :  e.g.  What 
will  Mrs.  Grundy  say  ?  What  will 
Mrs.  Grundy  think?  (1798):  from 
a  character  in  Speed  the  Plough. 

Mrs.  Harris  and  Mrs.  Gamp.  The 
Morning  Herald  and  The  Standard 
when  under  the  proprietorship  of  Mr. 
Baldwin. 

Mrs.  Jones.     A  water-closet. 

Mrs.  Lukey  Props.     A  bawd. 

Mrs.  Partington.    A  personification 


295 


Mr.  Speaker. 


Mud-lark. 


of  impotent  and  senile  prejudice : 
also  a  kind  of  Mai  a  pro  p. 

Mr.  Speaker.  A  "revolver :  see 
Meat-in-the-pot. 

Mrs.  Suds.     A  laundress  (1757). 

M  's  and  W  's.  To  make  ATs  and  W't, 
tojbe  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

M.  T.  1.  Empties,  or  empty 
carriages  :  see  Moll  Thompson's  mark. 
2.  An  empty  bottle,  dead-man  (q.v.). 

Mubblefubbles.  Low  spirits  :  cf. 
Mulligrubs  (1592). 

Much.  An  expression  of  quality, 
e.g.  Not  much  of  a  lawyer,  not  a  very 
good  lawyer.  Much  of  a  muchness, 
very  much  the  same  thing  (1837). 
Not  much  1  (or  not  muchly  /),  not 
likely,  certainly  not !  in  derision  (1598). 
Much  cry  and  little  wool :  see  Cry. 

Muchly.     A  great  deal 

Muck.  1.  A  dripping  (or  oozing) 
mass  of  filth  :  hence,  muck-cheap,  very 
cheap  ;  muck-heap  (or  muck-scutcheon), 
a  foul  sloven :  cf.  Midden ;  muck- 
grubber,  a  miser  ;  muckhiU,  a  dunghill ; 
muck-spout,  a  foul-mouthed  talker ; 
muck-suckle,  a  filthy  woman ;  mucky- 
white,  sallow  in  complexion ;  muck 
of  sweat,  a  violent  perspiration,  etc. 
(1766).  2.  Anything  vile.  3.  Money  : 
generic:  see  Rhino  (1393).  4.  A 
heavy  fall :  also  mucker.  5.  A  coarse 
brute.  As  verb,  (1)  to  spend;  (2) 
ruin.  To  go  (or  run)  a  muck  (or  a 
mucker),  to  go  headlong,  be  reck- 
lessly extravagant,  run  amok  (q.v.) : 
the  homicidal  frenzy  (of  a  Malay), 
used  originally  in  Port,  forms  amouca, 
amuco ;  hence,  in  a  homicidal  frenzy, 
furiously,  viciously.  To  go  a  muck 
(or  mucker),  to  go  to  smash,  risk  one's 
all,  put  on  one's  shirt  (q.v.).  To 
muck  about,  to  fondle,  mess  about 
(q.v.). 

Muckcook.  To  laugh  behind  one's 
back. 

Muckender  (Muckinder,  Muck- 
inger,  or  Mucketer).  A  handker- 
chief :  Sp.,  mocadf.ro  (influenced  by 
muck),  from  muco,  mucus  (1468). 

Mucker.  1.  See  Muck.  2.  A  com- 
missariat officer.  As  verb,  to  blunder 
badly,  come  to  grief,  fail 

Muckerer  (or  Mokerer).  A 
miser  (1381). 

Muck-fork.     A  hand,  finger. 

Muckibus.  Sentimentally  drunk, 
maudlin :  see  Screwed  (1756). 

Muckingtogs  (or  Muckintogs).  A 
mackintosh. 


Muckrake.  In  politics,  persons  who 
fish  in  troubled  waters,  from  the  idea 
of  their  raking  up  the  muck  to  see 
what  valuable  waifs  and  strays  they 
may  find  in  it.  The  term  is  generally 
used  in  the  form  of  muckrakers  and 
placemongers. 

Mucks.     See  Mux. 

Muck-snipe.     A  ruined  gambler. 

Muck-train.    A  commissariat  train. 

Muck- worm.  1.  A  miser.  2.  An 
upstart. 

Mud.  1.  A  fool,  thick  head.  2. 
A  non  -  society  man ;  dung  (q.v.). 
As  dear  as  mud,  very  obscure :  also 
the  reverse :  as  plain  as  may  be. 
His  name  is  Mud,  said  in  cases  of 
utter  defeat ;  sent  up  Salt  River 
(q.v.). 

Mud-cat.     A  Mississippi  man. 

Mudcrusher.  An  infantryman :  Fr., 
pousse-caulou.  English  synonyms : 
beetle-crusher  (or  squasher),  blanket- 
boy  (a  volunteer),  boiled  lobster, 
brother-blade,  caterpillar,  cat-shooter 
(volunteer),  coolie,  flat-foot,  fly-slicer 
(a  cavalryman),  grabby,  jolly  gravel- 
grinder  (a  marine,  see  Royal  Jolly), 
leather-neck,  light-bob,  lobster,  mud- 
major  (q.v.),  mud-plunger,  plunger, 
prancer  (a  cavalryman),  Q.H.B. 
(Queen's  Hard  Bargain,  a  malingerer), 
raw  lobster  (see  Lobster),  red-coat, 
red-herring,  Saturday-soldier  (a  volun- 
teer), scarlet  -  runner,  skid,  snoddy, 
swaddy,  tame  jolly  (see  Jolly),  toe- 
footer  (or  bloody  toe-footer),  Tommy 
Atkins,  tow  -  pow,  wobbler,  worm- 
crusher  (or  squasher). 

Mudding-face.  A  fool,  muff  (or 
muffin-face),  (q.v.). 

Muddle.  A  state  of  confusion  ( 1854). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  stupefy  with  liquor: 
see  Screwed  (1712).  (2)  To  bungle. 
To  muddle  away,  to  squander  aim- 
lessly, waste  one  knows  not  how. 

Muddle -head.  A  fool.  Muddle 
headed,  doltish  (1837). 

Muddler.     A  clumsy  horse. 

Mudge.     A  hat:  see  Golgotha. 

Mudger.     A  milk-sop  (1830). 

Mud-hen.  A  female  gambler  in 
stocks  and  shares  (Wall  Street). 

Mud-hole.  A  salt-water  lagoon  in 
which  whales  are  captured. 

Mud-honey.     Mud,  street  slush. 

Mud-hook.     An  anchor. 

Mud-lark.  1.  There  is  another  class 
who  may  be  termed  riverfinders, 
although  their  occupation  is  connected 


296 


Mild-major. 


Mugster. 


only  with  the  shore ;  they  are  com- 
monly known  by  the  name  of  mud- 
larks, from  being  compelled,  in  order 
to  obtain  the  articles  they  seek,  to 
wade  sometimes  up  to  their  middle 
through  the  mud  left  on  the  shore  by 
the  retiring  tide :  the  mud-larks  col- 
lect whatever  they  happen  to  find, 
such  as  coals,  bits  of  old-iron,  rope, 
bones,  and  copper  -  nails  that  drop 
from  ships  while  lying  or  repairing 
along  shore  (Mayhew).  2.  A  duck 
(Orose).  3.  Any  one  with  outdoor 
duties  (City).  4.  A  street-arab  (q.v.). 
5.  A  hog  (Grose). 

Mud-major.  An  infantry  major  : 
i.e.  one  who,  on  parade,  commands  a 
company  on  foot. 

Mud-picker.    A  garrison  policeman. 
Mud-player.  A  batsman  partial  to  a 
soft  wicket. 

Mud-plunging.  Tramping  through 
slush  in  search  of  sympathy. 

Mud-salad  Market.  Covent  Garden. 
Mud-sill.     1.  A  low-born,  ignorant, 
contemptible    wretch.     2.    A    South- 
erner :  circa  1861-64. 

Mud-slinger.     A  slanderer. 
Mud-student.     A   student   at   the 
Agricultural  College,  Cirencester. 

Muff.  1.  A  milksop,  bungler,  dolt : 
also  muffin.  2.  Anything  badly 
bungled.  As  verb,  (1)  to  bungle: 
e.g.  to  muff  a  catch ;  (2)  to  fail  in  an 
examination,  be  spun  (q.v.)  or 
plucked  (q.v.),  skip  a  cog  (q.v.). 
Marry,  muff  I  a  not  uncommon  expres- 
sion in  our  old  writers,  equivalent,  I 
believe,  to  stuff,  nonsense  (Dyce). 

Muffin.  1.  When  a  man,  availing 
himself  of  the  custom  of  the  country, 
has  secured  a  young  lady  for  the 
season,  to  share  with  him  his  sleigh- 
driving  and  other  of  the  national 
amusements,  in  Canadian  phrase  she 
is  called  his  muffin ;  her  status  is  a 
sort  of  temporary  wifehood,  limited, 
of  course,  by  many  obvious  restric- 
tions, but  resembling  wifehood  in  this, 
that,  though  a  close  and  continuous 
relationship,  it  has  nothing  in  it  which 
shocks,  and  much  in  it  which  allures, 
the  Canadian  mind ;  among  the 
British  commodities  exported  to  our 
colonies,  la  pruderie  Anglaise  does  not 
find  a  place  (Bartlett).  2.  See  Muff. 
Cold  muffin,  poor  :  of  no  account. 
Muffin-baker.  A  quaker  (q.v.). 
Muffin-  (or  Muff-)  cap.  1.  The 
flat  woollen  cap  worn  by  charity- 


boys.     2.   The  new  regulation  head- 
gear in  the  British  army  :  also  Muffin. 
Muffin-face.     A  hairless  counten- 
ance. 

Muffing.     Bungling,  clumsy. 
Muffin-worry.     A  tea-party. 
Muffle.       1.  A  boxing-glove  :  also 
Muffler  (1755).     2.  A  stunning  blow. 
3.    A   crape   mask :   once   a  kind   of 
vizard  or  veil  worn  by  women  (Stow, 
1539). 

Muffling-cheat.  1.  A  napkin  (1573). 
2.  A  towel  (Grose). 

Mufti.  1.  Plainjclothes  :  military. 
Hence,  2.  a  civilian  (1834).  Fr., 
pekin. 

Mug.  1.  The  face,  the  mouth 
(Orose).  2.  A  dolt,  a  raw  (or  clumsy) 
hand,  greenhorn  (q.v.).  3.  A  cooling 
drink,  a  cup.  As  verb,  (1)  to  strike 
(or  catch  it)  in  the  face  (1821) ;  (2)  to 
grimace  (1762);  (3)  to  rob,  swindle; 
(4)  see  Mug  up ;  (5)  (a)  to  study 
e.g.  I  mugged  all  the  morning,  and 
shall  thoke  this  afternoon,  and  (6) 
to  take  pains :  e.g.  He  has  mugged 
his  study,  and  made  it  quite  cud 
(Winchester  College).  To  cut  mugs,  to 
grimace.  To  mug  oneself,  (1)  to  get 
drunk ;  (2)  to  make  oneself  cosy  or 
comfortable.  To  mug  up,  ( 1 )  to  paint, 
make  up  (q.v.) ;  (2)  to  cram  for  exam- 
ination :  also  to  mug. 

Muggard.     Sullen,  displeased. 
Mugger.    1.  A  gipsy.    2.  A  student, 
hard  reader.     3.  A  comedian  whose 
best  point  is  grimace :  also  Mug-faker. 
4.  A  crocodile. 

Muggill.     A  beadle  (1610). 
Mugging.     1.  A  thrashing.    2.  Hard 
work.     3.  Play  with  the  face,  grimac- 
ing. 

Muggins.  1.  A  fool.  2.  A  borough- 
magnate,  local  leader. 

Muggled.  Cheap  trash  offered  for 
sale  as  smuggled  goods  (1851). 

Muggles.  Restlessness,  the  fidgets 
(q.v.)  (1750). 

Muggy.  1.  Tipsy:  see  Screwed.  2. 
Stifling  and  damp :  of  the  weather : 
also  Mugginess. 

Mughouse.  An  alehouse :  see  Lush- 
crib  (1710). 

Mug-hunter.  See  Pot-hunter. 
M  u  g  s  t  e  r  (Winchester  College ). 
One  who  mugs  (q.v.).  [Notions : 
ster  is  generally  the  termination 
of  the  agent,  as  in  Brockster, 
Thokester,  etc.  Cf.  Harrow  termina- 
tion, er  as  in  footer,  a  footballer ; 


297 


Mug-trap. 


Mumper*  8 -hall. 


leather,  one  to  be  loathed  :  see  Re- 
volter ;  Disguster. 
I'^Mug-trap.  A  fool-catcher. 
•"Mugwump.  (1)  A  man  of  conse- 
quence. Hence  (2)  one  who  sets  himself 
up  as  better  than  his  fellows  ;  (3)  an 
independent  Republican,  who,  in  1884 
openly  refused  to  vote  for  the  party 
nominee ;  and  (4)  a  citizen  who  de- 
clines to  take  any  part  in  politics : 
now  generally  applied  to  those  who 
profess  to  study  the  interests  of  their 
country  before  those  of  their  party. 
[Norton :  After  the  Independent 
movement  was  started,  the  word  was 
launched  on  its  career  of  popularity. 
The  Critic  of  September  6th,  1884, 
contained  a  note  to  the  effect  that  the 
word  was  of  Algonquin  origin,  and 
occurred  in  Elliott's  Indian  Bible, 
being  used  to  translate  such  titles  as 
lord,  high-captain,  chief,  great  man, 
leader,  or  duke.  In  Matthew  vi.  21, 
it  occurs  as  mukxuomp  ;  and  again  in 
Genesis  xxxvi.  40-43,  and  several  times 
in  II.  Samuel  xxiii.  As  is  frequently 
the  case  in  American  politics,  the 
word  was  used  as  a  term  of  derision 
and  reproach  by  one  section,  and 
accepted  with  a  half-humorous  sense 
of  ite  aptness  by  the  other].  As  verb, 
to  abstain  from  politics.  Also  Mug- 
wumpery  (or  Mugunimpistn),  the  habit 
of  Mugwumping. 

Mule.  1.  An  obstinate  person, 
male  or  female.  2.  An  impotent  man. 
3.  A  day  hand  in  the  composing- 
room.  To  shoe  one's  mule,  to  em- 
bezzle (1655). 

Mull.  1.  A  cow  (1689).  2.  A 
muddle,  result  of  mismanagement 
(1821).  3.  A  simpleton:  generally 
Old  mull  or  Regular  mutt.  As  verb, 

(1)  to  spoil,  to  muddle,  muff  (q.v.); 

(2)  to  spend  money. 

M  u  1 1  e  r.  To  mutter  a  hat,  to  cut 
down  a  chimney-pot  hat  into  the  low- 
crowned  mutter.  [Prom  Muller,  who 
murdered  Mr.  Briggs  on  the  Brighton 
Railway,  and  tried  to  disguise  him- 
self by  this  means]. 

Mulligrubs  (or  Mollygrubs). 
1.  Colic,  the  collvwobbles  (q.v.) 
(1619).  2.  Mubble-fubbles  (q.v.).  3. 
A  pretended  or  counterfeit  sullen- 
ness,  a  resolute,  and  fixed,  and 
artificial  displeasure,  in  order  to  gain 
some  point  desired. 

Mullingar  Heifer.  A  girl  with 
thick  ankles. 


Multicattivo.     Very  bad. 

Multy.     An  expletive  :  cf.  Monday. 

Mum.  1.  In  pL,  the  lips ;  more 
frequently  muns  (q.v.).  As  adj., 
silent;  also  as  adv.  and  in  phr.,  Mum't 
the  word !  Keep  mum !  Mum  your 
dubber,  silence !  Also  mum-chance 
and  mum-budget  \  As  verb,  to  act 
(1569). 

Mumble-crust.  A  toothless  man  or 
woman  (1623). 

Mumble- matins.    A  priest  (1576). 

Mumble  -  news.  A  tale  -  bearer 
(1594). 

Mumble-sparrow.  A  cruel  sport 
practised  at  wakes  and  fain,  in  the 
following  manner :  A  cock  sparrow 
whose  wings  are  clipped,  is  put  into 
the  crown  of  a  hat ;  a  man  having  his 
arms  tied  behind  him,  attempts  to 
bite  off  the  sparrow's  head,  but  is 
generally  obliged  to  desist,  by  the 
may  pecks  and  pinches  he  receives 
from  the  enraged  bird  (Grose). 

Mumbo  -  Jumbo.  1.  An  African 
deity.  2.  Unmeaning  jargon. 

Mum-budget.     See  Mum. 

Mum-glass.  The  Monument  on 
Fish  St  Hill  (1760). 

Mummer.  1.  A  player  (1599).  2. 
The  mouth  :  see  Potato-trap. 

Mummery-cove.     An  actor. 

Mumming-show.  A  travelling  en- 
tainment,  strolling  company. 

Mummy.  To  beat  to  a  mummy,  to 
beat  severely. 

Mump.  1.  To  beg  (1624).  2.  To 
overreach  (1671). 

Mumper.  A  beggar.  English 
synonyms :  abram  -  man  (or  cove), 
bawdy-basket,  Bedlam-beggar,  blue- 
gown  (old  Scots'),  cadator,  cadger, 
canter,  croaker,  curtail,  durry-nacker, 
dry-land  sailor,  filer,  frater,  goose- 
shearer,  Irish-toyle,  key-hole  whistler, 
master  of  the  black  art,  maunder, 
milestone  -  monger,  moucher,  mud- 
plunger,  mugger,  mumper,  munger, 
needy- mizzler,  niffler,  overland-mailer 
(or  man),  palliard,  paper  -  worker, 
pikey,  niffler,  scoldrum,  shivering 
James,  (or  Jemmy),  shyster,  skipper- 
bird,  skitting  -  dealer,  silver  -  beggar, 
street  -  ganger,  strolling  -  mort,  sun  - 
downer,  swag -man,  tinkard,  Tom 
of  Bedlam,  traveller,  turnpike,  uhlan, 
upright  man,  washman,  whip -jack 
(1665). 

Mumper 's-hall.  A  hedge  tavern, 
beggar's  alehouse  (Grose). 


Mumping. 


Mutton. 


Mumping.     Begging. 
;    Mumpins.     Alms  (1460).;] 
[    Mumpish.     Dull,  dejected. 

Mumple  mumper.     See  Mummer. 

Mumps.  Low  spirits,  ill-humour 
(1599). 

Mumpsimus.  An  old  error  in  which 
men  obstinately  persevere :  taken 
from  the  tale  of  an  ignorant  monk, 
who  in  his  breviary  had  always  said 
mumpsimus  instead  of  sumpsimue, 
and  being  told  of  his  mistake,  said, 
'  I  will  not  change  my  old  mumpsi- 
mus for  your  new  sumpsimus.' 

Mund.     See  Muns. 

Mundungus.  Bad  tobacco  (1633). 
As  adj.,  stinking  (1750). 

Mung.  News.  Mung-news,  false 
news  ( 1 849 ).  As  verb,  to  beg.  Mung- 
ing,  begging  (1811). 

Mungarly  (Munjari,  or  Mungare). 
Food,  something  by  way  of  a  meal 
(1851). 

Mungarly-casa.     A  baker's  shop. 

Munpin.  In  pi.,  the  teeth:  see 
Grinders  (1450). 

Muns.  1.  The  mouth,  the  face : 
also  Mund.  2.  In  sing.,  a  Mohawk 
(q.v.). 

Munster-heifer.  An  Irish  woman. 
A  woman  with  thick  legs  is  said  to  be 
like  a  Munster  heifer ;  i.e.  beef  to 
the  heels  (Grose). 

Munster-plums.  Potatoes, 
murphies  (q.v.). 

M  u  r.  Rum.  Nettock  of  mur, 
quartern  of  rum. 

Murder.  See  Blue  Murder.  The 
murder  is  out,  the  mystery  is  dis- 
played. 

M  u  r  e  r  k.  The  mistress  of  the 
house  :  see  Burerk. 

Murkauker.  A  monkey.  [Jacko 
Macauco,  or  Maccacco,  was  a  famous 
fighting  monkey,  who  used  some 
fifty  years  ago  to  display  his  prowess 
in  the  Westminster  Pit.] 

Murphy.  1.  A  potato :  also  murph  : 
cf.  Donovan.  English  synonyms : 
bog-orange,  Donovan,  Irish  apricot, 
Munster  -  plum  (or  orange),  murph, 
ruggin,  spud,  tatur  (1811).  2.  An 
Irishman.  3.  Morpheus,  i.e.  sleep 
(1748). 

Murphy 's-face.  A  pig's  head  (1819). 

Mush  (Mush-topper,  or  Mush- 
room). 1.  An  umbrella  (1821).  2. 
The  mouth  (Grose). 

Mush-  (Mushroom-)  faker  (or 
(Mush  -  topper  -  faker).  A  street 


vendor  of  umbrellas,  an  umbrella- 
mender  (1821).  Mushfaking,  mend- 
ing umbrellas. 

Mushroom.  1.  A  hat.  2.  An  upstart 
(1622). 

Music.  1.  Fun;  frolic.  2.  A  verdict 
of  not  guilty.  3.  The  watchword 
among  highwaymen,  signifying  the 
person  is  a  friend,  and  must  pass  un- 
molested (Grose).  4.  An  Irish  term 
in  tossing  up,  to  express  the  harp  side, 
or  reverse,  of  a  farthing  or  halfpenny, 
opposed  to  the  head  (Lex.  Bal.).  To 
face  the  music  :  see  Face. 

Music-box.     A  piano. 

Musicianer.     A  musician  (1848). 

Muslin  (or  Bit  of  Muslin).  A 
woman  :  see  Petticoat  (1823). 

Musn't- mention- 'ems.  Trousers: 
see  Kicks. 

Muss.  1.  Confusion,  a  fuss, 
quarrel,  row.  2.  A  term  of  endear- 
ment: probably  from  Mouse  (1596). 
As  verb,  to  confuse,  disorder,  mess- 
up. 

Mussy.  Disordered:  also  mussed- 
up. 

Mustang.  An  officer  entering  the 
U.S.  navy  from  the  merchant  service, 
after  serving  through  the  civil  war. 

Mutcher.  A  thief  whose  quarry  is 
drunken  men,  a  butcher  (q.v.). 

Mute.  An  undertaker's  servant, 
who  stands  at  the  door  of  a  person 
lying  in  state :  so  named  from  being 
supposed  mute  with  grief  (Grose). 

Mutton  (Laced  Mutton).  1. 
A  loose  woman.  2.  Generic  for  the 
sex  (1569).  3.  In  pi.,  the  Turkish 
loans  of  1865  and  1873  :  they  were  in 
part  secured  on  the  sheep-tax.  4.  A 
sheep  (1595).  Bow-wow  mutton:  see 
Bow-wow.  To  cut  one's  mutton,  to 
dine.  Dead  as  mutton :  see  Dead 
(1835).  Mutton  dressed  lamb-fashion, 
an  old  woman  dressed  young.  To 
return  to  one's  muttons,  to  hark  back  to 
the  point  at  issue.  The  phrase  is 
taken  from  an  old  French  play,  called 
I' Avocai  Pathdin,  in  which  a  woollen- 
draper  charges  a  shepherd  with  steal- 
ing sheep ;  in  telling  his  grievance  he 
kept  for  ever  running  away  from  his 
subject ;  and  to  throw  discredit  on 
the  defendant's  attorney,  accused  him 
of  stealing  a  piece  of  cloth ;  the  judge 
had  to  pull  him  up  every  moment  with 
'  Mais,  mon  ami,  revenons  d  nos 
moutons.'  Who  stole  the  mutton,  a 
common  street  jeer  flung  on  police- 


299 


Mutton-chops. 


men  when  the  force  was  first  organised, 
and  rose  thus  :  The  first  case  the  force 
had  to  deal  with  was  the  theft  of  a  leg 
of  mutton ;  but  they  wholly  failed 
to  detect  the  thief,  and  the  laugh 
turned  against  them  (Brewer). 

Mutton-chops.  1.  A  sheep's  head. 
2.  Whiskers  trimmed  mutton  -  chop 
fashion  :  also  mutton-chop  whiskers. 

Mutton -cove.  1.  The  Coventry 
Street  end  of  Windmill  Street  2. 
A  man  addicted  to  women. 

Muttoner  (obsolete,  Winchester 
College).  1.  A  blow  on  the  knuckles 
from  a  cricket-ball.  2.  A  mutton 
monger  (q.v.). 

Mutton-eyed.     See  Sheep's-eyed. 

Mutton-fist  (or  hand).  A 
hand,  large,  bony,  and  coarse  (1672). 

Mutton-headed.     Stupid  (Grose). 

Mutton-monger.  A  whoremonger 
(1594). 

Muttonous.  Slow,  monotonous : 
FT.,  guitare. 

Mutton  -  pies.  The  eyes :  see 
Peepers. 

Mutton-thumper.  A  bungling  work- 
man. 

Mutton-walk.  1.  The  saloon  at 
Drury  Lane  Theatre  (1821).  2.  Any 
resort  frequented  by  women  of  the 
town  ;  specifically  Piccadilly. 

Mux.     To  muddle. 

Muzz.  1.  To  intoxicate  (1836).  2. 
(Westminster  School).  To  devote 
oneself  to  study  and  eschew  sports. 


Muzzle.  1.  The  mouth  (1821).  2. 
A  beard  (Grose).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
strike  in  the  mouth  (1851);  (2)  to 
drink  ;  (3)  to  kiss  (1697). 

Muzzled  bull  -  dog.  The  great 
gun  which  stands  housed  in  the 
officer's  ward-room  cabin  :  also  gen- 
eral term  for  main-deck  guns. 

Muzzier.  1.  The  mouth.  2.  A 
dram  of  spirits  ;  a  go  (q.v.). 

Muzzy.  Half-tipsy,  dull  with 
drink:  see  Screwed  (1730). 

My  Aunt  (Aunt  Jones  or  Mrs. 
Jones).  The  W.C.,  Mrs.  Jones 
(q.v.). 

My  Bloater.     See  Bloater. 

My  eye  1  An  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise :  see  All  my  eye  (1819). 

Myla.     See  Miler. 

Myll.      See  Mill. 

My  Lord.     See  Lord. 

My  Nabs.     See  Nabs. 

Mynt     See  Mint 

My  Pippin.     See  Pippin. 

My  Stars  and  Garters.     See  Star. 

Mystery.  A  sausage :  also  Mystery- 
bag.  English  synonyms :  bags  of 
mystery,  chambers  of  horrors,  darbies, 
dogs  (dog's  meat  or  dog's  body), 
mystery-bags,  Sharp's-AUey  blood- 
worms, sore-leg. 

My  Tulip.     See  Tulip. 

My  Uncle.     See  Uncle. 

My  Unconverted  Friend.  See 
Unconverted  friend. 

My  Wig.     See  Wig. 


Nab  (or  Nap).  1.  The  head  :  also 
Napper.  2.  A  hat,  cap  :  also  nob-cheat 
ananapper:  see  Golgotha  (1531).  3. 
A  fop.  4.  A  police  officer.  As  verb, 
(1)  Primarily,  to  catch,  but  also  a 
general  verb  of  action  :  e.g.  to  nab  the 
rust,  (a)  to  take  offence,  turn  rusty ;  (6) 
to  receive  punishment  unexpectedly; 
to  nab  the.  snow,  to  steal  hedge-linen  ; 
to  nab  the  stifles,  to  be  hanged  ;  to  nab 
the  stoop,  to  stand  in  the  pillory ; 
to  nab  the  teize,  to  be  whipped  ;  to  nab 
it  on  the  dial,  to  get  a  olow  in  the 
face ;  to  be  nabbed,  to  be  arrested  ;  to 
nap  a  cog,  to  cheat  (at  dice) ;  to  nap 
the  bib,  to  cry ;  to  nab  the  regulars,  to 
divide  a  booty  ;  to  nap  a  winder,  to  be 
hanged  ;  to  nap  it  at  the  nask,  to  be 
lashed  at  Bridewell :  tee  Bib,  Regu- 


lars, and  Rust  English  synonyms 
(see  also  Cop  and  Prig,  when  mean- 
ing to  take  or  receive) :  to  bag,  bone, 
box,  claw,  collar,  cop,  grab,  nail, 
nap,  nibble,  nick,  nim,  nip,  pinch, 
pull  over,  rope  in,  scoop,  smug, 
snabble,  snaffle,  snake,  snam,  sneak, 
snitch.  (2)  To  bite.  His  nabs: 
see  Nibs. 

Naball.     A  fool. 

Nabber  (or  Nabbler).  A  thief. 
Nabbery,  theft 

Nabbing-cull.  A  bailiff,  constable  : 
also  Nabman  (1780). 

Nabby.     See  Nobby. 

Nab-cheat     See  Nab. 

Nab-girder.  A  bridle :  also  Xob- 
girder. 

Nabob.      1.  Orig.  a  nobleman,  and 


300 


Nabs  on. 


Nanny-goat. 


2.  a  rich  man :  hence,  nabobbery,  the 
class  of  nabobs  (1612). 

Nabs  on.     A  hall-mark. 

Nace.     See  Nase. 

Nack.     1.  See  Knack.     2.  A  horse. 

Nacky.  Ingenious,  full  of  knacks 
(q.v.)  or  dexterity.  Also  nackie. 

Nag.  A  horse,  mount  (q.v.): 
see  Prad :  also  Naggon,  Naggie,  or 
Naggy,  and  (Scots'),  a  horse  of  blood 
(1189).  As  verb,  to  scold,  fault- 
find  persistently,  tiff.  Whence  nagger, 
a  persistent  scold ;  nagging,  fault- 
finding ;  and  naggy,  shrewish,  irrit- 
able (1846). 

Nag- drag.  A  term  of  three  months' 
imprisonment :  see  Drag. 

Naggie.  To  toss  the  head  in  a  stiff 
and  affected  manner  (HaUiwett,  1847). 

Nail  (Winchester  College).  To 
stand  up  under  the  nail,  the  punish- 
ment inflicted  on  a  boy  detected  in  a 
lie ;  he  was  ordered  to  stand  up  on 
Junior  Row,  just  under  the  centre 
sconce,  during  the  whole  of  school 
time  :  at  the  close  of  it  he  received  a 
Bibler.  2.  Disposition,  spirit,  nature. 
The  auld  nail,  original  sin ;  a  bad 
nail,  &  bad  disposition ;  a  guid  nail, 
a  good  disposition.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
catch  :  like  nab  (q.v.)  and  cop  (q.v.), 
a  general  verb  of  action :  whence 
nailing,  thieving  (1383);  (2)  to  work 
as  a  carpenter  ;  (3)  to  back-bite  :  also 
to  brass  nail :  see  Nail-box  ;  (4)  (Win- 
chester College),  to  impress  for  any 
kind  of  fagging.  Also,  to  detect.  On 
the  nail,  at  once,  on  the  spot,  instanter 
(1596).  To  hit  the  nail  (or  the  right 
nail)  on  the  head  (or  to  drive  the  nail 
home),  to  succeed,  come  to  the  point: 
Fr.,  toucher  au  blanc  (to  hit  the  white) 
(1574).  To  put  (or  drive)  a  nail  in 
one's  coffin,  (1)  to  do  anything  that 
shortens  life :  specifically,  to  drink. 
As  sub.,  a  drink  (Grose) ;  (2)  to  hasten 
an  end,  advance  a  business  by  a  step. 
Hard  as  nails,  (1)  in  good  condition; 
(2)  harsh,  unyielding,  pitiless.  To 
nail  to  the  counter,  to  expose  as  false  : 
as  a  lie :  from  putting  a  counterfeit 
coin  out  of  circulation  by  fastening  it 
with  a  nail  to  the  counter  of  a  shop. 
Naked  as  my  nail,  stark-naked  (1605). 
Off  at  the  nail,  ( 1 )  it  is  conceivable  that 
this  phrase  .  .  .  originated  in  family 
and  feudal  connexion  —  when  one 
acted  as  an  alien,  relinquishing  the 
society,  or  disregarding  the  interests 
of  his  own  tribe,  he  might  be  said  to 


go  off  at  the  nail,  as  denoting  that  he 
in  effect  renounced  all  the  ties  of 
blood  (Jamieson) ;  (2)  mad  ;  (3)  tipsy  : 
see  Screwed.  Nails  on  the  toes,  as  in 
saying,  Wit  was  mouldy  ere  your 
grandsires  had  nails  to  their  toes. 
Also  see  Dead,  Down. 

Nail-bearers.  The  fingers :  see  Fork. 

Nail-box.  A  centre  of  back-biting  : 
see  Nail. 

Nailer.  1.  An  extortioner.  2. 
Something  out  of  the  common ;  a 
clipper  (q.v.) :  a  general  term  of  ex- 
cellence :  e.g.  a  handsome  woman,  a 
clever  student,  a  fast  horse,  and  so 
forth. 

Nailing.  1.  See  Nail.  2.  Excellent, 
almost  beyond  comparison. 

Nailrod.     See  Rod. 

Nair.     Ram. 

Naked.     Raw  spirit,  neat  (q.v.). 

Nale.    An  alehouse. 

Nam.  A  man.  Nam  esclop,  a 
policeman. 

Namase.     See  Nammous. 

Namby-pamby.  Affected,  effemin- 
ate, overnice.  [Swift's  invention,  and 
first  applied  to  the  affected  short- 
lined  verses  addressed  by  Ambrose 
Philips  to  Lord  Carteret's  infant 
children].  Also  as  subs,  and  verb, 
to  flatter,  pamper. 

Name.  His  name  is  Dennis  (or 
Mud),  a  phrase  indicative  of  collapse 
or  defeat ;  to  be  sent  up  Salt  River 
(q.v.),  to  be  played  out  (q.v.).  To 
take  one's  name  in  vain,  to  mention  by 
name :  the  person  spoken  of  having  un- 
expectedly or  accidentally  overheard 
(1708).  To  put  one's  name  into  it, 
to  get  a  thing  well  forward,  to  greatly 
advance  the  matter. 

Nameless  Creek  (The).  A  lucky 
place  whose  whereabouts  is  for  that 
reason  untold. 

Nammous  (Namase,  Nommus,  or 
Namous).  Be  off  !  Skedaddle  ! 

Nammow.  A  woman.  Delo  nam- 
mow,  an  old  woman. 

Namurs  (The).  The  Royal  Irish 
Regiment,  formerly  The  18th  Foot. 
Also  Paddy's  Blackguards. 

Nan.     A  maid  (1596). 

Nan-boy.  1.  An  effeminate  man, 
a  Miss  Nancy  (q.v.)  (1691).  2.  A 
catamite. 

Nanny.     1.  A  goat.     2.  A  wanton. 

Nanny-goat.  1.  An  anecdote  (1860). 
2.  In  pi.,  the  Royal  Welsh  Fusiliers, 
formerly  the  Twenty  -  third  Foot  : 


301 


.  >  '//'/'  y  -  //'  )'  , 


Natty. 


the  regiment  baa  a  pet  goat  which  is 
led  with  garlanded  horns  and  a  shield 
at  the  head  of  the  drums  —  how 
the  custom  arose  is  unknown.  Also 
The  Royal  Goats. 

Nanny-hen.  As  nice  as  a  Nanny- 
hen,  very  affected,  delicate  :  ci  Nun's 
hen. 

Nanny-shop  (or  house).  A 
brothel  (B.  E.,  c.  1696). 

N  a  n  t  e  e,  adv.  (Lingua  Franca). 
Nor  any,  I  have  none,  also  shut  up  ! 
or  leave  off !  Nantee  palaver,  hold 
your  tongue :  Nanty  dinarly,  no 
money ;  naniy  parnarly,  be  careful ! 
[ItaL,  niente,  nothing]. 

Nantz.     Brandy  (1691). 

Nap.  1.  See  Nab,  subs,  and  verb. 
2.  A  short  sleep  (B.  E.,  c.  1696).  3.  A 
napoleon  :  a  20  franc  piece.  Fr.  gold 
coin.  4.  Ale,  strong  beer :  an  ab- 
breviation of  nappy  (q.v.).  As  verb, 
to  cheat  at  dice  (1696).  To  catch 
(or  take)  napping,  to  take  unawares, 
take  in  the  act  (1587).  To  go  nap, 
to  risk  everything  on  a  single  point, 
go  the  whole  hog  (q.v.) :  from  the 
game  of  cards.  To  nap  toco  for  yam, 
to  get  more  beating  than  is  given. 
See  also  Regulars,  Slap,  and  Tieze. 

Napkin.  See  Dish  -  clout.  To 
be  buried  in  a  napkin,  (1)  to  be  asleep ; 
(2)  to  be  half-witted.  Knight  of  the 
napkin,  a  waiter,  grasshopper  (q.v.). 

Napkin-snatching.  Stealing  pocket- 
handkerchiefs  :  also  napkin-snatcher. 

Nap-nix.  An  amateur  player  of 
minor  parts  for  the  sake  of  experience. 

Napper.  1.  See  Nab.  2.  A  cheat, 
thief  (q.v.).  Napper  (or  naper)  of 
naps,  a  sheep  -  stealer  (1696).  3.  A 
false  witness.  4.  See  Rain-napper. 

Nappy.  Strong  ale  :  also  napping- 
aear.  As  adj.  (1)  strong  or  heady; 
(2)  drunk  (1593). 

Nare.     See  Never. 

Nark  (or  Copper's -nark).  A 
police  spy,  common  informer.  Eng- 
lish synonyms  (see  also  Beak  and 
Copper) :  buz-man,  D,  dee,  deeker,  fox, 
marker,  nose,  noser,  peach  (omnibus 
spy),  pig,  piper  (omnibus  spy),  queer- 
rooster,  rat,  rosser  (or  rozzer),  setter, 
shadow,  shepherd,  snitcher,  split, 
spotter,  squealer,  stag  (or  stagger),  tec, 
teck,  worm.  As  verb,  to  see,  watch, 
spy.  English  synonyms:  to  buz, 
castell,  dick,  fox,  lay,  mark,  nose, 
ogle,  pipe,  quiz,  roast  (or  roast-brown), 
shadow,  shepherd,  skin,  snitch,  spot, 


stag,  tout,  twire,  be  on  the  beef  raent, 
be  on  the  pounce. 

N  a  r  p.  A  shirt :  see  Flesh-bag 
(1857). 

Narrish.     Thrifty  :  see  Narrow. 

Narrow.  Ne'er  a,  not  one  (1750). 
As  adj.,  (1)  see  Near.  (2)  Stupid, 
foolish,  the  reverse  of  fly  (q.v.)  or 
wide-awake  (q.v.) ;  (3)  when  the 
bias  of  the  bowl  holds  too  much  (B. 
E.,  1696 :  bowlers') ;  (4)  of  a  narrow 
or  slender  fortune  (/*'.  E.).  AU 
narrow,  said  by  the  butchers  one  to 
another  when  their  meat  proves  not  so 
good  as  expected  (B.  E.). 

Narrowdale  Noon.  One  o'clock,  The 
top  of  Narrowdale  Hills,  in  Stafford- 
shire, is  so  high  that  the  inhabitants 
under  it  never  see  the  sun  for  one 
quarter  of  the  year,  and  when  it  re- 
appears they  do  not  see  it  till  one 
o'clock,  which  they  call  Narrowdale 
Noon.  A  thing  long  deferred  (Brewer). 

Narrow  -  gauge.  Inferior,  small : 
e.g.  a  narrow-gauge  mule,  a  worth- 
less beast. 

Narrow-squeak.     See  Squeak. 

Nary.  Not  one  [ne'er  a].  See 
Narrow.  Nary  red,  not  a  red  cent: 
also  as  an  emphatic  negative. 

Nasal.    The  nose :  see  Conk. 

Nase.  Drunken ;  also  naee,  naze, 
and  nazy(  1536). 

Nash.  1.  To  go  away  from,  or  quit, 
any  place  or  company  ;  speaking  of  a 
person  who  is  gone,  he  is  nash  d,  or 
Mr.  Nash  is  concerned.  2.  To  throw 
away ;  e.g.  Nash  your  leading  strings, 
throw  off  all  restraint. 

Nash-gab.  Insolent  language,  im- 
pertinence. 

Nask  (or  Naskin).  A  prison :  see 
Cage  (1686). 

Nasty.  Ill-tempered,  disagreeable, 
cutting :  e.g.  nasty  jar,  a  stinging 
retort;  nasty  knock  (or  one),  a  dis- 
agreeable experience  ;  nasty  one  in  the 
eye,  a  telling  blow. 

Nasty-man.     See  Garrotte. 

Nation.  An  abbreviation  of  damna- 
tion, a  vulgar  term  used  in  Kent, 
Sussex,  and  the  adjacent  counties,  for 
very  ;  nation  good,  a  nation  long  way, 
a  very  long  way  (Oroee). 

National  Intelligencer.  Un- 
able to  say  National  Intelligencer, 
drunk  :  see  Screwed  :  cf.  British  Con- 
stitution. 

Natty.  Neat,  tidy,  spruce.  Nattily, 
nattineas  (1557). 


302 


Natty-lad. 


Neck-beef. 


Natty-lad.  A  young  thief  or  pick- 
pocket (Grose). 

Natural.  1.  A  mistress  (1688).  2. 
An  idiot,  simpleton  (1595).  3.  A 
bastard.  4.  A  clever,  quick-witted, 
generous  man.  5.  A  kind  of  wig 
(c.  1724).  As  adj.,  not  squeamish. 

Nature's  Garb.  Nakedness.  Eng- 
lish synonyms :  to  be  abram,  all  face, 
in  one's  birthday  suit,  in  buff,  to  cast 
one's  skin,  peeled,  on  the  shallow 
(q.v.). 

Naughty.  1.  Loose,  obscene  (1550). 
2.  Flash  (q.v.). 

Naughty-pack.  1.  A  wanton.  2. 
A  half  reproving  endearment  of 
children. 

Navel.  Proud  below  the  navel, 
amorous,  or  wanton ;  navel-tied,  in- 
separable (1629). 

Navigator.  A  potato,  'tatur. 
Navigator  Scot,  a  hot  baked  potato  : 
also  Nav. 

Navvy.  An  abbreviation  of  navi- 
gator, a  term  humorously  applied  to 
excavators  employed  hi  cutting  and 
banking  canals,  making  dykes  to 
rivers,  etc.  (1848). 

Navy-office.  The  Fleet  Prison. 
Commander  of  the  Fleet,  the  warden  of 
the  Fleet  prison. 

Navy- sherry.     Man-of-war  grog. 

Nawpost.  Mr.  Nawpost,  a  foolish 
fellow  (1696). 

Nay.     To  deny. 

Nay-word.  A  common  by-word  or 
proverb  (B.  E.). 

Nazold.     A  vain  fool  (1629). 

Nazy.     See  Nase. 

N.  C.  Enough  said  (nuf  ced),  cf. 
O.K. 

Near  (also  Nigh  and  Narrow). 
1.  Formerly  careful,  now  (contempt- 
uously) stingy,  close  -  fisted  :  Fr., 
serre.  Thus  nearness,  a  parsimonious 
habit  (1591).  2.  On  the  left  side: 
cf.  Off  (1823). 

Neardy.  A  person  in  authority — 
master,  parent,  foreman  (Hotten). 
H ,  Neat.  Unmixed  with  water,  naked 
(q.v.);  short  (q.v.);  straight  (q.v.). 
English  synonyms :  aboriginal,  ah ! 
don't  mingle,  as  it  came  from  its 
mother,  bald-faced,  bare-footed,  clean 
from  the  still,  cold-without,  in  puris 
naturalibus,  in  a  state  of  nature, 
naked,  neat  is  imported,  neat,  simplex 
munditiis,  out  of  the  barrel,  plain, 
primitive,  pure,  raw,  raw  recruit, 
reverend,  stark  -  naked,  straight, 


stripped,  unalloyed,  unmarried,  un- 
sophisticated, uncorrupted,  untem- 
pered,  virgin,  without  a  shirt  (1596). 
As  neat  as  (a  bandbox,  a  new  pin,  wax, 
ninepence),  as  neat  as  may  be.  Neat, 
but  not  gaudy,  etc.,  spick  and  span,  fresh 
as  a  daisy. 

Neb  (or  Nib).  1.  Originally  the 
bill  of  a  bird ;  hence  the  face,  mouth, 
or  nose  :  specifically  of  a  woman  ( 1225) 
2.  A  pen  (B.  E.).  3.  The  neck  (1535). 

Nebuchadnezzar.     A  vegetarian. 

Necessary.  1.  A  bedfellow.  2.  A 
privy  :  also  necessary  house  (or  vault) 
(1609). 

Neck.  1.  To  hang :  see  Ladder. 
Neck-doth  (neckinger,  necklace,  neck- 
squeezer,  or  necktie),  a  halter ;  neck- 
tie-sociable, a  hanging  done  by  a  Vigil- 
ance Committee  ;  neck  -  question,  a 
hanging  matter,  something  vital ; 
neck-verse,  a  'Favor  (formerly)  in- 
dulged to  the  Clergy  only,  but  (now) 
to  the  Laity  also,  to  mitigate  the 
Rigor  of  the  Law,  as  in  Man-slaughter, 
etc.  ;  reading  a  verse  out  of  an  old 
Manuscript  Latin  Psalter  (tho'  the 
Book  now  used  by  the  Ordinary  is  the 
same  printed  in  an  Old  English 
Character)  save  the  Criminal's  Life ; 
nay  now  even  the  Women  (by  a  late 
act  of  Parliament)  have  (in  a  manner) 
the  benefit  of  their  clergy,  tho'  not  so 
much  as  put  to  Read  ;  for  in  such  cases 
where  the  men  are  allowed  it ;  the 
Women  are  of  course  sizz'd  in  the  fist, 
without  running  the  risque  of  a  Halter 
by  not  Reading'  (B.  E.).  Neck-weed, 
hemp,  or  gallows -grass  (q.v.);  to 
wear  a  hempen  necktie,  to  be  hanged. 
2.  To  swallow :  also  to  wash  the  neck. 
Neck  and  crop,  turn  him  out  neck  and 
crop,  is  to  push  one  forth  all  of  a  heap, 
down  some  steps  or  stairs  being  under- 
stood, so  that  the  patient  may  pitch 
upon  his  neck  (or  head)  (Diet.  Turf). 
Neck  or  nothing,  at  every  risk,  des- 
perately ( 1 708 ).  Neck  and  neck,  close, 
almost  equal :  as  horses  in  a  race. 
On  (or  in)  the  neck  of,  close  upon,  or 
behind  (1598).  To  win  (or  lose)  by 
a  neck,  to  win  (or  lose)  by  next  to 
nothing.  To  break  the  neck  of  any- 
thing, to  get  the  worst  part  done  ;  also 
(old),  to  hinder  from  being  done.  To 
be  shot  in  the  neck,  to  be  drunk :  see 
Screwed.  (1855).  Unable  to  neck  it, 
lacking  moral  courage.  Also  see  Shut. 

Neck-beef.  As  coarse  as  neck-beef, 
very  coarse,  of  the  poorest  quality. 


303 


Neck-oil. 


AVtrr. 


As    subs,    a    general    synonym    for 
coarseness. 

Neck-oil.     Drink,  lap  (q.v.). 
Neck-stamper.     A  potboy. 
Nectar.     Drink,  lap  (q.v.). 
Ned.     A  guinea :  in  America  a  10 
dollar    piece :    see    Rhino.     Half    a 
ned,  half  a  guinea  or  5  dollar  piece  : 
also  neddy  (1754).     2.  See  Neddy. 
Nedash.     Nothing,  of  no  use. 
Neddy.       1.  An  ass,  moke  (q.v.) : 
also  Ned  (1658).     2.  A  fool,  donkey 
(q.v.)   (1823).     3.    A   large   quantity, 
plenty :   FT.,  hugrement :     4.    A   life- 
preserver  ;  so  called  from  one  Kennedy 
whose  head  was  broken  in  St.  Giles's 
by  a  poker  (Brewer) :  FT.,  tourne-clef. 
English  synonyms  :  billy,  cosh,  colt.  5. 
see  Ned. 

Ned-fool.     A  noisy  idiot  (1600). 
Ned  Stokes.      The  four  of   spades 
(1791). 

Needful  (The).  Money  :  see  Rhino 
(1771). 

Needham.  On  the  highroad  to  Need- 
ham,  Needham  is  a  market- town  in  this 
county  [Suffolk] ;  according  to  the 
wit  of  the  vulgar,  they  are  said  to  be 
in  the  highway  thither  which  do  hasten 
to  poverty  (Ray)-  Cf.  Peckham, 
Land  of  Nod,  Bedfordshire,  etc. 

Needle.     A  sharper,  a  thief  (q.v.). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  annoy,  irritate,  rile 
(q.v.).     To  give  (or  get)  the  needle,  to 
annoy  (or  be  annoyed) ;  (2)  to  haggle 
over    a    bargain.     Also    see    Spanish 
needle,  St.  Peter's  needle,  Knight. 
Needle-and-thread.     Bread. 
Needle-dodger.     A  dressmaker. 
Needle-point.       A    sharper :     also 
needle-pointer  (1696). 

Needy  -  mizzler    or    (Needy).      A 
ragged  person. 
Neel.     Lean. 

Ne'er- be -lickit.  Nothing  which 
could  be  licked  by  a  dog  or  cat, 
nothing  whatever. 

Ne'er-do-well.  One  who  is  never 
likely  to  do  well.  As  adj.,  incor- 
rigible. 

Neergs.     Greens. 

Neggledigee.  A  woman's  un- 
dress gown,  vulgarly  termed  a 
neggledigee  (Grose). 

Negotiate.  To  contrive,  accom- 
plish. 

Negro.  A  black  man,  slave 
(Grose). 

Negro-head.     A  brown  loaf. 
Negro-nos'd.     Flat-nosed  (1696). 


Neighbourly.       Friendly,    obliging 
(Diet.  Cant.  Crew,  1696). 
Neman.     Stealing. 
Nenti.     Nothing  :  cf.  Nan  tie. 
Nephew.    The  illegitimate  son  of  a 
priest :  see  Niece. 

Neptune's  Bodyguard.  The 
Royal  Marines.  Also  The  Little 
Grenadiers,  The  Jollies,  The  Globe 
Rangers,  and  The  Admiral's  Regi- 
ment. 

Nerve.  One  of  those  heroic  ad- 
venturers, who  have  thought  proper 
to  distinguish  themselves  by  the  titles 
of  Buck,  Blood,  and  Nerve  (1753).  2. 
Impudence,  cheek. 

Nescio.  To  sport  a  nescio,  to  pre- 
tend not  to  understand  anything. 
After  the  senate-house  examination 
for  degrees,  the  students  proceed  to 
the  schools  to  be  questioned  by  the 
proctor.  According  to  custom  im- 
memorial the  answers  must  be  Nescio. 
The  following  is  a  translated  specimen : 
Q.  What  is  your  name  T  A.  I  do  not 
know.  Q.  What  is  the  name  of  this 
University  ?  A.  I  do  not  know.  Q. 
Who  was  your  father  T  A.  I  do  not 
know.  The  last  is  probably  the  only 
true  answer  of  the  three  (Grose). 

Nest.  1.  In  pi.,  list  of  patterer's 
words.  Nests,  varieties  (Mayhew). 
2.  A  place  :  as  of  residence  ;  a  centre  : 
as  of  activity  ;  a  gang  :  as  of  thieves 
(1595).  See  also  Feather. 

Nest  -  cock  (Nescock,  or  Nestle- 
cock).  A  tenderling,  a  fondling. 

Nest-egg.  Money  saved,  a  little 
hoard. 

Nestling.     Canary  birds  brought  up 

by  hand  (8.  E.).     To  keep  a  needing, 

to  be  restless,  uneasy,  fidgety  (1696). 

Nestor    (Winchester  College).     An 

undersized  boy. 

Net.  All  is  fish  that  cornea  to  net, 
all  serves  the  purpose  (1670). 

Netgen.  Half  a  sovereign :  see 
Rhino. 

Nettle.  To  annoy,  provoke,  rile 
(q.v.),  needle  (q.v.).  To  have  lain  on 
a  nettle,  to  be  peevish  or  out  of  temper ; 
nettled,  (1)  annoyed;  (2)  afflicted; 
nettler,  a  spoil-temper  (q.v.)  (1592). 
Nettle  in,  dock  out,  fickleness  of  pur- 
pose, thing  after  thing,  place  after 
place  (1369).  Also  see  Rose. 

Nevele.     Eleven.     Thus,  nevele  ge 
eleven     shillings ;      nevele     yam 
elevenpence. 

Never.       Never-  (or  nare)  a -fa 


304 


Never-fear, 


Nice. 


but  •  his  -  own,   not    a    penny   in   the 
pocket. 

Never-fear.     Beer. 

Never  -  never  -  country.  1.  The 
confines  of  civilization :  specifically 
(in  Queensland)  the  occupied  pastoral 
land  furthest  from  the  more  settled 
districts.  2.  The  future  life,  heaven. 

Never  -  too  -  late  -  to  -  mend  -  shop. 
A  repairing  tailor's. 

Never  -  wag  Man-of-War.  The 
Fleet  Prison:  see  Cage  (1821). 

Nevis.  Seven.  Thus,  nevis -gen, 
seven  shillings  ;  nevis  -  stretch,  seven 
years'  hard  ;  nevis  -  yanneps,  seven- 
pence. 

New.  To  new  cottar  and  cuff,  to 
furbish  up  an  old  sermon. 

New-Billingsgate.  The  Stock  Ex- 
change :  see  Gorgonzola  Hall. 

New-bug  (Maryborough  School).  A 
New  boy. 

Newcastle.  To  carry  (or  send) 
coeds  to  Newcastle,  to  undertake  a  work 
of  supererogation:  see  Owl  (1662). 

New- chum.  A  new  arrival :  of. 
Currency,  Sterling,  and  Lime-juice. 

Newcome.  A  new  arrival,  fresh  face  : 
as  a  freshman  at  college  ;  a  new  mid- 
shipman ;  a  new  baby :  also  Johnnie 
Newcombe  (1821). 

New-drop.  The  scaffold  used  at 
Newgate  for  hanging  criminals ;  which, 
dropping  down,  leaves  them  sus- 
pended. By  this  improvement,  the 
use  of  that  vulgar  vehicle,  a  cart,  is 
entirely  left  off  (Grose) :  introduced 
1786. 

New  England  of  the  West.  The 
State  of  Minnesota :  many  New 
Englanders  settled  there. 

Newgate.  A  gaol;  specifically  the 
prison  for  the  City  of  London  :  also 
Newman's  Hotel  (or  tea-gardens). 
Hence,  Newgate  -  bird  (or  Newgate- 
nightingale),  a  thief,  sharper,  or  gaol- 
bird ;  Newgate  (or  Tyburn)  collar, 
fringe,  or  fritt,  a  collar-like  beard  worn 
under  the  chin  ;  Newgate  -  frisk,  a 
hanging ;  Newgate-knocker,  a  lock  of 
hair  like  the  figure  6,  twisted  from  the 
temple  back  towards  the  ear  (chiefly  in 
vogue  1840-50  —  see  Aggera waters) ; 
Newgate-ring,  moustache  and  beard 
as  one,  without  whiskers ;  Newgate- 
saint,  a  condemned  criminal ;  to  dance 
the  Newgate  hornpipe,  to  be  hanged  ; 
Newgate  -  solicitor,  a  pettifogging  at- 
torney ;  born  on  Newgate  -  steps,  of 
thievish  origin  ;  as  black  as  Newgate, 


very  black  ;  Newgate  seize  me,  the  gaol 
be  my  portion ;  Newman's  lift,  the 
gallows  (1531).  As  verb,  to  imprison 
(1740). 

New  Guinea.  First  possession  of 
income  (Grose). 

New-hat.     A  guinea. 

New  Jerusalem.     See  Cubitopolis. 

Newland.     See  Abraham  Newland. 

New  Light.  1.  One  of  the  New 
Light,  a  methodist ;  [one]  who  attends 
the  gaols  to  assist  villains  in  evading 
justice  (Grose).  2.  New  money. 

Newmarket.  The  best  two  in  three 
in  tossing. 

Newmarket-heath  Commissioner. 
A  highwayman,  road-agent  (q.v.). 

New  pin.  Smart  (bright,  neat,  or 
nice)  as  a  new  pin,  first-class. 

New  plates.     See  Plates. 

News.  Tell  me  news  !  a  retort  to  a 
stale  jest  or  chestnut  (q.v.) ;  usually 
preceded  by  that's  ancient  history : 
cf.  Queen  Anne. 

New  Settlements.  Final 
reckoning  (Grose). 

Newtown-pippin.    A  cigar. 

Newy  (Winchester  College).  The 
cad  paid  to  look  after  the  canvas  tent 
in  Commoner  fields. 

N.F.  A  knowing  tradesman :  an 
abbreviation  of  '  no  flies.' 

N.  G.     No  go,  no  good,  of  no  avail. 

N.  H.  (That  is,  Norfolk  Howard),  a 
bug :  from  one  Bugg  who,  it  is  said, 
so  changed  his  name  in  1863). 

Nias.  A  simpleton:  from  the  Fr., 
niais  (116). 

Nib  (or  Nib-cove).  1.  A  gentleman  : 
whence  half-nibs,  one  who  apes  gen- 
tility (Fr.,  un  herz) ;  niblike  (or  nib- 
some),  gentlemanly ;  nibsomest-cribs, 
the  best  houses.  2.  See  Neb.  3.  A 
fool.  As  verb,  (1)  to  catch,  arrest, 
nab  (q.v.) ;  (2)  see  Nibble. 

Nibble.  1.  To  catch,  steal,  cheat : 
whence  nibbler  (or  nibbing  -  cull),  a 
petty  thief  or  fraudulent  dealer 
(1608).  2.  To  consider  a  bargain,  or 
an  opportunity,  eagerly  but  carefully  : 
as  a  fish  considers  bait.  To  get  a 
nibble,  to  get  an  easy  job. 

Nibs  (or  Nabs).  1.  Self:  his 
nibs,  the  person  referred  to ;  your 
nibs,  yourself ;  my  nibs,  myself — dis 
child.  2.  Friend,  boy,  etc.,  in  ad- 
dressing a  person :  also  nibso :  cf. 
Watch  (1819). 

Nice.  1.  Simple,  witless  (1297). 
2.  Squeamish,  precise :  cf.  Swift's 


305 


Nicholas, 


definition  of  a  nice  man,  as  a  man 
of  nasty  ideas  (1543).  3.  Pleasant; 
agreeable  -.e.g.  a  nice  woman  or  a  nice 
fellow  ;  of.  the  satirical  extension  :  as 
in  a  nice  young  man  for  a  small  tea- 
party. 

Nicholas  (Saint).  The  devil: 
see  Old  Nick  Saint  Nicholas's  clerk, 
a  highwayman:  also  knight  of  St. 
Nicholas,  and  St.  Nicholas  clergyman  : 
8k  Nicholas  was  the  patron  saint  of 
thieves  (1595). 

Nick.  LA  five-cent  piece  :  ab- 
breviation of  nickel.  2.  See  Old  Nick 
3.  A  dent,  or  island,  in  the  bottom 
of  a  beer  can  :  cf.  Kick  Hence  nick 
and  froth  (1)  false  measure;  (2)  a 
publican  (1529).  4.  The  exact  or 
critical  instant  (1594).  5.  A  winning 
throw  at  dice  (1721).  As  verb,  (1) 
to  steal ;  (2)  to  cheat :  FT.,  rifler  ;  (3) 
to  drink  heartily  ;  as,  he  nicks  fine ; 
(4)  to  break  windows  with  copper 
coins :  hence,  nicker,  a  person  ad- 
dicted to  the  practice  (1712);  (5)  to 
fool  (1593) ;  (6)  to  score  at  dice  (1598) ; 
(7)  to  hit  the  mark  (1690) ;  (8)  to  nick- 
name (1634) ;  (9)  to  catch,  arrest 
(1700) ;  (10)  to  compare,  jump  with  ; 
(11)  to  indent  a  beer  can,  falsify  a 
measure  by  indenting  and  frothing 
up  (1628).  To  nick  the.  pin,  to  drink 
fairly.  To  knock  a  nick  in  the  post, 
to  make  a  record  of  any  remarkable 
event.  Out  of  all  nick,  past  counting 
(1595).  Out  on  the  nick,  out  thieving, 
on  the  pinch  (q.v.).  To  nick  with 
nay,  to  deny  (1350).  Nicks  :  see  Nix. 

Nickel.     A  five-cent  piece. 

Nicker.     A  dandy  (q.v.). 

Nickerers.  A  cant  term  for  new 
shoes  (Jamieson). 

Nickeries.  Nickeries  are  the  same 
[as  Nicknames]  applied  to  actions  and 
things,  or  quid  pro  quo  (Bee). 

Nickey.     See  Nikin  and  Old  Nick 

Nick-nack.  A  trifle,  toy,  curio : 
also  knick-knack :  see  Knack.  Nick- 
nackatory,  nick  -  nackery,  and  nick- 
nacky  (1580). 

Nickname.  A  name  invented  in 
derision,  contempt,  or  reproach  (Orose). 
As  verb,  to  miscall  in  contempt, 
derision,  or  reproach. 

Knick-ninny.     A  flat-catcher. 

Nick-pot.  A  stealer  of  publican's 
pots  (1602). 

N  i  c  k  u  m.  A  sharper  ;  also  a 
rooking  ale  -  house  or  innkeeper, 
vintner,  or  any  retailer  (B.  E.). 


Night-bird. 


Nickumpoop.     See  Nincumpoop. 

Niddicock.     A  fool  (1587). 

Niddipol.     A  fool  (1583). 

Nidget.     See  Nigit. 

Niece.  A  priest's  illegitimate 
daughter,  or  concubine :  whence  the 
expression,  No  more  character  than 
a  priest's  niece. 

N  i  ff  n  a  ff  y.  Fastidious,  trifling 
(1785). 

Nifty.     Conspicuous,  smart. 

Nig.  1.  The  clippings  of  money : 
also  nig,  to  clip  money  (1696).  2.  A 
negro :  abbreviation  of  nigger.  3.  Gin : 
see  Drinks.  As  verb,  (1)  to  catch; 
(2)  to  revoke  :  at  cards ;  also  re-nig. 

Nigger.  Nigger  in  the  fence,  an 
underhand  design,  motive,  or  purpose. 

Nigger  -baby.  A  monster  pro- 
jectile :  as  used  at  the  siege  of  Charles- 
ton :  attributed  to  General  Hardie 
of  the  Confederate  Army  :  see  Swamp 
Angel. 

Nigger-driving.  Exhausting 
with  work 

Nigger-luck     Very  good  fortune. 

Nigger  -  spit  The  half  -  candied 
lumps  in  cane  sugar. 

Niggle  (or  Nig).  1.  To  trifle: 
also  niggling,  trifling  (Grose)  (1632). 
2.  To  attend  excessively  to  detail ;  to 
work  on  a  small  scale,  with  a  small 
brush,  to  a  small  purpose. 

Night.  Combinations  are  night- 
bird  (q.v.);  night -cap  (q.v.);  night- 
fossicker  (Australian  mining),  a  noct- 
urnal thief  of  quartz  or  dust :  whence 
night-fossicking  ;  night-gear  (or  piece), 
a  bedfellow,  male  or  female ;  night- 
hawk  (hunter,  snap,  or  trader), 
night  -  bird  (q.v.);  night-house,  (1)  a 
public  -  house  licensed  to  open  at 
night,  (2)  a  brothel ;  night-hunter,  (1) 
a  poacher,  (2)  a  night-bird  (q.v.); 
night-jury,  a  band  of  night  brawlers : 
night  -  magistrate,  (1)  the  head  of  a 
watch-house,  whence  (2)  a  constable  ; 
night-man,  an  emptier  of  cesspools: 
see  Gold-finder;  night-rale  (or  rail), 
(1)  night  apparel,  (2)  a  combing-cloth  ; 
night-shade,  night-bird  (q.v.) ;  night- 
sneaker,  a  wanton  ;  night  -  walker 
night-bird  (q.v.),  whence  night-walk- 
ing, prowling  at  night  for  robbery, 
prostitution,  etc.  (1598).  To  make 
a  night  of  it,  to  spend  the  night  in 
dissipation. 

Night-and-day.     The  play. 

Night-bird  (cap,  hawk,  hunter, 
poacher,  snap,  trader,  or 


306 


Night-cap. 


Nip. 


walker).  1.  A  thief  working  by 
night  (1544).  2.  A  harlot :  also  night- 
piece  (or  shade)  (1612).  3.  A  bully, 
street  brawler :  also  (in  bands), 
night  -  jury  (1664).  4.  A  bellman, 
watchman. 

Night  -  cap.  1.  The  last  drink,  a 
dodger  (q.v.)  (1840).  2.  The  cap 
polled  over  the  face  before  execution  : 
see  Horse's  night-cap  (1681).  3.  See 
Night-bird.  4.  A  wife  :  see  Dutch. 

Nightingale.  1.  A  soldier  who,  as 
the  term  is,  sings  out  at  the  halberts  : 
it  is  a  point  of  honour  in  some  regi- 
ments among  the  grenadiers  never  to 
cry  out,  or  become  nightingales,  whilst 
under  the  discipline  of  the  cat  of  nine 
tails ;  to  avoid  which  they  chew  a  bullet 
(Grose).  2.  A  prostitute.  3.  See  Spit- 
head,  Cambridgeshire,  and  Arcadian 
nightingale. 

Night-liner.  A  night- walking  cab : 
cf.  Owl-train. 

Nighty  (or  nightie).  A  night- 
dress. 

Nigit  (or  Nidget).     A  fool  (1623). 

Nigler  (or  Niggler).  1.  A  clipper 
of  money,  sweater  (q.v.) :  see  Nig 
(1696).  2.  One  who  is  clever  and 
dexterous. 

Nihil-ad-rem  (Winchester  College). 
Vague,  unconscious :  e.g.  He  sported 
nihil-ad-rem  duck. 

Nikin.     A  fool. 

Nil.     Half,  half  profits,  etc. 

Nilly-willy.  NUl  ye,  will  ye, 
whether  you  will  or  not :  a  familiar 
version  of  the  Latin,  nolens  -  volens  : 
now  generally  written  willy-nilly. 

N  i  m.  To  seize,  take,  steal,  nab 
(q.v.).  [A.  S.,  niman,  to  take]. 
Whence  nimmer,  a  thief,  and  nimming, 
theft,  robbery  (1350). 

Nimble.  Easy  -  got,  quickly 
turned  over :  of  money :  cf.  Ninepence. 
Nimble  as  a  cat  on  a  hot  bake-stone 
(or  hot  bricks),  as  nimble  as  may  be, 
in  a  hurry  to  get  away,  alert,  on  the 
qui  -oive :  also  as  nimble  as  an  eel  in  a 
sandbag,  as  a  new-gelt  dog,  as  a  bee  in  a 
tar-barrel,  as  a  cow  in  a  cage,  or  as 
ninepence  (Ray,  1676). 

Nimenog.  A  fool :  also  nigmenog 
(1696). 

Nimgimmer.  A  doctor,  surgeon, 
apothecary  (1696). 

Nimrod.  A  hunting-man,  sports- 
man (1599). 

Nimshi.  A  nincompoop,  conceited 
fellow. 


Nimshod.     A  cat. 

Nincompoop  (or  Nickumpoop). 
An  impotent  ass  (1696). 

Nine.  Nine  tailors  make  a  man : 
see  Ninth. 

Nine-bob-square.     Out  of  shape. 

Nine  corns.     A  pipeful  of  tobacco. 

Nine-eyed.     Observant  (1694). 

Ninepence.  Neat  (nice,  or  right) 
as  ninepence,  all  right,  correct  to  a 
nicety :  cf.  alliterative  proverb,  A 
nimble  ninepence  is  better  than  a 
slow  shilling  (1850). 

Ninepins.     Life  in  general. 

Nines.  Up  to  the  nines,  to  per- 
fection (1780). 

Nine-shillings.     Nonchalance. 

Nine-spot.  Only  a  nine-spot,  in- 
different ;  of  small  account :  the  nine 
at  cards  rarely  counts  for  a  trick. 

Nine  -  tail  Bruiser  (or  Mouser). 
The  cat-o' -nine-tails. 

Nineways.  To  look  nine  ways 
(or  nine  ways  for  Sundays),  to  squint 
(1542). 

Nine  Winks.  A  short  nap :  of. 
Forty  winks. 

Ningle.     See  Ingle. 

Ning-nang.  A  worthless  thorough- 
bred. 

Ninny.  1.  A  fool :  also  ninny- 
hammer,  and  hence  ninny -hammer  ing 
foolishness  (1696).  2.  A  whining 
beggar  (1696). 

Ninny-broth.     Coffee  (1696). 

Ninth.  Ninth  (or  tenth)  part  of  a 
man,  a  tailor.  [From  the  proverb 
Nine  tailors  make  a  man :  whence 
Queen  Elizabeth's  traditional  ad- 
dress to  a  deputation  of  eighteen 
tailors  : — God  save  you,  gentlemen 
both.] 

Nip.  LA  pinch.  2.  A  thief : 
specifically  a  cut-purse  (1592).  3.  (a) 
A  small  quantity  of  spirits;  as  a  nip 
of  whisky — generally  half  a  glass : 
also  a  small  bit  of  anything,  as  much 
as  is  nipped  or  broken  off  between  the 
finger  and  thumb ;  hence  (b)  a  sip,  a 
small  drink,  go  (q.v.) :  also  Nipper.  4. 
A  hit,  taunt  (1556).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
pinch,  to  press  between  the  fingers 
and  thumb  without  the  nails,  or  with 
any  broad  instrument  like  a  pair  of 
tongs  as  to  squeeze  between  edged 
instruments  or  pincers  (B.  E.) ;  (2)  to 
steal:  specifically,  to  cut  a  purse 
(1567) ;  (3)  to  go,  to  nip  along,  to  move 
with  speed ;  to  nip  in,  to  slip  in  ;  (4)  to 
take  a  dram ;  (5)  see  Nip-cheese  and 


307 


Nip-cheese. 


Nob. 


Nip-louse  ;  (6)  to  taunt,  wring  (1599) ; 
(7)  to  arrest,  pinch  (q.v.)  (1851). 
Nip  and  tuck,  touch  and  go,  neck 
and  neck,  equality  or  thereabouts : 
also  nip  and  tack,  nip  and  chuck,  etc. 
To  nip  in  the  bud,  of  an  early  blast  or 
blight  of  fruit ;  also  to  crush  any- 
thing at  the  beginning  (B,  E.). 

Nip-cheese.  1.  A  miser :  also  nip 
squeeze  and  nip  •  farthing  (Grose).  2. 
A  purser. 

Nip-louse.  A  tailor :  also  prick- 
louse. 

Nip-lug.  A  teacher,  schoolmaster. 
At  nip  •  lug,  at  loggerheads,  on  the 
point  of  collision. 

Nippent.     Impudent. 

Nipper.  1.  A  lad  (1851).  2.  A 
cut- purse.  [So  called  by  one  Wotton 
who,  in  the  year  1585,  kept  an  aca- 
demy for  the  education  and  perfection 
of  pick-pockets  and  cut-purses ;  his 
school  was  near  Billingsgate,  London  : 
as,  in  the  dress  of  ancient  times,  many 
people  wore  their  purses  at  their 
girdles,  cutting  them  was  a  branch  of 
the  light  fingered  art,  which  is  now  lost 
though  the  name  remains  .  .  .  there 
was  a  school  house  set  up  to  learn 
young  boys  to  cut  purses  :  two  devices 
were  nung  up,  one  was  a  pocket,  and 
another  was  a  purse,  the  pocket  had 
in  it  certain  counters,  and  was  hung 
about  with  hawk's  bells,  and  over  the 
top  did  hang  a  little  sacring  bell ;  the 
purse  had  silver  in  it,  and  he  that 
could  take  out  a  counter,  without 
noise  of  any  of  the  bells,  was  ad- 
judged a  judicial  nipper,  according 
to  their  terms  of  art ;  a  foyster  was  a 
pickpocket ;  a  nypper  was  a  pick- 
purse,  or  cut  purse.  —  Grose.]  3. 
The  serving  lad  attached  to  a  gang  of 
navvies,  to  fetch  water  and  carry 
tools.  4.  In  pi.,  handcuffs  or  shackles. 
5.  In  pi.,  a  burglar's  instrument  used 
from  the  outside  on  a  key :  also 
American  tweezers.  6.  (Marl  borough 
School).  A  boy  or  cad.  As  verb,  to 
arrest,  catch :  see  Nab,  and  Nip 
(1823). 

Nipperkin.  1.  A  small  measure, 
half  a  pint  of  wine,  and  but  half  a 
quartern  of  brandy,  strong  waters,  etc. 
(B.  E.).  2.  A  stone  jug. 

Nipping.     Sharp,  cutting  (1596). 

Nipping  Christian.  A  out  -  purse  : 
see  Nipper. 

Nipping-jig.     Hanging. 

Nippitate.     Strong   drink,   especi- 


ally ale  :  also  Nippilato  and  Nippi* 
tatum  (1575). 

Nipps.  Shears  for  clipping  money 
(1696). 

Nippy.  Mean,  stingy,  curt, 
snappish. 

Nipshot.  To  play  nipshot,  to  fail, 
decamp  (1775). 

N  i  q  u  e.  Contemptuous  indiffer- 
ence. 

Nisey.     See  Nizey. 

Nit.  1.  Wine  that  is  brisk,  and 
poured  quick  into  a  glass  (B.  E.).  2. 
A  wanton.  Nits  will  become  lice,  of 
small  matters  that  become  important. 

Nit-squeezer.     A  hair-dresser. 

Nix  (or  Nicks).  1.  Nothing:  also 
nix  my  doll,  and  (American),  nixy  and 
nixy -cully  (1789).  2.  A  term  used  in 
the  railway  mail  service  to  denote 
matter  of  domestic  origin,  chiefly  of 
the  second  and  first  class,  which  is 
unmailable  because  addressed  to  places 
which  are  not  post-offices,  or  to  States, 
etc.,  in  which  there  is  no  such  post- 
office  as  that  indicated  in  the  address. 
As  intj.,  a  warning  that  some  one  in 
authority  is  at  hand.  Nix  my  doll  I 
Never  mind  !  [Popularised  by  Ains- 
worth's  song  in  Rookwood]. 

Niz-priz.     A  writ  of  nisi-prius. 

Nizzie.  1.  A  fool :  also  nikin.  2. 
A  coxcomb  (1696). 

No.  No  battle,  no  good,  not  worth 
while.  No  chicken,  getting  on  in 
years :  usually  of  women.  No  end, 
extremely,  a  great  many :  a  general 
intensive.  No  fear:  see  Fear.  No 
flies,  artful,  designing :  also  N.F. 
No  fool,  an  ironical  intensive.  No 
go,  no  use,  impossible  :  Fr.,  zut  I  and 
ra  ne  mord  pas  (1830).  No  kid,  no 
mistake.  No  moss,  no  animosity. 
No  name,  no  putt,  if  I  name  no  names 
there  can  be  no  libel,  if  I  do  not 
mention  his  name  he  cannot  take 
offence,  unless  he  likes  to  apply  the 
remarks  to  himself.  No  odds,  no 
matter,  of  no  consequence.  No  re- 
pairs :  see  Repairs. 

Noah's  Ark.  1.  A  long,  closely- 
buttoned  overcoat :  a  coinage  of 
Punch :  from  a  similarity  to  the 
wooden  figures  in  a  toy  ark.  2.  Certain 
clouds  elSptically  parted,  considered 
a  sign  of  fine  weather  after  rain.  3. 
A  lark  (q.v.). 

Noakes.     See  John  o'  Noakes. 

Nob.  1.  The  head:  see  Crumpet 
(1696).  2.  A  person  of  rank  or  posi- 


308 


Nob-a-nob. 


Nodgecock. 


tion.  To  come  the  nob,  to  put  oh  airs 
(1703).  3.  (Oxford  University).  A 
fellow  of  a  college.  4.  A  knobstick 
(q.v.).  5.  The  game  of  prick  -  (or 
cheat  -)  the  -  garter  (1754).  6.  A 
sovereign,  20s.  :  see  Rhino.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  strike,  get  home  a  blow  (speci- 
fically on  the  head) :  cf.  Nobber  ;  (2) 
to  collect  money,  take  round  the  hat : 
Fr.,  faire  la  manche  (1851).  Nob  in 
the  fur  trade,  a  judge  (1838).  To 
nob  it,  to  act  with  such  prudence  and 
knowledge  of  the  world,  as  to  prosper 
and  become  independent,  without  any 
labour  or  bodily  exertion ;  this  is 
termed  nobbing  it,  or  fighting  nob 
work  ;  to  effect  any  purpose  or  obtain 
anything  by  means  of  good  judgment 
and  sagacity,  is  called  nobbing  it  for  . 
such  a  thiJng  (Vauz).  One  for  his 
nob,  (1)  a  blow  on  the  head;  (2)  a 
point  in  cribbage  for  holding  the 
knave  of  trumps  :  cf.  Two  for  his  heels. 
To  pitch  the  nob  :  see  Prick  the  garter. 
Nob-a-nob.  Hob-nob  (q.v.): 
probably  a  corruption. 

N  o  b  b  a.  Nine  [Italian,  Nove  ; 
Spanish,  Nova ;  the  b  and  v  being 
interchangeable,  as  in  sa&e  and 
satwey]. 

Nobber.  1.  A  blow  on  the  head. 
2.  A  financial  agent,  the  man  who 
goes  round  with  the  plate  or  box  : 
great  care  is  always  bestowed  upon  the 
selection  of  the  nobber ;  he  is  really 
the  most  important  member  of  the 
troupe,  and  must  be  an  artist  of  the 
first  water  if  he  is  to  get  any  money  : 
only  a  nobber  can  know  the  reluctant 
way  in  which  the  public  doles  out  its 
coppers,  and  its  refusal  to  donate 
silver  on  any  terms. 

Nobbily.  Showily,  smartly :  cf. 
Nobby. 

Nobbing.  1.  The  administration  of 
blows  on  the  head.  2.  In  pi.,  money 
collected :  see  Nobber. 

Nobbing  -  cheat.  See  Nubbing- 
cheat. 

Nobbing-slum.  The  bag  for  collect- 
ing money  :  see  Nobber. 

Nobble.  1.  To  strike  on  the  head, 
stun.  2.  Secretly  to  frustrate,  spoil, 
lame,  dose,  drug,  or  otherwise  prevent 
the  horse  from  doing  his  level  best, 
across  hurdles,  or  in  a  steeple-chase. 
3.  To  circumvent,  cheat,  do  (q.v.), 
square  (q.v.).  4.  To  appropriate, 
catch,  nab  (q.v.). 

Nobbier.     1.  A  blow  on  the  head. 


2.  A  finishing   stroke,  settler    (q.v.). 

3.  The  gaff  (that  kills) :  rod-fishing. 

4.  A   confederate   of   thimble-riggers 
and     card  -  sharpers,   bonnet     (q.v.), 
bearer   up   (q.v.):    also  nob  -  pitcher. 
[The  nobbier  plays  as  if  a  stranger  to 
the  rig  (q.v.),   to   draw  unsuspecting 
persons  into  play.]     5.  A  pettifogging 
lawyer.      6.     A     drink,     go     (q.v.); 
specifically  of  spirits  (1759). 

Nobble-tree.    The  head,  nob  (q.v.). 

Nobby.  A  fool.  As  adj.,  (1) 
smart ;  elegant,  fashionable :  also 
nobbish,  nobbily,  and  nobby  ( 1808). 

Noble.  To  bring  a  noble  to  nine- 
pence,  to  decline  in  fortune  (1696). 
See  Beggar's  noble. 

Noble  Art.     Pugilism,  boxing. 

Nob-pitcher.  A  sharper  who  at- 
tends at  fairs,  races,  to  take  in  the  flats 
at  prick-in-the-garter,  cups  and  balls, 
and  similar  artifices. 

Nobs-houses.  The  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment. 

Nob's-nob.     King  George  IV. 

Nob-stick.     See  Knobstick. 

Nod-thatch.     The  hair. 

Nob-thatcher.  1.  A  wig-maker, 
strummel  -  faker  (q.v.).  2.  A  straw- 
bonnet-maker. 

Nob  work.    Mental  occupation. 

N  o  c  k  y.  A  simpleton,  dullard  : 
also  nocky-boy,  and  as  adj. 

Nocturne.  A  prostitute,  night-piece 
(q.v.). 

Nod.  To  be  stupid,  dull.  The  Land 
of  Nod,  sleep  :  cf.  The  Land  of  Nod  on 
the  East  of  the  Jordon  (q.v.),  Gen.  iv. 
16  (1608).  A  nod  is  as  good  as  a  wink 
to  a  blind  horse,  said  of  a  covert  hint — 
an  allusion  not  put  into  plain  words 
(1831).  On  the  nod,  on  credit. 

Nodcock.     A  simpleton. 

Noddipol.     See  Noddy. 

Noddle.  The  head  :  see  Crumpet 
(1593). 

Noddle-case.     A  wig. 

Noddy  (Nod,  Noddle  -  Noddipole, 
Noddy-pole,  Noddy-pate,  or  Noddy- 
p  e  a  k  e).  1.  A  simpleton  :  also 
Tom  Noddy  (1540).  2.  A  kind  of 
buggy  or  one-horse  chaise,  with  a  seat 
before  it  for  a  driver,  used  in  and 
about  Dublin  in  the  manner  of  a 
hackney  coach  (Orose).  As  adj., 
simple,  foolish  (1598).  Knave  noddy, 
the  knave  of  trumps. 

Noddy  -  headed.  1.  Witle*s.  2. 
Drunk :  see  Screwed. 

Nodgecock.    A  simpleton  (1566). 

309 


Noffgur. 


Noffgur.     A  prostitute. 

Nog.     See  Noggin. 

Noggin  (Nog,  or  Knoggin).  1. 
A  small  measure  of  spirits,  go  (q.v.) 
(1696).  2.  A  mug  (1635).  3.  The 
head :  see  Crumpet. 

Noggy.     Intoxicated  :  see  Screwed. 

No-how.  1.  Upset,  out  of  sorts. 
2.  Out  of  countenance  (1780). 

Noise.  A  band  of  musicians 
(1598).  To  make  a  noise  at  one,  to 
scold.  To  noise  one,  to  tell  tales  of, 
split  (q.v.). 

Noisy-dog-racket.  Stealing  brass 
knockers  from  doors  (Grose). 

N  o  k  e  s.  1.  A  ninny  or  fool.  2. 
John-a-Nokes  and  Tom-a-Stiles,  two 
fictitious  names  commonly  used  in  law 
proceedings. 

Noli  -  me  -  tangere.  1.  The  itch, 
any  disgusting  contagious  disease : 
cf.  Scotch  fiddle  ( 1626).  2.  A  repellent 
person,  attitude,  or  occurrence.  As 
adj.,  repellent,  forbidding.  [Lat., 
touch-me-not.]  (1591). 

Noll  (or  Nole).  1.  The  head :  see 
Crumpet  (1400).  2.  A  simpleton 
(1587).  Old  Noll,  'the  late  Vsurper, 
Cromwell'  (B.  E.). 

No-man '  s-land.  Waste  ground,  an 
unsettled  acreage,  a  barren  or  broken 
stretch  between  two  provinces  or 
kingdoms:  cf.  Tom  Tiddler's  ground. 

Nominate.     See  Poison. 

Nommus.     See  Nammous. 

Non-com.  A  non-commissioned 
officer. 

Non-con.     A  nonconformist. 

Non-est-inventus.     Absent. 

Non-licet  (Winchester  College). 
Illegal,  unbefitting  a  Wykehamist : 
e.g.  Don't  sport  non-licet  notions. 

Nonny  (Nonino,  or  Hey,  Nonny, 
Nonny).  1.  A  refrain  once  used  to 
cover  indelicate  allusions  (1593).  2. 
A  simpleton. 

Nonplus t.  At  the  end  of  one's 
tether  :  also  at  point  nonplus  (1708). 

Nonsense.  1.  Money:  see  Rhino. 
2.  Melting  butter  in  a  wig ;  also, 
fastening  the  door  with  a  boiled 
carrot.  (Grose).  3.  (Eton  College). 
A  small  division  of  the  Third 
Form. 

Nonsuch.  One  that  is  unequalled ; 
frequently  applied  ironically. 

Nonjuror.  Clergymen  and  others 
(officers  in  the  army,  navy,  etc. ),  that 
refused  to  take  the  oaths  to  King 
William  and  Queen  Mary,  and  were 


turned  out  of  their  livings  and  em- 
ployments (B.  E.). 

Noodle.  A  simpleton  :  also  Billy 
noodle.  The  house  of  noodles,  the 
House  of  Lords.  As  verb,  to  fool. 

Noodledom.     The  world  of  fools. 

Nookery.  A  snug  corner,  place  of 
hiding  (1857). 

Noom.     The  moon,  Oliver  (q.v.). 

Noose  (or  Nooze).  1.  To  hang 
(1676).  2.  To  marry.  Noosing,  » 
wedding  ;  noose  (or  marriage  •  noose), 
the  nuptial  knot  (1617). 

Nope.     A  blow. 

Nope.     No. 

Noras.  Great  Northern  Railway 
Deferred  Ordinary  Stock. 

Norfolk- capon.  A  red  herring :  see 
Glasgow  Magistrate. 

Norfolk-dumpling.   A  Norfolk  man. 

Norfolk  Howard.  1.  A  bug.  2. 
In  pi.,  The  Norfolk  Regiment,  for- 
merly the  9th  Foot. 

Norfolk-nog.  A  kind  of  strong  ale 
(1726). 

Nor -loch  Trout.  A  joint  or  leg 
of  mutton,  ordered  for  a  club  of 
citizens  who  used  to  meet  in  one  of 
the  closes  leading  down  to  the  North 
Loch.  The  invitation  was  given  in 
these  terms  :  Will  ye  gang  and  eat  a 
Nor'  loch  trout  ?  The  reason  of  the 
name  is  obvious.  This  was  the  only 
species  of  fish  which  the  North  Loch, 
on  which  the  shambles  were  situated, 
could  supply  (Jamieson). 

Norp.  To  put  in  phrases  that  will 
fetch  the  gallery,  pile  it  up  (q.v.). 

North.  1.  Strong,  good,  well  forti- 
fied :  usually  of  grog.  Due  north,  neat ; 
too  far  north,  drunk.  2.  Intelligent, 
fly  (q.v.),  up  to  snuff  (q.v.):  cf.  FT., 
perdre  le  nord,  to  be  confused. 

Northallertons.     Spurs. 

North  Country  Compliment.  A 
gift  not  wanted  by  the  giver  nor 
valued  by  the  receiver. 

North-easter.  A  New  England 
sixpence  or  shilling,  temp.  Charles  L 
[On  one  side  were  the  letters  N.E.] 

Northumberland.  Lord  Northumber- 
land's arms,  a  black  eye. 

Norway  Neckcloth.  The  pillory: 
usually  made  of  Norway  fir. 

Norwicher.  An  unfair  drinker :  i.e. 
a  man  who,  taking  first  pull  at  a 
tankard,  does  not  draw  breath  till 
he  has  pretty  well  emptied  the  pot. 

Nose.  1.  An  informer  :  FT.,  riflette, 
tante,  soulasse,  and  sondeur  ( 1 789).  2. 


310 


Nose-and-chin. 


Nozzle. 


A  paid  spy,  shadow  (q.v.),  nark  (q.v.) : 
also  noser  (1819).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
smell,  scent ;  (2)  to  pry,  suspect, 
discover  (1651) ;  (3)  to  inform  (1821) ; 
(4)  to  bluster,  look  big ;  (5)  to  tell  of 
anything  he  has  said  or  done  with  a 
view  to  injure  him,  or  to  benefit  your- 
self. Many  colloquialisms  are  here 
conveniently  grouped :  e.g.  to  put 
one's  nose  out  of  joint,  to  supplant ;  to 
wipe  one's  nose,  (1)  to  cozen;  (2)  to 
affront ;  and  (3)  in  medicine,  to  dis- 
cover an  error  in  diagnosis  and  alter 
treatment  (the  mistaken  practitioner 
is  said  to  have  his  nose  wiped) ;  to 
put  one's  nose  in  the  manger,  to  eat ; 
to  follow  one's  nose,  to  go  straight 
forward  ;  to  lead  by  the  nose,  to  govern  ; 
to  pay  through  the  nose,  to  pay  extra- 
vagantly ;  to  put  one's  nose  into  any- 
thing, to  meddle ;  to  turn  up  one's 
nose,  to  disdain  ;  to  cast  in  (or  to  play 
with)  one's  nose,  to  twit,  or  to  ridicule  ; 
to  have  one's  nose  on  the  grindstone,  to 
be  held  at  a  disadvantage ;  to  be  bored 
through  the  nose,  to  be  cheated  ;  in 
spite  of  your  nose,  in  your  teeth ;  to 
bite  (or  to  cut  off)  one's  nose  to  spite 
one's  face,  to  be  revenged  to  one's  own 
detriment ;  to  tell  (or  to  count)  noses,  to 
appeal  to  numbers  ;  to  make  a  person's 
nose  swett,  to  make  jealous  ;  to  measure 
noses,  to  meet ;  to  take  pepper  in  the 
nose,  ( 1 )  to  take  offence  ;  and  (2)  to 
mistrust ;  as  plain  as  the  nose  on  one's 
face,  beyond  argument ;  a  good  nose,  a 
smell-feast ;  to  make  a  bridge  of  some- 
one's nose,  to  pass  in  drinking,  also  to 
supersede  ;  to  hold  up  one's  nose,  to 
be  proud  ;  a  nose  of  wax,  a  complaisant 
or  accommodating  disposition ;  can- 
dles (or  dewdrops)  in  the  nose,  snots  ; 
on  the  nose,  on  the  look-out ;  a  nose  to 
light  candles  at,  a  drunkard's  nose,  a 
poop-lantern ;  to  see  the  nose  cheese 
first,  to  refuse  contemptuously ;  my 
nose  itches  !  a  jocular  invitation  to 
kiss,  the  retort  being,  I  knew  I  was 
going  to  sneeze,  be  cursed,  or  kissed  by 
a  fool. 

Nose  -  and  -  chin.  A  penny,  win 
(q.v.). 

Nosebag.  1.  A  sea-side  visitor  who 
carries  his  own  victuals  with  him.  2. 
A  veil.  3.  A  bag  of  provender  fas- 
tened to  a  horse's  head  :  whence,  a 
hand-bag.  To  put  on  the  nose  bag,  to 
eat  hurriedly  or  whilst  at  work. 

Nosegent.     A  nun  (1573). 

Nose'm.     Tobacco,  fogus  (q.v.). 


Nosender  (Noser,  or  Nosegay). 
A  blow  on  the  nose  (1823). 

Noser  -  my  -  Knacker.  Tobacco, 
fogus  (q.v.). 

Nose-warmer.  A  short  pipe  :  Fr., 
brule-gueule. 

Nose-watch.     See  Watch  (1573). 

Nose-wipe.  A  handkerchief :  see 
Fogle. 

Nos-rap.  A  parson,  devil-dodger 
(q.v.). 

Nostrum.  A  medicine  prepared 
by  particular  persons  only,  a  quack 
medicine  (Orose). 

Not.  See  Baker,  Care,  Carrot, 
Curse,  Dam,  Devil,  Feather,  Fig,  Fit, 
Fly,  Naif-bad,  In  it,  Joe,  (or  Joseph), 
Long  shot  (or  Sight),  Much,  Shower, 
Rap,  To-day,  Worth,  Yesterday. 

Notch.  1.  To  score.  2.  To 
denote  an  advantage  :  e.g.  Notch  me 
another. 

Note.     1.  A  bon-bon.     2.  A  singer. 

Noter  (Harrow  School).  A  note- 
book. 

Note-shaver.  A  usurer,  a  usurious 
compositor  :  specifically  a  wild  -  cat 
bank  (q.v.),  purchasing  notes  of  hand 
at  excessive  rates  of  discount :  ob- 
solete since  the  regulation  of  banks  by 
Congress. 

Nothing.  See  Dance,  Neck,  and 
Say. 

Notice  to  quit.  When  a  person  is  in 
danger  of  dying  from  bad  health,  it  is 
said,  he  has  received  a  notice  to  quit. 

Notion  (Winchester  College). 
1.  A  word,  usage,  or  phrase  peculiar 
to  Winchester  College).  2.  A  trifle, 
nick-nack :  specifically  (in  pi. ),  wares 
in  general  (1719). 

Notional.  Imaginative,  whimsical, 
sentimental :  also  notionate  (1691). 

Nottamizer.  A  dissecting  surgeon. 
(1828). 

Nottingham  Lamb.     See  Lamb. 

Nous.  Sense,  shrewdness.  [From 
the  Greek  nous].  (1678). 

Nous-box.  The  head,  knowledge- 
box  :  see  Crumpet. 

Nova.     Nine. 

Nowhere.  Not  in  the  reckoning, 
so  far  behind  as  not  to  be.  [A  remin- 
iscence of  that  '  Eclipse  first,  and  the 
rest  nowhere,'  which  described  the 
victory  of  a  famous  horse]. 

Nozzle.  The  nose  :  see  Conk.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  shrink:  e.g.  to  nozzle  the 
bottoms,to  shrink  the  fronts  of  trousers ; 
(2)  to  pawn. 


311 


Nth. 


Nursery-  business . 


Nth  (or  Nth  plus  one).  To 
the  utmost  degree.  Thus  Cut  to  the 
Nth  means  wholly  unnoticed  by  a 
friend.  The  expression  is  taken  from 
the  index  of  a  mathematical  formula, 
where  n  stands  for  any  number,  and 
n  plus  1  more  than  any  number. 

Nub.  1.  The  neck.  2.  A  husband. 
As  verb,  to  hang  :  see  Ladder  (1712). 

Nubbin.  A  remnant,  small  re- 
mainder. 

Nubbing.     Hanging. 

N  u  b  b  i  n  g  -  cheat  (or  Nubbling- 
chit).  The  gallows,  whence  nub- 
bing,  a  hanging  ;  nubbing  -  cove,  the 
hangman ;  and  nubbing-ken,  the  Ses- 
sions House  (1696).  English  syno- 
nyms: Abraham's  balsam  (in  botany, 
a  species  of  willow),  Beilby's  ballroom, 
f 'hates  (chattes  or  chate),  City  stage, 
(formerly  in  front  of  Newgate),  crap, 
deadly  never  -  green,  derrick,  forks, 
government  sign- post,  hanging-cheat, 
horse  foaled  by  an  acorn,  hotel  door- 
posts, the  ladder,  leafless  tree,  mare 
with  three  legs,  Moll  Blood  (old  Scots'), 
morning-drop,  prop  (Punch  and  Judy), 
the  queer-'em  (queer-'un,  queer-'um), 
scrag,  scrag-squeezer,  sheriffs  picture- 
frame,  squeezer,  stalk  (Punch  and 
Judy),  the  stifler,  the  swing,  three- 
legged  mare,  three  trees,  topping 
cheat,  Tower-hill  vinegar  (the  swords- 
man's block),  tree  that  bears  fruit  all 
they  ear  round,  tree  with  three  corners, 
treyning-cheat,  triple-tree,  Tuck'em 
Fair,  Tyburn  cross,  widow,  wooden- 
legged  mare. 

Nuddikin  (or  Noddleken).  The 
head. 

Nuff.  Enough.  To  have  had  one's 
nuff,  to  be  elevated  or  drunk :  cf.  N.  C. 

Nug.  To  fondle,  grabble.  Whence 
my  nug,  my  dear :  a  general  endear- 
ment. 

Nugget.    In  pi.,  money  :  see  Rhino. 

N  u  g  g  e  t  y.  Thick-built,  cobby, 
•tocky. 

Nugging  -  dress.  A  loose  kind  of 
dress. 

Nugging-house.     A  brothel. 

'Nuity.      Go-aheaditiveness  (q.v.). 

Null.     To  beat. 

Null-gropers.  Persons  who  sweep 
the  streets,  in  search  of  old  iron,  nails, 
etc.  (Grose). 

Nulling-cove.     A  pugilist. 
r>Nulli   Secundus  Club.     The 
Coldstream  Guards  :   also  known   as 
The  Coldstreamers. 


Numans.     Newgate  (1610). 

Number.  See  Mew.  To  consult  At 
book  of  numbers,  to  call  for  a  division, 
to  put  a  matter  to  the  vote  (Grose). 
Number  9,  the  Fleet  Prison ;  this  was 
No.  9  Fleet  Market.  Number  One, 
( 1 )  self  ;  to  take  care  of  number  one,  to 
look  after  one's  own  interests ;  (2) 
the  cat-o'  -nine- tails.  Number  six  :  see 
Newgate  knocker.  Number  two,  the 
birch. 

Numps.     A  dolt,  fool  (1614). 

Nums  (or  Numms).  A  clean  collar 
on  a  dirty  shirt.  As  adj.,  sham. 

Numskull.     A  simpleton  (1712). 

Numskulled.     Foolish,  silly. 

Nun.  A  prostitute  :  cf.  Abbess  : 
also  Covent  garden  nun.  Nun's  flesh, 
a  cold  temperament  X1608). 

N  u  n  k  y  (Nunks,  or  Nuncle).  An 
uncle  [Nuncle,  mine  uncle  :  once  the 
customary  address  of  the  licensed  fool 
to  his  superiors]  (1599). 

Nunnery.     A  brothel 

Nunquam.  '  Xunquam  is  he  that 
when  his  Maister  sendeth  him  on  his 
errand  he  wil  not  come  againe  of  an 
hour  or  two '  (Frat.  Vacabondea). 

Nunyare.     Food,  meals. 

Nup  (or  Nupson).     A  fool  (1580). 

Nuppence.  Nothing  :  from  no 
pence,  on  the  model  of  tuppence,  2d. 

Nuptiate.  To  marry,  get  hitched 
(q.v.). 

Nuremburg-egg.  An  early  kind  of 
watch,  oval  in  shape :  invented,  c. 
1500,  in  Nuremburg. 

N  u  r  1  y.  Ill  -  tempered,  cross- 
grained  :  from  gnarly. 

Nurse.  1.  An  old  man's  maid.  2. 
An  able  first  lieutenant,  who  in  former 
times  had  charge  of  a  young  boy- 
captain  of  interest,  but  possessing 
no  knowledge  for  command.  3.  See 
Wet-nurse.  As  verb,  (1)  to  cozen 
(Grose);  (2)  to  keep  the  three  balls 
close  in  play  so  as  to  score  successive 
cannons  :  hence,  nursery  -  business 
(q.v.) ;  (3)  to  cheat  an  opposition  'bus 
of  passengers  by  driving  close  in  front 
or  behind  ;  two  vehicles  are  generally 
employed  to  nurse  the  victim  (1858). 
To  be  at  nurse,  to  be  in  the  hands  of 
trustees  (Grose). 

Nursery.  A  race  for  two-year-olds ; 
almost  always  a  handicap :  also  as 
adj. 

'^Nursery  -  business  (or  cannon). 
Playing  the  three  balls  close  together 
and  so  scoring  successive  cannons. 


312 


Nurses-vail.  > 


Oath. 


Nurse 's-vail.  A  nurse's  petticoats 
when  they  are  wet  with  urine. 

N  u  s  h.  The  mouth :  see  Potato- 
trap. 

Nut.     1.   The  head  :  hence,  intelli- 

rnce,  brains:  see  Crumpet  (1858). 
The  core  of  fat  in  a  leg  of  mutton, 
the  pope's  eye  (q.v.)  (1611).  3.  A 
harum-scarum  ass.  4.  In  pi.,  small 
round  coals.  5.  In  pi.,  a  delightful 
practice  or  experience  (1678).  6. 
In  pi.,  Barcelona  Tramway  Shares. 
7.  A  drink,  go  (q.v.) :  see  Drinks.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  fondle,  ogle,  spoon  (q.v.) ; 
(2)  to  strike  on  the  head.  To  be  nuts 
(or  dead  nuts)  on,  (1)  to  be  very  much 
pleased  or  gratified  with  any  object, 
adventure,  or  overture  ;  so  a  person 
who  conceives  a  strong  inclination  for 
another  of  the  opposite  sex,  is  said  to 
be  quite  nutty,  or  nuts  upon  him  or 
her  ( Vaux) ;  (2)  to  be  very  skilful  or 
dexterous ;  (3)  to  be  particular,  to 
detest.  To  crack  a  nut,  in  country 
gentlemen's  houses  (in  Scotland),  in 
the  olden  time,  when  a  fresh  guest 
arrived  he  was  met  by  the  laird,  who 
made  him  crack  a  nut — that  is,  drink 
a  silver  -  mounted  cocoa  -  nut  shell 
full  of  claret.  The  Nut,  the  Keppel's 
Head,  at  Portsmouth,  known  to  all  her 
Majesty's  navy  as  the  Nut.  A  nut  to 
crack,  a  problem  to  solve,  puzzle  to 
explain,  difficulty  to  overcome  (1843). 
Off  one's  nut,  (1)  crazy  ;  (2)  drunk  :  see 
Screwed. 


Nut-cracker.  1.  The  head.  2.  A 
sharp  blow  on  it.  3.  In  pi.,  the  fists. 
4.  In  pi.,  the  pillory.  5.  In  pi.,  a 
curving  nose  and  protruding  chin.  6. 
The  teeth:  see  Grinders.  7.  The 
Third  Foot :  see  Buff  Howards. 

Nut-hook.     A  term  of  contempt. 

Nutmegs.  Wooden  nutmegs,  whe  n 
made  of  wood,  as  were  those  immor- 
talised by  Sam  Slick,  have  become 
so  familiar  to  the  public  mind  that 
they  have  passed  into  a  slang  term 
for  any  cunning  deception :  not  only 
is  Connecticut  called  the  Nutmeg 
State  —  although  a  factious  native 
says  the  true  reason  is  because  you 
will  have  to  look  for  a  grater — but 
in  the  press  and  in  Congress,  Wooden 
Nutmegs  have  to  answer  for  forged 
telegrams,  political  tricks,  and  falsified 
election-returns. 

Nutmeg-state.     Connecticut. 

Nutshell.  In  a  nutshell,  in  small 
compass,  condensed,  boiled  down 
(1622). 

Nutted.    Deceived  by  a  false  friend. 

Nutty.  1.  Sweet-on,  amorous, 
fascinating  (1821).  2.  Fruitful  of  de- 
tails, spicy  (q.v.).  3.  Smart,  doggy 
(q.v.),  swagger  (q.v.),  nobby  (q.v.), 
nice  (q.v.)  (1823). 

Nux.  The  object  in  view,  the  plant 
(q.v.),  the  lay  (q.v.). 

Nymph  of  darkness  (or  the  pave- 
ment). A  prostitute. 

Nyp.     See  Nip. 


Oaf.  1.  A  loutish  simpleton.  Oaf- 
dom,  the  world  of  louts  ;  oafish,  stupid 
(1621).  2.  A  wiseacre  (1696). 

Oak.  1.  A  man  of  substance  and 
credit  (1696).  '  2.  An  outer  door.  To 
sport  one's  oak,  to  be  not  at  home  :  in- 
dicated by  closing  the  outer  door 
(Grose).  As  adj.,  strong,  rich,  in 
good  repute.  Felling  of  oaks,  sea- 
sickness (1608). 

Oaken-towel.  A  cudgel,  Plymouth 
cloak  (q.v.).  To  rub  down  with  an 
oaken  towel,  to  thrash. 

Oar.  1.  A  busybody  :  hence,  to 
put  (or  shove)  one's  oar  in,  to  interfere, 
meddle  officiously  (Grose).  (1596).  2. 
(1)  In  pi.,  a  waterman  ;  i.e.  oars  (two 
men)  as  opposed  to  sculls,  (q.v.)  one 
man);  and  (2)  an  oarsman 


First-oars,  a  favourite,  a  person  or 
thing  holding  the  first  or  highest  place 
(1774).  Tolie(or  rest)  on  one's  oars,  to 
rest,  take  things  easy. 

Oat.  An  atom,  particle  :  e.g.  I've 
not  an  oat,  I'm  penniless.  Wild  oats, 
a  rake,  debauchee  :  hence,  to  sow  one's 
wild  oats,  to  indulge ;  to  have  sown 
one's  wild  oats,  to  have  reformed 
(1570).  Feed  of  oats,  (1)  A  whip,  (2) 
a  beating.  To  earn  a  gatton  of  oats, 
of  horses :  to  fall  on  the  back  rolHng 
from  one  side  to  the  other.  To  fed 
one's  oats,  to  get  bumptious :  cf. 
Beans. 

Oath.  To  take  an  oath,  to  drink, 
liquor  up  (q.v.).  Highgate  oath,  a 
jocose  asseveration  which  travellers 
towards  London  were  required  to  take 


313 


Oatmeal, 


CM*. 


at  a  certain  tavern  at  Highgato  :  they 
were  obliged  to  swear  that,  they  would 
not  prefer  small  beer  before  strong, 
unless  indeed  they  liked  the  small 
better  ;  never  to  kiss  the  maid  if  they 
could  kiss  the  mistress,  unless  the 
maid  was  prettier ;  with  other  state- 
ments of  a  similar  kind. 

Oatmeal.  A  roystering  profligate : 
see  Roaring  boy  (1656).  All  the  world 
is  not  oatmeal,  things  are  not  what 
they  seem,  All  is  not  gold  that  glitters, 
cf.  Beer  and  skittles  (1642). 

Oats-and-barley.     Charley. 

Oats-and-chaff.     A  footpath. 

Oat-stealer.     An  ostler. 

Ob  (Winchester  College).  A  con- 
traction of  obit. 

Obadiah.     A  Quaker. 

Ob-and-soller.  A  scholastic  dis- 
putant. [From  Objection  and  Solu- 
tion used  in  the  margin  of  books.] 
(1638). 

O-be-easy.  To  sing  O  be  easy,  to 
appear  contented  when  one  has  cause 
to  complain. 

O-be- joyful.  Good  liquor,  brandy. 
O-be-joyful  works,  a  drinking-shop. 
To  make  one  sing  O  be  joyfvl  on  (or 
with)  the  other  side  of  the  mouth,  to 
make  one  cry. 

Obeum  (The)  (University).  The 
name  for  a  water-closet  building  at 
Cambridge.  [  Attri  bu ted  by  the  Under- 
graduates to  the  energy  of  O(scar) 
B(rowning)]. 

Obfuscated.  Drunk :  see  Screwed  : 
also  obfuscation  (1861). 

Obit.     An  obituary  notice. 

Object.  1.  A  laughing- (or  gazing-) 
stock.  Little  object  (of  children),  a 
half-playful,  half-angry  endearment. 
2.  A  sweetheart  (i.e.  the  object  of  one's 
affections)  (1824). 

Obiquitous.  Innocence  of  right  and 
wrong  :  from  oblivious  and  obliquity. 

Obscute.     Under-handed,  crooked. 

Observationist.  One  who  looks  out 
tempting  objects  for  a  skilful  thief  to 
steal :  generally  pedlars,  hawkers,  etc. 

Obstropulous.  A  corruption  of  ob- 
streperous (1748). 

Occabot  Tobacco  ;  tib  fo  oeeabot, 
bit  of  tobacco. 

Occasion.  To  improve  the  occasion, 
to  make  the  most  of  a  chance  (1860). 

Occupy.     To  wear. 

Ocean.  In  pi.,  a  very  large  quan- 
tity :  e.g.  oceans  of  drink,  of  coin,  of 
notices,  and  the  like. 


Ocean-greyhound.  A  swift  steamer: 
specifically  one  running  between 
England  and  America :  also  Atlantic 
greyhound.  Mr.  T.  Dykes  (Glasgow 
Mail,  28  May  1900),  says  that  in  1882 
three  great  shipbuilding  yards- 
Barrow,  Dalmuir,  and  Fairfield — had 
each  on  hand  a  new  steamer  that  was 
to  beat  the  record,  at  that  time  held 
by  the  Arizona.  He  was  commis- 
sioned by  Mr.  Gordon  Bennett  to 
write  an  article  on  the  subject,  and,  aa 
an  old  coursing  correspondent,  was 
called  upon  to  name  the  winner.  He 
interviewed  men  best  qualified  to 

S've  an  opinion,  amongst  others  Mr. 
.  L.  Watson,  who  plumped  for  the 
Fairfield  boat  as  likely  to  prove  the 
greyhound  of  the  Atlantic.  The 
Alaska,  therefore,  was  named  the 
Greyhound  of  the  Atlantic  before  she 
was  launched. 
ffcOchive.  A  knife. 

Ochre.  Money :  specifically  gold  : 
see  Rhino. 

O'clock.  To  know  whafs  o'clock,  to 
be  alert,  up  to  the  time  of  day :  see 
Know.  Like  one  o'clock,  quickly, 
readily,  in  a  jiffy  (q.v.) :  see  Like. 

O  Criminy.     See  Crimes. 

October.  1.  The  best  ale :  spec,  ale 
or  cider  brewed  in  October.  2.  Blood. 

Odd.  Strange,  peculiar,  difficult 
(1602). 

Odd  -  come  -  shortly.  Some  day : 
also  odd-come-short,  odds  and  ends, 
fragments. 

Odd   Fish.     An    eccentric :    see 
Queer  Card  (1771). 
HjJOddish.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 
TOddity.     A  singularity  (1813). 
'*  Odd  Man  out     A  mode  of  tossing 
for  drinks  by  three  or  more.     Each 
spins   a   coin,   and  if  two  come   up 
head  and  one  tail,   the  tail  or  odd 
man   is   out,    i.e.    has   not  to   pay. 
Should  all  three  coins  be  alike  they 
are  skied  again  (1840). 

Odds.  The  probabilities  for  or 
against ;  the  chance  of  something 
occurring ;  that  which  justifies  the 
attributing  of  superiority  to  one  of 
two  or  more  persons  or  things  :  speci- 
fically, in  betting,  the  excess  of  the 
amount  of  a  bet  made  by  one  party 
over  that  of  another :  as  the  odds 
against  the  favourite  were  3  to  1 
(1591).  Whafs  the  odds  ?  What  does 
it  matter  :  an  intensive  of  recklessness 
and  good-fellowship  (1840). 


314 


Odling. 


Old  Bailey  Undericriter. 


Odling.     Cheating  (1599). 

O  d  n  o.  No  do.  Riding  on  the 
odno,  travelling  by  rail  without  pay- 
ment. 

Odour.  Repute :  as  good  or  bad 
odour,  the  odour  of  sanctity,  etc. 
(1853). 

Off.  The  field  of  the  wicket- 
keeper  (1856).  As  adv.,  (1)  out-of- 
date  :  originally  waiters  :  e.g.  Chops  is 
hoff,  there  are  no  more  chops  to-day  ; 
(2)  stale,  in  bad  condition  :  e.g.  smells 
a  little  bit  off,  don't  it  ?  To  be  off, 
to  depart,  run  away.  Off  bat  (Win- 
chester College),  the  station  of  one 
of  the  field  in  a  cricket  match,  Point. 
Off  the  horn,  said  of  very  hard  steak. 
Off  the  hinge,  out  of  work  (1853). 
Also  see  Base,  Bat,  Chump,  Cocoanut, 
Colour,  Dot,  Feed,  Head,  Hook, 
Kadoova,  Nut,  Onion,  Reel,  Rocker, 
Saucer,  Song,  Spot. 

Off-chance.     A  doubtful  hazard. 

Office.  A  hint,  signal,  or  private 
intimation,  from  one  person  to  an- 
other ;  this  is  termed  officeing  him,  or 
giving  him  the  office ;  to  take  the 
office,  is  to  understand  and  profit  by 
the  hint  given :  Fr.,  donner  un  tuyau. 
As  verb,  to  give  notice  or  informa- 
tion (1819).  Cook's  office,  the  galley. 
Jack  in  office  :  see  Jack. 

Office-sneak.  A  stealer  of  office 
overcoats  and  umbrellas. 

Offish.     Distant  (1842). 

Off -ox.  An  unmanageable,  cross- 
grained  fellow. 

Ogging  ot  Tekram.  Going  to 
market. 

Ogle.  1.  In  pi.,  the  eyes  :  also 
oglers.  Hence  queer-ogled,  squinting  ; 
rum  ogles,  bright  or  piercing  eyes 
(1696).  2.  An  ocular  invitation  or 
consent,  side  glance,  or  amorous  look  : 
whence  ogling,  an  amorous  look 
(1704).  As  verb,  (1)  to  look  amor- 
ously, make  sheep's  eyes  (q.v.) 
(1696) ;  (2)  to  examine,  consider 
(1836);  (3)  to  look  (1821) 

Ogler.  1.  See  Ogle.  2.  One  who 
ogles  (q.v.)  (1702). 

O  h.  See  After  you,  Dummy, 
Jupiter,  Moses,  My,  Swallow. 

Oil.  Used  in  humorous  or  sar- 
castic combination :  e.g.  oil  of  angels, 
a  gift  or  bribe  (in  allusion  to  the  coin), 
oil  of  barley,  beer  ;  oil  of  baaton  (birch, 
gladness,  hazel,  holly,  rope,  stirrup, 
strappem,  or  whip),  a  beating ;  oil  of 
palms  or  palm-oil),  a  bribe ;  otf  of 


tongue,  flattery  (1592).  As  verb,  to 
flatter,  bribe  (1616).  To  strike  oil 
(or  tie),  to  meet  with  a  stroke  of  good 
luck,  be  successful.  [From  the  finan- 
cial advantage  accruing  from  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Pennsylvanian  and 
other  mineral  oil  springs.]  To  oil 
the  wig,  to  make  tipsy :  see  Screwed. 
To  oil  the  knocker,  to  fee  the  porter : 
Fr.,  graisser  le  marteau. 

Oiner.     A  cad. 

Ointment.  1.  Butter,  cart-grease 
(q.v.).  2.  Money:  see  Rhino:  from 
the  13th  century  Fabliau,  De  la  Vieitte 
qui  Oint  la  Palme  au  Chevalier. 

O.  K.  General  Jackson,  better 
known  ...  as  Old  Hickory,  was  not 
much  at  home  in  the  art  of  spelling, 
and  his  friend  and  admirer,  Major 
Jack  Downing,  found  therefore  no 
difficulty  in  convincing  the  readers 
of  his  Letters,  that  the  President  em- 
ployed the  letters  O.K.  as  an  endorse- 
ment of  applications  for  office,  and 
other  papers.  They  were  intended 
to  stand  for  All  Correct,  which  the  old 
gentleman  preferred  writing  Oil  Kor- 
rect.  As  verb,  to  signify  that  all  is  right. 

Old.  Money  :  see  Rhino.  As  adj., 
1.  crafty,  cunning,  experienced ;  2. 
great,  famous,  grand  :  once  a  common 
intensitive ;  now  only  in  combina- 
tion with  high,  good,  gay  (1590).  3. 
Old,  ugly.  4.  A  general  term  of  en- 
dearment or  cordiality :  e.g.  Old 
chap,  Old  fellow,  Old  boy,  Old  hoss, 
Old  man,  Old  gal  (1598).  5.  A  general 
disparagement :  as  in  Old  bloke,  Old 
buffer,  Old  cat,  Old  cock,  Old  codger, 
Old  coon,  Old  crawler,  Old  curmud- 
geon, Old  dog,  Old  file,  Old  fiz-gig, 
Old  geezer,  Old  huddle  and  twang, 
Old  image,  Old  pot-and-pan,  Old 
shaver,  Old  square-toes,  Old  stager, 
Oldstick,  Old  stick-in-the-mud  (1600). 
As  old  as  Charing  Cross  (or  as  Paul's), 
of  ripe  age. 

Old  Agamemnons.  The  69th  Foot, 
now  the  2nd  Batt.  of  the  Welsh  Regi- 
ment :  bestowed  by  Nelson  at  St. 
Vincent  in  1769,  when  the  regiment 
were  serving  as  marines.  Also  The 
Ups  and  Downs. 

Old  and  Bold.  The  Prince  of  Wales's 
Own  (West  Yorkshire  Regiment), 
formerly  the  14th  Foot.  Also  Cal- 
vert's  Entire,  The  Powos,  and  The 
Fighting  Brigade. 

Old  Bailey  Underwriter.  A  petty 
forger. 


315 


Old  Bendy. 


Old  Pelt. 


Old  Bendy.    The  devil 

Old  Bird.  1.  An  experienced 
thief  :  also  Old  hand.  2.  An  expert : 
also  old  hand  and  old  dog  :  hence  old 
dog  at  it,  expert. 

Old  Blazes.     The  devil 

Old  Block.     See  Chip. 

Old  Bold.  The  29th  Foot,  now  the 
1st  Batt.  Worcestershire  Regiment. 
Also  The  Ever-Sworded  !J9th. 

Old  Bold  Fifth.  The  Northumber- 
land Fusiliers :  formerly  The  5th  Foot. 
Also  The  Shiners,  The  Fighting  Fifth, 
and  Lord  Wellington's  Bodyguard. 

Old  Boots.  Like  old  boots,  a 
general  and  irrelevant  comparison : 
see  Lake  (1850). 

Old  Braggs.  The  28th  Foot,  now 
the  1st  Batt.  Gloucestershire  Regi- 
ment :  from  its  Colonel's  name, 
1734-51.  Also  The  Slashers. 

Old  Bucks.  The  Bedfordshire 
Regiment,  formerly  the  16th  Foot. 
Also  The  Peacemakers  and  The 
Feather-beds. 

Old  Buffs.  The  Third  Foot,  now 
The  Buffs  (East  Kent  Regiment). 
Also  Nut-crackers  and  Resurrection- 
ists. 

Old-crow.  A  drink,  dram.  [In 
the  United  States  old  crow,  a  choice 
brand  of  Bourbon  or  corn  whisky]. 

Old-dog.  1.  A  half-burnt  plug  of 
tobacco  left  in  the  bowl  of  a  pipe.  2. 
A  lingering  antique.  As  adj.,  par- 
ticularly good  (1596). 

Old  Donah  (or  Old  woman). 
A  mother. 

Old  Doss.     Bridewell. 

Old  Dozen.  The  Suffolk  Regiment, 
formerly  the  12th  Foot. 

Old  Driver.  The  devil :  see  Skipper. 

Old  Ebony.  Blaclnoood's  Magazine : 
also  Maga. 

Old  Eyes.  The  Grenadier  Guards  ; 
also  known  as  The  Sand  Bags,  The 
Coalheavers,  The  Housemaids'  Pets, 
and  The  Bermuda  Exiles. 

Old  File.  A  miser ;  a  skinflint 
(q.v.) :  also  see  Old. 

Old  Five  and  Threepennies. 
The  Fifty  -  third  Foot.  [From  ite 
number  and  (formerly)  the  daily  pay 
of  an  ensign].  Also  Brickdusts. 

Old  Floorer.    Death. 

Old  Fogs.  The  87th  Foot,  now 
the  Royal  Irish  Fusiliers.  [From 
their  battle  -  cry,  Fag  -  an  •  Bealach, 
Clear  the  Way].  Also  Blayney's 
Bloodhounds  and  The  Rollickers. 


Old  Gentleman.  1.  A  card  somewhat 
larger  and  thicker  than  the  rest  of  the 
pack,  and  now  in  considerable  UM 
amongst  the  legs.  2.  The  devil  ( 1 727). 

Old  Glory.  The  United  States'  flag 
(1770-1844). 

Old  Gooseberry.  The  devil.  To 
play  old  gooseberry,  to  play  the  devil 

Old  gown.     Smuggled  tea. 

Old  Hand.    See  Old  bird. 

Old  Harry.  The  devil :  also  the 
lord  Harry  (1687).  2.  A  composition 
used  by  vintners,  when  they  bedevil 
their  wines  (B.  E.).  To  play  old 
Harry,  to  play  the  devil :  see  Play. 

Old  Harvey.  The  large  boat  (the 
launch)  of  a  man-of-war. 

Old  (or  salt)  Horse.  1.  Salt 
junk :  Fr.,  sous-pied,  and  tire-fiacre.  2. 
An  endearment :  a  familiar  address. 

Old  Inniskillings.  The  6th 
(Inniskilling)  Dragoons.  Also  The 
Skillingers. 

Old  Iron.  Shore  clothes.  To  work 
up  old  iron,  to  go  ashore. 

Old  lady.  A  broad  (q.v.).  The 
old  lady  of  Threadneedle  St.,  the  Bank 
of  England  (1797). 

Old  Lag.     See  Lag. 

Old  Line  State.  Maryland.  [From 
the  old  line  regiments  contributed  to 
the  Continental  army  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution]. 

Old  Man.  1.  A  full-grown  male 
kangaroo.  2.  A  familiar  mode  of 
address.  3.  A  master,  governor 
(q.v.),  boss  (q.v.).  4.  A  husband: 
cf.  Old  woman:  Fr.,  geniteur.  5.  The 
captain  of  a  merchantman  (1823).  6. 
The  ridge  between  two  sleepers  in  a 
feather  bed.  7.  A  blanket  used  to 
wrap  a  young  child  in.  8.  A  father. 

Old  Man's  Milk.  Whisky:  see 
Drinks.  In  Scotland  a  mixture  of 
cream,  eggs,  sugar,  and  whisky. 

Old  Mr.  Gory.  A  piece  of  gold 
(B.  E.). 

Old  Mr.  Grim.  Death,  Old  Floorer 
(q.v.). 

Old  Nick.  The  devil :  also  nicicie 
and  nickie-ben  (1662). 

Old  one  (or  Old  'un).  1.  The  devil 
2.  A  father  (1836).  3.  A  horse  more 
than  three  years  old.  4.  The  panta- 
loon, fool's  father  (q.v.). 

Old  Pegg.  Poor  Yorkshire  cheese, 
made  of  skimmed  milk  (Grote). 

Old  Pelt.  An  old  pressman.  [In 
allusion  to  the  ink  pelts  formerly  in 
use  for  distributing  the  ink]. 


316 


Old  Pod. 


On. 


Old  Pod  (or  Old  Pot-and-pan). 
1.  An  old  man,  father.  2.  A  wife,  a 
woman. 

Old  Poger.     The  devil. 

Old  Probabilities.  The  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States'  weather 
bureau  :  sometimes  Old  Prob. 

Old  Red-eye.  Whisky  :  see  Drinks. 

Old  Rip.     See  Rip. 

Old  Roger.     The  deviL 

Old  Salt.     An  experienced  sailor. 

Old  Saucy  Seventh.  The  7th  (The 
Queen's  Own)  Hussars :  in  Peninsula 
times.  Also  The  Lily-white  Seventh, 
Young  Eyes,  Old  Strawboots,  and 
Straws. 

Old  Scratch.     The  devil  (1762). 

Old  Seven  and  Sixpennies.  The 
76th  Foot,  now  the  2nd  Batt.  Duke 
of  Wellington's  (West  Riding  Regi- 
ment) :  from  its  former  number  and 
the  amount  of  a  lieutenant's  pay. 
Also  The  Immortals  and  The  Pigs. 

Old  Shell.     A  sailor. 

Old  Shoe.  A  portent  (or  augury)  of 
good  fortune.  To  wear  (or  ride  in)  an- 
other man's  old  shoes  (or  boots),  to  marry 
another  man's  sweetheart  or  widow. 

Old  Soldier.  A  cigar  end  or  old 
quid.  To  come  the  old  soldier :  see 
Come. 

Old  Song.  A  trifle,  a  nominal 
sum  or  price. 

Old  Split-foot.     The  devil  (1848). 

Old  Stager.  A  person  of  experience, 
Old  dog  (q.v.). 

Old  Stick.  1.  A  disparagement :  of. 
Old.  2.  A  complimentary  mode  of 
address  to  an  old  man,  signifying  he  is 
a  capital  fellow  (Hattiwett). 

Old  Stubborns.  The  Forty-fifth 
Foot,  now  The  Sherwood  Foresters. 

Old  Strawboots  (or  Straws). 
The  7th  (The  Queen's  Own)  Hussars  : 
for  substituting  at  Warbourg  (1760) 
strawbands  for  worn-out  boots.  Also 
The  Old  Saucy  Seventh  and  The  Lily- 
White  Seventh. 

Old  Timer.  1.  A  laudator  temporis 
acti.  2.  One  who  has  grown  old  in  a 
place  or  profession  (1860). 

Old  Toast.  1.  The  devil :  also  Old 
toaster  (1859).  2.  A  brisk  old  fellow 
(Grose). 

Old  Tom.  Gin:  see  White  Satin 
(1823). 

Old  Toughs.  The  One  Hundred  and 
Third  Foot,  now  the  2nd  Batt.  Royal 
Dublin  Fusiliers.  [For  long  and 
arduous  service  in  India]. 


Old  Trot.     See  Trot. 

Old  'un.     See  Old  one. 

Old  Whale.     A  sailor. 

Old  Woman.  1.  A  prisoner  who, 
unfit  for  physical  hard  work,  is  set 
to  knitting  stockings.  2.  A  man  with 
the  character  and  habits  of  a  woman  : 
also  old  wife.  3.  A  wife  or  mother  :  cf. 
Old  man. 

Olive-branches.  Children.  [In  al- 
lusion to  Psalm  cxxviii.  4,  in  Book  of 
Common  Prayer]  (1688). 

Oliver.  The  moon,  the  sky-lantern. 
Oliver  whiddles  (or  is  up),  the  moon 
shines  ;  Oliver  is  in  town,  the  nights 
are  moonlight  (1781).  To  give  a  Bow- 
land  for  an  Oliver  :  see  Rowland. 

Oliver 's  Skull.  A  chamber-pot :  see 
It. 

Ollapod.  An  apothecary.  [From 
George  Coleman's  comedy  (1802)  The 
Poor  Gentleman.] 

Olli  compolli.  The  by-name  of  one 
of  the  principal  rogues  of  the  Canting 
Crew  (B.  E.). 

O  m  e  e.  A  man  :  specifically,  a 
master  :  also  omer  and  homee. 

Omnibus.  A  man  of  all-work,  a 
handy  man. 

Omnium  (Stock  Exchange).  The 
aggregate  value  of  the  different  stocks 
in  which  a  loan  is  funded. 

Omnium  Gatherum.  A  medley, 
Jack-of -all-trades  (1576). 

On.  1.  No.  2.  Tipsy  :  see  Screwed. 
3.  Used  for  of  (1637).  4.  (Winchester 
College).  The  word  given  by  the 
Praefect  of  Hall  for  the  boys  to  start 
to  or  from  Hills,  or  to  Cathedral. 
When  any  person  or  thing  of  im- 
portance was  known  to  be  likely  to 
meet  the  boys  when  on  Hills,  the  word 
was  passed  that  he,  she,  or  it  was  on, 
— e.g.  Ridsworth  on,  snobs  on, 
badger  on,  etc.  (Mansfield).  5.  Car- 
nally minded,  concupiscent.  To  be 
(or  get)  on,  ( 1 )  to  make  a  bet :  generally 
to  have  a  bit  on  ;  (2)  ready  and  willing, 
good  at,  fond  of.  To  try  it  on :  see 
Try.  See  also  Back,  Ballot,  Bat, 
Batter,  Beam-ends,  Beer,  Bend,  Board, 
Bone,  Boot-leg,  Bounce,  Box,  Burst 
(or  Bust),  Cards,  Chain,  Cheap,  Crook, 
Cross,  Dead,  Dead  broke,  Dead  quiet, 
Dee,  Fly,  Forty-ninth,  Fourth,  Fuddle 
Grass,  Ground-floor,  Half-shell,  Head, 
Hip,  Hop,  Ice,  Job,  Lay,  Ledge,  Loose, 
Make,  Muddle,  Nail,  Nod,  Nose,  One's 
P's  and  Q's,  Pounce,  Prairie,  Pro- 
motion,  Quiet,  Q.T.,  Ramble,  Ram- 


317 


Once. 


Optime. 


page,  Rantan,  Ready,  Reerau,  Road, 
Rails,  Scent,  Scoot,  Scout,  Sentry, 
Shallow,  Sharp,  Shelf,  Shove,  Shunt, 
Skyte,  Slate,  Sly,  Snap,  Spree,  Spot, 
Square,  Stairs,  Straight,  Stretch, 
String,  Swing,  Tailboard,  Take,  Tappy, 
Tiles,  Time,  Tick,  Tramp,  Toast,  Top, 
Uppers,  Velvet,  Wallaby,  Warpath, 
Win,  etc.]. 

Once.     In  once,  first  time. 

One.  1.  A  lie :  see  Whopper.  2. 
A  blow,  grudge,  score :  also  one  in  the 
eye  (1839).  One  in,  hearing  another's 
good  fortune  and  wishing  the  same  to 
oneself.  One  out,  congratulating  one- 
self on  a  fortunate  escape.  One  of 
my  cousins,  a  harlot.  One  of  us  (or 
them),  a  woman  of  the  town  (Ray). 
One  under  the  arm,  an  extra  job.  One 
out  of  it,  I  don't  want  to  be  mixed  up 
with  it.  One  of  the  Lord's  own,  a 
dandy.  To  be  one  upon  another's  taw, 
a  person  who  takes  offence  at  the  con- 
duct of  another,  or  conceives  himself 
injured  by  the  latter,  will  say,  never 
mind  I'll  be  one  upon  your  taw ;  or, 
I'll  be  a  marble  on  your  taw  ;  meaning 
I'll  be  even  with  you  some  time 
( Faux).  One  and  thirty,  drunk :  see 
Screwed.  One  for  his  nob,  I.  A  blow 
on  the  head.  2.  See  Nob,  and  Three 
out. 

One-a-piece.  To  see  one-a-piece,  to 
see  double  :  see  Screwed. 

Onee.  One :  e.g.  onee  soldi  (or 
torn),  one  penny. 

One  -  eyed  Scribe.  A  revolver  : 
see  Meat-in-the-pot. 

One-horse  (or  eyed).  Petty,  in- 
significant, of  no  account :  also  one- 
goat  (1858). 

One  -  in  -  ten.  A  parson.  [In  al- 
lusion to  tithes]. 

One  Nitch  (or  Nick).  A  male 
child ;  two  nitch,  a  baby  girl. 

One  o'clock.     See  Like. 

One-er.  1.  A  person  or  thing  of 
great  parts :  as  a  very  successful 
play,  an  exceedingly  pretty  woman,  a 
crushing  blow,  a  monumental  lie  :  also 
wunner.  2.  A  shilling  :  see  Rhino. 

One's  eye.  A  hiding  place  for 
cabbage  (q.v.),  hell  (q.v.). 

One  Two.  In  boxing  two  blows 
rapidly  put  in  after  each  other.  Jem 
Belcher  was  distinguished  for  his 
one  two. 

Onicker.     A  prostitute. 

Onion.  1.  The  head.  Off  his 
onion,  off  his  wits :  see  Tibby.  2.  A 


seal :  generally  in  plural :  e.g.  Bunch 
of  onions. 

Oodles.     A  large  quantity. 

Oof  (or  Ooftish).  Money.  Oof-bird, 
the  goose  that  lays  the  golden  eggs, 
the  source  of  supply ;  the  feathered 
oof-bird,  money  in  plenty ;  to  mate 
the  oof-bird  walk,  to  circulate  money  ; 
oofless,  poor.  [Ooftish  was,  some 
twenty  years  ago,  the  East  End 
synonym  for  money,  and  was  derived 
from  auf  tische,  on  the  table  —  the 
aristocracy  of  Houndsditch  being  in 
the  habit  of  refusing  to  play  cards, 
even  with  their  best  friends,  unless  the 
money  were  down  on  the  table.  Hence, 
ooftish,  a  word  which  was  freely  used 
by  the  late  Mr.  Benson  and  his  com- 
panions in  the  De  Goncourt  frauds. 
We — that  is  to  say  Gub — met  ooftish 
at  a  thieves'  supper  in  Little  Wylde 
Street,  took  the  animal  home,  cut  his 
tail  off,  and  turned  him  loose.  So 
that  oof  now  swaggers  about  the 
mansions  of  the  aristocracy. — Sport- 
ing Times], 

O.  P.  1.  Opposite  the  Prompter 
and  Prompt  Side.  2.  Out  of  print. 

Open.  To  open  the  ball,  to  start  or 
begin  anything  (1812).  To  open  one's 
mouth  too  wide,  to  bid  for  larger 
amounts  of  stock  than  one  can  pay  for, 
to  appropriate  more  than  one  can  use. 

Open  house.  Hospitality  for  all 
comers  (1530). 

Opera  Buffer.  An  actor  in  opera 
bouffe. 

Opera  House.  A  workhouse :  Latin 
opera,  work. 

Operator.  A  pickpocket,  thief  (q.  v. ). 

O-per-se-0.  Watchman,  bellman, 
crier  (1612). 

O.P.H.  Off:  e.g.  Demme,  I'm 
O.P.H. 

Oppidan  (Eton  College).  A  boy 
who  boards  in  the  town,  as  distin- 
guished from  a  King's  Scholar. 

Opiniator.  An  assuming  positive 
fellow,  an  obstinate  self-conceited 
coxcomb  (B.  E. ). 

Opium-joint.     An  opium  den. 

Optic.  1.  An  eye  :  see  Glims  ( 1600). 
2.  An  optic-glass,  spy -glass  (1721). 

Optime  (University).  The  senior 
and  junior  optimes  are  the  second  and 
last  classes  of  Cambridge  honours 
conferred  on  taking  a  degree.  That 
of  wranglers  is  the  first.  The  last 
junior  optirae  is  called  the  Wooden 
Spoon  (Gfrose). 


318 


Oracle. 


Out. 


Oracle.  A  watch,  ticker  (q.v.) 
(1708).  To  work  the  oracle,  to  plan, 
succeed  by  stratagem :  specifically 
to  raise  money. 

Orange.  To  suck  the  orange  dry,  to 
exhaust,  deplete. 

Orange  Lilies.  The  Thirty-fifth 
Foot.  [From  the  facings  till  1832  and 
the  plumes  awarded  for  gallantry  at 
Quebec  in  1759].  Now  the  1st  Batt. 
Royal  Sussex. 

Orate.     To  make  a  speech. 

Orator.  Cf.  oration,  dialectical  for 
noise  or  uproar.  Orator  to  a  mounte- 
bank, the  Doctor's  decoy  who  in  con- 
junction with  Jack  Pudding,  amuses, 
diverts,  and  draws  in  the  patients 
(B.  E.). 

Orchid.  A  titled  member  of  the 
Stock  Exchange. 

Order.  A  large  order,  something 
excessive.  To  order  one's  name  (Win- 
chester School),  the  direction  given 
to  an  offender  by  any  of  the  authori- 
ties. The  boy  so  directed,  if  he  was 
in  College,  or  if  the  order  was  given  in 
school,  had  to  go  to  the  Ostiarius — 
or  to  the  Praefect  in  course,  if  the 
offence  was  committed  in  commoners 
— and  give  information  of  the  order, 
and  the  reason  why  it  had  been  given. 
The  Ostiarius,  or  the  Praefect  in 
course,  wrote  down  the  culprit's  name, 
together  with  that  of  the  Master,  and 
the  offence,  and  carried  it  up  to  the 
Head  or  Second  Master,  when  due 
execution  was  done  (Adams). 

Order  -  racket.  Obtaining  goods 
from  a  shopkeeper,  by  means  of  a 
forged  order  or  false  pretence. 

Ordinary.     A  wife  :  see  Dutch. 

Organ.  1.  A  clothes'  trunk.  2. 
A  pipe.  3.  A  workman  who  lends 
money  to  his  fellows  at  exorbitant 
interest ;  to  play  the  organ,  to  apply 
for  such  a  loan.  To  carry  the  organ, 
to  shoulder  the  pack  or  valise  at  de- 
faulters' or  marching  order  drill. 

Organ-pipe.  1.  The  throat,  wind- 
pipe, the  voice.  2.  In  pi.,  a  fulness 
in  skirt-backs  created  by  folds  of 
starched  muslin. 

Original  Go.  A  novel  predica- 
ment (1854). 

Orinoko.     A  poker. 

Ornythorhynchus.  A  creditor, 
a  beast  with  a  bill. 

Orphan  Collar.  One  that  does 
not  match  the  shirt  in  colour  or 
material. 


Oschive.     See  Ochive. 

Ostiarius  (Winchester  College) : 
obsolete).  An  office  held  by  the 
Prsefects  in  succession.  The  duties 
were,  to  keep  order  in  school,  collect  the 
Vulguses,  and  prevent  the  boys  from 
shirking  out.  It  is  also  the  official 
title  for  the  Second  Master. 

Ostler.  1.  An  oat-stealer.  2.  In 
America,  a  horse-thief. 

Otter.  A  sailor.  As  adj.,  eight : 
also  otto. 

Ottomy.  A  skeleton,  bag  of  bones 
(q.v.),  atomy  (q.v.).  Ottomised, 
anatomised  (1738). 

Ounce.  Half  an  ounce,  half  a  crown, 
silver  being  formerly  estimated  at  a 
crown  or  five  shillings  an  ounce 
(Grose). 

Out.  1.  A  dram-glass :  they  are 
made  two-out  (half-quartern),  three- 
out,  and  four-out :  when  a  man  wants 
to  treat  a  couple  of  friends  he  asks  for 
a  quartern  of  gin  and  three-out, 
meaning,  a  quartern  of  gin  and  three 
glasses,  which  together  will  exactly 
hold  that  quantity  (1836).  2.  One 
out  of  employment  or  office  ;  speci- 
fically (in  politics)  a  member  of  the 
party  in  opposition:  cf.  In  (1768). 
3.  Leave  to  go  out,  an  outing  (q.v.),  a 
holiday.  4.  A  discarded  mistress. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  kill,  outing-dues,  the 
death  penalty  ;  (2)  to  knock  out  an 
opponent  so  that  he  fails  to  respond  at 
the  call  of  time.  As  adv.,  (1)  tipsy : 
see  Screwed ;  (2)  general  (society), 
just  presented  ;  (cricketers'),  sent  from 
the  wickets ;  (politicians'),  not  in 
office  ;  (thieves'),  released  from  gaol ; 
(marketmen's),  not  on  sale;  (popular), 
(a)  having  a  tendency  to  lose,  (b) 
wrong,  inaccurate,  and  (c)  unfashion- 
able (1660).  To  live  out,  to  be  in 
domestic  service:  i.e.  as  living  from 
home.  Out  of  it  (the  hunt,  or  the 
running),  (1)  debarred  from  partici- 
pation ;  (2)  having  no  chance  or  share  ; 
(3)  completely  ignorant.  To  stand 
out,  to  take  no  part.  Out  of  twig,  (1) 
to  put  any  article  out  of  twig,  as  a 
stolen  coat,  cloak,  etc.,  is  to  alter  it 
in  such  a  way  that  it  cannot  be  identi- 
fied. To  put  yourself  out  of  twig,  is 
to  disguise  your  dress  and  appearance, 
to  avoid  being  recognised,  on  some 
particular  account  ( Vaux) ;  (2)  to 
wear  shabby  clothes.  Out  of  God's 
blessing  into  the  warm  sun,  from  better 
to  worse  ( 1 58 1 ).  Out  for  an  airing,  said 


319 


Out-and-out. 


Overland*. 


of  a  hone  not  meant  to  win.  Other 
colloquial  combinations  are  To  be  at 
outs,  to  quarrel ;  to  make  no  outs  (of 
a  person),  to  misunderstand  ;  out  of 
countenance,  confounded  ;  out  of  hand, 
(1)  immediately,  without  delay,  (2) 
ungovernable ;  out  of  cry,  out  of 
measure  ;  out  of  frame,  out  of  order  ; 
out  of  heart,  worn  out  (of  land),  down- 
hearted (of  persons) ;  out  (or  down)  at 
heel  (or  at  elbows),  shabbily  dressed ; 
out  at  leg,  feeding  in  hired  pastures  (of 
cattle) ;  out  of  pocket,  a  loser ;  out  of 
temper,  too  hot,  or  too  cold  ;  out  of 
print,  used  by  booksellers  in  speaking 
of  any  person  that  is  dead ;  out  of  the 
way,  uncommon,  etc.,  etc.  Also  see 
Barrel,  Collar,  Funds,  Harness,  Have, 
Kelter,  Loose,  Lug,  Picaroon,  Pocket, 
Puff,  Register,  Sorts,  Wood. 

Out  -  and  -  out.  Thorough,  prime 
(q.v.),  far  and  away. 

Out-and-outer.  A  person  or  thing, 
superlative. 

Outer.  1.  That  part  of  a  target  used 
in  rifle-shooting  which  is  outeide  the 
circles  surrounding  the  bull's  -  eye. 
2.  A  shot  which  strikes  the  outer  part 
of  a  target. 

Outfit  In  the  Far  West  and  on 
the  Plains  everything  is  an  outfit, 
from  a  railway  train  to  a  pocket-knife. 
It  is  applied  indiscriminately, — to  a 
wife,  a  horse,  a  dog,  a  cat,  or  a  row  of 
pins. 

Out-Herod.  To  out-Herod  Herod,  to 
exceed  in  excess  (1596). 

Outing.  1.  A  holiday,  out  (q.v.) 
( 1860).  2.  A  feast  given  to  his  friends 
by  an  apprentice,  at  the  end  of  his 
apprenticeship  :  when  he  is  out  of  his 
time :  in  some  parts  of  the  kingdom 
this  ceremony  is  termed,  by  an  ap- 
prentice and  his  friends,  burying  his 
wife. 

Outrider.  A  highwayman,  road- 
agent  (q.v.)  (1600). 

Outrun.     See  Constable. 

Outs.  Oentlemen  of  the  three  outs,  ( 1 ) 
without  money,  without  wit,  and 
without  manners  (Grose) ;  (2)  out  of 
pocket,  out  of  elbows,  and  out  of 
credit  (Lytton). 

Outside.  An  outeide  passenger : 
Fr.,  voyageur  a  quinze  francs  le  cent : 
see  Inside  (1798).  As  adj.,  the  ut- 
most (1696).  Outside  'Liza,  get  out 
of  this.  To  get  outside  of,  (1)  to  eat 
or  drink  ;  as,  to  get  outside  of  a  pint 
of  beer,  or  a  chop ;  (2)  to  under- 


stand ;  and  (3)  mounted,  astride  (a 
horse). 

Outsider.  1.  In  pi.,  a  pair  of  nippers 
with  semi-tubular  jaws  which  can  be 
inserted  in  a  keyhole  from  the  outside 
to  turn  the  key.  2.  An  ignoramus. 
3.  A  person  unattached.  4.  An  in- 
competent,' doubtful,  or  unknown 
champion  or  competitor  in  any  walk 
of  life  or  sport.  5.  A  duffer  (q.v.), 
moral,  physical,  or  social.  6.  A 
person  who  fails  to  gain  admission 
to  the  ring  from  pecuniary  or  other 
causes. 

Oven.  A  large  mouth.  In  the  same 
oven,  in  the  same  plight. 

Over.  In  pi.,  a  surplus  on  the 
day's  accounts,  fluff  (q.v.),  menave- 
lings  (q.v.).  To  come  over  (or  the  old 
soldier  over)  one :  see  Come  over,  and 
Come  the  old  soldier.  To  get  over,  to 
get  the  better,  to  best  (q.v.).  To 
call  (or  fetch)  over  the  coals,  to  repri- 
mand (1719).  Over  the  bay,  drunk: 
see  Screwed.  Over  the  stile,  sent  for 
trial.  To  put  over  the  door,  to  turn 
out,  give  the  key  of  the  street  (q.v.). 
Over  at  the  knees,  weak  in  the  knees. 
Over  shoes,  over  boots,  thoroughly,  the 
whole  hog.  See  Bender,  Broomstick, 
and  Left. 

Over-day  Tarts.  About  24  hours 
after  capture  the  herring  is  liable  to  the 
pouring  out  of  extravasation  of  blood 
about  his  gills  and  fins,  which  darkened 
and  damaged  or  bruised  appearance 
is  quaintly  called  in  the  fish  trade 
over-day  tarts. 

Overdo.     Double  diligence. 

Overdraw.  To  overdraw  the  badger : 
see  Badger. 

Overflow  and  Plunder.  The  un- 
suspecting theatre-goer  has  an  order 
for  the  pit ;  he  goes  there,  and  finds 
the  pit  crammed  to  suffocation  by 
people  who  have  not  paid.  Upon 
payment  of  sixpence  he  goes  to  the 
upper  boxes,  they  are  also  crowded ; 
sixpence  more  takes  him  to  the  dress 
circle.  Before  he  can  obtain  a  seat  he 
is  bled  of  another  sixpence  for  his 
greatcoat,  another  for  his  umbrella, 
and  another  for  a  programme.  The 
performances  in  these  places  were  as 
disreputable  as  the  management,  and, 
as  a  rule,  would  disgrace  a  show  at  a 
country  fair. 

Overlander.  A  tramp,  sundowner 
(q.v.) :  also  Overland  man  and  Over- 
land-mailer. 


320 


Overland-trout. 


Pace. 


Overland-trout.     Bacon. 
Overrun.     See  Constable. 
Overscutched     (Overswitched,    or 
Overwhipped)  -  Housewife.      A 
wanton  (1598). 

Overseen.  More  or  less  in  liquor  : 
see  Screwed  (1611). 

Overseer.     A  man  in  the  pillory. 
Overshot.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 
Oversparred.     Top-heavy,   drunk : 
see  Screwed. 

Overtaken.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed 
(1655). 

Overtoy  's  Box  (Winchester  College). 
A  box  like  a  cupboard  to  hold  books  : 
see  Toys. 

Owl.     1.  A  prostitute.     2.  A  mem- 
ber of  Sidney  Sussex  College,  Cam- 
bridge :  obsolete.     3.  A  person  much 
about  at  night.     As  verb,  (1)  to  sit  up 
at  night ;  and  (2)  to  carry  on  a  contra- 
band night   trade ;    to  smuggle :    cf. 
Owler.     To  catch  the  owl,  a  trick  prac- 
tised  on   ignorant    country   boobies, 
who  are  decoyed  into  a  barn  under 
pretence  of  catching  an  owl,  where 
"  er   divers   preliminaries,    the   joke 
ids  hi  their  having  a  pail  of  water 
Dured  upon  their  heads  (Grose).     To 
:  the  owl,  to  get  angry.     To  live  too 
ir  a  wood  to  be  frightened  by  an  owl, 
lot  easy  to  alarm  (1708).     To  bring 
(or  send)  owls  to  Athens,  to  undertake 
work  of  supererogation,  take  coals 
'  Newcastle  (q.v.) :  owls  abounded  in 
Athens.     Drunk  as  a  biled  owl,  very 
see  Screwed.     Like  an  owl  in 
ivy-bush,  said  of   a  person  with  a 
rge  frizzled  wig,  or  a  woman  whose 
ur  is  dressed  a-la-blouze  (Grose). 
Owl-car  (or  train).     A  late  tram 
r,  or  train. 

Owler.     Those  who  privately  in 
le  night    carry  wool    to    the   sea- 


coasts,  near  Rumney-Marsh  in  Kent, 
and  some  creeks  in  Sussex,  etc.  and 
ship  it  off  for  France  against  law 
(B.  E.) :  at  one  time  it  was  illegal  to 
carry  wool  or  sheep  out  of  the  country : 
owling  was  repealed  by  3  Geo.  IV.  c. 
107]. 

Owl-light.  Dusk.  To  walk  by  owl- 
light,  to  skulk  from  arrest:  Fr.,  entre 
chien  et  loup  (1610). 

Own.  On  one's  own,  on  one's  own 
account.  To  own  up,  to  confess, 
make  a  clean  breast. 

Owned.  A  preacher  is  said  in  this 
phraseology  to  be  owned  when  he 
makes  many  converts  and  his  converts 
are  called  his  seals. 

Owt.  Two  :  e.g.  owt-yannep-flatch, 
twopence-- halfpenny  ;  owt-gens,  two 
shillings. 

O  x.  The  black  ox  has  trod  on  his 
foot,  to  know  decay,  misfortune,  or 
old  age  (1537). 

Oxer.     An  ox-fence. 
Oxford.     A  crown  piece ;   half- 
oxford,  half-a-crown :  see  Rhino. 

Oxford    Blues.     The  Royal  Horse 
Guards.     [From  their  uniform,  1690]. 
Oxford    Clink.       1.   A  play  upon 
words.     2.  A  free  pass. 

Ox-house.     To  go  through  the  ox- 
house  to  bed,  to  be  cuckolded  (1696). 
Ox-pop.     A  butcher. 
Oyl-of-barley.     See  Oil. 
Oyster.     1.    Profit,    advantage : 
because   it  has   a   beard.     2.   A  gob 
of  thick  phlegm,  spit  by  a  consump- 
tive man  (Grose).     A  choking  oyster,  a 
reply  that  leaves  one  nothing  to  say 
(1556).     Old  oyster,  a  vulgar  endear- 
ment. 

Oyster-faced.  In  need  of 
shaving :  in  allusion  to  the  oyster's 
beard. 


P  and  Q.    To  be  P.  and  Q,  to  be  of 

i  first  quality,  good  measure  (1612). 
Po  mind  one's  P's  and  Q's,  to  be  care- 
and    circumspect    in    behaviour, 
&t.     [Of  uncertain  origin  ;  amongst 
sted  derivations  are  (1)  the  diffi- 
:ulty    experienced    by    children    in 
J"tinguishing    between    p    and     q ; 
(2)  the  old  custom  of  alehouse 
ly,  marking  p  for  pint,  and  q  for 
care  being  necessary  to  avoid 


over-  or  under-charge.  Probably  both 
in  combination  with  the  phrase,  to  be 
p  and  q  (q.v.),  have  helped  to  popu- 
larise the  expression]  (1779). 

Pac.     A  cap. 

Pace.  To  go  the  pace,  to  live  a  fast 
life,  be  extravagant  (1710).  Alder- 
man's pace,  a  slow  and  stately  gait : 
Fr.,  pas  d'Abbf,  (1611).  To  show 
one's  paces,  to  exhibit  one's  capability, 
to  show  what  one  can  do. 


321 


Pal. 


Pacer.  Primarily  a  fast  bone; 
hence  anything  of  great  speed  or 
activity. 

Pack.  A  prostitute.  Also  a 
general  >  term  of  reproach  with  no 
reference  to  sex  :  see  Naughty.  As 
adj.,  intimate,  familiar  (1795).  As 
verb  (also  pack  off,  send  packing,  give 
a  packing-penny  to,  etc.),  (1)  to  dis- 
miss without  ceremony,  send  about 
one's  business,  discharge  summarily, 
depart  hurriedly  (1540).  (2)  To  drink: 
see  Screwed.  To  eat  the  pack  (or 
packie),  to  waste  one's  substance, 
spend  all  Eat  -the-  pack,  a  spend- 
thrift. 

Packet.  A  hoax,  false  report. 
Packets,  an  expression  of  incredulity. 

Pack-thread.     Covert  obscenity. 

Pact.  To  spend  the  pact,  to 
waste  one's  substance :  also  to  perish 
the  pact. 

Pad.  1.  A  path,  road,  highway : 
also  High-pad  (1573).  2.  An  easy- 
paced  horse,  ambler:  also  Pad-nag 
(1696).  3.  A  highway  robber,  foot- 
pad, tramp  :  also  Padder  and  (Scots') 
Faddist  (1610).  4.  Highway  robbery 
(1664).  5.  A  bed  :  also  pod.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  travel  on  foot,  tramp :  also  to 
pad  (plod,  bang,  or  beat)  the  hoof  (q.v.) : 
FT.,  fendre  Cergot  (to  split  the  spur) 
(1598) ;  (2)  to  rob  on  foot,  or  on  the 
highway:  also  to  go  on  the  pad  (1639). 
On  the  pad,  on  the  tramp.  To  stand 
pad,  to  beg  by  the  wayside.  To  pad 
round,  to  pay  great  attention  to  a 
customer,  cringe,  crawl.  Gentlemen 
of  the  pad :  see  Padder.  Pad  in  the 
straw,  anything  amiss,  danger  con- 
cealed, snake  in  the  grass  (1551). 

Pad-borrower.     A  horse  thief. 

Pad-clinking.  Hobnobbing  with 
foot -pads. 

Padded.  1.  See  Pad.  2.  In  pi., 
feet,  boots,  shoes  :  see  Creepers  (1828). 

Padding-crib  (or  ken).  A  lodging 
house :  cf.  Doss-house. 

Paddington-f  air.  A  hanging.  [Ty- 
burn being  in  Paddington  Parish]. 
To  dance  the  Paddington  frisk,  to  be 
hanged :  see  Ladder. 

Paddington-  spectacles.  The 
cap  pulled  over  the  eyes  of  a  criminal 
on  the  scaffold :  see  Paddington-fair. 

Paddle.  The  hand:  see  Daddle. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  drink:  hence  to  have 
paddled,  to  be  intoxicated :  see 
Screwed  ;  (2)  to  go  or  run  away.  See 
Canoe. 


Paddy.  1.  An  Irishman : 
Paddy-whack  and  Paddylander.  Hence 
Paddy-land,  Ireland  (Grose).  English 
synonyms :  bog  -  trotter,  Emeralder, 
Mick,  mike,  micky,  paddylander, 
paddy-whack,  Pat,  patent  French- 
man, patlander,  shirt  (1801).  2.  A 
rage,  passion :  also  Paddy-whack. 
To  come  paddy  over,  to  bamboozle, 
humbug. 

Paddy  quick.     1.  A  stick.    2.  Thick. 

Paddy's  Blackguards.  The 
Royal  Irish  Regiment,  formerly  The 
18th  Foot.  Also  The  Namurs. 

Paddy's  Hurricane.  No  wind  at 
all,  a  breeze  up  and  down  the  mast. 

Paddy-wack  (Paddy,  or  Paddy's 
Watch).  Before  the  tax  on  al- 
manacs ...  a  class  of  printers  [sold] 
an  almanack  unstamped,  and  this 
was  often  called  Paddy's  Watch. 
They  were  hawked  about,  .  .  .  sold 
at  3d.,  and  often  for  less,  when  a 
stamped  almanac  cost  Is.  9d.  or  2s, 
I  have  often  heard  .  .  .  '  Have  you  an 
almanac  ?  '  and  the  answer  has  been. 
'  We  have  a  Paddy.' 

Paddywester.  Incompetent,  worth 
less,  or  destitute  sailors  or  landsmen 
masquerading  as  seamen. 

Padlock.     See  Pleasure  Boat 

Pad-nag.     See  Pad. 

Padre.  A  clergyman  :  see  Devil- 
dodger. 

P  a  ff .  An  interjection  of  con- 
tempt ;  bosh  !  Piff  -  paff,  jargon 
(1851). 

Pagan.     A  prostitute  ( 1 659). 

Paget's  Irregular  Horse. 
Fourth  Hussars.  [From  its 
drill  after  return  from  India]. 

Paid.     Intoxicated:  see  Screwed. 

Paiker  (Paikie  or  Calsay  Paiker). 
A  prostitute. 

Paint.  Money :  see  Rhino, 
verb,  to  drink.  Painted,  drunk. 
Red  and  Fresh. 

Painted-box.     A  coffin. 

Painted  Mischief.  Playing 
history  of  the  Four  Kings  (q.v.). 

Painter.  To  cut  the  painter,  to  i 
away,  cut  adrift,  interfere  to  pre\ 
mischief  :  also  see  Cut. 

Pair.     A  flight  of  stairs  ;   e.g. 
pair  back,  the  room  at  the  back  of  the 
second  flight  of  stairs. 

Pair  of  Shears.     See  Shears. 

Pair  of  Spectacles.     See  Si 

Pair  of  Wings.     Oars. 

Pal.      A    chum,     friend, 


The 

loose 


322 


Palace. 


Panjamdrum. 


accomplice.     As   verb,    (1)   to   make 
friends  with,  chum ;  (2)  to  detect  in 
any  pretence. 
Palace.      A  police-station. 
Palarie.     To  talk :  cf.  Palaver. 
Palatic.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 
Palaver.      1.  A  fussy  and  ostenta- 
tious person  :   generally  Old  palaver. 
2.    Conversation,    discussion :    speci- 
fically  idle    talk,    flattery,    cajolery : 
also  as  verb.     Palaverer,   a  flatterer 
(1748).     As  verb,  to  fuss. 

Pale.      To  leap  the  pale,  to  break 
bounds,  exceed  (1593). 

Paleface.     A  white  :  in  poetry  and 
fiction,  as  from  an  Indian  dialect. 
Palestine      in      London.        That 
artion   of  the   parish  of   St.    Giles, 
Jloomsbury,  inhabited  by  the  lower 
ish  :  also  The  Holy  Land. 
Palette.     A  hand  :  see  Daddle. 
Palliard.     1.  A  born  beggar,  tramp  ; 
primarily   a   vagabond   who   lies   on 
straw  (1567).     2.  A  lecher. 
Palliasse.     A  harlot. 
Palm.      1.    To   bribe,  tip  (q.v.) : 
to   grease    (anoint,    or   gild)    the 
Im  (or  hand).     An  itching  palm,  a 
id  ready  to  receive  bribes  :  cf.  the 
1  superstition  that  money  is  about 
be  received   if   the  palm   itches  ; 
Im-oil   (grease   or   soap,    or   oil   of 
Ims  or  angels),  a  bribe,  whence  also, 
iey:  Fr.,  huile  and  graisse  (1513) ; 
Palmer  is  concerned,  of  a  person 
ibed    or    bribing.      2.    To    conceal 
the   palm  of  the   hand,   swindle, 
isrepresent.     Palming  (palmistry  or 
Iming-racket),  trickery  (by  secreting 
the  palm  of  the  hand) :  specifically 
p-lifting,   the   thieves   hunting  in 
rs,     one     bargaining,     the     other 
itching  opportunities  ;  to  palm  off, 
beguile,  gammon   (q.v.) ;   palmer, 
trickster  :  specifically  at  cards  and 
(1601).      To  bear   the  palm,   to 
Keel,  be  first  or  best.     [The  Romans 
ave  branches  of  palm  to  a  victorious 
Jadiator.] 

Palm-acid   (or  oil).     1.  A  caning : 
the  hand.     2.  See  Palm. 
Palmer    (Durham    School).      1.  A 
iy  fellow.     2.  See  Palm. 
Palmerston.     Lord  Palmerston 
lescribed  himself  as  acting  the  part  of 
"  judicious  bottle  -  holder  among  the 
oreign   Powers.     A   lately  -  invented 
strument  to  hold  a  bottle  has  thus 
ceived  the  name   of  a   Palmerston 
(1865). 


Palmetto  State.  South  Carolina. 
[From  the  arms  of  the  State  :  a  variety 
of  dwarf  palm  or  palmetto  is  abun- 
dant therein.]  Whence  Palmetto  flag, 
Palmetto  city,  and  Palmetto  boys 
(1861). 

Palm-oil.  See  Palm,  and  Palm- 
acid. 

Palsy.  Generic  for  weakness. 
Palsy  in  the  hand,  the  habit  of  dicing 
(1608). 

Paltock's  Inn.  A  poverty-stricken 
place  (1579). 

Pam.  1.  The  Knave  of  Clubs. 
[Skeat :  a  contraction  of  Pamphillion 
(Fr.),  the  Knave  of  Clubs]  (1706).  2. 
Lord  Palmerston. 

Pan.  1.  The  workhouse.  2.  A 
bed  :  see  Kip  (1708).  3.  Money :  see 
Rhino.  To  pan  out,  to  yield,  give  a 
result  or  return :  originally  a  mining 
term  ;  gold  dust  being  put  with  water 
in  a  pan  and  shaken,  when  gold  sinks 
to  the  bottom.  To  have  a  pan  on,  to 
have  a  fit  of  the  blues,  be  down  in  the 
dumps.  To  savour  of  the  pan  (or 
frying-pan),  to  betray  origin,  smell  of 
the  lamp  (q.v.) :  also  (old  literary) 
to  savour  of  heresy  :  cf.  sentir  le  fagot, 
from  which  there  would  appear  to  be 
a  reference  to  the  ancient  punishment 
for  heresy  ( 1555).  See  Cat,  Fluff,  and 
Flash. 

Pancake  Tuesday.  Shrove 
Tuesday.  [By  ancient  custom  pan- 
cakes are  then  eaten.] 

Pandy  (or  Pandie).  A  stroke  from 
a  cane,  strap,  or  tawse  on  the  palm 
of  the  hand  by  way  of  punishment  : 
also  (Scots' )  paumie.  [From  the  order 
in  Latin  Pande  palmum  (or  manum), 
Hold  out  your  hand.]  As  verb,  to 
cane  or  strap. 

Panel  (Parnel,  or  Pernel).  An 
immodest  woman,  prostitute  (1362). 

Panel-crib  (den,  or  house).  A 
brothel  specially  fitted  for  robbery. 

Panjamdrum  (The  Great).  A 
village  potentate,  Brummagem  mag- 
nate. [From  Foote's  nonsense  lines, 
written  to  test  Macklin's  memory : — 
'  So  she  went  into  the  garden  to  cut  a 
cabbage-leaf  to  make  an  apple  pie ; 
and  at  the  same  time  a  great  she-bear, 
coming  up  the  street,  pops  its  head 
into  the  shop.  "  What !  no  soap  ?  " 
So  he  died,  and  she  very  imprudently 
married  the  barber,  and  there  were 
present  the  Picninnies,  and  the  Job- 
lillies,  and  the  Garyulies,  and  the 


323 


Pannicky. 


Parader. 


Grand  Panjandrum  himself,  with  the 
little  round  button  on  top,  and  they  all 
fell  to  playing  the  game  of  catch  as 
catch  can,  till  the  gunpowder  ran  out 
at  the  heel  of  their  boote ']  (1777). 

Pannicky.     Given  to  panic. 

Pannier  -  man.  A  servant  of  an 
(inn  of  court :  his  office  is  to  announce 
dinner  (Grose)  (1664). 

Pannikin.  To  roll  onejs  panni- 
kin into  another  shed,  to  leave  one 
man's  service  for  another. 

Pannum  (Panum,  or  Pannam). 
Bread,  food.  [Latin,  pani*].  Hence 
pannum-bound,  cut  of  one's  allow- 
ance ;  pannum-  (or  cokey-)  fence,  a 
street  pastry  cook ;  pannum-struck, 
starving  (1567). 

Panny.     1.  The  highway  (1754). 

2.  A  house,  public  or  otherwise  ;  also, 
apartments,  rooms,  lodgings.     Hence 
flash-panny,  (a)  a  brothel ;  and  (b)  a 
public-house  used  by  thieves  (Grose). 

3.  A     burglary :      also    penny  -  lay. 
Hence,  panny-man,  a  housebreaker ; 
to  do  a  panny,  to  rob  a  house  (Grose). 

Pantables.  To  stand  upon  one's 
pantables,  to  stand  upon  dignity, 
assert  one's  position.  [Pantables — 
pantoufle— slipper].  (1580). 

Pantagruelian.  An  artist  in  life. 
[From  Pantagruel,  the  title  character 
of  Rabelais.] 

Panter.  1.  The  hart.  [Because 
said  (in  Psalms)  to  pant  after  the 
fresh  water  brooks]  (1696).  2.  The 
heart :  also,  in  pi.,  the  paps :  FT., 
Saint-ciboire,  battant  (beater),  fressure 
(pluck  or  fry) ;  palpitant ;  It,  salsa 
(sauce)  (1725). 

Pants.  Short  for  pataloons:  also 
panteys  and  (colloquial)  pantalettes. 

Pantile.  1.  A  hat.  2.  A  flat 
cake  covered  with  jam.  3.  A  biscuit. 
As  adj.,  dissenting. 

Pantiler.  A  Dissenter — minister 
or  layman. 

Pantler.  A  butler,  pantry  -  man 
(1598). 

Panupetaston.  A  loose  overcoat 
with  wide  sleeves. 

Pap.  1.  The  emoluments  of  office 
— salaries,  fees,  perquisites.  2.  Paper : 
specifically  paper  money,  or  soft  (q.v.). 
3.  (a)  A  nipple,  (6)  a  breast  (1390).  4. 
Father,  pop  (q.v.).  5.  Bread  sauce 
(1785).  To  give  pap  with  a  hatchet, 
to  chastise,  do  an  unkindness,  treat 
unhandsomely  (1589).  Mouth  full 
of  pap,  still  childish  (1785). 


Papaw.  A  bush-whacker.  [Cen- 
tury :  with  reference  to  possible  sub- 
sistence on  the  fruit]. 

Paper.  1.  Free  passes  of  admis- 
sion to  a  place  of  entertainment ;  also 
(collectively)  recipients  of  such  passes. 
Hence,  papery,  occupied  by  persons 
admitted  with  free  tickets.  As  verb, 
to  issue  free  passes.  Fr.,  salle  de 
papier,  a  house  filled  with  paper. 
2.  Negotiable  instruments  :  as  prom- 
issory notes,  bills  of  exchange,  etc. 
(1837).  3.  Broadsides  and  similar 
literature :  hence  paper  worker,  a 
vendor  of  street  literature,  running 
stationer  (q.v.)  (1851).  To  read  the 
paper,  to  excuse  oneself  for  taking  a 
nap  :  see  Doss.  See  Shave  and  Spot. 

Paper  -  building.  Paper  -  build- 
ings, slight,  wooden,  or  old  (B.  E.). 

Paper  -  maker.  A  rag  -  gatherer, 
gutter-raker :  Fr.,  chiffortin. 

Paper  -  man.  An  officer  who, 
being  employed  on  the  staff,  is  not 
available  for  regimental  duty. 

Paper-marriage.  A  Society 
wedding.  [The  fees  are  paid  in  bank- 
notes.] 

Paper-mill,  The.  The  Record 
Office  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench. 

Paper-scull.  A  fool :  hence  paper 
sculled,  foolish,  silly  (1696). 

Paper  -  stainer.  An  author,  or 
clerk :  in  contempt. 

Pap-feeder.     A  spoon. 

Pap  -  head.  A  woman's  nipple, 
the  cherrylet  (q.v.)  (1530). 

Paphian.  A  prostitute.  [Paphos 
a  city  in  Cyprus  sacred  to  Venus]. 

Papier.     See  Poplar. 

Pap-mouth.     An  effeminate  man. 

Papoose.  A  child,  kid  (q.v.). 
[Of  Indian  origin.]  (1634). 

Par.  1.  Gold  and  silver  at 
proportion  (B.  E.).  2.  An  abl 
tion  of  paragraph. 

Parade.  To  burn  the  parade, 
warn  more  men  for  guard  than 
necessary,  and  excusing  the  super- 
numeraries for  money.  ...  A  practice 
formerly  winked  at  in  most  garrisons, 
a  perquisite  to  the  adjutants  and 
sergeant  majors ;  the  pretence  for  it 
was  to  purchase  coal  and  candle  for 
the  guard,  whence  it  was  called  burn- 
ing the  parade. 

Parader.  1.  A  person  of  good 
figure  and  address  employed  to  walk 
up  and  down  in  front  of,  or  inside  • 
shop  ;  a  shop-walker  :  cf.  Barker.  2. 


324 


Paradise. 


Particular. 


A  person  or  thing  that  by  challenging 
attention  acts  as  a  foil  or  set-off 
(1748). 

Paradise.  1.  The  gallery  of  a 
theatre,  the  gods  (q.v.) :  Fr.,  paradis. 
2.  A  grove  of  trees  outside  St.  John's 
College,  Oxford.  Fool's  paradise,  a 
state  of  fancied  security,  enjoyment, 
etc.  ( 1528).  To  have  (or  get )  a  penn'orth 
of  paradise,  to  take  a  drink,  esp.  gin  : 
see  Screwed. 

Paralysed.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Paralytic  -  fit  (or  stroke).  A 
badly  fitting  garment — that  fits  where 
it  touches. 

Param.     Milk:  also  Yarum  (1573). 

Parcel.  The  day's  winnings,  a 
pocket-book. 

Parcel-bawd.  One  whose  employ- 
ment was  partly  that  of  bawd. 
[Parcel,  part :  as  parcel  -  gilt,  partly- 
gilt.]  (1603). 

Pard.     A  partner,  chum  (q.v.). 

Parenthesis.  In  pi.,  a  pair  of 
bandy  legs.  Wooden  parenthesis,  a 
pillory  (1785).  Iron  parenthesis,  a 
prison  :  see  Cage.  To  have  one's  nose 
(or  bowsprit)  in  parenthesis,  to  have  it 
pulled  (Grose). 

Parings.  Clippings  of  money 
(1696). 

Parish.  His  stockings  belong  to 
two  parishes,  odd,  mis-paired  (1785). 

Parish  -  bull  (prig,  or  stallion). 
A  parson  :  see  Devil-dodger. 

Parish-lantern.  The  moon,  Oliver 
(q.v.).  noom  (q.v.):  Fr.,  cafarde  (tell- 
tale), cymbale,  luisante  (or  luisarde) 
grosse  lentille,  moucharde,  pdlote,  and 
pair. 

Parish  -  soldier.  A  militia-man  : 
from  substitutes  being  frequently 
hired  by  the  parish. 

Park.  1.  A  prison :  see  Cage.  2. 
The  rules  or  privileged  circuit  round 
the  King's  Bench  or  Fleet :  the  park 
is  well  stocked  when  many  prisoners 
have  obtained  the  rules.  3.  A  back 
yard,  a  strip  of  town-garden. 

Parkey  (or  Parky).  Cold,  uncom- 
fortable :  as  when  sleeping  in  the  open. 

Park  -  railings  (or  palings).  1. 
The  teeth  :  see  Grinders.  2.  The  neck 
of  mutton. 

Parleyvoo.  The  conventional 
school  study  and  use  of  the  French 
language.  As  verb,  to  speak  French, 
talk  gibberish  (1837). 

Parliamentary-press.  An  old  cus- 
tom, among  tailors,  of  claiming  any 


iron,  which  happens  to  be  in  use,  for 
the  purpose  of  opening  the  collar  seam. 

Parlour.  Out  of  the  parlour  into 
the  kitchen,  from  better  to  worse ;  out 
of  God's  blessing  into  the  warm  sun 
(1598).  Parlour  full  of  razors,  claret 
with  seltzer  or  lemonade  :  see  Drinks. 

Parlour-jumping.  Robbing  rooms : 
specifically  by  window  -  entry  :  see 
Jump. 

Parnel.     See  Panel. 

P  a  r  n  e  e  (or  Paunee).  Rain. 
Dowry  of  parney,  plenty  of  rain. 
Pawnee-game,  water-drinking. 

Parrot  (or  Parroteer).  A  talka- 
tive person,  esp.  one  given  to  mechan- 
ical repetition.  As  verb,  to  chatter, 
repeat  mechanically.  Parrotry,  servile 
imitation  ;  parrot  -  lawyer,  a  solicitor 
obsequious  to  a  client's  Yea  and  Nay 
(1612).  See  Almond. 

Parson.  A  wayside  sign-post 
(q.v.)  (1785).  As  verb,  (1)  to  marry  ; 
(2)  to  church  (after  child-delivery). 
Whence  parsoned,  married  or  church- 
ed ;  married  and  parsoned,  duly  and 
legally  married.  To  kiss  the  parson's 
wfe,  to  be  lucky  in  horse  -  flesh 
(1785).  Remember  Parson  Mullum  ! 
Pray  drink  about,  sir  (1676).  Mary- 
land parson,  a  disreputable  cleric. 

Parson  Palmer.  One  who  stops 
the  circulation  of  the  glass,  by  preach- 
ing over  his  liquor,  as  it  is  said  was 
done  by  a  parson  of  that  name  whose 
cellar  was  under  his  pulpit  (Grose). 

Parson's  barn.  A  barn  never  so 
full  but  there  is  room  for  more. 

Parson's -journeyman.  A 
curate  (1785). 

Parson 's-nose.  A  chicken's  rump : 
cf.  Pope's  nose  and  Pope's-eye :  Fr., 
bonnet  d'eveque.  Parson's  leman:  see 
Tender. 

Parson's  Week.  The  period  from 
Monday  to  Saturday  (1800). 

Part.  To  pay,  restore,  give : 
hence  parter,  a  paymaster,  good  or 
bad :  cf.  a  fool  and  his  money  are 
soon  parted  (Tusser,  1573). 

Particular.  A  favourite  mistress  : 
Fr.,  particuliere :  also  (generally)  a 
special  choice ;  e.g.  to  ride  one's  own 
particular,  to  a  glass  of  one's  par- 
ticular, Particular  Jesse  :  see  Jesse. 
London  particular  (or  London  ivy),  a 
thick  yellow  or  black  fog,  the  product 
of  certain  atmospheric  conditions  and 
carbon  :  formerly  peculiar  to  London, 
now  common  in  most  large  manufao 


325 


Parti  et. 


P<il1er. 


tuning  cities  situated  near  water  and 
lying  low  (1832). 

Partlet     A  woman  (1598). 

Partner.     See  Sleeping  partner. 

Partridge.     A  whore :   cf.    Plover. 

Party.  A  person,  individual 
(1542). 

Party  -  roll  (Winchester  College). 
A  list  of  boys  going  home  together : 
see  Peal 

Pass.  To  fail  to  understand,  have 
no  concern  in  :  e.g.  I  pass,  I  don't 
know  what  you  are  driving  at.  [From 
euchre.]  To  pass  (or  hand)  in  one's 
chips  (or  checks),  to  die  :  see  Hop  the 
twig :  from  adjusting  one's  accounts 
at  poker.  To  pass  the  time  of  day,  to 
salute.  To  pass  the  compliment,  to 
offer  (or  give)  a  douceur,  tip. 

Passage  -  at  -  arms.  A  squabble, 
row. 

Passenger.  An  oar  who,  from 
incompetence  or  accident,  is  unable 
to  do  his  share  of  the  work.  To  wake 
up  the  wrong  passenger,  to  mistake 
one's  man,  commit  an  error  of  judg- 
ment in  regard  to  character,  action, 
or  motive.  [From  transcontinental 
travel.]  (1855). 

Passions.     See  Pocket. 

P  a  s  s  y.  Severe  :  of  a  master 
(Christ's  Hospital).  [That  is  passion- 
ate, Blanch.]  Now  obsolete ;  the 
modern  equivalent  is  vish  (q.v.). 

Past.  Past  complaining,  mur- 
dered. Colloquialisms  are — past  be- 
lieving, incredible  ;  past  praying  for, 
hopeless ;  past-master  (or  mistress), 
an  adept ;  past  whooping,  undeniable, 
beyond  question  ;  past-price,  invalu- 
able (1602). 

Paste.  Brains.  [From  paste 
and  scissors  :  in  sarcasm.]  As  verb, 
to  beat,  thrash,  slap  the  face  right 
and  left.  [From  bill-sticking].  Hence, 
pasting,  a  drubbing  (1851). 

Paste  -  and  -  scissors.  Extracts, 
padding :  as  distinguished  from  orig- 
inal matter. 

Pasteboard.  1.  A  playing  card 
(1857).  2.  A  visiting  card:  also  as 
verb  (or  to  shoot,  or  drop,  one's  paste- 
board), to  leave  a  visiting  card  at  a 
person's  house  (1849). 

Pasteboard  -  customer.  A  cus- 
tomer taking  long  credit. 

Paste-horn.  The  note  :  see  Conk  : 
hence  Old  paste-horn,  a  large-nosed 
man.  •  ' 

Pastern.      A   foot :    see    Creepers. 


Hence,  full  in  tht  patterns,  thick- 
ankled  (1700). 

Pasty.  A  bookbinder.  As  adj., 
out  of  sorts,  angry,  off  colour  (q.v.). 

Pat.  An  Irishman :  also  Pat- 
lander.  As  adj.  and  adv.,  apt,  con- 
venient, suitable,  timely,  exactly  to 
the  purpose  (1592). 

Patch.  A  saucy  fellow,  fool. 
Primarily,  the  domestic  jester.  Hence 
cross-patch,  an  ill-natured  fool :  as  in 
the  children's  rhyme  : — Cross-patch, 
draw  the  latch,  Sit  by  the  fire  and 
spin  (1579).  Not  a  patch  upon,  not 
to  compare  to. 

Patchey.  The  harlequin,  spangle- 
maker  (q.v.). 

Pate.  The  head  :  almost  always 
in  derision:  see  Crumpet  (1604). 

Patent-coat.  An  inside  skirt  coat 
pocket. 

Patent-digester.     Brandy. 

Patent  Frenchman.  An  Irish- 
man. 

Patent-inside  (or  outside). 
A  newspaper  printed  on  the  inside 
(or  outside)  only,  the  unprinted  space 
being  intended  for  local  news,  ad- 
vertisements, etc. 

Patent  Safeties  (The).  The 
First  Life  Guards.  Also  The  Cheeses, 
The  Piccadilly  Butchers,  and  The 
Tin  Bellies. 

Pater-cove.     See  Patrico. 

Paternoster.  A  fishing-line  with 
hooks  and  shot  at  regular  intervals. 
[As  beads  on  a  rosary]  (1849).  Deyff$ 
paternoster,  a  muttering,  grumbling : 
a  profane  expletive  (1383).  Ape' a 
paternoster :  see  Ape.  In  a  pater- 
noster while,  quickly,  in  a  jiffey  (q.v.). 
[While  one  could  say  a  paternoster.] 
(1362). 

Patience  on  a  monument.  A 
long-suffering  person. 

Patrico.  A  vagabond,  unfrocked 
priest,  hedge-priest  (q.v.) :  also  pairi- 
arck-co,  patricove,  pattering-cove,  and 
pater-cove  (1536). 

Pattens.  To  run  on  pattens,  to 
clatter,  talk  nineteen  to  the  dozen 
(1575). 

P;a  1 1  e  r.  Originally  muttering 
(of  paternosters) :  hence,  talk  of  any 
kind,  but  specifically  (1)  the  incon- 
sequent orations  of  cheap  jacks  (q.v.), 
buskers  (q.v.),  showmen.  (2)  The 
dialect  or  cant  of  a  class.  Hence  also 
patter,  a  piece  of  street  literature, 
pin-up  (q.v.);  slum  (q.v.).  Hence, 


326 


Patter  an. 


Peach. 


paUerer,  a  vendor  of  street  literature  : 
with  running- pa tterer  (or  stationer) : 
obsolete  since  police  control  of  traffic. 
As  adj.  and  verb,  whence  to  patter 
flash,  to  talk  slang  or  cant ;  to  flash 
the  patter,  to  talk,  esp.  to  talk  slang ;  to 
stand  (or  be  in  for)  the  patter,  (thieves') 
to  stand  for  trial ;  humbox-patterer,  a 
parson.  English  synonyms :  to  cackle, 
to  cant,  to  chin,  to  chinwag,  to  chip, 
to  chirp,  to  chow,  to  chuck  it  out,  to 
clack,  to  confab,  to  crack,  to  cut, 
to  Duke  of  York  (rhyming,  to  talk),  to 
flam,  to  flummox  by  the  lip,  to  gabble, 
to  give  lip,  to  jabber,  to  jaw,  to  jaw- 
hawk,  to  jerk  chin-music,  to  ladle,  to 
Up,  to  lip-labour,  to  mag,  to  mang,  to 
pipe,  to  rap,  to  slam,  to  slang,  to  voker, 
to  waffle,  to  wag  the  red  rag,  to  warble 
(1360).  As  verb,  (1)  to  talk ;  (2)  to 
eat. 

Patteran.  A  gipsy  trail  made  by 
throwing  down  a  handful  of  grass. 

Patter-cove.     See  Patrico. 

Patter-crib.  A  lodging-house  or 
inn  frequented  by  thieves,  flash- 
panny  (q.v.). 

Paul.  To  go  to  Paul's  (or  West- 
minster), for  a  wife,  to  go  whoring. 
[Hattiwell :  Old  St.  Paul's  was  in  for- 
mer times  a  favourite  resort  for  pur- 
poses of  business,  amusement,  loung- 
ing, or  assignations ;  bills  were  fixed  up 
there,  servants  hired,  and  a  variety 
of  matters  performed  wholly  in- 
consistent with  the  sacred  nature  of 
the  edifice.]  Hence  Paul's  walkers, 
loungers  ;  as  well  -  known  as  Paul's, 
notorious  (1598).  See  also  Old,  Peter, 
Pigeon. 

Paul  Pry.  An  inquisitive  man : 
from  Poole's  comedy  (1825). 

Paunch.     To  eat  (1564). 

Paunch  -  guts.  A  fat-bellied  man, 
jelly-belly  (q.v.):  see  Forty -guts. 

P  a  v.  The  Pavilion  Music  Hall : 
cf.  Met. 

Paved.  To  have  one's  mouth 
paved,  to  be  hard  of  mouth  (1708). 

Pavement.     See  Nymph. 

Pa  vior's -workshop.  The  street 
(Grose). 

Paw.  The  hand.  Forepaw,  the 
hand  ;  hind-paw,  the  foot ;  paw-cases, 
gloves.  As  verb,  to  handle  roughly 
or  obscenely  (1605). 

Pawn.  To  steal  away  and  leave 
him  or  them  to  pay  the  reckoning 
(D.  E.). 

Pawnee.     See  Parney. 


P  a  w  -  p  a  w.  Naughty.  Hence 
paw-paw  words,  obscene  expressions  ; 
paw-paw  tricks,  (1)  wantonness;  (2) 
(of  children,  by  nurses),  tiresome 
pranks. 

Pax  (Winchester  College).  An 
intimate  friend.  [Wrench :  Possibly 
the  plural  of  pack,  which  word  has  an 
extended  use  in  reference  to  friendship 
...  as  adj.,  subs.,  and  vb.  .  .  .  This 
seems  a  more  likely  origin  than  the 
Pax  of  the  Church.]  As  intj.,  Keep 
quiet !  Hands  off  !  Also  Have  pax  t 
[  Wrench  :  Almost  the  pure  Latin  use  of 
the  word.] 

Pay.  To  beat,  punish,  serve  out, 
pitch  into :  generally  with  out :  also  to 
pay  home  (or  away).  Hence  payment, 
chastisement  (1785).  To  pay  away,  ( 1 ) 
to  go  on,  proceed:  as  with  a  narra- 
tion or  action.  (2)  To  fight  manfully 
(Qrose).  (3)  To  eat  voraciously  (Grose). 
To  pay  with  a  hook,  to  steal ;  cf .  Hook  : 
see  Prig.  Colloquialisms  are : — To  pay 
old  scores,  to  get  even  ;  to  pay  one  in 
his  own  coin,  to  give  tit  for  tat ;  to 
pay  the  last  debt  (or  the  debt  of  nature), 
to  die ;  What's  to  pay  ?  what's  the 
matter ;  to  pay  up  and  look  pretty  (or 
big),  to  accept  the  inevitable  with 
grace.  See  also  Deuce,  Devil,  Foot- 
ing, Fiddler,  Nose,  Pepperidge,  Piper, 
Rent,  Scores,  Shot,  and  Whistle. 

P.O.  A  mixture  used  in  adulterat- 
ing pepper.  [A  contraction  of  pepper 
dust.] 

P.  D.  Q.     Pretty  damned  quick. 

Pea.  The  favourite,  the  choice. 
[From  thimble  -  rigging  :  e.g.  this  is 
the  pea  I  choose.] 

Peacemaker.  1.  In  pi.,  The  Bed- 
fordshire Regiment,  formerly  The 
Sixteenth  Foot.  [From  Surinaam 
in  1804  to  Chitral  in  1895  the  Bedford- 
shires  missed  all  chances  of  active 
service.]  2.  A  revolver  :  see  Meat  in 
the  pot. 

Peach.  1.  A  detective  :  specifically 
one  employed  by  omnibus  and  (for- 
merly) by  stage  coach  proprietors 
to  check  receipts.  2.  A  girl  or  young 
woman  of  pleasing  parts ;  cf.  Plum. 
As  verb,  to  inform,  betray,  split  (q.v.), 
round  on  (q.v.).  [From  impeach.] 
Hence  peacher,  an  informer  (Grose). 
English  synonyms :  to  bust,  blow  the 
gaff,  cast  up  accounts,  cackle,  castell, 
crab,  crack,  clipe,  chirp,  come  it, 
hedgehog,  dick,  inkle,  leak,  let  on, 
let  out,  lip,  make  a  long,  nose, 


327 


Peacock. 


Ped-beUy. 


give  the  office,  put  away,  put  up, 
put  a  down  on,  be  rusty,  ruck  on, 
round  on,  scream,  snap,  snitch, 
stag,  squeal,  squeak,  split,  tip, 
tip  the  wink,  whiddle,  whittle 
(1362). 

Peacock.  1.  A  gull.  2.  A  horse 
with  action  :  cf.  peacock-horse,  a  horse 
with  a  showy  mane  and  tail.  Hence, 
peacocky,  showy ;  as  verb,  (1)  to  dis- 
play (as  a  peacock  its  tail),  to  put 
on  war-paint  or  side ;  (2)  to  make  a 
formal  call. 

Peacock  -  engine.  A  locomotive 
with  a  separate  tender  for  coals  and 
water. 

Pea-  (or  peak-)  goose.  A  silly 
fellow :  a  general  term  of  reproach 
(1570). 

Peak.  1.  Lace  (1696).  2.  The 
nose :  see  Conk. 

Peak-goose.     See  Pea-goose. 

Peaking.  Remnants  of  cloth : 
cf.  Makings  and  Cabbage. 

Peal  (Winchester :  obsolete).  1. 
A  custom  in  Commoners  of  singing 
out  comments  on  Prefects  at  Cloister- 
time  (q.v.).  2.  Cheers  given  on  the 
last  three  Sundays  of  the  Half  for 
articles  of  dress,  etc.,  connected  with 
going  home,  such  as  Gomer  hate  (q.v.), 
Party  rolls  (q.v.),  etc.  3.  Chapel 
bells  which  were  divided  into  peals. 
\Hattiwdl,  a  noise  or  uproar :  cf. 
M.  E.  apel,  an  old  term  in  hunting- 
music  consisting  of  three  long  moots.] 
As  verb,  to  scold  (1785). 

Pealer.  A  very  energetic  person, 
rustler  (q.v.),  hummer  (q.v.).  See 
Peeler. 

Peanut  -  politics.  Secret  tactics. 
The  pea  -  nut  buries  its  pods  after 
flowering,  a  process  by  which  the 
nuts  are  ripened.] 

Pear.  To  draw  supplies  from 
both  sides :  as  from  the  police  for 
information,  and  from  thieves  for 
a  warning.  Pear  -  making,  bounty 
jumping  (1785). 

Pea  -  rigger  (or  Pea-man).  See 
Thimble-rigger. 

Pearl.  To  make  a  pearl  on  the 
nail,  to  drink  (1767). 

Pearlies.  In  pi.,  pearl  buttons : 
sewn  down  the  sides  of  coster  trousers. 

Peas.  As  like  a*  two  peas,  as  like 
as  may  be. 

Pease  -  kill.  To  make  a  pease- 
kill,  to  squander  lavishly  :  e.g.  when 
a  man's  affairs  go  wrong  and  in- 


terested persons  get  the  management 
of  his  property,  it  is  said,  They're 
makin'  a  bonny  peaae  -  kill  o't  A 
law-suit  is  said  to  be  a  pease-kill  for 
the  lawyers  (Jamiesan). 

Peas  -  field.  To  go  into  the  peat- 
field,  to  fall  asleep  :  see  Balmy. 

Peat  1.  A  delicate  person :  esp.  a 
young  girl.  2.  (ironically)  A  spoilt 
favourite  (1578). 

Pea  -  time.  In  the  last  of  pea- 
time  (or  picking),  in  decline  of  yean, 
hard  -  up,  passe.  Pea-time  i«  pott, 
dead,  ruined,  gone  beyond  recall. 

Pebble.  My  pebble*,  a  familiar 
address. 

Pebbly-beached.  Without  means, 
stony-broke  (q.v.);  high  -  and  -  dry 
(q.v.).  Hence  to  tight  (or  land  on)  a 
pebbly  beach,  to  be  face  to  face  with 
ruin ;  to  pebble  beach,  to  suck  dry, 
clean  out :  see  Dead-broke. 

Pec  (Eton  College :  obsolete). 
Money :  see  Rhino.  [From  Latin 
pecunia.] 

P  e  c  c  a  v  i.  An  acknowledgment 
of  offence,  mistake,  or  defeat  To  cry 
peccavi,  to  confess  to  wrong-doing  or 
failure.  [Latin,  I  have  sinned.]  (1578). 

Peck  (or  Pek).  1.  Food  of  any 
kind,  grub  (q.v.),  a  meal,  feed  :  also 
peckage.  Hence,  ruff  -  peck  (q.v.), 
bacon ;  peck  and  boose,  meat  and 
drink:  rum-peck  (q.v.),  good -eating ; 
grunting  -  peck,  pork  ;  off  one's  peck, 
without  appetite,  off  one's  feed 
(1567).  2.  See  Racing-peck.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  eat  (1536) ;  (2)  to  pitch, 
throw  (1856). 

Peck-alley.  The  throat;  gutter- 
alley  (q.v.). 

Pecker.  1.  The  appetite.  Hence, 
a  good  (or  rare)  pecker,  a  hearty  eater. 
2.  Courage,  spirits,  good  cheer:  e.g. 
Keep  your  pecker  up,  be  of  good  heart 
(1853). 

Peckham.  To  have  (or  spend)  a 
holiday  at  Peckham,  to  have  nothing 
to  eat  Going  to  Peckham,  going  to 
dinner  (1823). 

Peckish.     Hungry  ( 1 785). 

Peculiar.      1.  A  belonging.      2. 
mistress  (1647). 

Peculiar  Institution.  Negro 
slavery  —  the  peculiar  domestic  in- 
stitution of  the  Southern  States. 

Ped.  1.  A  basket  (1579).  2.  A 
professional  walker  or  runner. 

Ped-belly.  A  fat  man  or  woman, 
corporation  (q.v.). 


328 


Pedescript. 


Pdican  State. 


Pedescript.  Bruises  from  kicks 
(1659). 

Pedestrian  Digits.     The  legs. 

Pedlar's  French.  1.  Cant,  or  the 
language  of  thieves  and  vagabonds. 
2.  Any  unintelligible  jargon ;  also 
St.  Giles'  Greek  (q.v.).  [French  and 
Greek  here  unintelligible.]  (1530). 

Pedlar  's-news.  Stale  news,  stereo  : 
also  piper's  (mung-  or  tinker's)  news. 

Pedlar's -pony  (horse,  or  pad). 
A  walking-stick ;  a  Penang-lawyer 
(q.v.),  waddy  (q.v.). 

Peel.  To  undress,  strip  (1785). 
Hence  peeled,  naked :  see  Nature's 
garb.  To  peel  it,  to  run  at  full  speed. 
To  peel  eggs,  to  stand  on  ceremony. 
See  Keep. 

Peeler.  1.  A  policeman.  [First 
applied  to  the  Royal  Irish  Con- 
stabulary established  bv  Sir  Robert 
Peel,  when  Irish  Secretary  (1812-18), 
and  subsequently,  for  similar  reasons 
(1828-39),  to  the  Metropolitan  Police.] 

2.  One  ready  to  strip  for  the  combat. 

3.  A    very  energetic    person,   ripper 
(q.v.).     Sir  Peeler,  a  poverty-striking 
crop  (1557). 

Peep.  1.  To  speak.  2.  To  sleep 
(1696). 

Peeper.  1.  A  spy-glass.  2.  The 
eye.  3.  In  pi.,  a  pair  of  spectacles. 
Hence  painted  peepers  (or  peepers  in 
mourning),  black  eyes  (1656).  Eng- 
lish synonyms :  bunkers,  daylights, 
glaziers,  glims,  mutton-pies  (rhyming), 
ogles,  optics,  sees,  winkers.  4.  A 
looking-glass  (1696).  Single  peeper,  a 
one-eyed  man  (1785). 

Peeping.  A  peeping  Tom,  an 
inquisitive  person,  Paul  Pry  (q.v.). 
[From  the  Coventry  Legend.] 

Peep-o' -day-boy.  A  street  roister 
[Regency]. 

Peepsies.     The  pan-pipes. 

Peepy.  Drowsy,  sleepy.  To  go  to 
peepy  (or  peep-)  by,  to  sleep. 

P  e  e  r  y  (or  Peerie).  Suspicious, 
knowing,  sly,  sharp-looking.  As  verb, 
to  look  about  suspiciously  (1665). 

Peety.     Cheerful  (1726). 

Pee-wee.     A  small  marble. 

Peg.  1.  A  dram,  drink,  go  (q.v.) : 
specifically  (in  India),  a  brandy-and- 
soda.  In  the  16th  century  peg- 
tankards  held  two  quarts,  divided  by 
seven  pegs  or  pins,  one  above  the 
other,  into  eight  equal  portions. 
Hence,  to  drink  to  pegs,  to  drink  the 
draught  marked  in  a  peg  tankard  ;  to 


add  (or  drive)  a  peg  (or  nail)  into  one's 
coffin,  to  drink  hard ;  to  go  a  peg  lower, 
to  drink  to  excess  ;  a  peg  too  low,  (1) 
drunk  ;  (2)  low  -  spirited  ;  pegger,  a 
persistent  drinker,  nipster  (q.v.)(1821). 
2.  A  blow  :  spec,  (old  boxers')  a  straight 
drive  in  the  pit  of  the  stomach :  see 
Dig  and  Wipe.  Whence  pegging,  a 
beating  (1600).  3.  A  foot  or  leg :  also 
cribbage  -  pegs  :  see  Creepers.  4.  A 
tooth.  5.  A  shilling;  a  bob  (q.v.): 
see  Rhino.  6.  A  step,  degree.  Hence 
to  take  down  a  peg,  to  humiliate ;  to 
hoist  a  peg  higher,  to  advance  (1625). 
7.  A  text,  excuse  (1791).  8.  A  diminu- 
tive of  Margaret :  also  Peggy.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  drive  (1819) ;  (2)  to  throw 
at  cocks  at  Shrovetide  (B.  E.).  (3)  to 
beat ;  (4)  to  drink  frequently,  tipple  ; 
(5)  (Stock  Exchange),  to  fix  a  market 
price,  and  prevent  fluctuation  by 
buying  all  that  is  offered  at  it,  thus 
debarring  lower  quotations  ;  or,  selling 
all  that  the  market  will  take  at  it,  thus 
preventing  higher  quotations ;  (6)  to 
run :  cf.  To  peg  away.  To  peg  away 
(at  or  on),  (1)  to  work  persistently, 
put  in  licks  (q.v.):  Fr.,  otter  son  petit 
bonhomme  de  chemin :  hence  pegging, 
plodding  (1749) ;  (2)  to  fight.  To  peg 
into,  to  hit,  let  drive  (1834).  To  peg 
out,  (1)  to  die:  see  Hop  the  twig;  (2) 
to  be  ruined,  quisby  (q.v.).  To  be 
pegged  out,  to  be  notorious.  On  the 
peg,  (1)  under  arrest,  roosted  (q.v.); 
(2)  under  stoppage  of  pay,  fined.  To 
put  on  the  peg,  to  pull  oneself  up  (or 
together),  be  careful :  as  of  drink, 
behaviour,  etc.  There  are  always 
more  round  pegs  than  round  holes,  there 
are  always  more  candidates  than 
places.  Old  peg,  poor  hard  Suffolk 
or  Yorkshire  Cheese  (Orose). 

Pegasus.  To  break  Pegasus' s 
neck,  to  write  halting  verse  (1728). 

P  e  g  S  7'  A  slender  poker,  dis- 
posedly  bent  at  right  angles  for  the 
purpose  of  raking  the  fire  :  cf.  Rector 
and  Curate. 

Peg  -  leg.  A  wooden  legged  man 
or  woman. 

Peg  Puff.  An  old  young  woman  : 
cf.  Old  ewe  dressed  lamb-fashion. 

Pegtops.  In  pi.,  trousers :  very 
wide  at  the  hips  and  narrowing  down 
to  a  tight-fit  at  the  ankles  (1859). 

Peg  Trantum.  Gone  to  Peg  Tran- 
tum's,  dead  :  see  Hop  the  twig. 

Pek.     See  Peck. 

Pelican  State.     Louisiana.     [From 


329 


Pell-mell. 


Penny -hop. 


ite  armorial  bearings,  the  bird  being 
common  in  the  State.] 

Pell-mell.  In  confusion,  higgledy- 
piggledy  (1696).  Also  as  suba.  and 
verb  (1591). 

Pelt.  1.  A  harry :  hence  to  pelt 
(or  go  full  pelt),  to  go  as  hard  or  as  fast 
as  may  be.  2.  A  rage,  passion,  blow  : 
also  pdter.  As  verb,  to  be  violently 
angry  ;  pelting  (or  out  for  a  pdter),  very 
angry,  passionate  (1594).  3.  The 
skin  (1694).  4.  A  miser,  stingy  fellow : 
also  pdter  (1552).  5.  Clothes  ;  some- 
times in  pi.  :  spec,  garments  made  of 
peltry,  the  furs  of  beasts  (1567).  As 
verb,  (1)  see  subs.  ;  (2)  to  sew  thickly. 

Pelter.  1.  A  heavy  shower:  hence 
a  rain  of  missiles.  2.  Anything  large, 
whopper  (q.v.).  3.  A  pistol. 

Pelting.  Mean,  paltry,  contempt- 
ible (1570). 

Peltis-hole.  A  term  of  reproach : 
of  women  (1500). 

P  e  m  p  e  (Winchester),  An  ima- 
ginary object  in  search  of  which  a 
newcomer  is  sent :  cf.  Pigeon's  milk, 
Strap-oil,  Squad  umbrella,  etc.  [From 
pempe  moron  proteroy,  send  the  fool 
farther.] 

Pen.  1.  A  prison,  penitentiary : 
see  Cage.  2.  A  saucy  man  with  a 
sharp  nose.  3.  A  three- penny  piece 
knight  of  the  pen,  an  author  or 
journalist. 

Penance-  board.  The  pillory 
(1696). 

Pen  -  and  -  ink.  A  stink.  Also  as 
verb. 

Penang  -  lawyer.  A  species  of 
palm  imported  from  Penang  for  walk- 
ing-sticks. They  are  small  and  hard, 
and  have  a  portion  of  the  root-stock 
attached,  which  is  left  to  form  the 
handle.  [Probably  a  corruption  of 
Penang  liyar,  the  wild  areca.] 

Penbank.     A  beggar's  can  (1728). 

Pencil  -  fever.  A  disease  amongst 
race-horses,  generally  preceded  by 
milking  (q.v.).  When  a  horse  has  been 
milked  to  the  utmost,  and  can  no 
longer,  in  spite  of  marketeers  (q.v.), 
be  kept  at  a  short  price,  his  true  con- 
dition gets  known,  pencil-fever  seta  in, 
and  every  layer  is  anxious  to  pencil 
his  name  in  his  betting-book,  i.e.  lay 
against  him  as  a  safe  or  stiff  'un  (q.v.). 
Also  Milk-fever  and  Market-fever. 
Whence  penciller,  a  book-maker  :  also 
knight  of  the  pencil ;  and  pencilling 
fraternity,  the  world  of  bookmakers. 


Pen  -  driver.  A  clerk  or  writer  : 
cf.  Quill-driver. 

Pen  -  gun  (Penguin).  A  talka- 
tive person  :  esp.  of  small  stature.  To 
crack  like  a  pen-gun,  to  chatter. 

Peninsular.  A  veteran  of  the 
Peninsular  war. 

P  e  n  n  i  f .  A  five  pound  note  ;  a 
finnup  (q.v.). 

Penniless  Bench.  Poverty.  On 
the  penniless  bench,  poverty  stricken  ; 
Pierce  Penniless,  an  embodiment  of 
impecunioRity :  cf.  Poverty  Corner 
(1579). 

Penny.  1.  Money  in  general, 
oof  (q.v.).  Hence,  a  pretty  penny,  a 
large  sum:  see  Rhino  (1362).  2.  A 
cent  Various  colloquial  usages  ob- 
tain :  e.g.  A  penny  for  your  thoughts, 
a  call  to  persons  in  a  brown  study 
(q.v.);  at  first  penny,  at  first  bid  or 
offer  ;  dean  as  a  penny,  (1)  very  clean, 
and  (2)  completely ;  not  a  penny  to 
bless  onesdf  with,  very  poor  ;  penny  or 
paternoster,  pay  or  prayers,  love  or 
money  :  cf.  Money  or  marbles  (Gas- 
coigne) ;  to  think  one's  penny  silver,  to 
have  a  good  opinion  of  oneself ;  to 
turn  an  honest  penny,  to  earn  money 
honestly ;  to  turn  (or  get)  a  penny,  to 
make  money,  to  endeavour  to  live 
(Dry den) ;  penny  wise  and  pound 
foolish,  careful  in  small  matters  and 
extravagant  in  large  ones  (Grose) ; 
penny  plain  or  twopence  coloured,  said 
of  things  varying  in  quality.]  (1510). 

Penny-a-liner.  A  writer  of  para- 
graphs at  the  rate  of  a  penny  a  line 
(or  some  such  small  sum),  a  literary 
hack  :  FT.,  ecrivain  de  ferblanc.  Hence, 
penny-a-linerism  (1840). 

Penny  -  boy.  :A  boy  who  haunted 
the  cattle  markets  on  the  chance  of 
driving  beasts  to  the  slaughter-house, 
an  ankle-beater  (q.v.).  [They  were 
paid  a  penny  per  head.] 

Penny-dreadful  (or  awful). 
A  sensational  story,  newspaper,  or 
print.  [Published  at  a  penny.]  See 
Awful,  Blood  -  and  -  thunder,  and 
Shilling  Shocker. 

Penny -father  (or  Peni  -  father) . 
A  miser,  niggard  (1551). 

Penny-gaff.  A  low-class  theatre 
or  music-hall.  [The  charge  for  ad- 
mission being  a  penny  or  two.]  Also 
penny-room  and  dukey. 

Penny  -  hop.  A  country  dancing 
club.  [Each  person  paid  a  penny  to 
the  fiddler.] 


330 


Penny-lattice-house. 


Perks. 


Penny  -  lattice  -  house.  A  low 
ale-house :  see  Lush-crib  and  Red- 
lattice. 

Penny  -  poet.  A  reproach ;  a 
gutter  rhymster  (1601). 

Penny-pots.  Pimples  on  the  face 
of  a  hard  drinker. 

Penny  -  royal.  Poor,  common, 
inferior. 

Penny  -  starver  (or  buster).  A 
penny  roll,  or  bun. 

Penny  -  wedding.  Wedding  ban- 
quets in  Scotland,  to  which  a  number 
of  persons  were  invited,  each  of  whom 
paid  a  small  sum  of  money  not  ex- 
ceeding a  shilling.  After  defraying 
the  expenses  of  the  feast,  the  residue 
went  to  the  newly-married  pair,  to 
aid  in  furnishing  their  house.  Abol- 
ished in  1645  (Brewer). 

Penny-weight.  A  thief  who 
devotes  his  attention  to  jewellery 
robberies. 

Penny  -  white.  Said  of  her  to 
whom  fortune  has  been  kinder  than 
nature  (B.  E.). 

Pennyworth  (or  Penn 'orth). 
One's  money's-worth,  a  right  equiva- 
lent, what's  owing  and  more:  a  good 
pennyworth,  a  royal  bargain:  cf. 
Robin  Hood's  pennyworth ;  to  cast 
pennyworths,  to  count  the  cost  (1534). 

Pensioner  (University :  Cam- 
bridge). One  who  pays  a  pension  or 
rent  for  rooms  in  College  :  at  Oxford 
ajjCommoner  (q.v.). 
fePent  (The).  Pentonville  Prison: 
seeiCage. 

P[e nthouse-nab.  A  broad- 
brimmed  hat :  see  Golgotha  (1696). 

Penwiper.  A  handkerchief :  see 
Fogle.  fr?»\ 

P  e  o  p  1'e.  Any  sort  of  allies  or 
connections' — racial,  parental,  hired, 
voluntary  :!»with  or  without  the  pos- 
sessive. At  Harrow,  relations  or 
visitors  :  I've  got  people  coming  down 
(1300). 

Pepper.  Vigorous  or  persistent 
action.  |B  As  verb,  (1)  to  chastise 
desperately  by  word  or  deed  ;  (2)  to 
pain  or  inconvenience  or  punish  :  as 
a  pugilist  by  blows,  cannon  by  shot,  or 
a  whore  by  infection ;  (3)  violent  and 
ardent  motion :  e.g.  pelting  rain, 
heavy  betting,  or  (in  skipping)  when 
the  turn  of  the  rope  is  increased  from  a 
slow  pace  to  salt  (q.v.),  and  then  to 
the  quickest  possible,  or  pepper  (Fr., 
du  vinaigre) :  derivatives  are  pepperer, 


(a)  forcible  or  rigorous  attack,  and 

(b)  a  hot- tempered,  active,  or  violent 
person ;   peppering,   a  fierce  attack : 
as  adj.  (peppering  or  peppery),  angry 
and  peppered,  badly  hurt,  or  hurt  to 
the  death   (see   Pipped)   (1589).     (4) 
to  mark  in  the    accents  of  a  Greek 
exercise.     (5)   To  humbug,   gammon 
(q.v.) :    also   to   throw   pepper   in  the 
eyes  (or  to  use  the  pepper-box).     To 
have  (or  take)   pepper  in  the  nose,  to 
be  testy,  offend  quickly,  get  angry  : 
Fr.,  la  moutarde  lui  monte  au  nez  ( 1362). 

Pepper  -  and  -  salt.  Light  grey, 
mingled  black  and  white  :  applied  to 
fabrics  (1843). 

Pepper  -  box.  A  revolver.  The 
Pepper-boxes  (or  Castors),  domes  or 
cupolas :  specifically  the  National 
Gallery  in  Trafalgar  Square,  but 
applied  to  any  dome-shaped  building : 
cf.  Boilers  (1855).  See  Pepper. 

Pepperidge.  To  pay  the  pepperidge, 
to  pay  one's  footing  (q.v.) :  as  a  school 
boy  has  to  pepperidge  his  mates  when 
he  puts  on  a  new  suit  of  clothes. 

Pepper's  Dragoons.  The  Eighth 
Hussars. 

P  e  p  s  t.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed 
(1577). 

Perambulator.     A  costermonger. 

Perch.  A  high  seat,  resting  place. 
To  drop  (hop  or  fall)  off  (or  tip  over) 
the  perch,  to  die:  see  Hop  the  twig: 
(also  to  perch  1594).  To  knock  off  the 
perch,  to  upset,  defeat,  do  for  (q.v.). 

P  e  r  c  h  e  r  (Winchester  College). 
A  Latin  cross  laid  horizontally  against 
the  name  of  an  absentee  on  any  roll. 

Perfect-lady.     A  prostitute. 

PerfectlyDemmy.  Stylishly  dressed. 

Perform.  To  carry  out  a  design 
(generally  a  dishonest  one),  play, 
work.  To  perform  on  a  flat,  to  cozen 
a  fool. 

Perger.     See  Purger. 

Pericranium  (or  Peri  crane).  The 
head  or  skull. 

Perished.  Starved  with  cold  : 
hence,  collapsed,  as  from  fear  or 
pain. 

Perisher.  1.  A  short-tailed  coat, 
jacket.  2.  A  consummation,  extreme. 

Periwinkle  (or  Perriwinkle). 
A  wig  :  a  corruption  of  periwig  :  Fr., 
panoufle,  gazon,  boubane. 

Perks.  Perquisites.  To  perk  up, 
(1)  to  plume  oneself,  adorn  (1601).  (2) 
To  recover  from  sickness  (1696). 
Board  of  Perks,  Board  of  Works. 


331 


Perkin. 


Peter  Collins. 


Perkin.  1.  Weak  cider  or  perry 
(Grow).  2.  Beer.  [From  Barclay, 
Perkin  &  Co.] 

Perking.  A  pert,  forward,  Billy 
fellow.  As  adj.,  peering,  inquisitive. 

Pernel.     See  Panel. 

Pernicated.  Swaggering,  full  of 
side  (q.v.). 

Pernickity  (or  Pernicketty). 
Fastidious,  over-particular. 

Perpendicular.  A  stand-up  lunch, 
evening  party  where  the  majority 
of  the  gueste  stand,  upright  position. 

Persimmon.  A  species  of  wild 
plum  ;  in  America  as  common,  south 
of  latitude  42°,  as  is  the  blackberry 
in  England.  Its  fruit  and  hard  wood 
are  much  esteemed.  The  huckle- 
berry is  akin  to  the  whortleberry. 
Among  popular  phrases  are  :  To  rake, 
up  the  persimmons,  to  pocket  the 
stakes  or  spoils,  to  rake  (or  pull)  in  the 
pieces  (q.v.);  the  longest  pole  gets  (or 
knock*)  the  most  persimmons,  the 
best  man  wins,  the  strongest  party 
gains  the  day  [the  persimmon  tree 
sometimes  attains  to  60  ft.] ;  the 
persimmon  is  above  the  huckleberry, 
a  confession  of  inferiority ;  not  a 
huckleberry  to  one's  persimmon,  not 
comparable  ;  that's  persimmon  (or  all 
persimmon),  that's  fine. 

Perspire.     To  melt  away,  vanish. 

Persuader.  1.  A  pistol,  revolver, 
spur,  digger  (q.v.),  jemmy  (q.v.)  or 
other  burglar's  tool  2.  The  tongue 
(Grose). 

Persuading  -  plate.  An  iron  disk 
used  in  forcing  safes :  it  revolves  on 
a  pivot,  and  is  fitted  with  a  cutting 
point. 

Pert.  Impudent.  Pert  end  up, 
in  good  spirits,  cheerful. 

Perthshire  Greybreeks  (The). 
The  2nd  Batt.  Cameronian  (Scottish 
Rifles) :  formerly  the  90th  (Perthshire 
Volunteers)  Regiment  of  Foot 

Per  Usual.     See  Usual. 

Pesky.  Troublesome,  plaguy. 
As  adv.,  excessively. 

Pester.     A  trouble,  bother. 

Pestle.  1.  A  constable's  staff. 
2.  A  leg :  cf .  Pestle  of  pork,  long  and 
still  in  vogue  (1529).  See  Knight. 

Pestle-head.     A  blockhead. 

Pet.  1.  An  angry  mood,  tantrum, 
fling  of  temper  (1648).  Hence,  to 
be  petted,  to  take  offence.  2.  A 
darling :  also  in  sarcasm.  [Occa- 
sionally, a  delicate  young  thing.] 


Also  peat.  As  verb,  to  fondle 
(1529). 

Petard.  Hoist  with  a'  petard  (or 
petar),  caught  in  one's  own  trap,  in- 
volved in  danger  meant  for  others 
(1596). 

Pete  Jenkins.  An  auxiliary 
clown.  [The  original  Pete  Jenkins 
(c.  1855)  had  a  line  of  business  (q.v.) : 
he  planted  rustics  in  the  audience,  and 
played  them  thence.] 

Peter.  LA  portmanteau,  box, 
trunk,  bag,  or  purse :  generic  for 
any  parcel,  bundle,  or  package,  large 
or  small.  Whence  peter -biter  (daimer, 
or  man),  a  carriage  thief ;  peter-drag 
(hunting,  or  lay),  robbery  from 
vehicles  of  all  kinds ;  peter-hunting 
jemmy,  a  small  crow-bar  used  in 
smashing  the  chains  securing  luggage 
to  a  vehicle  (1724).  2.  A  punishment 
cell :  see  Box.  3.  A  partridge.  4. 
See  Peter-see- me.  5.  A  knavish  mode 
of  handling  dice.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
call  (in  whist)  for  trumps  by  discard- 
ing an  unnecessarily  high  card  :  see 
Blue-peter ;  (2)  to  cease  word  or  deed, 
stow  it  (q.v.) ;  (3)  to  run  up  prices  : 
see  Peter  Funk.  As  intj.,  an  oath. 
To  peter  out,  to  fail,  become  exhausted. 
To  go  (or  pass)  through  St.  Peter" » 
needle,  to  be  severely  disciplined : 
of  children.  To  rob  (or  borrow  from) 
Peter  to  pay  (or  clothe)  Paul,  to  take 
of  one  to  give  to  another,  manoeuvre 
the  apostles  (q.v.).  [John  Thirleby, 
the  first  and  only  bishop  of  West- 
minster (1541-50),  having  wasted  the 
partimony  allotted  by  the  King  (Hen. 
vni.)  for  the  support  of  the  see  was 
translated  to  Norwich,  and  with  him 
ended  the  bishopric  of  St.  Peter'a, 
Westminster  (Haydn,  Dignities). 
The  lands  of  Westminster  were  so 
delapidated  by  Bishop  Thirlby  that 
there  was  almost  nothing  to  support 
the  dignity.  They  were  invaded  by 
the  great  men  of  the  Court,  and  the 
rest  laid  out  for  reparation  to  the 
Church  of  St.  Paul,  pared  almost  to 
the  very  quick  in  those  days  of  rapine. 
From  hence  came  first  that  significant 
byeword  (as  is  said  by  some)  of 
robbing  Peter  to  pay  Paul  (Heylin). 

Peter  Collins.  A  gentleman 
never  to  be  found,  on  whom  young 
aspirants  are  told  to  call.  The  youth 
is  sent  from  roof  to  cellar,  and,  finally 
is  generally  let  down  a  trap  and  left 
to  get  out  as  best  he  can.  The  pass- 


I 


332 


Peter  Funk. 


Philistine. 


word  at  circuses  is  the  green-handled 
rake,  which  the  youth  is  requested 
to  ask  for.  He  is  generally  settled 
with  a  pill  of  horse-dung  when  they 
have  had  enough  of  him. 

Peter  Funk.  1.  A  decoy  at  a 
mock  auction  ;  also,  at  genuine  but 
petty  sales,  a  runner  -  up  of  prices  ; 
a  puffer  (q.v.).  2.  The  personification 
of  petty  deceit  and  humbug. 

Peter  -  Grievous.     A  fretful  child. 

Peter-Gunner.  An  amateur  gun, 
plasterer  (q.v.)  (1614). 

Peter  Lug.  A  laggard  in  drink- 
ing (1696). 

Peter-man.  1.  A  fisherman  : 
specifically  those  who  formerly  used 
unlawful  engines  in  catching  fish  in 
the  river  Thames  (1605).  Peter-boat, 
a  fishing-boat :  specifically  one  built 
sharp,  bow  and  stern,  for  quick 
handling.  [In  allusion  to  Math.  iv. 
18.]  2.  See  Peter. 

Peter  -  see  -  me.  A  Spanish  wine. 
[From  Sp.,  Pedra  Ximenes,  the  famous 
cardinal.]  Also  Peter,  Peter-sa-mene, 
and  Peter-semine  (1617). 

Petman.  The  smallest  pig  in  a 
litter,  tantony-pig  (q.v.). 

Petronel.  Sir  Petronel  Flash,  a 
swaggerer,  penniless  ruffler,  boaster, 
braggadochio. 

Petticoat.  A  woman :  also  as 
adj.  Hence,  petticoat-affair,  a  matter 
with  a  woman  in  it ;  petticoat-govern- 
ment, female  home  -  rule  ;  petticoat- 
hold,  a  life  interest  in  a  wife's  estate  ; 
petticoat-led,  infatuated  of  a  woman 
1607). 

Petticoat  Lane.  Middlesex 
Street,  E.  :  a  well-known  rendezvous 
of  old-clothes  dealers,  mostly  Jews. 
In  Yiddish,  Pilomet,  the  initials  (in 
Hebrew)  P.  L.  Also  Dover  Street, 
Piccadilly,  the  seat  of  the  Court 
milliner. 

Pettifogger.  An  attorney  of  the 
baser  sort,  sharking  lawyer.  Hence 
(generally),  one  given  to  mean  or 
underhand  practices.  As  verb,  to 
conduct  business  in  a  sharp  or  paltry 
way  (1576). 

Petty.  A  scholar  low  in  the 
school  (1692). 

Pew.  A  place  of  abode  (or  busi- 
ness), crib  :  see  Diggings.  Formerly 
a  box  at  a  theatre  :  see  Room. 

Pew-opener's  Muscle.  A 
muscle  in  the  palm  of  the  hand.  [Sir 
Benjamin  Brodie :  because  it  helps 


to  contract  and  hollow  the  palm  for 
the  reception  of  a  gratuity.] 

Pewter.  Generic  for  money : 
specifically  prize-money :  see  Rhino 
(1842). 

P  e  w  y.  Enclosed  by  fences  so  as 
to  form  small  fields. 

Pharaoh.  1.  A  corruption  of  faro 
(1732).  2.  A  strong  ale  or  beer: 
also  Old  Pharaoh  (1685).  One  of 
Pharaoh's  lean  kine,  a  thin,  spare 
person :  one  who  looks  (a)  as  though 
he'd  run  away  from  a  bone-house  ; 
or  (6)  as  if  he  were  walking  about  to 
save  his  funeral  expenses  (1598). 

Pheasant.  1.  A  wanton.  Hence 
pheasantry,  a  brothel.  2.  See  Bil- 
lingsgate-pheasant. 

Pheeze  (Pheaze,  Feaze,  or  Feize). 
To  chastise  (1579). 

Philadelphia  -  catechism.  The 
couplet : — Six  days  shalt  thou  labour, 
and  do  all  thou  art  able,  And  on  the 
seventh  —  holystone  the  decks  and 
scrape  the  cable. 

Philadelphia  -  lawyer.  A  smart 
attorney:  hence,  to  puzzle  (be  as 
smart  as,  beat,  or  know  as  much  as)  a 
Philadelphia  -  lawyer,  to  be  a  paragon 
of  shrewdness. 

Philander.  To  flirt,  spoon  (q.v.), 
wanton  :  of  both  sexes.  As  subs,  (or 
philanderer),  a  lover :  specifically  a 
dangler  after  women  (1619). 

Philip.  A  policeman.  As  intj., 
a^warning.  Hence,  PhUiper,  a  thief's 
accomplice. 

Philip  and  Cheiney.  Any  and 
every  one,  Tom,  Dick,  and  Harry 
(q.v.).  (1542). 

Philippi.  To  meet  at  PhUippi,  to 
keep  an  appointment  without  fail. 
[Cf.  'Julius  Caesar,'  iv.  iii.,  where  the 
ghost  of  J.  C.  so  delivers  itself  to 
Brutus.] 

Philistia.  The  region  of  the  un- 
enlightened or  commonplace :  speci- 
fically (Matthew  Arnold)  the  English 
middle  -  class  —  ignorant,  narrow- 
minded,  and  deficient  in  great  ideas. 
Whence  (generally)  Philistine,  an  un- 
lettered barbarian  (q.v.) ;  a  person, 
male  or  female,  who  has  never  read 
Matthew  Arnold.  [Orig.  (German 
students'),  anybody  not  belonging  to 
a  university.  ]  ( 1 857 ). 

Philistine.  1.  Generic  for  a  re- 
presentative of  authority  :  a  sheriff's 
officer,  bailiff,  revenue  officer,  watch- 
man, and  (in  pi. )  the  press  -  gang 

333 


Phiz. 


Pick-a-back. 


[Judges  zvi.].  2.  A  drunkard :  see 
Lushington  (1708).  3.  Earwigs  and 
such  like  insect  tormentors  (B.  E.). 
4.  See  Philistia. 

Phiz  (Phyz,  or  Physog).  The 
face:  see  Dial  (1693). 

Phiz  -  gig.  1.  An  extravagantly 
dressed  old  woman,  an  old  ewe  dressed 
lamb  -  fashion.  2.  A  pyramid  of 
moistened  gunpowder,  which,  on 
ignition,  fuses  but  does  not  flash. 

Phoenix-man.  Men  with  a 
phoenix  for  their  badge,  in  livery,  and 
pay  from  the  insurance  -  office,  to 
extinguish  fires,  covering  their  heads 
with  an  iron-pot,  or  head-piece  (B.  E.) 

Physic.  1.  Strong  drink,  medi- 
cine (q.v.),  lush  (q.v.).  2.  Hard 
hitting,  punishment  (q.v.):  also  as 
verb.  3.  Losses,  wagers,  points,  and 
so  forth.  Also  as  verb. 

Phyz.     See  Phiz. 

Pi  (or  Pie).  1.  Type,  jumbled  and 
mixed.  [Ordinarily  a  compositor, 
when  distributing  type,  reads  a  line 
or  sentence  and  is  enabled  to  return 
it  to  case  with  expedition :  with  pi, 
however,  each  stamp  has  to  be  recog- 
nised separately.]  Fr.,  p/itr :  faire  du 
pdte,  to  distribute  pi ;  German, 
zwiebelfisch  (fish  with  onions)  (1790). 
2.  A  miscellaneous  collection  of  books 
out  of  the  alphabet  (q.v.).  As  adj., 
virtuous,  sanctimonious :  e.g.  He's 
very  pi  now,  he  mugs  all  day ;  He 
pi-jawed  me  for  thoking.  Whence, 
pi-jaw  (or  gas),  a  serious  admoni- 
tion ;  pi-man,  sim  (q.v.). 

Piazzas.  To  walk  the  piazzas, 
to  walk  the  streets.  [The  piazzas 
were  those  in  Covent  Garden,  only  a 
portion  of  which  now  (1904)  remain.] 

Picaroon  (Pickaroon,  or  Picaro). 
A  rogue,  shabster.  As  verb,  to  rob, 
prowl  in  quest  of  plunder  (1617). 
On  the  picaro,  on  the  make  (q.v.). 

Picayune.  Formerly  the  Spanish 
half-real  in  Florida,  Louisiana,  etc.  : 
now  a  five-cent  piece  or  any  small 
coin.  Also  (generic)  money,  rhino 
(q.v.).  Picayune  (or  picayunish), 
small,  mean,  or  little  value. 

Piccadil  (or  Piccadillo).  1.  A 
stiff  collar  over  which  an  ornamental 
fall  or  collar  was  arranged,  worn  first 
at  the  close  of  the  16th  century.  Per- 
haps the  spelling  piccadil  was  sug- 
gested by  the  Italian  use  of  Picardm 
for  hanging,  place  where  persons  are 
hanged.  2.  The  ornamental  border 


of  a  broad  collar  worn  by  women  early 
in  17th  century  (1607). 

Piccadilly  Butchers  (The).  The 
First  Life  Guards.  [Having  been 
called  out  to  quell  the  Piccadilly  riota 
in  1810.]  Also  The  Cheeses  ;  The  Tin 
Bellies ;  and  The  Patent  Safeties. 

Piccadilly-crawl.  A  walk :  modish, 
in  the  Eighties :  cf.  Alexandra  limp, 
Grecian  bend,  Roman  fall,  etc. 

Piccaninny  (Pickaninny,  Pinka- 
ninny,  etc.).  A  baby,  child  :  speci- 
fically (modern)  a  child  of  negro 
parents.  [Originally  from  pink  (an 
endearment),  small:  see  Pigsney.] 
(1696). 

Pick.  1.  To  shoot,  fling  (1530). 
2.  To  pilfer,  choose  thievishly  :  also 
piekeer,  but,  usually,  to  pick  and  cut 
(or  to  pick  pockets).  As  subs,  (or 
picking),  petty  larceny :  cf.  (Prayer 
Book)  Keep  my  hands  from  picking 
and  stealing.  Hence  picker  (picker 
up  or  pickeerer),  (1)  a  petty  thief; 
(2)  in  pL,  the  fingers.  The  same 
idea  (stealthy,  underhand)  occurs  in 
Pickpenny,  Pickthank,  Pickpurse,  etc. 
(all  of  which  see)  (1400).  Expres- 
sions more  or  less  colloquial  are :  to 
pick  a  bone  (crow  or  matter),  to  seek  a 
quarrel :  see  Bone,  Crow,  and  Pluck  ; 
to  pick  up,  ( 1 )  to  improve  gradually  : 
as  from  illness  or  failure  ;  (2)  to  make 
acquaintance  with,  or  accost :  usually 
in  disparagement  of  the  person  ac- 
costed— sharpers,  street  walkers,  and 
such  Like  pick-up  flats  or  culls ;  (3)  to 
get  casually ;  and,  generally,  (4)  to 
impose  upon  or  take  an  advantage 
in  a  contract  or  bargain  (Bee,  1823) ; 
to  pick  flies  off  (tailors'),  to  fault-find  ; 
to  pick  out  robin's  eyes  (tailors'),  to 
side-stitch  black  cloth  or  fine  material ; 
to  pick  off  (general),  (1)  to  aim  with 
effect,  and  (2)  to  wound  or  kill ;  to 
pick  on,  to  disturb,  to  nag  ;  to  pick  up, 
to  put  in  order :  as  a  room ;  to  pick 
a  bit,  to  eat  mincingly ;  to  pick  and 
choose,  to  select  with  discrimination  ; 
to  pick  the  brains  (or  mind),  to  steal 
ideas ;  to  plagiarise  ;  to  pick  holes  (at 
a  fault),  to  fault  -  find  :  hence  pick- 
fault,  a  censorious  fault-finder ;  to 
pick  a  quarrel,  to  make  offence ;  hence 
pick-quarrel,  a  cantankerous  person  ; 
to  pick  at,  to  nag ;  and  so  forth. 
See  also  Pick-thank  and  Pick-purse. 

Pick-a-back  (Pickback,  Pick-a- 
pack,  or  Pickpack).  On  the  back  or 
shoulders  :  as  a  pack  (1558). 


334 


Pick-and-dab. 


Pig. 


Pick-and-dab.  A  meal  of  pota- 
toes and  salt :  cf.  Potatoes-and-point. 

Pickers.     See  Pick. 

Picker-up  (Stock  Exchange).  A 
dealer  buying  on  quotations  trickily 
obtained  from  a  member  trapped 
into  giving  a  wrong  price. 

Pickle.  1.  A  difficult  or  disagree- 
able position,  a  plight.  Hence,  a 
case  of  pickles,  a  bad  breakdown, 
serious  quandary  (1609).  2.  A  wag: 
specifically,  a  troublesome  child  :  cf. 
'Peregrine  Pickle'  (1751).  Hence, 
pickled,  roguish,  waggish  (1696).  3. 
In  pi.,  specimens  for  dissection  di- 
rect from  the  subject.  As  verb,  to 
humbug,  gammon  (q.v.).  A  rod  in 
pickle,  a  flogging  or  scolding  in  re- 
serve, a  revenge  in  lavender  (1678). 
In  the  days  of  authority  rods  were 
pickled  in  urine  or  in  brine,  which 
elements,  it  was  held,  imparted  tough- 
ness. 

Pickle-herring  (or  pickled- 
herring).  A  buffoon  (1602). 

Pickle-jar.  A  coachman  in 
yellow. 

Pick-me-up.     A  stimulant. 

Pick  -  penny.  1.  See  Pinch  -  fist. 
2.  A  sharper. 

Pick  -  pie.  To  turn  a  pick  -  pie, 
to  make  a  somersault. 

Pick-purse.  A  thief  (q.v.).  As 
adj.,  mercenary,  fraudulent  (1529). 

Picksome.  Fastidious,  particu- 
lar, given  to  picking  and  choosing. 

Pick  -  thank.  A  toady  :  also  as 
adj.  and  verb  (1412). 

Pickt- hatch.  To  go  to  the 
manor  of  pickt  -  hatch  (or  to  pickt- 
hatch  grange),  to  wanton.  [The 
Pickt-hatch — a  hatch  with  pikes — was 
a  common  brothel  sign :  specifically 
in  Shakespeare's  time  a  notorious 
tavern  brothel  in  Turnbull  St.,  Clerk- 
en  well.] 

Pick-tooth.     Leisurely  (1726). 

Pick-up.  A  casual  acquaintance, 
male  or  female.  As  adj.,  composed 
of  what  is  at  the  moment  available  : 
as  a  pick  -  up  dinner  ;  a  pick  -  up 
crew,  or  team  :  cf.  Scratch  and  Pot- 
luck. 

Pickwickian  Sense.  A  technical 
or  constructive  sense. 

Picnic.  A  mellay,  rough-and- 
tumble. 

Picture.  A  model,  pattern,  beau- 
ideal  :  as  a  picture  of  health,  a  perfect 
picture  —  child,  horse,  and  so  forth  : 


also  ironically,  e.g.  a  pretty  picture, 
a  strange  figure.  Not  in  the  picture, 
strange,  inappropriate,  better  away, 
and  (racing)  unplaced.  See  also 
Lawful  pictures. 

Picture-  frame.  See  Sheriff's 
picture-frame.  ft$i 

Picture  -  hat.  The  Gainsborough 
Duchess  of  Devonshire  set  a  fashion 
in  hats  which  women  continue  to  wear 
up  to  the  present  style. 

Piddle.  To  do  languidly  or  to 
little  purpose ;  to  niggle  (q.v.).  Hence, 
piddler,  a  trifler ;  and  piddling,  mean, 
of  small  account,  squeamish  (1544). 

Pie.  LA  magpie.  2.  A  prating 
gossip.  Wily-pie,  a  sly  rogue  (1369). 
3.  See  Pi.  More  or  less  colloquial  are  : 
— To  have  a  finger  in  the  pie  (or,  in- 
deed, any  matter),  to  meddle,  to  join 
in  :  cf.  Boat ;  to  make  a  pie,  to  com- 
bine with  a  view  to  profit ;  like  pie, 
with  zest ;  cf.  Jam ;  in  spite  of  the  pie, 
obstinately  (pie,  the  Book  of  the 
Offices  of  the  Church) ;  not  to  cook 
any  of  the  pie,  to  abandon  an  enter- 
prise, to  take  no  further  interest. 

Piece.  1.  A  person,  male  or 
female  :  often  in  contempt.  Also  (of 
women)  piece  (or  bit)  of  mutton,  muslin, 
or  goods  (1290).  2.  In  pi.,  money ; 
rhino  (q.v.).  [From  the  old  Spanish 
pieces  of  eight.]  (1558).  To  go  all  to 
pieces,  to  collapse,  become  exhausted, 
be  ruined  (1667).  To  eat  a  piece,  to 
eat  between  meals  :  also  to  piece.  See 
also  Flesh,  Muslin,  Pudding,  Thick, 
and  Top. 

Piece-of-entire.     A  jolly  fellow. 

Piece-out.      Employment,  a  loan. 

Pieman.  1.  The  one  in  hand  at 
pitch-and-toss  (q.v.).  2.  See  Pi. 

Piercer.  A  squint  -  eye,  one  look- 
ing nine  ways  for  Sundays  (q.v.). 

Piffing.     See  Spiff. 

Piffle.  Twaddle :  esp.  mincing,  pre- 
tentious, affected  twaddle.  As  verb, 
to  trifle  pretentiously,  to  twaddle  with 
a  purpose  and  an  air.  Piffler,  an 
earnest  futility,  i.e.  a  person  with  a 
moral  end  in  view,  and  nothing  to  back 
it  but  a  habit  of  talking  or  writing 
sentimental  rubbish.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
filch ;  (2)  to  be  squeamish. 

Pig.  1.  An  epithet  of  disparage- 
ment or  abuse.  Thus,  a  dirty  pig,  a 
person  unclean  hi  word  or  deed ; 
an  old  pig,  a  ill  -  natured  boor ;  a 
learned  pig,  a  bombastic  shallow-pate  ; 
as  verb  (or  to  pig  it),  to  herd  as  pigs  ; 


335 


Pig. 


Pigeon-hole. 


to  pig  together,  to  lie  (or  Bleep)  two  (or 
more)  in  a  bed ;  piggery,  a  squalid  or 
untidy  room  ;  pig-eyed,  small -eyed  ; 
pig  -  faced,  heavy  jowled  ;  piggish, 
greedy  ;  pig  -  headed,  obstinate  ;  as 
happy  at  a  pig  in  muck,  contented  but 
filthy ;  like  a  pig,  no  good  alive, 
selfish ;  to  long  for  pig  (or  a  Bartholo- 
mew pig)  (q.T.),  to  show  signs  of,  or 
presume  upon,  pregnancy ;  to  bleed 
like  a  pig,  to  bleed  copiously,  like  a 
pig  under  the  knife ;  to  stare  like  a 
stuck  pig,  to  look  fixedly  or  terrifically. 
2.  A  policeman,  detective :  also 
grunter :  see  Beak.  China  street  pig, 
a  Bow  Street  officer.  3.  In  pL,  The 
Seventy-Sixth  Foot,  now  the  2nd 
Batt.  West  Riding  Regiment.  [From 
its  badge.]  Also  The  Immortals 
(q.v.)  and  The  Old  Seven  and  Six- 
pennies  (q.v.).  4.  A  pressman :  cf. 
Donkey.  5.  Sixpence :  see  Bender, 
Hog,  and  Rhino.  6.  (Cambridge 
University).  See  Hog.  7.  An  utterly 
spoiled  garment :  also  Pork.  Collo- 
quial phrases  are  : — A  pig  in  a  poke, 
a  blind  bargain :  FT.,  acheter  chat  en 
poche  ;  to  stuff  a  fat  pig  in  the  tail,  to 
give  unnecessarily  ;  to  take  onejs  pigs 
(or  hogs)  to  market,  to  deal  or  do  busi- 
ness ;  generally  with  pretty,  fair,  fine, 
or  bad,  when,  a  good  or  bad  bargain, 
to  succeed  or  fail ;  to  drive  one's  pigs 
(or  hogs)  to  market,  to  snore  ;  to  follow 
like  an  Anthony  pig,  to  beg,  to  hang 
on ;  to  get  the  wrong  sow  by  the  ear 
(or  Am.,  the.  wrong  pig  by  the  tail),  to 
make  a  mistake  ;  when  pigs  fly,  never  : 
see  Queen  Dick  ;  cold  pig,  ( 1 )  see  ante  ; 
(2)  goods  on  sale  when  returned  ;  and 
(3,  medical),  a  corpse,  dead  -  meat 
(q.v.) ;  to  have  boiled  pig  at  home,  to  be 
master  in  one's  house  (an  allusion  to 
a  well  -  known  poem  and  story) ; 
brandy  is  Latin  for  pig  and  goose,  an 
excuse  for  a  dram  after  either ;  please 
the  pigs,  if  circumstances  permit, 
Deo  volente ;  long  (or  masked)  pig, 
human  flesh  :  exposed  openly  for  sale 
in  Hayti  under  this  name  ;  to  teach  a 
pig  to  play  on  a  flute,  to  attempt  the 
absurd  or  impossible  ;  When  a  pig  is 
proffered,  hold  up  the  poke,  never 
refuse  a  good  offer ;  You  can't  make 
horn  of  pig's  tail  (see  Sow's  ear) ;  to 
mistake  a  pig  for  a  dog,  to  act  stupidly  ; 
child's  pig  but  father's  bacon,  a  pre- 
tended benefit :  as  when  a  pet  animal 
is  sold  ;  to  grease  a  fat  pig  (or  sow),  to 
be  insensible  of  a  kindness. 


Pig  and  Tinder  -  box.  The 
Elephant  and  Castle  (1821). 

Pig  and  Whistle  Light  Infantry 
(The).  The  Highland  Light  In- 
fantry, formerly  the  71st  and  74th 
Regiments  of  Foot. 

Pig-eater.     An  endearment. 

Pigeon  (or  Stool-pigeon).  1.  A 
dupe;  a  eull  (q.v.);  a  fly  (q.v.):  cf. 
Rook  and  Spider  (cf.  Thackeray's 
title,  Captain  Rook  and  Mr.  Pigeon). 
As  verb  (or  to  pluck  a  pigeon,  to 
swindle :  FT.,  pigeon,  dindon,  or  tordu  ; 
8p.,  palamo  (pigeon),  or  sangrado 
(subject  for  bleeding)  (1585).  2. 
Sharpers,  who,  during  the  drawing  of 
the  lottery,  wait  ready  mounted  near 
Guildhall,  and,  as  soon  as  the  first  two 
or  three  numbers  are  drawn,  which 
they  receive  from  a  confederate  on  a 
card,  ride  with  them  full  speed  to 
some  distant  insurance  office,  before 
fixed  on,  where  there  is  another  of  the 
gang,  commonly  a  decent  -  looking 
woman,  who  taxes  care  to  be  at  the 
office  before  the  hour  of  drawing :  to 
her  he  secretly  gives  the  number, 
which  she  insures  for  a  considerable 
sum :  thus  biting  the  biter  (Grose). 
To  pigeon' the  news,  to  send  informa- 
tion by  carrier  pigeon  ;  to  run  or  ride 
with  news  surreptitiously  obtained. 
3.  See  Blue  pigeon.  4.  Business :  see 
Pigeon  English.  [The  Chinese  pro- 
nunciation of  the  English  word.] 
Pauls  pigeons,  the  scholars  of  St. 
Paul's  school  (1662).  (I)  To  milk  the 
pigeon,  to  attempt  impossibilities ; 
(2)  to  be  put  to  shifts  for  want  of 
money.  Phrases  more  or  less  collo- 
quial are  : — Pigeon  breasted,  with  pro- 
truding breast ;  pigeon  -  hearted  (or 
livered),  timid ;  pigeon-toed,with  turned 
in  toes;  pigeon-wing,  (1)  a  late  18th 
century  mode  of  dressing  the  side  hair : 
now  American  ;  (2)  a  wig  so  called  ; 
and  (3)  a  brisk  step  or  caper  in  danc- 
ing, skating  ;  to  shoot  at  a  pigeon  and 
kill  a  crow,  to  blunder  wilfully ;  to  catch 
two  pigeons  with  one  bean  (see  Stone). 

Pigeon  English  (or  Pidgin).  A 
jargon  serving  as  a  means  of  inter- 
communication between  the  Chinese 
and  the  English  -  speaking  races  all 
over  the  world  :  alike  hi  Shanghai  and 
San  Francisco.  [A  corruption  of 
'  business  -  English  —  business  —  bid- 
giness — bidgin — pidgin — pigeon.] 

Pigeon-hole.  1.  An  over -wide 
space  between  printed  words;  a  rat- 


330 


Pigeon-pair. 


Pilgrim. 


hole  (q.v.).  2.  (Winchester  College). 
A  small  study.  Pigeon-hole  soldiers, 
clerks  and  orderlies. 

Pigeon-pair.  Twins  of  opposite 
sex.  [Pigeons  lay  two  eggs  which 
usually  hatch  as  a  pair.] 

Pigeon's-  milk.  An  imaginary 
product  in  quest  of  which  fools  are 
sent :  cf.  Strap-oil,  Squad  umbrella. 
To  milk  the  pigeon,  to  attempt  impos- 
sibilities. 

P  i  g  g  o  t.  To  forge.  [A  reminis- 
cence of  the  Parnell  Commission :  the 
expression  was  born  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  28th  Feb.  1889.]  Cf. 
Salisbury,  Burke,  Boycott,  Maffick, 
etc. 

Piggy-wiggy  (Pigwiggin,  or  Piggy- 
whidden).  A  pet  pig:  hence,  a  comic 
endearment  (see  Drayton,  Nymph- 
idia,  where  it  is  used  as  the  name  of 
a  kind  of  Puck). 

Pig-poker.     A  swine-herd. 

Pig  -  running.  A  kind  of  game 
frequently  practised  at  fairs,  wakes, 
etc.  A  large  pig,  whose  tail  is  cut 
short,  and  both  soaped  and  greased, 
being  turned  out,  is  hunted  by  the 
young  men  and  boys,  and  becomes 
the  property  of  him  who  can  catch  and 
hold  him  by  the  tail,  above  the  height 
of  his  head  (Grose). 

Pigs-and-whistles.  To  go  to  pigs- 
and-whisiles,  to  be  ruined  (1801). 

Pig-sconce.    A  lout,  dullard  (1659). 

Pig  's-ear  (or  lug).  A  very 
large  lappel  collar  or  flap. 

Pig's- foot.  A  short  cloven  crow- 
bar, jemmy  (q.v.). 

Pigskin.  A  saddle.  Knight  of 
the  pigskin,  a  jockey. 

Pigsney.  1.  A  girl :  an  endear- 
ment :  see  Titter.  2.  A  woman's 
eye  (1383). 

Pig  -  sticker.  1.  A  pork- butcher. 
2.  A  long-bladed  pocket-knife.  3. 
A  sword. 

Pig-sty.  1.  The  press  -  room  :  see 
Pig.  2.  A  place  of  abode  or  business : 
see  Diggings. 

Pig's- whisper.  1.  A  grunt.  2.  A 
very  short  space  of  time  [i.e.  as  brief 
as  a  grunt] :  also  (American),  pig's- 
whistle. 

Pig  -  tail.  1.  A  Chinaman.  2.  In 
pi.,  the  shares  of  the  Chartered  Bank 
of  India,  Australia,  and  China. 

Pig-yoke.     A  quadrant  (1836). 

Pike.  1.  A  turnpike  road.  2.  A 
tramp,  gipsy  (also  pikey  and  piker). 


As  verb,  to  walk  (also  to  pike  off,  and 
to  tip  a  pike) :  whence  to  pike  on  the 
been,  to  hook  it  for  all  one's  worth. 
Pike  -  keeper  (or  pikeman),  a  toll- 
keeper  ;  to  bilk  a  pike,  to  cheat  a  toll- 
gate  (1500).  3.  (American:  Southern 
States).  A  poor  white.  As  verb,  (1) 
see  subs.,  sense  1  ;  (2)  to  die  :  also  to 
pike  off  :  see  Hop  the  twig  ;  (3)  to  play 
cautiously  and  for  small  stakes. 
Hence,  piker,  a  moderate  punter.  To 
pass  the  pikes,  to  be  out  of  danger 
(1648).  To  give  the  pike,  to  dis- 
miss :  see  Bag  and  Sack. 

Pike  I  (or  Prior  Pike).  An 
assertion  of  prior  claim  or  privilege ; 
Bags  or  Bags  I  (q.v.). 

Piker.     1.  See  Pike.    2.  Wild  cattle. 

Pikestaff.     See  Plain. 

Pilate-voice.  A  big  ranting  voice. 
[Brewer :  In  the  old  mysteries  all 
tyrants  were  made  to  speak  in  a  rough 
ranting  manner.  Thus  Bottom  the 
Weaver,  after  a  rant  to  show  his 
quality,  exclaims,  '  That's  'Ercles' 
vein,  a  tyrant's  vein '  ;  and  Hamlet 
describes  a  ranting  actor  as  out-herod- 
ing  Herod.]  (1383). 

Pilch.     To  pilfer  :  see  Prig  (1577). 

Pilcher.  A  scabbard.  [The  word 
is  used  nowhere  in  English  save  in 
'  Romeo  and  Juliet.'  It  seems  to  be 
a  literal  due  to  an  Elizabethan  comp. 
Perhaps  Shakespeare  wrote,  pilch,  Sir  ; 
perhaps  he  didn't.  Anyhow  pilch  =  a 
leathern  coat,  or  overall,  and  was 
good  enough  business  for  a  leathern 
sheath.] 

Pile.  A  large  sum  of  money,  fortune : 
see  Rhino.  To  make  one's  pile,  to 
make  a  fortune  ;  to  go  the  whole  pile,  to 
stake  everything  (1732).  To  pile  on  : 
see  Agony.  To  pile  in,  (1)  to  take 
part ;  (2)  to  eat.  To  pile  out,  to  come 
forth. 

Pilgarlick.  1.  An  outcast.  Said 
originally  to  mean  one  whose  skin  or 
hair  had  fallen  off  from  some  disease  ; 
but  now  commonly  used  by  persons 
speaking  of  themselves ;  as,  there 
stood  poor  pill  garlick;  i.e.  there  stood 
I  (Grose).  2.  A  person  of  ripe  age  : 
see  Antique  (1605). 

Pilgrim.  1.  Pilgrim  and  tender- 
foot were  formerly  applied  almost  ex- 
clusively to  newly  imported  cattle, 
but  by  a  natural  transference  they  are 
usually  used  to  designate  all  new- 
comers, tourists,  and  business-men. 
2.  In  pi.,  cattle  on  the  drive. 


337 


Pilgrim' s-aalve. 


Pine-tree  Money. 


Pilgrim's-  salve.  Excrement 
(1670). 

Pill.  1.  A  black  hallo  tine  ball : 
see  Blackball.  As  verb,  to  reject  by 
ballot.  2.  A  disagreeable  or  objec- 
tionable person,  bore  (q.v.):  also  of 
events— a  bitter  pill  (1536).  3.  A 
drink,  go  (q.v.):  see  Drinks.  4.  A 
bullet :  also  blue- pill  (q.v.).  As  verb, 
(1)  see  sube.  1  ;  (2)  to  twaddle,  talk 
platitudes.  The  Pills,  the  Royal 
Army  Medical  Corps :  also  The 
Licensed  Lancers,  The  Poultice  Wal- 
lopers ;  and  The  Linseed  Lancers. 
Also  pills,  a  doctor,  surgeon.  To 
gild  the  pill,  to  sweeten  a  bitter  thing, 
soften  a  hard  thing,  beautify  an  ugly 
thing,  explain  away  a  sure  thing, 
present  the  inevitable  as  though  it 
were  optional,  gammon  (q.v.).  To 
pill  and  poll,  to  pillage  and  strip : 
specifically  in  modern  usage  (thieves'), 
to  cheat  a  comrade  of  his  regulars 
(q.v.):  FT.,  faire  regard.  Pott-thief 
(or  patter),  (1)  a  thief  ;  (2)  an  informer 
(1529). 

Pillar.     See  Post. 

Pill-box.  1.  A  small  brougham.  2. 
A  soldier's  cap.  3.  A  revolver  or  gun  : 
also  pill-bottle :  see  Meat-in-the-pot. 

Pill-driver  (monger,  or  peddler). 
An  itinerant  apothecary  (1763). 

Pillicock.     An  endearment  (1598). 

Pillory.     A  baker. 

Pillow-mate.     A  wife. 

Pill-pate.  A  friar,  shaveling 
(1570). 

Pi-man.     See  Pi. 

Pimginnit  A  large,  red,  angry 
pimple  (B.  E.). 

Pimp.  To  act  meanly,  curry 
favour.  Pimping,  small,  feeble,  per- 
haps well-meaning,  but  in  every  way 
inconsiderable  (1749). 

Pimple.  1.  A  boon  companion 
(1700).  2.  The  head:  see  Tibby. 
Pimple-cover,  a  hat:  see  Golgotha. 
Pimple  in  a  bent,  something  very 
minute :  cf.  Knot  in  a  rush  (1582). 

Pin.  1.  In  pi.,  the  legs.  On  one's 
pins,  (a)  alive ;  (b)  faring  well ;  (c) 
in  good  form  (1520).  2.  A  trifle  :  the 
lowest  standard  of  value :  also  pin- 
head:  cf.  Button,  Cent,  Fig,  Point, 
Rap,  Rush,  Straw  (1433).  3.  A 
measure  containing  four-and-a-half 
gallons,  or  the  eighth  part  of  a  barrel. 
As  verb,  to  steal,  nab  (q.v.).  Phrases: 
To  be  down  pin,  to  be  out  of  sorts ; 
to  put  in  the  pin,  to  stop,  arrest,  pull 


up :  as  a  habit  or  indulgence ;  to  pin 
oneself  on  another,  to  hang  on  ;  to  pin 
down  (or  to  the  ground),  (1)  to  secure, 
(2)  to  make  sure,  (3)  to  attack  with  no 
chance  of  escape ;  pinned  to  a  wife's 
tail,  petticoat-led  ;  to  pin  one's  faith 
to  (or  upon  one's  sleeve),  to  trust  im- 
plicitly :  see  also  Bottle,  Merry- pin, 
Nick. 

Pin-basket.     The  youngest  child. 

Pin-buttock.  A  bony  rump  : 
with  bones  like  pins  pricking  (1598). 

Pinch.  1.  A  dilemma,  critical 
situation,  scrape.  Whence,  to  come 
to  the  pinch,  to  face  the  situation  ;  at 
a  pinch,  upon  a  push  or  exigence 
(B.  E.).  2.  A  certainty.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  steal :  formerly,  encroach  little  by 
little,  appropriate  (1362);  (2)  to 
arrest  (1600);  (3)  to  cut  the  measures 
of  ale,  beer,  etc.  (B.  E.).  The  pinch 
(or  pinching  lay),  (1)  pilfering  while 
purchasing,  (2)  exchanging  bad  money 
for  good  :  ringing  the  changes  (q.v.) ; 
pincher  (or  pinch-gloak),  a  shop-lifter ; 
to  pinch  on  the  parson's  side,  to  sharp 
him  of  his  tithes ;  pinched  to  the  bone, 
robbed  of  all.  To  pinch  at,  to  demur, 
fault-find  ( 1383).  See  Nab,  Nick,  and 
Shoe. 

Pinchbeck.  Showy,  meretricious, 
sham.  [In  the  18th  century  Christo- 
pher Pinchbeck,  a  London  watch- 
maker, invented  an  amalgam  much 
used  in  cheap  jewellery.] 

Pinch-belly  (back,  commons, 
fist,  guts,  penny,  or  pincher).  A 
miser,  niggard  in  food  (dress,  or 
money) :  see  Skinflint  (1412). 

Pinch-board.  A  swindling  roulette 
table :  see  Pinch. 

Pincher.  A  legislative  measure 
calculated  to  secure  a  pecuniary 
reward  to  those  interested  in  ite  re- 
jection. See  Pinch,  and  Pinch-belly. 

Pinch-gut-money.  '  Money  allowed 
by  the  King  to  the  Seamen,  that  Serve 
on  Board  the  Navy  Royal,  when  their 
Provision  falls  Short ;  also  in  long 
Voyages  when  they  are  forced  to 
Drink  Water  instead  of  Beer  '  (B.  E.). 

Pinch-wife.  A  vigilant  and  churl- 
ish husband. 

Pincushion.     See  Pin-case. 

Pineapple.      To   close   sha 
county-crop,  shingle  (q.v.). 

Pine-top.     Common     i 
see  Old  man's  milk. 

Pine-tree  Money.  Money  coined 
in  Massachusetts  in  17th  century :  as 


338 


Pine-tree  Stale. 


Pipe-layer. 


bearing  a  figure  resembling  a  pine- 
tree. 

Pine  -  tree  State.  Maine.  [From 
its  extensive  pine  forests.] 

Pink.  1.  A  beauty.  2.  A  pattern 
or  model :  as  a  woman  of  fashion,  a 
well-groomed  man,  the  pick  of  the 
litter,  a  champion  at  sport,  etc.  (1595) 

3.  A  bad  report,  e.g.  There  are  several 
pinks  against  you  :  as  verb,  to  give  a 
bad  account  of  a  person  or  matter. 

4.  A  hunting  coat,  scarlet  (q.v.) :  also 
a  hunting  man  (as  wearing  pink).     As 
verb,  ( 1 )  to  put  home  a  rapier's  point : 
also  as  subs.,  a  wound  so  made  (1598) ; 

(2)  to  convict ;  as  a  result  of  perjury  or 
cross-examination  to  one's  prejudice ; 

(3)  to  make  carefully,  even  exquisitely ; 

(4)  to  get  home  easily  and  often :  as 
a  blow  (1819).     Dutch  pink,  blood  :  cf. 
Claret. 

Pinking  -  dinder.  A  bully,  ruffian, 
Mohawk  (q.v.). 

Pink  -  spiders.  Delirium  tremens, 
gallon-distemper  (q.v.). 

Pinky.  The  little  finger  :  also  any- 
thing little ;  the  smallest  candle,  the 
weakest  beer,  etc. 

Pin  -  money.  An  allowance  to  a 
woman  for  pocket  expenses  :  originally 
to  a  married  woman  by  her  husband, 
either  by  settlement  or  gift  (1673). 

Pinnace.  A  bawd,  prostitute, 
woman,  piece  (q.v.). 

Pinner  (or  Pinny).  A  pinafore 
(1672). 

Pinner-up.  A  vendor  of  broad- 
side songs  and  ballads.  [They  are 
usually  pinned-up  on  canvas  against  a 
wall.] 

Pinnipe.  A  crab.  Hence  pin- 
niped, sideways  ;  crab  fashion.  [The 
Pinnipedia  are  fin-footed  animals.] 

P  i  n  n  o  c  k.  To  bring  pinnock  to 
pannock,  to  bring  something  to 
nothing. 

Pin-pannierly-fellow.  A 
covetous  miser  that  pins  up  his 
baskets  or  panniers,  or  that  thinks 
the  loss  of  a  pin  to  be  a  pain  and 
trouble  to  him. 

Pins  -  and  -  needles.  The  tingling 
which  accompanies  the  recovery  of 
circulation  in  a  benumbed  limb. 

Pin's -head.  To  look  for  a  pin's 
head  in  a  cartload  of  hay,  to  attempt 
the  impossible.  Whence,  to  find  a 
pin's  head,  etc.,  to  achieve  wonders  : 
see  Bottle  (1565). 

Pinsrap.     A  parsnip. 


Pint.  Recommendation,  praise. 
Pints  round  !  a  fine  imposed  upon  a 
cutter  for  dropping  his  shears :  nearly 
obsolete. 

Pip.  A  spot  on  dice  or  playing 
cards.  [A  corruption  of  picks,  (O.  E. ) 
diamond  and  (sometimes)  spade : 
from  old  Fr.,  picque,  a  spade.]  As  verb, 
(1)  to  blackball,  pill  (q.v.);  (2)  to 
take  a  trick  from  an  opponent.  To 
have  (or  get)  the  pip,  to  be  depressed, 
out  of  sorts  :  see  Hump. 

Pipe  (or  Pipers).  1.  Generic  for 
the  vocal  organs.  2.  The  voice  :  in 
pi.,  the  lungs.  As  verb,  (a)  to  talk ; 
(b)  to  cry :  also  to  pipe  up,  to  take  a 
pipe,  to  tune  one's  pipes,  and  to  pipe 
one's  eye  ;  to  shut  (or  put)  up  the  pipes, 
to  be  silent.  Piper,  a  broken-winded 
horse,  roarer  (q.v.)  (1383).  3.  In  pi., 
the  bag-pipes ;  to  tune  one's  pipes, 
to  talk  or  write.  4.  A  boot :  see 
Trotter-cases  (1819).  As  verb,  see 
subs.  1  and  2 ;  (3)  to  waylay,  inter- 
cept ;  (4)  to  watch,  spy  :  also  to  pipe 
off  :  Fr.,  attumer.  Piper,  a  spy.  The 
Queen's  pipe,  the  kiln  in  the  great 
East  Vault  of  the  Wine-Cellars  of  the 
London  Docks,  where  useless  and 
damaged  goods  that  have  paid  no 
duty  are  burnt :  as  regards  tobacco 
a  thing  of  the  past,  stuff  of  this  kind 
being  distributed  to  workhouses,  etc. 
To  put  one's  pipe  out,  (1)  to  spoil 
sport  or  a  chance,  to  take  the  shine 
out;  (2)  to  kill:  see  Light :  Fr.,  casser 
sa  pipe.  Put  that  in  your  pipe  and 
smoke  it,  a  straight  rebuke,  digest 
that  if  you  can :  Fr.,  mets  ga  dans  ta 
poche  et  ton  mouchoir  par  dessus  (1824). 
To  pipe  another  dance,  to  change  one's 
means,  or  one's  course  of  action  or 
attack  (1529).  To  pipe  in  (or  with) 
an  ivy-leaf,  to  busy  oneself  to  no 
purpose  (as  a  consolation  for  failure), 
to  go  whistle,  blow  the  buck's  horn. 
[Ivy-leaf,  a  thing  of  small  value,  as 
Fig,  Rush,  Straw,  etc.]  (1374). 

Pipeclay.  Routine,  red  -  tape 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  to  wipe  out, 
settle :  as  accounts.  (2)  To  hide 
faults  of  workmanship,  conceal  de- 
fects in  material. 

Pipe-layer.  A  political  intriguer, 
schemer.  Hence  pipe-laying,  scheming 
or  intriguing  for  political  purposes. 
[Bartlett :  circa  1835,  a  traitorous 
New  York  Whig  election  agent  con- 
cocted a  plot  to  throw  odium  on  the 
party,  supporting  it  by  correspond- 


339 


Pitchfork. 


ence  in  the  form  of  bogus  business 
letters  relating  to  the  Croton  water 
supply  then  in  progress,  the  number 
of  men  hired  to  vote  being  spoken  of 
as  so  many  yards  of  pipe. 

Pipe  -  merry.  Merry  :  as  from 
wine  (which  is  stored  in  pipes)  (1564). 

Piper.  1.  A  detective :  speci- 
fically (in  England)  an  omnibus  spy : 
see  Nark.  2.  See  Pipe.  Drunk  at  a 
piper,  very  drunk :  also  piper-fou : 
see  Screwed  (1772).  To  pay  the  piper 
(or  fiddler),  to  pay  expenses,  assume 
responsibility :  FT.,  payer  Its  violons 
(1695). 

Piper 's-cheeks.  Swollen  or  puffed 
cheeks  (1608). 

Piper 's-news.     Stale  news. 

Piper's- wife.     A  prostitute. 

Piping  Hot     Very  hot  (1383). 

Pipkin.     The  head  :  see  Tibby. 

Pippin.   My  pippin,  an  endearment. 

Pippin-squire.     See  Apple-squire. 

Pirate.  1.  An  infringer  of  copy- 
right :  specifically  of  publishers,  print- 
sellers,  and  booksellers,  who,  without 
permission,  appropriate  the  work  or 
ideas  of  an  author  or  artist ;  a  free- 
booker :  cf.  Barabbas,  Ghost,  Jackal, 
etc.  (1703).  2.  In  1829  George  Shilli- 
beer  introduced  omnibuses  into 
London,  and  .  .  .  took  care  to  impress 
upon  every  man  he  employed  the  im- 
portance of  politeness  towards  all 
passengers.  But  in  1832  it  was 
noticed  that  this  high  standard  .  .  . 
was  not  maintained  by  ...  conductors 
of  the  new  'buses  running  from  Pad- 
dington  to  the  Bank  via  Oxford  Street. 
They  overcharged  passengers,  and 
met  protests  with  abuse.  Frequently, 
when  females  only  were  in  the  'bus, 
they  brought  their  journey  to  an  end 
long  before  they  reached  their  ad- 
vertised destination,  compelling  the 
passengers  to  walk  a  considerable 
distance  after  paying  their  fares.  .  .  . 
These  were  the  first  pirate  omnibuses. 
To  let  the  public  know  which  really 
were  his  vehicles  Shillibeer  at  once 
had  painted  on  them  Shillibeer's 
Original  Omnibus.  In  a  few  days  the 
same  inscription  appeared  on  some 
of  the  pirates  with  the  word  not  in  very 
•mall  letters  preceding  it.  Now 
(1902),  thanks  to  police  regulations 
and  the  imposition  of  heavy  penalties, 
almost  a  thing  of  the  past :  chiefly 
applied,  without  depreciation,  to  any 
non-Company  or  Association  vehicle. 


Fishery  -  pashery.     Gabble  (1621). 

Pistol.  A  swaggering  bully:  see 
Furioso  (1596).  Also  see  Pocket- 
pistol. 

Pistol-shot.  A  drink  ;  a  go  (q.v.): 
see  Drinks  and  cf.  Pocket-pistol. 

Pit.  A  breast  pocket  in  a  coat : 
also,  a  fob.  Hence,  pitman,  a  pocket- 
book.  Knight  of  the  pit,  a  cocker.  To 
shoot  (or  fly)  the  pit,  to  turn  tail  ( 1 740). 

Pit-a-pat.  To  walk  lightly  and 
quickly :  as  with  a  quick  succession 
of  sounds,  to  palpitate  :  also  adj.  and 
subs.  [The  same  word  as  prittle- 
prattle  or  pittle  -  pattle,  to  chatter] 
(1555). 

Pitch.  1.  A  place  of  sale  or  en- 
tertainment. 2.  A  performance  or 
sale.  To  pitch  (or  do  a  pitch),  to  do 
business ;  to  queer  a  pitch,  to  spoil  a 
performance  or  a  sale ;  to  mar  one's 
plans.  3.  A  short  sleep,  a  nap. 
Phrases  :  To  pitch  the  hunters,  to  set 
up  the  three-sticks-a-penny  business ; 
to  pitch  it  strong,  to  exaggerate,  over- 
do, or  embroider  (q.v.) :  to  pitch  and 
pay,  to  pay  on  the  nail  (at  Black  well 
Hall  it  was  enacted  that  a  penny  be 
paid  by  the  owner  of  every  bale  of 
cloth  for  pitching) ;  to  pitch  in,  (1)  to 
take  a  hand ;  (2)  to  start ;  (3)  to  work 
hard ;  to  pitch  into,  to  attack ;  to 
pitch  a  tale  (or  fork),  to  tell  a  story, 
romantic,  playful,  or  pitiful ;  to  pitch 
on,  to  select  at  random. 

Pitch-and-fill.     Bill 

Pitched.     Cut  (q.v.). 

Pitcher.  1.  Newgate  prison  :  also 
the  stone  pitcher  (or  jug) :  see  Cage 
(1819).  2.  See  Snide-pitcher.  Pitchers 
have  ears  I  Listeners  may  overhear : 
also  (of  children)  little  pitchers  have 
long  (or  great)  ears,  what  children  hear 
at  home  soon  flies  abroad :  FT., 
ce  que  Fenfant  oit  au  foyer,  est  bien- 
tdt  connu  jusqu'au  Monstier  (1546). 
Other  colloquialisms  are  :  To  get  the 
sheards  after  the  pitcher  is  broken  ( 1 760), 
to  receive  a  kindness  after  others  have 
no  need  for  it,  to  get  the  refuse ;  to 
bang  a  pitcher,  to  drain  a  pot :  see 
Crocus-pitcher. 

Pitcher  -  man.  A  drunkard  ;  » 
tickle-pitcher  :  see  Lushington  (1738). 

Pitch  -  fingers.  A  pilferer  :  also 
tar  -  fingers  (q.v.).  Whence  pitch' 
fingered,  thievishly  inclined. 

Pitchfork.  A  tuning-fork.  A» 
verb,  to  thrust  into  a  position,  toss, 
settle  carelessly. 


340 


Pitch-Titled. 


Play. 


Pitch  -  kettled.  Puzzled,  stuck 
fast,  confounded  (1785). 

Pitchpole.  (1)  To  sell  for  double 
the  cost :  (2)  to  turn  a  somersault. 

Pitch  -up  (Winchester  School). 
One's  home  circle,  a  crowd  or  knot 
of  people,  set  of  chums.  Hence,  to 
pitch  up  with,  to  associate  with. 

Pit-hole  (or  Pit).  A  grave.  As 
verb,  to  bury  (1607). 

Pitman.     See  Pit. 

Fitter  -  patter.  To  palpitate,  go 
pit-a-pat. 

Pittle-pattle.     See  Pit-a-pat. 

Pitt's -picture.  A  bricked-up 
window.  [To  save  Pitt's  Window- 

fc] 

Place.  1.  An  abode,  place  of 
business  :  see  Diggings.  2.  A  jakes,  or 
house  of  ease  (q.v.). 

Placebo.  1.  A  pacifying  dose.  2. 
A  sop  or  placation.  To  sing  (or  hunt, 
or  go  to  the  school  of)  placebo,  to  be 
servilely  complaisant,  time  -  serving, 
hold  with  the  hare  and  hunt  with 
the  hounds  (1362). 

Placer.      To   live   in  concubinage. 

Plaguy  (or  Plaguily).  Trouble- 
some, annoying,  deuced,  very  (1580). 

Plain.  Watered,  neat  (q.v.). 
Plain  as  a  pikestaff  (or  packstaffe), 
beyond  argument;  packstaff  (adj.), 
plain :  also  plain  as  the  nose  on  your 
face  (1546). 

Plain-statement.  1.  An  in- 
different meal,  common-doings  (q.v.). 
2.  A  simple  straight-forward  piece  of 
work. 

Plank.  See  Platform.  As  verb, 
to  deposit  money,  pay  :  also  to  plank 
up  (or  down). 

Plant.  1.  Plunder.  2.  A  swindle 
or  robbery.  3.  A  decoy.  4.  A  place 
of  hiding.  5.  In  pi.,  the  feet.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  conceal;  (2)  to  select  a 
person  or  house  for  swindling  or 
robbery ;  (3)  to  utter  base  coin ;  (4)  in 
mining,  to  salt  (q.v.) ;  (5)  to  humbug ; 
gammon  (q.v.) ;  (6)  to  prepare  cards 
for  unfair  play;  (7)  to  post,  set,  fix 
in  position  (1555) ;  (8)  to  bury  (Grose) ; 
(9)  to  drive  the  ball  into  another 
player  :  hence  planter,  a  blow  so  given  : 
specifically  one  delivered  in  the  face. 
In  plant,  in  hiding ;  to  spring  a  plant 
(1)  to  unearth  ;  (2)  to  prepare  a  trick 
by  depositing  an  object  in  charge  of 
a  conscious  or  unconscious  con- 
federate. To  plant  whids  and  stow 
them,  to  be  wary  of  speech  (1610). 


To  plant  home,  (1)  to  deliver  (as  a 
blow) ;  (2)  to  make  a  point  (as  in 
argument) ;  and  (3,  general)  to  suc- 
ceed. To  water  one's  plants,  to  shed 
tears :  see  Bib. 

Plaster.     To  flatter. 

Plasterer.  An  amateur  gun.  One 
who  thinks  nothing  of  the  lives  and 
eyes  of  the  men  who  surround  him  on 
all  sides,  and  blows  his  pheasant  to 
a  pulp  before  the  bird  is  seven  feet  in 
the  air  (Bromley -Davenport). 

Plate  (Plate  -  fleet,  or  Family 
Plate).  1.  Generic  for  money: 
formerly  a  piece  of  silver :  also  (Hal- 
liwett)  illegal  silver  money  :  see  Rhino. 
To  melt  the  plate,  to  spend  lavishly  ; 
when  the  plate  fleet  comes  in,  money 
in  plenty  (B.  E.)  (1586).  2.  In  pi., 
the  feet :  originally  plates  of  meat :  see 
Creepers.  To  plate  it,  to  walk.  Also 
(American  thieves')  plates  of  meat,  a 
street.  Old  plates,  the  shares  of  the 
London  and  River  Plate  Bank.  New 
Plates,  shares  of  the  English  Bank  of 
the  River  Plate.  To  foul  a  plate,  to 
dine,  sup  (1785). 

Platform.  Formerly  a  plan, 
design,  or  model :  now  a  declaration 
of  principles  or  doctrines  (chiefly  religi- 
ous and  political)  governing  organised 
public  action,  each  section  or  para- 
graph of  which  is  called  a  plank.  As 
verb,  to  draft  or  publish  such  a  de- 
claration of  principles  or  doctrines. 

Platter-face.  A  broad  or  flat  face  : 
also  as  adj.  :  see  Dial  (1696). 

Plausible.  Specious,  persuasive 
(1696). 

Play.  To  play  artful,  to  feign  sim- 
plicity, to  keep  a  card  or  two  up  one's 
sleeve ;  to  play  boots  (the  devil,  the 
mischief,  Ned,  etc.),  to  thrust,  to 
spoil,  to  ruin  ;  to  play  off,  (1)  to  simu- 
late, (2)  to  expose  to  merriment,  (3)  to 
make  an  end  ;  to  play  on  (or  upon),  to 
trifle  with;  to  play  up,  (1)  to  do 
one's  best,  (2)  to  be  troublesome ;  to 
play  up  to,  to  take  one's  cue  from 
another ;  played  up  (or  out),  used  up, 
ruined  ;  to  play  with  one's  beard,  to 
deceive  ;  to  play  it  low,  to  take  ad- 
vantage ;  to  play  light,  (1)  to  take  it 
easy,  (2)  to  keep  one's  temper ;  to 
play  for,  to  deal  with  generally ;  to 
play  dark,  to  conceal  one's  character 
or  motive ;  to  play  the  whole  game,  to 
cheat ;  to  play  least  in  sight,  to  hide  ; 
to  play  to  the  gas,  to  play  to  small 
audiences ;  to  play  to  the  gallery,  to 


341 


Plump. 


rant,  to  gag,  to  use  the  coarsest 
and  cheapest  means ;  to  play  it  off, 
to  cheat ;  to  play  the  sovereign,  to 
flatter  an  inferior ;  to  make  good 
play,  to  work  to  advantage,  or  with 
execution ;  to  come  into  play,  to 
take  one's  turn,  or  share ;  to  play 
fair  (or  false),  to  act  or  deal  honestly 
(or  the  reverse) ;  to  play  one's  cards 
wdl,  to  advance  one's  interests ;  to 
play  into  one's  hands,  to  advantage  ; 
to  keep  (or  hold)  in  play,  to  retain 
control,  keep  things  going,  to  engage  ; 
to  play  the  giddy  goat,  to  behave  like 
a  fool ;  to  play  with,  to  trifle ;  to  play 
upon  advantage,  to  cheat ;  to  play  in 
and  out,  to  trifle ;  played  out,  ex- 
hausted, ruined,  done  for ;  to  play  a 
good  knife  and  fork  (see  Knife) ;  to 
play  the  game,  to  do  honestly  at  what- 
ever cost ;  to  play  diddle-diddle,  to 
trick,  to  cajole ;  to  play  the  duck,  (1) 
to  go  contrary,  against  the  grain :  as 
ducks  are  plucked,  (2)  to  prove  a 
coward ;  to  play  off  one's  dust,  to 
drink.  Other  proverbial  sayings  are  : 
She's  like  a  cat,  she'll  play  with  her 
tail,  of  a  wanton ;  The  play  won't  pay 
the  candles  (or  the  acting  is  not  worth 
the  lights),  the  end  is  not  worth  the 
means  or  risk ;  He'll  play  a  small 
game  rather  than  stand  out,  of  a 
meddler  or  busybody.  Also  see  Bear, 
Beard,  Bob-fool,  Booty,  Deuce,  Devil, 
Dickens,  Ducks,  Fast,  Fathers-and- 
Mothers  ;  Fiddle,  Gooseberry,  Harry, 
Hell,  Hob,  Hooky,  In-and-in,  In-and- 
out,  Knife,  Love,  Mischief,  Possum, 
Second  fiddle,  Schoolmaster,  Tail, 
Ugly,  Uptails-all,  Velvet,  Wag,  Wag- 

Pleb  (Westminster  School).  A 
tradesman's  son. 

Plebe  (American  Collegiate).  A 
freshman ;  specifically  one  in  the 
lowest  class  at  West  Point.  Hence, 
plebeskin,  a  freshman's  tunic. 

Pledge.  A  baby  (1622).  As  verb, 
(Winchester  School),  to  give  away. 
Pledge  me,  after  you ;  I'D  pledge  it 
you  when  I  have  done  with  it :  cf. 
Poste  to. 

Plenipo.  A  plenipotentiary 
(1697). 

Plier.     The  hand  :  see  DaddK 

Plough.  To  reject  in  an  ex- 
amination: see  Pluck.  To  p'ugh 
the  deep,  to  sleep.  To  put  the  plcugh 
before  the  oxen,  to  reverse,  put  the 
cart  before  the  horse  (1653).  Pro- 


verbial phrases  are: — To  plough  with 
ass  and  ox,  to  sort  or  do  things  ill ; 
to  let  the  plough  stand  to  catch  a  mouse, 
to  neglect  weighty  matters  for  small ; 
to  plough  the  air  (or  a  rock),  to  attempt 
the  absurd  or  impossible. 

Ploughed.     Drunk :  see  Screwed. 

Plover.  A  wanton :  cf.  Partridge, 
Pheasant,  and  Grouse. 

Pluck.  Courage,  spunk  (q.v.): 
also  pluckiness.  Hence  plucked, 
valiant :  usually  with  good,  well,  rare, 
etc.  ;  hard  •  plucked,  hard  -  hearted, 
severe ;  plucky,  bold,  spiritedly,  or 
indomitable :  pluck-less,  fainthearted. 
As  verb,  to  reject  at  an  examination. 
Against  the  pluck,  against  the  inclina- 
tion. To  pluck  the  riband,  to  ring 
the  beD.  See  Crow,  Pigeon,  Nose, 
Rose. 

Plug.  1.  A  silk  hat :  also  Plug- 
hat  :  see  Golgotha.  2.  A  man  or 
beast,  short  and  thick-set :  see  Forty  - 
gute.  3.  A  workman  whose  appren- 
ticeship has  been  irregular ;  a  turn-over 
(q.v.):  specifically  (in  America)  a 
craftsman  who  has  learned  his  busi- 
ness in  casual  or  evening  classes. 
Such  teaching  is  called  plug-teaching. 
4.  Anything  damaged  or  deteriorated  : 
as  an  unsuccessful  book,  an  old  horse, 
coins  bored  full  of  holes  and  plugged 
with  base  metal,  a  shop-soiled  bicycle  ; 
and  so  forth  :  also  old  plug.  Hence 
(generally)  plug,  any  defect — moral, 
physical,  or  otherwise.  5.  A  translation, 
a  crib  (q.v.),  pony  (q.v.).  6.  A  loafer, 
well-dressed  or  other :  see  Plug-ugly. 
As  verb,  to  hit  with  a  bullet. 

Plug-hat.     See  Plug. 

Plug  -  ugly.  A  Baltimore  street 
rowdy,  circa  1860-80.  Hence  any 
loafer  or  rough  (q.v.). 

Plum  (or  Plumb).  1.  £100,000,  a 
fortune :  see  Rhino.  2.  A  rich  man. 
3.  A  good  thing,  tit-bit.  As  adj.,  a 
general  appreciative  :  good,  desirable, 
exactly,  quite,  dexterously,  thorough- 
going. Whence  plumb-centre,  exactly 
at  the  centre :  as  a  plummet  hangs 
(1667).  As  verb,  to  deceive:  see 
Gammon  :  see  Blue'plum. 

P 1  u  m  -  d  u  ff .  Plum  -  dumpling, 
spotted-dog  (q.v.). 

Plump.  A  blow:  also  Plumper 
(1772).  As  adj.  and  adv.,  (1)  exactly, 
downright,  quite  :  as  verb,  to  meet  in 
more  or  less  violent  contact ;  plumply 
(or  plump  and  plain),  without  reserve, 
roundly  (1535);  (2)  fat,  full,  fleshy. 


342 


Plumper. 


Pock-pudding. 


flump  in  the  pocket,  with  plenty  of 
money,  warm  (q.v.).  As  verb,  (1) 
to  record  a  whole-  (i.e.  an  unsplit-) 
vote  ;  whence  plumper,  (a)  the  voter, 
and  (b)  the  vote :  also  (racing),  to  back 
one  horse  ;  and  (general),  to  put  all 
one's  eggs  in  one  basket.  (2)  To  strike, 
shoot. 

Plumper.  1.  An  unqualified  false- 
hood. 2.  A  device  for  puffing  out  to 
smoothness  the  wrinkles  of  the  cheeks  : 
also  a  false  bosom  (1650).  3.  See 
Plump. 

Plump  -  currant.  In  good  condi- 
tion, in  fettle,  in  high  spirits  (Grose). 

Plum  -  porridge.  A  term  of  con- 
tempt :  cf.  Pudding-head  (1634). 

Plump-pate.     A  blockhead. 

Plum-puddinger.  A  small  whaler 
making  short  voyages.  [Century : 
the  crew  is  dieted  on  fresh  provisions 
and  an  abundance  of  plum  -  pud- 
ding.] 

Plunder.  1.  Household  goods, 
personal  effects,  baggage  (1834).  2. 
Profit,  makings  (q.v.). 

Plunge.  To  bet  recklessly.  Hence 
a  plunge,  a  reckless  bet ;  plunging, 
gambling  for  high  stakes ;  plunger,  a 
reckless  gambler.  [For  example,  the 
Marquis  of  Hastings,  the  first  so- 
called.  One  night  he  played  three 
games  of  draughts  for  £1000  a  game 
and  lost  all  three.  He  then  cut  for 
£500  a  cut,  and  lost  £5000  in  less  than 
two  hours,  Benzon  (the  Jubilee 
plunger)  lost  £250,000  in  little  more 
than  twelve  months.] 

Plunger.  1.  A  cavalry  man  (1857). 
2.  See  Plunge.  3.  A  Baptist. 

Plush.  At  sea  the  overplus  of  the 
gravy,  arising  from  its  being  distri- 
buted in  a  smaller  measure  than  the 
true  one ;  this  assigned  to  the  cook  of 
each  mess,  becomes  a  cause  of  ir- 
regularity. John  Plush,  a  footman; 
cf.  Thackeray,  The  YeUowplush  Cor- 
respondence, by  Charles  Yellowplush, 
Esq. 

Plyer.  1.  A  crutch  (B.  E.).  2. 
A  trader  (Grose). 

Plymouth  (or  Dunkirk)  cloak. 
A  cudgel  (1602). 

Poach.  1.  To  steal;  to  sneak 
(q.v.) :  see  Prig.  2.  In  racing,  to  get 
the  best  of  a  start :  esp.  by  unsports- 
manlike methods  (1531).  3.  To 
blacken  the  eyes  :  cf.  Fr.,  yeux  poches 
au  beurre  noir  (1819). 

Poacher.     A  jobber  or  broker  who 


deals  out  of,  or  is  continually  changing, 
his  market. 

Poacher-court.  The  Kirk-Sessions 
(1796). 

Pocket.  1.  Money,  means,  re- 
sources :  also  pocket-book  and  pocket- 
lining.  Hence,  to  be  in  pocket,  to 
profit ;  to  be  out  of  pocket,  to  lose ; 
pockets  to  let,  penniless,  broke  (q.v.) ; 
To  put  one's  hand  in  one's  pocket,  (1) 
to  give  money  (as  in  charity),  and  (2) 
to  spend ;  to  have  (or  carry)  in  one's 
pocket,  to  control ;  to  pick  pockets,  to 
steal  from  the  person  (hence  pick- 
pocket, a  thief  from  the  person :  cf. 
Pick- purse) ;  pocket-piece,  (1)  a  show 
coin,  whence  (2)  anything  meretrici- 
ous or  unreal :  see  Rhino  (1598).  As 
adj.,  small:  e.g.  pocket  -  hercules,  a 
sturdy  dwarf ;  pocket-volume,  a  port- 
able book  ;  pocket  -  Venus  (or  piece), 
a  diminutive  woman ;  pocket-parlia- 
ment, a  town  -  council,  or  debating 
society  ;  pocket  -  hell,  a  Tartarus  of 
one's  own,  a  Tophit  on  a  minor  scale  ; 
and  so  forth.  As  verb,  (1)  to  endure, 
submit :  as  to  ridicule,  insult,  or 
wrong.  Hence,  to  pocket  one's  horns, 
to  play  the  wittol ;  to  put  one's  pride  in 
one's  pocket,  to  suppress  one's  pride ; 
to  carry  one's  passions  in  one's  pocket,  to 
smother  one's  feelings ;  to  pocket  an 
affront,  to  submit  and  say  nothing 
(1592) ;  (2)  to  embezzle,  steal  (1851) ; 
(3)  to  win.  //  not  pleased,  put  hand  in 
pocket  and  please  yourself,  a  retort  on 
grumblers.  He  plays  as  fair  as  if  he'd 
picked  your  pockets,  said  of  rooking 
gamblers. 

Pocket-book  Dropper.  See 
Drop-game. 

Pocket-borough.  A  constituency 
in  which  votes  are  controlled  by  one 
man  :  theoretically,  since  the  Reform 
Act  of  1832,  a  thing  of  the  past ;  to 
pocket  a  borough,  to  control  votes. 

Pocketed.  Said  of  a  runner  so 
surrounded  that  he  cannot  possibly 
get  out  of  the  press,  and  push  to  the 
front. 

Pocket-pistol.  A  wicker-covered 
or  leather-cased  flask  for  spirits,carried 
in  the  pocket. 

Pocket-thunder.     Eructation. 

Pock -nook.  To  come  in  on  one's 
own  pock-nook,  to  live  on  one's  own 
means. 

Pock  -  pudding.  A  bag- pudding  : 
hence,  by  force  of  metaphor,  a  glut- 
ton :  especially  an  Englishman :  whose 


343 


Pod. 


Pnkf. 


appetite  the  Scotchman  affected  to 
despise,  even  as  he  hated  and  envied 
him  for  its  manifold  opportunities 
(1730). 

Pod.  1.  A  foot :  specifically  of 
children.  Hence,  to  pod,  to  toddle. 
2.  A  protuberant  belly  ;  a  corporation 
(q.v.) :  also  pod  -  belly.  Hence,  pod- 
bellied  (poddy,  or  in  pod),  (1)  fat  or 
•tout :  of  men  ;  and  (2)  pregnant,  of 
women.  Hence  podgy,  puggy,  and 
pudsey  ( 1 763).  3.  A  louse  :  see  Chates. 

Podge.  1.  A  fat  man  or  woman. 
2.  An  epaulette  (1834). 

Poddy.  1.  Drunk :  see  Screwed. 
2.  See  Pod. 

Podunk.  An  imaginary  place :  in 
burlesque. 

Poem.  A  foolish  appreciative :  as 
a  well  -  cooked  dish,  pretty  dress, 
smart-cut  coat,  and  so  forth. 

Poet  -  sucker.  A  budding  poet : 
cf.  Rabbit-sucker  (1625). 

Poet's -walk.  The  tea  served  to 
Upper  Club,  on  half-holidays,  in 
River-walk. 

Poge  (Pogue,  or  Pogh).  See 
Poke. 

Pograrn.  A  Dissenter,  formalist, 
puritanical  starch,  maw-worm,  creak- 
shoes  (q.v.). 

P  o  g  y.  Drunk :  see  Screwed. 
Pogey-aqua,  long-shore  for — make  the 
grog  strong. 

Point.  In  pi.,  beauties  :  of  women 
or  children  :  accepted  as  applied  to 
the  characteristics  of  animals  (1370). 
Possession  is  nine  (or  eleven)  points 
of  the  law,  said  in  deprecation  of  any 
attempt  to  change  things  as  they  are, 
or  to  seek  redress  (1749).  Phrases, 
more  or  less  colloquial,  are  numerous. 
They  mostly  centre  on  a  figurative 
use  of  point,  (1)  a  sharp  end,  or  (2)  a 
small  but  well-defined  spot :  as  a  dot, 
a  speck,  a  hole,  a  moment,  etc.  To 
see  (tell,  or  make  plain)  a  point,  to 
understand  (narrate  or  explicate)  the 
drift,  or  application  of  a  thing  :  as  an 
argument,  a  narrative,  a  detail ;  to 
care  (or  be  worth)  but  a  point,  to  esteem 
lightly,  (point,  like  Pin,  Rap,  Cent, 
etc.,  the  smallest  standard  of  value) ; 
to  untruss  a  point,  (1)  to  take  down 
one's  breeches,  and  hence  (2)  to  ease 
one's  bowels ;  point,  a  tagged  lace, 
used  of  old  to  keep  doublet  and  hose 
together ;  to  give  point  to  (or  bring  a 
point  to  bear  on),  to  emphasise :  also 
to  point ;  to  come  to  the  point,  to  go  to 


the  root  of  a  matter  ;  to  boil  down  (or 
dose)  to  a  point,  ( 1 )  to  condense  :  as  a 
paragraph,  and  (2)  to  balance  :  as  an 
account ;  to  stretch  (or  drain)  a  point, 
to  exceed  a  limit  (Grose) :  to  make  a 
point  of  (1)  to  strive  (or  insist)  to  an 
end,  and  (2)  to  elicit  a  detail  or  make 
a  desired  impression  (also  to  prove  one's 
point) ;  to  gain  one's  point,  to  effect  a 
purpose ;  to  stand  on  point*,  to  be 

SunctUious ;  to  be  at  a  point,  to  be 
etermined ;  to  come  to  points,  to 
fight :  with  swords  ;  to  give  points  to, 
(1)  to  have  (or  give)  an  advantage, 
and  (2)  to  impart  exclusive  or  valu- 
able information,  to  tip  (q.v.) :  also 
pointers  ;  at  all  points,  completely  ;  at 
(or  in)  the  point,  (1)  ready,  and  (2)  in 
the  act  of;  in  good  point,  in  good 
condition ;  in  -point,  apropos  ;  in  point 
of,  as  regards  ;  point  for  point,  exactly  ; 
to  point,  completely ;  beyond  a  point, 
in  excess ;  a  point  in  favour,  an  ad- 
vantage in  hand  ;  full  of  point,  epi- 
grammatic, effective ;  the  point  of  a 
matter,  its  end  or  purpose ;  at  point 
Nonplus,  hard  up,  in  Queer  Street 
(q.v.) ;  at  point  blank,  immediately, 
direct.  See  also  Cuckold's  point ; 
Potato  ;  Spear  ;  and  V. 

Pointer.     See  Point 

Poison.  1.  Drink,  tipple  (q.v.). 
Nominate  your  poison,  What  will  you 
drink  ?  2.  Anything  unpleasant. 
Whence,  to  hate  like  poison,  to  detest 
(1530). 

Poisoned.     Pregnant 

Poison-pated.     Red-haired. 

Pojam.  A  poem :  set  as  an  exer- 
cise: a  portmanteau-word  (q.v.). 

Poke  (Poge,  Pogh,  or  Pogue). 
1.  A  pocket,  bag,  sack,  pouch,  purse : 
generic.  English  synonyms:  bounge, 
brigh,  bung,  busy-sack,  carpet-swab, 
cly,  cod,  haddock,  hoxter,  kick,  peter, 
pit,  roger,  (also  portmanteau),  round- 
about, skin,  sky  (or  skyrocket,  rhym- 
ing), slash,  suck.  2.  Stolen  property. 

3.  A  thrust,  push,  dig  with  the  fingers, 
a  blow  with  the  fist  (Qrose,  1785).     As 
verb,  poke  has  always  been  literary. 

4.  A    poke  -  bonnet     5.  A  dawdler, 
lazy  •  bones    (q.v.).       Colloquialisms 
are : — To  poke,  about,  (or  one's  nose 
into),  (1)  to  meddle,  and  (2)  to  busy 
oneself  aimlessly  or  officiously  ;  whence 
poke-nose,   a   meddler,   and   as    adj., 
offensively  intrusive ;  to  poke  fun,  to 
ridicule ;  to  poke  bogey,  to  humbug ; 
to  buy  a  pig  in  a  poke  (see  Pig) ;  to 


344 


Poker. 


Pompadours. 


poke  fly  (tailors'),  to  show  how ;  to  poke 
a  smipe,  to  smoke  a  pipe :  see  Marrow 
-skying  ;  to  poke  borak  (see  Borak). 

Poker.  1.  A  sword  cheese-toaster 
(q.v.)  (B.  E.).  2.  A  bedel  (q.v). 
carrying  a  silver  mace  before  the 
Vice-Chancellor  ;  also  the  mace  itself  : 
also  Holy-poker :  frequently  used  as 
an  oath.  3.  A  single-barrelled  gun. 
4.  A  rough  fencer.  5.  One  that  con- 
veys coals  (at  Newcastle)  in  sacks,  on 
horseback  (B.  E.).  Other  colloquial 
usages  are  :  Fore  -  pokers,  aces  and 
kings  at  cards  (Orose,  1785) ;  Old 
Poker,  the  devil :  see  Skipper  ;  by  the 
Holy  Poker  (or  Iron),  an  oath :  also, 
by  the  Holy  Poker  and  tumbling  Tom  : 
cf.  Poker  ;  Jews-poker  (q.v.) ;  to  chant 
the  poker,  to  exaggerate,  swagger,  put . 
on  side  (q.v.) :  FT.,  se  gonfler  le  jabot, 
and  faire  son  lard. 

Pokerish.  1.  Stiff,  reserved: 
hence  pokerishly.  2.  Frightful :  cf. 
Old  Poker. 

Poker-talk.  Gossip,  fireside  chit- 
chat. 

Poky  (or  Poking).  Cramped, 
stuffy,  shabby,  stupid :  a  general 
depreciative  :  also  Poke-hole  (1771). 

Pole.  The  weekly  account  for 
wages.  As  verb,  to  study  hard.  ( 1 )  Up 
the  pole,  in  good  report,  goody-goody, 
strait  -  laced  ;  (2)  over  -  matched,  in 
difficulty.  Like  a  rope  dancer's  pole, 
lead  at  both  ends ;  a  saying  of  a 
stupid  sluggish  fellow  (Orose). 

Pole-cat.  A  harlot :  also  a  general 
reproach  (1596). 

Pole  -  work.  A  long,  tedious 
business,  collar-work  (q.v.). 

Policeman.  1.  A  fly  :  esp.  a  blue- 
bottle (q.v.),  which  (in  turn),  a 
constable.  2.  A  mean  fellow,  spy. 

Police  -  nippers.  Handcuffs,  leg- 
irons  :  see  Darby's  bands. 

Policy.  To  gamble  in  lottery 
numbers  :  the  game  consists  in  betting 
on  certain  numbers  within  the  range 
of  the  lottery  schemes  being  drawn  at 
the  noon  or  night  drawing.  Seventy- 
eight  numbers  usually  make  up  the 
lottery-scheme,  and  the  policy-player 
can  take  any  three  of  these  numbers 
and  bet  that  they  will  be  drawn,  either 
singly,  or  in  such  combinations  as  he 
may  select.  The  single  numbers  may 
come  out  anywhere  in  the  drawing,  but 
the  combination  must  appear  as  he 
writes  it  in  making  his  bet.  He  pays 
one  dollar  for  the  privilege  of  betting, 


and  receives  a  written  slip  containing 
the  number  or  numbers  on  which  he 
bets.  If  a  single  number  is  chosen 
and  drawn,  he  wins  5  dollars ;  two 
numbers  constitute  a  saddle,  and  if 
both  are  drawn  the  player  wins  from 
24  to  32  dollars  ;  three  numbers  make 
a  gig,  and  win  from  150  to  225  dollars  ; 
four  numbers  make  a  horse,  and  win 
640  dollars.  A  capital  straddle  is  a 
bet  that  two  numbers  will  be  among 
the  first  three  drawn,  and  wins 
500  dollars  (M'Cabe).  Policy-shop,  a 
lottery-office. 

Polish.  To  thrash,  punish  (q.v.). 
To  polish  off,  to  finish  out  of  hand,  get 
rid  of  summarily :  as  a  dinner,  or  an 
adversary  (1834).  To  polish  (pick,  or 
eat),  a  bone,  to  make  a  meal  (Orose). 
To  polish  the  King's  iron  with  the  eye- 
brows, to  look  through  the  iron-grated 
windows  of  a  prison  (Orose). 

Polite.     See  Do. 

Poll  (Cambridge  University).  1. 
The  ordinary  examination  for  the 
B.A.  degree :  as  distinguished  from 
the  Honours  examination.  2.  A  stu- 
dent taking  the  pass  degree  without 
Honours  :  also  Poll  -  man  and  Pott- 
degree.  [Gr.,  Hoi  pottoi,  the  many.] 
To  go  out  in  the  pott,  to  take  an  ordi- 
nary degree.  3.  A  woman  :  generic. 
2.  A  prostitute.  Potty-hood,  a  state 
of  wantonness  (Walpole  accused  the 
ladies  of  his  day  of  polly-hood,  more 
fond  than  virtuous ;  to  pott  -  up,  (a) 
to  court ;  (b)  to  live  in  concubinage. 
4.  A  wig.  5.  A  decoy  bitch.  As  verb, 
1.  See  Pill  and  Poll.  2.  To  beat 
distance.  3.  To  snub.  To  pott  off, 
to  get  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Pollard.  A  counterfeit  coin  worth 
about  a  halfpenny,  made  abroad,  and 
smuggled  into  England,  temp.  Ed.  I. 
[Said  to  be  named  after  the  original 
maker.]  (1350). 

Poller.  1.  See  Pill  and  Poll.  2.  A 
pistol. 

Poll-parrot.  A  talkative  woman  : 
also  Poll  and  Potty. 

Ppllrumptious.  Restive,  unruly, 
foolishly  confident. 

Polly.  Apollinaris  water.  To  do 
potty,  to  pick  oakum,  mill  doll  (q.v.). 

Pollycon.     Political  economy. 

Polt.     A  blow,  stroke  (B.  E. ). 

Poltroon.     A  coward  (1595). 

Polty  (or  Dolty).     Easy. 

Pommel.     See  Pummel. 

Pompadours     (The).       The     late 


345 


Pompaginis. 


Poor-man. 


56th  Regiment  of  Foot,  now  the  2nd 
Batt  Esaex  Regiment.  [Tradition 
relates  that,  when  facings  were 
changed  in  1764,  the  crimson  not 
wearing  well,  the  Colonel  desired 
blue.  The  authorities,  however,  ob- 
jected, and  he  chose  purple,  a  favourite 
colour  of  Madame  de  Pompadour,  the 
mistress  of  Louis  XV.  of  France.] 
Also  The  Saucy  Pompadours. 

Pompaginis.  Aqua  pompaginis, 
pure  water :  (1786). 

Pompey's-pillar.  Pompey's  pillar 
to  a  stick  of  sealing  -  wax,  a  fanciful 
bet :  cf.  All  Lombard  Street  to  a 
China  orange,  and  Chelsea  College  to 
a  sentry-box. 

Pompkin.     See  Pumpkin. 

Pom-Pom.  A  quick-firing  gun,  of 
light  construction,  much  used  in 
South  Africa,  1899-1903. 

Pond  (The).  The  sea :  spec,  the 
North  Atlantic  Ocean :  also  Herring- 
pond  (q.v.),  The  big  (or  great)  pond 
(q.v.) ;  and  The  puddle  (q.v.)  (1722). 

Pong.  Beer :  also  Pongelow  or 
Pongettorum.  As  verb,  (1)  to  drink ; 
(2)  to  vamp  a  part,  or  (circus),  to 
perform  ;  (3)  to  talk,  gas  (q.v.). 

Pongo.     A  monkey. 

Poniard  (or  Ponyard).  A 
dagger  (B.  E.,  c.  1698). 

P  o  n  t  e.  Twenty  shillings :  see 
Rhino.  [It,  pondo,  pound.] 

Pontie.     On  credit,  on  tick  (q.v.). 

Pontius  Pilate.  A  pawnbroker 
(Grose). 

Pontius  Pilate's  Body-guard. 
The  late  1st  regiment  of  Foot,  now 
The  Royal  Scoto,  the  oldest  regiment 
in  the  service.  [When  the  Regiment 
de  Douglas,  was  in  the  French  service 
[1633-78],  the  officers  disputed  with 
the  Picardy  regiment  about  the 
antiquity  of  their  corps.  The  Picardy 
men  declared  they  were  on  duty  on  the 
night  of  the  Crucifixion,  when  the 
colonel  of  the  1st  Foot  replied,  '  If  we 
had  been  on  guard,  we  should  not  have 
slept  at  out  posts.' — Brewer.} 

Pontius  Pilate's  Counsellor. 
A  briefless  barrister :  FT.,  avocat  de 
Pilate.  [Who,  like  Pilate,  can  find 
no  (just)  cause.] 

P  o  n  t  o.  New  breadcrumbs 
kneaded  into  a  pellet. 

Pony.  1.  A  bailiff :  spec,  an 
officer  accompanying  a  debtor  on  a 
day's  liberty.  2.  Money.  As  verb, 
to  post  the  pony  (or  to  pony  up),  to 


pay,  settle.  3.  Twenty-five  pounds 
sterling:  see  Rhino  (1818).  4.  A 
translation,  Bohn  (q.v.),  crib  (q.v.) : 
also  as  verb  (1832).  5.  A  generic 
diminutive,  prob.  of  turf  origin  :  as 
pony,  a  very  small  horse,  and  pony- 
stakes,  an  insignificant  event.  Whence 
(generally)  in  comparison,  anything 
of  small  size,  stature,  or  value. 
Hence,  pony  (1)  a  small  glass  (a  pony 
of  ale  or  stout),  containing  a  gill  or 
(of  wines  and  spirits)  a  mouthful ;  (2) 
a  woman  of  very  small  stature. 
Also  pony-brandy,  the  best  brandy: 
as  served  in  a  pony-glass ;  pony-purse, 
an  impromptu  collection :  of  small 
contributions.  The  word  is  becoming 
recognised  :  as  in  pony  -  saw,  pony- 
engine,  and  pony-truck.  6.  A  gaffing- 
coin  (q.v.) ;  a  piece  showing  either 
two  heads  or  two  tails.  Whence,  to 
sell  the  pony  (or  lady),  to  toss  for 
drinks :  certain  coins,  say  twelve, 
are  placed  one  on  top  of  another,  all, 
save  one,  being  turned  the  same  way  ; 
the  coins  are  cut,  as  at  cards,  and  he 
who  cuts  the  single  piece  has  to  pay, 
having  bought  the  pony.  See  Jeru- 
salem. 

Poodle.  A  dog :  in  sarcasm, 
without  reference  to  breed. 

Poon  (Winchester  College).  To 
prop  a  piece  of  furniture  with  a 
wedge  (Wrench). 

Poona.  A  sovereign :  cf,  Ponte : 
see  Rhino. 

Poona  Guards.  The  East  York- 
shires, formerly  the  15th  Regiment  of 
Foot :  also  The  Snappers. 

Poont.  In  pi.,  the  paps:  see 
Dairy. 

Poop.  1.  A  worthless  creature, 
weakling,  nincumpoop  (q.v.).  2.  The 
posteriors.  3.  The  face  (cf.  Shakes- 
peare, '  1  Henry  IV.,'  Falstaff  to  Bar- 
dolph,  etc.,  Thou  art  our  admiral,  thou 
bearest  the  lantern  in  the  poop,  but 
'tis  in  the  nose  of  thee).  As  verb,  (1) 
to  overcome,  be  set  down  (1557).  (2)  To 
break  wind. 

Poop  -  downhaul.  An  imaginary 
rope,  a  seaman's  jest :  cf.  clapping 
the  keel  athwart-ships. 

Poop-ornament     An  apprentice. 

Poor.  To  serve  the  poor  with  a 
thump  on  the  back  with  a  stone,  to 
shark  the  needy  (1670). 

Poor  -  man.  1.  A  heap  of  corn- 
sheaves  :  four  set  upright  and  one 
above.  2.  The  blade  -  bone  of  a 


346 


Poor  Man's  Oyster. 


Pork-pie. 


shoulder  of  mutton  is  called  in  Scot- 
land a  poor  man,  as  in  some  parts  of 
England  it  is  termed  a  poor  knight  of 
Windsor,  in  contrast,  it  must  be  pre- 
sumed, to  the  baronial  Sir  Loin.  A 
Scotch  laird  was  once  asked  by  an 
English  landlord  what  he  would  have 
for  dinner.  He  replied,  I  think  I  could 
relish  a  morsel  of  a  poor  man  (Scott). 

Poor  Man's  Oyster.    A  mussel. 

Poor  Man's  Treacle.  An  onion 
(Century). 

Poor  Mouth.  To  make  a  poor 
mouth,  to  whine,  make  the  worst  of 
things. 

Poor  Robin.  An  almanack. 
[Robert  Herrick,  in  the  17th  century, 
issued  a  series  of  almanacks  so  called.] 

Pop.  1.  A  father,  papa :  also 
Poppa  and  Popper.  2.  A  popular 
concert :  as  The  Saturday  (or  Monday) 
Pops.  3.  A  club  chiefly  confined  to 
Oppidans  though  Collegers  are  some- 
times elected :  otherwise  The  Eton 
Society  for  reading  and  debates. 
[Supposed  to  be  a  contraction  of 
Popina,  the  rooms  having  been  for 
many  years  over  a  cook  -  shop  or 
confectioner's  (See  Public  School 
Word  Book.}  As  verb.,  with  subs,  and 
adv.  generic  for  more  or  less  quick, 
unexpected,  and  explosive  action. 
Whence,  (1)  to  shoot:  as  subs,  (or  pop- 
per), (a)  a  shop,  and  (b)  a  firearm : 
spec,  a  pistol,  and  occasionally  a 
dagger ;  (2)  to  crack — as  a  whip ;  (3) 
to  explode — as  a  hat  when  sat  on,  or 
a  cork  when  drawn;  as  subs.,  (a)  a 
drink  which  fizzes  from  the  bottle 
when  opened — spec,  ginger-beer,  but 
also  champagne,  and  (6)  the  noise 
made  in  drawing  a  cork ;  (4),  to  rap 
out  one's  words :  whence  popping, 
babbling.  Also,  as  adv.,  suddenly  or 
unexpectedly.  (5)  To  pawn,  to  put 
away  :  whence  pop  -  shop,  a  pawn- 
broker (1823).  (6)  To  get  an  advan- 
tage. Other  colloquialisms,  mostly 
with  the  same  root  -  idea,  are  : — To 
pop  off  saws,  to  babble ;  to  pop  upon 
(in,  into,  above,  or  out),  (1)  to  come, 
put,  spring,  or  thrust  suddenly  into 
view  or  place,  and  (2)  to  offer  abruptly; 
to  pop  with  the  mouth,  to  smack  the 
lips  ;  to  pop  one  out  (or  off),  to  deprive, 
with  little  or  no  warning ;  to  pop  off 
with,  to  put  off  (or  aside) ;  to  pop  the 
question  (or  to  pop),  to  offer  marriage  ; 
to  pop  up  (or  down),  to  appear  (or 
disappear)  suddenly ;  to  pop  off,  (1) 


to  die  (also  to  pop  off  the  hooks  :  see 
Pop  and  Hook),  and  (2)  to  make  a 
sudden  exit ;  to  pop  it  on,  to  increase 
a  demand  :  as  chance  offers. 

Pope.  A  term  of  contempt :  e.g. 
What  a  pope  of  a  thing !  Also, 
drunk  as  a  pope,  very  drunk  (Benedict 
XII. ,  a  glutton  and  a  wine-bibber,  gave 
rise  to  the  expression,  Bibamus  papal- 
iter) :  see  Screwed ;  to  be  (or  play) 
pope-holy,  to  be  sanctimonious ;  to 
play  the  prig  (q.v.)  or  hypocrite; 
to  know  no  more  than  the  pope  of  Rome, 
to  know  nothing  (1670).  Bay  also 
gives,  If  you  would  be  a  pope,  you 
must  think  of  nothing  else.  Pope-of- 
Rome,  home. 

Pop's-eye.  The  thread  of  fat  in 
a  leg  of  mutton. 

Pope's-  (or  Turk's-)  head.  A 
round  broom,  of  bristles  or  feathers, 
with  a  long  handle. 

Pope's  -  nose.  A  chicken's  rump, 
parson's-nose  (q.v.)  (Grose). 

Pope's-size.     Short  and  stout. 

Pop-gun.     See  Pot-gun. 

Popinjay.  A  general  term  of 
contempt :  specifically  (1)  a  chatterer, 
and  (2)  a  fop  (1598). 

Poplars  (Poppelars,  Popler,  or 
Paplar).  Porridge :  spec.  milk- 
porridge  (1576). 

P  o  p  1  e  t    (Popelet,    or    Poppet). 

1.  An  endearment  (1694).     2.  A  corp- 
ulent person  (1400). 

Pop  -  lolly.  A  sweetmeat :  Le. 
Lollipop.  ^  f< 

Popped.  Annoyed.  Popped  as 
a  hatter,  very  angry. 

Popper.     See  Pop. 

Poppy  -  cock.  Nonsense,  bosh 
(q.v. ) :  also  Poppy-cock  racket. 

Pop-shop.     See  Pop. 

Pop-squirt.     A  jackanapes. 

Popsy-wopsy.  A  foolish  endearment. 

Popular.     Conceited. 

P.P.     See  Play  or  Pay. 

Pork.  1.  A  pig-headed  one  :  cf. 
Pig  (1645).  2.  A  garment  spoiled  in 
cutting  or  making  ;  goods  returned  on 
hand  :  also  pig  :  cf.  Cold  pig.  To[vry 
pork,  to  act  as  undertaker's  tout. 

Porker.     1.   A  young  hog  (1725). 

2.  A  Jew  (1785).     3.  A  sword  (1688). 
Porkopolis.        Chicago :     formerly 

Cincinnati :  cf.  Cottonopolis. 

Pork  -  pie.  A  hat :  modish  in  the 
Sixties.  [In  shape  resembling  a  pork- 
pie,  or  the  Spanish  toreador,  fashion- 
able in  the  Nineties.] 

347 


Porpoise. 


Postman. 


Porpoise.  A  stout  man,  forty- 
guto  (q.v.):  Fr.,  Saint  -  Lichard,  or 
$fii>it-l'<i>i.'"irt. 

Porridge.  To  cook  the  porridge, 
to  contrive  and  execute  a  design. 
See  Breath. 

Porridge  -  bowl.  The  stomach  ; 
the  bread-basket  (q.v.) ;  see  Victualling 
Office. 

Porridge  -  disturber.  A  drive  in 
the  pit  of  the  stomach. 

Portable.     Pocketable  (B.  E.). 

Portage.  Carriage  of  anything, 
whether  by  land  or  water  (B.  E.). 

Portcullis  (or  Portcullis 
money).  Money,  of  various  values, 
temp.  Elizabeth,  struck  for  the  East 
India  Company  (est.  1599) :  also 
India  money  [it  bore  a  portcullis 
verso}. 

Porter.  Hirelings  to  carry  bur- 
thens, beasts  of  burthen,  or  else 
menial  servants  set  to  guard  the  gates 
in  a  great  man's  house  (B.  E. ). 

Porterhouse-steak.  A  chop  from 
the  sirloin — with  upper  and  under  cut ; 
occasionally,  but  improperly,  from 
the  wing  rib. 

Porter's  -  knot.  A  large  bob  of 
hair,  with  a  hanging  curl :  fashionable 
with  women  in  the  Sixties. 

Portionist.     See  Postmaster. 

Portmantle  (Portmantick,  or 
Portmantua).  A  corruption  of 
portmanteau  (1600). 

Portmanteau  -  word.  A  made 
vocable  packed  with  two  or  more 
meanings :  e.g.  slithy,  lithe  and 
slimy ;  torrible,  torrid  and  horrible ; 
squarson,  squire  and  parson ;  squirshop, 
squire  and  bishop ;  [The  name  was 
Lewis  Carroll's,  the  method  Bishop 
Sam.  Wilberforce's.]  (1876). 

Portrait.  See  Queen's  pictures. 
To  sit  for  one's  portrait,  to  undergo  an 
inspection  by  turnkeys,  in  order  that 
they  may  know  prisoners  from  visitors. 

Portuguese  Man  -  of  -  war.  A 
nautilus. 

Pos  (Poss,  or  Poz).    Positive  ( 1 708]. 

Pose.  1.  To  puzzle.  2.  To 
posture,  pretend,  feign.  Whence 
poser  (1)  an  unanswerable  question  or 
argument ;  (2)  an  impostor,  pretender  ; 
(3)  poser  [apposer,  opposer,  or  opposi- 
tor],  a  bishop's  examining  chaplain : 
(in  modern  schools),  an  examiner — at 
Eton  for  King's  College,  and  at  Win- 
chester for  New  College  scholarships 
and  exhibitions  (1387). 


Posh.  1.  Money :  generic,  but 
specifically,  a  halfpenny  or  other  small 
coin  :  see  Rhino.  2.  A  dandy. 

Posse  Mobilitatis.  The  mob 
(Grose). 

Possible.  Plenty  of  the  possible*, 
full  pocketo,  warm  (q.v.). 

Possum,  To  play  possum  (or  to 
possum),  to  feign  death,  counterfeit 
sickness,  dissemble  strongly :  from 
the  habit  of  the  opossum,  which  throws 
itself  on  its  back  and  feigns  death  on 
the  approach  of  an  enemy. 

Possum-guts.     A  term  of  reproach. 

Post  Employment,  Office,  Sta- 
tion ;  also  an  advanced  or  advanta- 
geous piece  of  ground :  a  pillar  in  the 
way  or  street  (B.  E.).  As  verb,  (1) 
to  reject,  pluck  (q.v.) :  also  as  subs. : 
at  Eton,  to  put  down  for  bad  work  in 
Collections :  the  penalty  is  a  holiday - 
poona  or  a  swishing ;  (2)  to  publish : 
by  exposing  a  list  of  nominations  or 
defaulters:  spec.  (Univ.)  to  publish 
a  list  of  those  in  debt  for  College 
rations ;  (3)  to  hold  up  to  ridicule  or 
contempt,  as  a  coward.  Whence, 
to  post  up  (or  be  well  posted),  to  keep 
one  (or  be)  well  informed  ;  (4)  to  pay  ; 
(5)  to  raise  to  the  rank  of  post-captain 
(1818).  From  pillar  to  post,  hither  and 
thither ;  with  aimless  effort  or  action. 
[Lit.  from  the  same  to  the  same — 
pillar,  Lat.,  columna,  post]  (1340). 
Other  colloquialisms  are  :  To  run  (or 
knock)  the  head  against  a  post,  to 
go  blindly ;  stiff  as  a  post,  unyielding : 
as  a  gatepost  in  the  ground  ;  to  talk 
(or  preach)  to  a  post,  to  talk  to  deaf 
ears  :  hence  deaf  as  a  post,  as  deaf  as 
may  be  ;  to  talk  post,  to  speak  hastily ; 
post  alone,  solitary  ;  to  kiss  the  post  (sea 
Kiss) ;  to  hold  up  a  post  (or  the  wall), 
to  cling  for  support  when  drunk  :  see 
also  Bedpost,  Knight,  Nick  (1400). 

Post-and-Rail.  A  wooden  match  ; 
post-and-raU  tea,  ill-made  tea,  with 
floating  stalks  and  leaves  (1851). 

Post-horn.  The  nose  :  also  paste- 
horn  :  see  Conk. 

Postillion.  Postillion  of  the  gospel, 
a  gabbling  parson  (Grose). 

Postman.  In  the  courts  of  ex- 
chequer, two  of  the  most  experienced 
barristers,  called  the  post  -  man  and 
the  tub-man  (from  the  places  in  which 
they  sit),  have  also  a  precedence  in 
motions  (Blackstone).  [The  old  Court 
of  Exchequer  is  now  merged  in  the 
High  Court  of  Justice.] 


34s 


Postmaster. 


Potato. 


Postmaster.  An  exhibitioner  of 
Merton  College  :  also  Portionist  (1853). 

Postmaster  General.  The 
prime  minister :  who  has  the  patron- 
age to  all  posts  and  places  (Grose). 

Post  -  mortem.  The  examination 
after  failure. 

Post  -  anointer.  A  house  painter 
(1785). 

Post  -  office.  A  letter  in  the  post- 
office,  a  flying  shirt-tail. 

Post  -  office  Bible.  The  London 
Delivery  Book. 

Post  -  office  Prayer  -  book.  The 
Post-office  Guide. 

Pot.  1.  A  quart :  the  quantity  con- 
tained in  a  pot :  whence  as  verb,  to 
drink  :  also  (American)  to  potate ;  pot- 
ting, boozing  (q.v.);  potations  (recog. 
nised),  a  drinking  bout ;  pot-house  (or 
shop),  a  beer-shop,  a  Lush-crib  (q.v.) ; 
pot  -  house  (or  coffee-house)  politician, 
an  ignorant,  irresponsible  spouter  of 
politics;  pot-companion,  (1)  a  cup- 
comrade,  and  (2)  an  habitual  drunk- 
ard :  as  also,  potfury  (also,  drunken- 
ness), -knight,  -head,  -leach,  -man, 
-polisher,  -sucker,  walloper,  potator, 
potster,  toss  -  pot,  and  rob  -  pot ;  pot- 
punishment,  compulsory  tippling ; 
pot-quarrel,  a  drunken  squabble  ;  pot- 
sick  (or  -shot),  drunk  ;  pot-sure  (-hardy, 
or  -valiant),  emboldened  by  liquor : 
cf.  Dutch  courage  ;  pot  -  bellied,  fat, 
bloated  in  stomach,  as  from  guzzling  : 
also  pot-betty  (or  guts),  a  big-bellied 
one  ;  pot-revel,  a  drunken  frolic  ;  pot- 
mania  (or  potomania),  dipsomania  ; 
Sir  (or  Madam)  Pint  -  pot,  a  host  or 
hostess ;  pot  -  boy  (or  man),  a  bar- 
scullion  :  whence  pot-boydom.  2.  A 
large  sum  ;  the  collective  amount  of 
money  staked ;  the  pool :  hence 
(racing),  a  horse  backed  for  a  large 
amount,  a  favourite  ;  to  pot,  or  to  put 
on  the  pot,  to  wager  large  sums  (1823); 
and  to  upset  the  pot,  to  beat  the  fav- 
ourite (1840).  3.  A  prize  (usually 
given  in  cups,  mugs,  or  pots) :  whence 
pot-hunter  (or  -fisher),  (1)  a  professional 
athlete  of  the  baser  sort — one  who, 
of  good  quality,  enters  for  events  he  is 
sure  to  win  for  the  sake  of  the  pots 
offered  as  prizes  ;  and  (2)  a  man  who 
seeks  a  large  bag  (q.v.)  without  re- 
gard to  the  rules  and  usages  of  sport ; 
also  pot-hunting,  going  in  for  sport 
for  profit  alone  (1785).  4.  A  person 
of  importance,  an  adept :  also  big 
pot.  5.  A  steward.  6.  Sixpence, 


five-pot  piece,  2s.  6d.  7.  In  pi.,  North 
Staffordshire  Railway  Ordinary  Stock 
(the  Railway  serves  the  Potteries). 
8.  (Winchester  College).  The  pot,  the 
Canal :  pot  -  cad,  a  workman  at  the 
saw  -  mills ;  pot-gates,  lock-gates ;  pot- 
houser,  a  jump  into  the  canal  from  the 
roof  of  a  house  called  pot-house  (Mans- 
field). 9.  A  urinal.  As  adj.,  top. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  kill:  specifically 
(modern)  to  shoot  from  cover :  also 
to  pot-shot :  hence  pot-shot,  (a)  a  shot 
so  made ;  (b)  a  shot  made  for  the  sake 
of  a  gag  (q.v.)  without  regard  to  the 
rules  and  usages  of  sport;  and  (c)  a 
shot  at  random,  as  into  a  flight  of 
birds  without  definite  aim  :  cf.  Snipe  : 
to  pot  away,  to  keep  up  a  rain  of  shot ; 
(2)  to  pocket  a  ball ;  (3)  to  take  a  rise 
out  of,  do  (q.v.),  be  revenged,  land 
(q.v.) ;  (4)  to  excel,  to  pot  verses,  to 
cap  them  (1599).  To  go  to  pot,  to 
perish,  be  done  for  :  as  by  death,  bad 
seasons,  pecuniary  difficulties,  and  so 
forth  (1394) :  whence  go  to  pot  !  go  to 
the  devil ;  go  hang  yourself.  Potted 
out,  buried.  Colloquialisms  are  : — 
A  pot  (or  pitcher)  oft  sent  to  the  well  is 
broken  at  last,  the  inevitable  must 
happen  :  see  Pitcher  ;  to  agree  like  pot 
and  kettle,  to  wrangle  ;  as  like  as  one 
pot's  like  another,  very  like  indeed  ;  a 
little  pot  is  soon  hot,  (1)  a  little  suffices, 
and  (2)  little  people  (or  minds)  are 
soon  angered  (1696) ;  to  make  the  pot 
boil  (or  keep  the  pot  boiling),  (I)  to 
provide  necessaries,  and  (2)  to  keep 
things  going:  Fr.  (artists'),  faire,  du 
metier  :  see  Pot-boiler  ;  to  make  a  pot 
with  two  ears,  to  set  the  arms  akimbo  ; 
to  put  on  the  pot,  (1)  see  Pot,  (2)  to 
overcharge,  (3)  to  exaggerate,  (4) 
to  bully,  (5)  to  snub,  or  patronise 
(also  to  put  on  the  big  pot) :  see  Pot, 
and  (6),  to  provide  the  necessaries  of 
life ;  to  put  on  the  pot,  to  banish,  to  ex- 
tinguish ;  to  make  a  pot  at,  to  grimace ; 
to  make  pots  and  pans,  to  spend  freely, 
then  beg  (1823) ;  to  give  moonshine  in 
a  mustard-pot,  to  give  nothing  (1670) ; 
//  you  touch  pot,  you  must  touch 
penny,  you  must  pay  for  what  you 
have  :  also  see  Pot  -  and  -  pan,  Old 
Pod,  Pot-shot,  Pot-hat,  Honey-pot, 
etc. 

Potato.  Holes  in  fleshings :  used 
esp.  for  a  heel  through  an  undarned 
sock  or  stocking.  Small  potatoes, 
petty,  mean,  contemptible :  also  as 
adj.  and  subs.  The  potato  (or  dean) 


349 


Potato-boggle. 


Pot-walloper. 


potato),  the  beet,  whitest  (q.v.),  tip- 
top: see  Al.  Potatoes  and  point, 
potatoes  without  salt :  point,  an 
imaginary  seasoning,  as  in  pointing, 
to  bacon,  cheese,  anything :  cf.  Eat 
your  bread  and  smell  your  cheese  ! 
(1834). 

Potato-boggle.     A  scarecrow. 

Potato  -  finger.  A  long  thick 
finger. 

Potato-trap  (or  jaw).  The 
mouth  :  honce,  Shut  your  potato-trap 
and  give  your  tongue  a  holiday,  Be 
silent !  To  make  full  use  of  one's 
potato-trap,  to  scold  roundly.  English 
synonyms :  beak,  blabber,  blubber, 
bone-box,  box  of  dominoes  (or  wories), 
chaffer,  chirper,  chops,  clacker  (or 
clack -box),  clams  (or  clam-shells), 
coffee-mill,  coffer,  dining-room,  do- 
mino-box, dribbler,  dubber,  East-and- 
south  (rhyming),  flatter  -  trap,  fly- 
trap, gab,  gan,  gash,  gig,  gills,  gin 
lane  (or  trap),  gob,  gobbler,  gob-box, 
grave  -  yard,  grog  -  shop,  grub  -  trap 
(shop,  or  box),  grubbery,  hatchway, 
hopper,  ivory-box,  jug,  kisser,  kissing- 
trap,  lung-box,  maw,  mizzard,  moey, 
mouse  (or  mouse-trap),  mug,  muns, 
mush,  muzzle,  neb,  prater,  prattler, 
prattle- box,  rattler,  rattle-trap,  rat- 
trap,  respirator,  sauce  -  box,  sewer, 
sink,  sluice-house  (or  mill),  sluicery, 
trumpeter,  yob  (or  yop). 

Pot-belly   (or  guts).     See  Pot 

Pot  -  boiler.  1.  A  piece  of  work 
done  for  money :  Le.  To  boil  the  pot 
(q.v.) ;  also  as  adj.  :  hence  pot-boiling, 
and  to  pot  -  boil.  2.  A  housekeeper. 
3.  A  rounded  pebble,  with  marks 
of  fire  upon  it,  which  has  probably 
been  heated  for  the  purpose  of  boiling 
water.  Pot-boilers  of  this  kind  are 
used  by  many  savage  peoples  at  the 
present  day,  and  if  we  wished  to  heat 
water  in  a  vessel  that  would  not  stand 
the  fire,  we  should  be  obliged  to 
employ  a  similar  method  (Dawkins). 

Pot-faker.  A  hawker  ;  a  cheap- 
jack  (q.v.) :  spec,  one  dealing  in 
crockery. 

Pot  -  gun.  1.  A  toy  gun  :  pop-gun 
is  a  later  form :  see  Pop.  2.  A  re- 
proach (1623). 

Pot -hat  Orig.  a  tall  silk  hat: 
sometimes  a  felt  hat 

Potheen.  Illicit  whisky :  also 
Potsheen. 

Pot-hooks.  The  Seventy-seventh 
Foot,  now  the  2nd  Batt  Duke  of 


Cambridge's  Own  (Middlesex  Regi- 
ment). [From  the  resemblance  of 
the  two  sevens  in  the  old  regimental 
number  to  pot-hooks.]  Pot-hooks  and 
hangers,  (1)  the  elementary  characters 
formed  by  children  when  learning  to 
write  ;  (2)  a  scrawl,  bad  writing  ;  (3) 
shorthand. 

Pot  -  house  (The).  St.  Peter's 
College :  formerly  Peterhouse.  See 
Pot. 

Potion.     See  Bitter  PilL 

Pot  -  hunter.  See  Pot  and  Pot- 
luck. 

Potle  -  bell.  To  ring  the  potte-bell, 
to  confirm  a  bargain  by  linking  the 
little  fingers  of  the  right  hand. 

Pot  -  luck.  Whatever  is  going  in 
the  way  of  food  and  drink,  an  im- 
promptu invitation  ;  whence,  a  hearty 
welcome  :  to  take  pot-luck,  to  take  the 
hazard  of  a  meal :  hence  pot-hunter, 
a  self-invited  guest  (1593). 

Pot-of-wine.  A  bribe :  Fr.,  pot- 
de-vin. 

Pot-shot     See  Pot 

Pottage.  See  Breath,  besides 
which  there  are  proverbial  sayings  : — 
With  cost  one  may  make  pottage  of  a 
joint-stool ;  Scald  not  your  lips  in 
another  man's  pottage  ;  Like  a  chip  in 
a  pottage-pot,  neither  good  nor  harm. 

Potted-fug.      Potted  meat. 

Potter.  ( 1 )  To  walk  aimlessly  and 
listlessly ;  (2)  to  make  a  pretence  of 
work ;  and  (3)  to  dawdle :  usually 
with  about.  Hence  as  subs.,  a  saunter, 
slow  pace  :  also  Potterer  (1854). 

Pottery.     Poetry. 

Pot-walloper  (wabbler,  wal- 
loner,  or  waller).  1.  The 
election  of  members  here  [Taunton] 
is  by  those  whom  they  call  pot- 
walloners — that  is  to  say,  every  in- 
habitant,  whether  housekeeper  or 
lodger,  who  dresses  his  own  victuals ; 
to  make  out  which,  several  inmates  or 
lodgers  will,  some  little  time  before 
the  election,  bring  out  their  pots,  and 
make  fires  in  the  streets,  and  boil 
victuals  in  the  sight  of  their  neigh- 
bours, that  their  votes  may  not  be 
called  in  question  (De  Foe) :  the 
qualification  was  abolished  by  the 
Reform  Bill  of  1832 :  hence  pot-wal- 
loping (1724).  2.  A  scullion,  kitchen- 
maid  ;  and  (nautical)  a  cook,  esp.  on 
board  a  whaler :  also  pot-wrestler.  3. 
A  tap-room  loafer,  a  spouter :  esp. 
(theatrical)  a  prosser  (q.v.). 


360 


Pouch. 


Prairie-dew. 


Pouch  (or  Pouch  up).  1.  To 
pocket  (1567).  2.  To  eat.  3.  To 
tip,  provide  with  money  (1844). 

Pouchet.     A  pocket  (1682). 

Pouch  -  mouth.  A  ranter.  As 
adj.,  ranting  (1600). 

Poudering-  (or  powdering- ) 
tub.  The  salivating  cradle  or  pit 
formerly  used  in  cases  of  lues  venerea, 
pickling  tub  (1599). 

Pouf.     A  would-be  actor. 

Poulderling  (University).  A 
student  of  the  second  year. 

Poulterer.  A  thief  who  stole  and 
gutted  letters. 

Poultice  Wallah.  A  surgeon's 
assistant. 

Poultice  -  wallopers.  The 
Royal  Army  Medical  Corps.  Also 
The  Licensed  (or  Linseed)  Lancers  ; 
The  Pills. 

Poultry.  Women-kind  :  generic  : 
cf.  Hen,  Plover,  Pheasant,  Partridge, 
etc.  Celestial  poultry,  angels. 

Pounce.     To  thrash. 

Pound.  LA  prison  :  see  Cage. 
Pounded,  imprisoned  (Grose).  As 
verb,  to  hammer  (q.v.).  Pounding 
match,  a  fight  (1596).  2.  To  move 
forward,  steadily  and  with  more  or 
less  noise  :  generally  with  along,  or 
up  and  down  (1844).  3.  To  get 
caught  (or  left)  in  a  field  with  no  easy 
means  of  egress  save  a  fence  your 
horse  won't  take,  stuck  as  in  a  pound. 
4.  Caught  astray  from  propriety 
(Egan).  To  pound  it,  (1)  to  ensure  or 
make  a  certainty  of  any  thing  ;  thus, 
a  man  will  say,  I'll  pound  it  to  be  so  ; 
taken,  probably,  from  the  custom  of 
laying,  or  rather  offering  ten  pounds 
to  a  crown  at  a  cock- match,  in  which 
case  if  no  person  takes  this  extrava- 
gant odds,  the  battle  is  at  an  end. 
This  is  termed  pounding  a  cock  ( Vaux). 
Poundable,  (1)  certain,  inevitable  ;  (2) 
to  wager  in  pounds.  To  go  one's  pound, 
to  eat  a  thing  out  (the  weight  of  a 
soldier's  ration  of  bread  and  meat  is 
1  lb.).  In  for  pound,  committed  for 
trial.  Shut  in  the  parson's  pound, 
married,  spliced  (q.v.). 

Poundrel.     The  head. 

Pound-text.  A  parson,  sky  -  pilot 
(q.v.). 

Pout.  A  sweetheart.  [O.  E. 
pidt,  a  yong  henne,  Prompt.  Parv.] 
(1768). 

Poverty-basket.     A  wicker  cradle. 

Poverty  -  junction     (or     corner). 


The  corner  of  the  York  and  Waterloo 
Roads,  London  :  any  Monday,  between 
eleven  and  three,  may  be  seen  a 
hundred  or  more  persons  of  both  sexes 
waiting  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  en- 
gagements in  music-halls  or  variety 
theatres — lion  comiques,  serio-comics, 
character  comedians,  in  fact,  every 
variety  of  music-hall  artiste.  In  New 
York  that  portion  of  14th  Street, 
opposite  the  Washington  Statue,  is 
known  as  The  Slave  Market  for 
similar  reasons. 

Powder.  Strength,  vigour,  in- 
spiration, beans  (q.v.),  devil  (q.v.). 
As  verb,  to  be  all  over  an  adversary ; 
to  powder  one's  jacket,  to  swinge  (1664). 
Powder  and  shot,  cost,  effort,  labour. 
Not  worth  powder  or  shot,  not  worth 
trouble  or  cost. 

Powder  -  monkey.  A  boy  em- 
ployed to  carry  gunpowder  from 
magazine  to  gun:  Fr.,  moussaiUon 
(1682). 

Power.  A  large  number  or  quan- 
tity :  also  poweration.  Whence 
powerful,  adj.  and  adv.,  extremely ; 
also  eloquent. 

Powos  (The).  The  Prince  of 
Wales's  Own  (West  Yorkshire  Regi- 
ment), formerly  The  14th  Foot.  Also 
The  Old  and  Bold  ;  Calvert's  Entire. 

Pow  -  wow.  Noise  :  hence  (poli- 
tical), a  noisy  meeting.  As  verb,  to 
take  part  in  such :  also  to  frolic. 
[From  N.A.  Indian  pow  -  wow,  a 
council.]  (1825). 

Poz.     See  Pos. 

Practical  -  Politician.  A  pot- 
house spouter. 

Practitioner.     A  thief  (q.v.). 

P  r  a  d.  A  horse.  Hence,  Prod- 
cove,  a  horse-dealer  ;  prad-napper,  a 
horse-thief ;  the  prod-lay,  the  theft  of 
bridles,  saddle-bags,  and  the  like ; 
prod-holder,  a  bridle.  English  syno- 
nyms: bit  of  blood,  Charing- cross 
(rhyming),  crock,  crocodile,  daisy- 
kicker,  (or  cutter :  also,  an  ostler), 
gee,  gee-gee,  ginger,  grogham,  jade, 
jib  (or  jibber),  high-stepper,  knacker, 
long-faced  'un,  lunk-head,  macaroni, 
mount,  muddler,  nag  (naggie  or  nag- 
gon),  ning-nang,  pinto,  prancer, 
roarer,  screw,  scrub,  star-gazer,  tit, 
undergraduate,  weaver,  whistler, 
wind-sucker,  wobbler. 

Prairie.      On  the  prairie,  gift-free. 

Prairie  -  dew.  Whisky  :  cf.  Moun- 
tain-dew (Scots')  (1848). 


351 


Prairie-oyster. 


Prickers. 


Prairie  -  oyster  (or  cocktail). 
A  raw  yolk  dropped  into  spirit*, 
flavoured  with  Worcester  or  cayenne, 
and  gulped. 

Prairie  -  schooner.  An  emigrant 
waggon. 

Prairie  State.     Illinois. 

Pram.     A  perambulator. 

Prancer.        1.  A  horse :  see  Prad. 

2.  A  horse  -  thief.     Hence  prancer's- 
nab,  a  horse's  head :  as  a  seal  to  a 
counterfeit  pass ;  the  sign  of  the  praneer, 
The  Nag's  Head  (1567).     3.  A  dancer. 
As  verb,  to  dance  :  also  pranker  ( 1621 ). 
4.  A  cavalry  officer. 

Prank.    A  trick  (B.  E.). 

Prat.  1.  Usually  in  pi.,  the  but- 
tocks or  thighs  (1573).  As  verb,  to 
beat,  swish.  2.  A  tinder-box  (1696). 

3.  A  trick.     As  verb,  to  go :  Fr.,  en- 
tattler,  and  enquiUer, 

Pratie  (or  Praty).  A  potato  :  see 
Murphy  (1834). 

Prating  (prattling-  or  prattle-) 
cheat).  The  tongue.  Prating 
(prattle  or  prittle  -  prattle),  talk,  esp. 
gabble ;  to  prattle  (•prittle  or  prittle- 
prattle),  to  chatter  or  clack  (q.v.) ; 
prattle  -  basket  (box,  prate-roast,  pratt- 
ler, or  prate-apace),  a  chatterbox ; 
prattle-broth,  tea:  cf.  chatter-  (or 
scandal-)  broth  (q.v.) ;  prattling-box, 
a  pulpit,  or  hum-box  (q.v.) ;  prattling- 
parlour,  a  private  apartment,  or 
snuggery(q. v. ) ;  praty,  talkative  ( 1520). 

Prayer.  Common  colloquial  ex- 
pressions are :  To  say  prayers,  to 
stumble :  of  horses :  cf.  Devotional 
habits ;  to  say  prayers  backwards,  to 
blaspheme  (Ray) ;  at  her  last  prayers, 
of  an  old  maid  (Ray) ;  prayer-bones,  the 
knees. 

Prayer-book.  1.  A  pack  of  cards. 
2.  A  small  holystone  ;  a  Bible  (q.v.). 
See  Post-office  prayer-book. 

Prayer  -  book  Parade.  A  pro- 
menade, in  fashionable  places  of  resort, 
after  morning  service  on  Sundays. 

Pray-pray  Fashion.  Imploringly 
(1753). 

Preach.  To  moralise  out  of 
season,  cant  (q.v.):  as  subs.,  (1)  a 
sermon;  (2)  canting  talk.  Hence, 
preaching-shop,  a  church  (or  chapel) ; 
preachifying,  tiresome  moralising ; 
preachy-preachy,  long-windedly  moral ; 
prearhman,  a  clergyman ;  preach- 
ment, affectedly  solemn  cackle  (1592). 
To  preach  at  Tyburn  -  cross,  to  be 
hanged :  see  Ladder. 


Precious.  Worthless,  great,  over- 
nice;  as  precious  little,  very  little;  a 
precious  humbug,  an  eminent  rascal 
and  so  forth  (1383). 

Precisian.  A  stickler:  spec.  (17th 
century),  a  Puritan  (q.v.),  in  depre- 
ciation. As  adj.,  punctilious,  rigidly 
exact  (1596). 

Preeze.     To  urinate. 

Presbyteress.  A  priest's  mistreM 
(1563). 

Presbyterian.  An  epithet  of 
ridicule  or  contempt  (1600). 

Prescott.  A  waistcoat :  also 
Charley  Prescott. 

Present  1.  A  white  spot  on  the 
finger  nail :  supposed  to  augur  good 
fortune.  2.  A  baby  (1749). 

Presenterer.     A  harlot 

Preserve  (old  University).  A 
collection  of  outstanding  bills  (Grose). 

Press.  A  winning  bet  added  to 
the  original  stake. 

Prettify.  To  adorn,  decorate. 
Prettification,  the  process  of  adorn- 
ment ;  prettified,  the  fact  (or  con- 
dition) of  being  adorned. 

Pretty.  A  generic  intensive : 
ironical  or  complimentary  at  occasion 
or  will  (1500).  To  do  the  (or  talk) 
pretty,  to  affect  amiability  or  obsequi- 
ousness. See  Way  and  Horse-breaker. 

Pretty-  (or  Merry-)  dancers. 
The  Aurora  Borealis. 

Pretty-pretty.  1.  A  knick-knack. 
2.  See  Pretty. 

Previous.  Out  of  season,  hasty, 
over-zealous. 

Prey.     Money  :  see  Rhino. 

Prial.  Three  cards  of  a  sort  (at 
commerce,  cribbage,  etc.) :  Double- 
prial,  four  of  a  kind  :  whence  also, 
of  persons  and  things.  [A  corruption 
of  pair-royal^] 

Price,  To  enquire  the  cost  of 

(1837).  What  price  f  How's 

that  7  What  do  you  think  ?  How 
much  T  What  odds  ? 

Prick.  1.  A  term  of  endearment 
(1540).  2.  A  pimple. 

Prick-ears.  A  Roundhead.  [The 
Puritan  head-gear  was  a  black  skull- 
cap, drawn  down  tight,  leaving  ears 
exposed.  Prick-eared  (or  lugged),  a 
general  term  of  contempt  (1599). 

Pricked.     Sour,  acid  (B.  E. ). 

Prickers.  A  Cavalry  regiment 
[That  is  light  horsemen  :  cf.  prick,  to 
ride  :  e.g.  A  gentle  knight  was  pricking 
o'er  the  plain.] 


352 


Pricket. 


Prink. 


Pricket.  A  fictitious  bidder, 
Peter  Funk  (q.v.),  putter-up  (q.v.). 

Pricking  ^Eger.     See  ^Eger. 

Prick-louse  (nip-louse,  or  prick- 
the-louse).  A  tailor  (1590). 

Prickmedenty  {prick  -  me- 
dainty,  or  prick  -  ma  -  dainty).  A 
finical  person.  As  adj.,  over-precise, 
affected  (1529). 

Prick-the-garter.  The  manner  in 
which  countrymen  are  deceived  by 
gamblers,  at  a  game  called  Pricking 
in  the  Belt,  or  the  old  Nob  :  this  is  a 
leathern  strap  folded  up  double,  and 
then  laid  upon  a  table :  if  the  person 
who  plays  with  a  bodkin  pricks  into 
the  loop  of  the  belt,  he  wins,  if  other- 
wise, he  loses  ;  however,  by  slipping 
one  end  of  the  strap,  the  sharper  can 
win  with  pleasure  (Goldsmith):  also 
Pitch  the  nob,  Prick  the  belt  (or 

Dp),  and  Fast  and  loose. 

Pride  -  and  -  pockets.  Half-pay 
smcers. 

Pride  -  of  -  the  -  morning  (The). 
A  shower  of  rain. 

Priest.  A  short  bludgeon :  used 
i  administer  the  last  rites  to  a  landed 
fish.  To  be  one"  spriest,  to  kill  (1810). 
A  great  priest,  a  strong  but  ineffectual 
inclination  to  stool  (Jamieson).  To 
the  priest  say  grace,  to  marry; 
priest-link1  d,  married  (1696).  Priest 
of  the  blue-bag,  a  barrister  :  see  Green- 
bag. 

Priest's  Niece.  A  cleric's  illegiti- 
aate  daughter,  or  concubine  :  whence 
more  character  than  a  priest's 
iiece(1663). 

Prig.  1.  A  thief  :  also  prigger  and 
'igman.  As  verb,  to  steal.  Whence 
'igger  of  prauncers  (or  palfreys),  a 
lorse  -  thief ;  prigger  of  cacklers,  a 
aultry  thief  ;  prig  -  napper,  &  thief - 

"ser ;  Princ,e-prig  (or  Prig-star),  a 
of  the  Gipsies,  also  a  Top 
ef,  or  Receiver  General  (B.  E.) ;  to 

rk  on  the  prig  (or  prigging-lay),  to 

Bve ;    to    prig    and    buz,    to    pick 

ckets  ;  priggish,  thievish  ;  priggery 
(or  priggism),  thievery  (1560).  Eng- 
synonyms :  to  angle,  to  annex,  to 
bilk,  to  bite,  to  bone,  to  bounce,  to 

ico,  to  bust,  to   buz,  to  cabbage, 

chouse,  to  claim,  to  clift,  to  clink- 
rig,  to  cloy  (cligh  or  cly),  to  collar, 
collect,  to  convey,  to  cop,  to 

ck,  to  crib,  to  cross-fam,  to  curb,  to 
it,  to  dip,  to  dive,  to  drag,  to  draw, 
to  ease,  to  fake,  to  filch,  to  file,  to 


find,  to  flap,  to  fleece,  to  flimp,  to  fop, 
to  fork,  to  fraggle,  to  free,  to  frisk, 
to  glean,  to  haul,  to  hook,  to  jump, 
to  klep,  to  knap,  to  knuckle,  to  lag,  to 
lap,  to  lurch,  to  mag,  to  make,  to 
maltool  (or  moll  tool),  to  manarvel,  to 
mill,  to  mug,  to  nab,  to  nail,  to  nap,  to 
nibble,  to  nick,  to  nim,  to  nip,  to  palm, 
to  parlor- jump,  to  pay  with  a  hook, 
to  pinch,  to  poach,  to  poll,  to  pug,  to 
pull,  to  purchase,  to  ramp,  to  rent, 
to  respun  (tinker),  to  ring,  to  shake, 
to  shark,  to  shoulder,  to  smouch,  to 
smug,  to  snabble,  to  snaggle,  to  snake, 
to  snam,  to  snap,  to  snatch,  to  sneak, 
to  snipe,  to  speak,  to  spice,  to  swipe,  to 
tool,  to  touch,  to  trot,  to  wolf,  to  work. 
2.  A  superior  person,  i.e.  a  person 
esteeming  himself  superior ;  in  dress, 
morals,  social  standing,  anything ; 
and  behaving  as  such.  [The  conno- 
tation is  one  of  deliberate  and  ag- 
gressive superiority :  you  must  get 
that,  or  you  get  no  prig.]  Also  a 
bore.  Whence  prigdom,  priggery, 
priggishness,  and  priggism  (1676).  3. 
A  tinker  (1567).  As  verb,  (1)  see 
subs.  ;  (2)  to  ride  (1573) ;  (3)  to 
haggle,  cheapen :  hence  prigger  and 
prigging  (1512). 

Prig-star.  1.  See  Prig.  2.  A 
rival  in  love  (B.  E.). 

Prim.  1.  A  wanton  (1509).  2.  A 
very  neat  or  affected  person  (B.  E.). 

Prime.  1.  Eager ;  more  than 
ready.  2.  Of  the  first  quality  (esp. 
butchers'  :  as  in  prime  joints,  prime 
American,  etc.).  As  verb,  to  fortify, 
invigorate,  inspire,  bring  to  the  height 
of  a  situation;  with  liquor,  informa- 
tion, counsel  (1637). 

Prime-cock-boy.     See  Princock. 

Primitive.  Unmixed :  as  spirits 
with  water,  neat  (q.v.). 

Primo.  The  chairman  or  master 
of  a  lodge  of  Buffaloes. 

Prinado.       A  sharper  (1631). 

Princock  (princox,  primcock, 
or  princycock).  A  pert  youth.  As 
adj.,  saucy,  conceited.  Prime-cock- 
boy  (Florio),  a  freshman,  a  novice,  a 
milksop,  a  boy  new  come  into  the 
world  (1537). 

Princod.  1.  A  round,  plump  man 
or  woman  (Grose).  2.  A  pincushion 
(Grose). 

Prink  (or  Princk).  To  dress  for 
show,  adorn  fantastically,  put  on  airs. 
Princums,  high-sniffing  niceties,  and 
fads,  scruples ;  Mrs.  Princum  Pran- 


353 


Print. 


Pross. 


cum,  a  nice,  precise,  formal  madam ; 
prinker,  a  jetter  (q.v.)  (1500). 

Print  In  print,  exactly  in  order. 
Out  of  print,  disordered,  tumbled. 
Quite  in  print,  formal  and  precise  :  see 
Talk  (1621). 

Printer 's-devil.     See  Devil. 

Printed  -  character.  A  pawn- 
ticket,  mortgage-deed  (q.v.). 

Prioress.     See  Better  Horse. 

Priscian's-head.  To  break  Pris- 
ciari's  head,  to  use  bad  grammar.  [Lat, 
diminuere  Prisciani  caput.  Priscian 
a  famous  grammarian  of  the  5th 
century]  (1527). 

Prittle  -  prattle.  See  Prating- 
cheat. 

Private.  To  private  stitch,  to  conceal 
the  thread  in  stitching. 

Private  -  business.  Extra  work 
done  with  a  tutor  (Eton  College). 

Privy.  An  outdoor  cesspool 
(1647).  See  Private. 

Prize  -  packet.  A  novice  who  pays 
to  go  on  the  boards. 

Pro.  1.  An  actor:  i.e.  one  who 
belongs  to  The  Profession.  Pro's- 
Bible,  The  Era  newspaper ;  pro's- 
Testament,  The  Sunday  Times.  2. 
A  pro-proctor  :  a  second  in  command 
in  the  proctorial  police  (1823). 

Proboscis.     The  nose  :  see  Conk. 

Procession  (or  Procesh).  1.  A 
matter  of  following.  2.  A  street 
circus  ^parade.  To  go  on  with  the 
procession,  to  maintain  continuity ; 
to  stand  at  the  head  of  the  procession,  to 
lead. 

Proclamation.  To  have  one's  head 
full  of  proclamations,  to  be  much 
taken  up  to  little  purpose. 

Proctour.  1.  '  He  that  will  tary 
long,  an  bring  a  lye,  when  his  Maister 
sendeth  him  on  his  errand :  this  is  a 
stibber  gibber  knauc,  that  doth  fayne 
tales  (Awdeley).  Also  (2,  HaUiwett), 
one  who  collected  alms  for  lepers,  or 
other  incapablcs.  Also  (Kennett) 
beggars  of  any  kind. 

Prodigious.  Very,  exceedingly, 
immensely:  cf.  Awful  (1744). 

Profession  (The).     See  Pro. 

Prog.  Food  (1696);  Dyche  (1748) 
a  cant  word  for  provisions,  goods,  or 
money  laid  up  in  store ;  Johnson 
(1755)  a  low  word.  As  verb,  to  beg  ; 
prog-basket,  a  beggar's  wallet ;  prog- 
shop,  an  eating-house  (1440).  As 
verb,  to  prognosticate.  See  Prog. 

Progger    (or   Proggins).     A  proc- 


tor.    To  be  progged,  to  be  proctorised 
progging,  a  proctorial  discipline. 

Prognostic.     An  artistic  feeder. 

Project.      To  play  tricks,  m 
(q.v.). 

Prom.     A  promenade  concert  : 
Pop. 

Promoter.       1.   A    lawyer    (1509). 

2.  An  informer  (1563):  cf.  Putter-on. 

3.  A  fool-catcher. 

Promoss.     To  talk  rubbish,   play 
the  fool,  gammon  (q.v.). 

Promotion.  On  promotion,  (1) 
approval ;  (2)  unmarried. 

Prompter     ( Merchant    Taylor*' 
School).     One  of  the  second  form. 

Proof.  The  best  ale  at  Magdal 
Oxford. 

Prop  (or  Property).     1.  Gene: 
in  pi.  :  e.g.  manager  s-props,  stuff 
stage  use ;  actor' s-props,  acting  mate: 
provided  by  himself  :  FT.,  accessoi\ 
2.  A  breast-pin :  whence  prop-na 
a  thief  whose  speciality  is  pins 
brooches.     3.  (pugilistic).     A  strai 
hit.     4.     (Punch     and     Judy), 
gallows.     5.   In  pi.,   the  legs.     6. 
pi.,  crutches  (Grose).     7.  A  prope 
man :   also  propster.     8.   In   pi., 
arms.     As  verb,  to  hit,  knock  do 
To  put  the  prop  on,  to  seize  an  ad 
sary's  arm,  and  so  prevent  him 
hitting  ( 1 85 1 ).     To  tick  away  the 
to  be  hanged  :  see  Ladder. 

P.P.     See  Play  or  Pay. 

Proper.      An  ironical  inversion 
perversion   of   a   popular   epithet 
commendation     and     approval. 
make  oneself  proper,  to  adorn,  ti 
vate(q.v.). 

Property.  To  make  property 
one,  to  use  as  a  convenience,  tool, 
cat's-paw  (1785). 

Prophet.     A  sporting  tipster. 

Propster  and  Prop-nailer.  See' 

Pros  (Cambridge).      A   W.C. 
adv.,  proper ;  nothing  but  the  word 
prosperous  offers  in  explanation. 

Prose    (Winchester).       A  lecture: 
also  as  verb. 

Prosit     A  salutation  in  drinking 
Your   health!     [Ut   tibi   prosit   men 
potto.]     Fr.,  Ut  I 

Pross.  1.  A  prostitute:  also 
prosey.  2.  A  cadged  drink.  As  verb 
(or  adv.,  on  the  pross),  (1)  to  spunge ; 
(2)  to  instruct  or  break  in  a  stage* 
struck  youth ;  prosser,  a  cadger  of 
drinks,  dinners,  and  small  monies 
Prosser' s  Avenue,  the  Gaiety  bar. 


354 


Protected-man. 


Puddle. 


Protected-man.  A  merchant  sea- 
man unfit  for  the  Royal  Service  and 
therefore  free  of  the  press-gang. 

Proud.  Pleased,  gratified.  Hence, 
to  do  one  proud,  to  flatter,  honour ; 
to  do  oneself  proud,  to  be  pleased. 

P  r  o  v.  On  the  prov,  out  of  work 
and  on  the  Provident  Fund  of  a  trade 
society. 

Provender.  He  from  whom  money 
is  taken  on  the  highway :  perhaps 
provider  or  provider  (Grose). 

Provost.  A  garrison  or  other  cell 
for  prisoners  whose  sentences  are  for 
a  week  or  less. 

Prow.     A  bumpkin. 

Prowl.  (1)  Hugh  Prowler,  a  thief 
or  highwayman ;  (2)  prowling  (or 
prowlery),  robbery ;  (3)  to  wait  for 
the  ghost  (q.v.)  to  walk. 

P  r  o  x.  A  proxy  :  specifically  a 
ticket  or  list  of  candidates  at  elec- 
tions, presented  to  voters  for  their 
votes. 

Pruff(  Winchester  School).  Sturdy, 
proof  against  pain. 

Prugge.  A  partner,  doxy  (q.v.) 
(1631). 

Prunella.  A  clergyman.  [Clerical 
gowns  were  largely  made  of  this 
material.] 

Prunes.  See  Stewed  prunes.  To 
have  prunes  in  the  voice,  to  speak 
huskily,  from  emotion. 

Prussian  -  blue.  A  term  of  great 
endearment :  after  .  .  .  Waterloo  the 
Prussians  were  immensely  popular, 
and  in  connection  with  the  Loyal  True 
Blue  Club  gave  rise  to  the  toasts,  The 
True  Blue  and  the  Prussian  Blue 
(Brewer). 

Pry.  A  busybody,  a  peeping  Tom : 
now  Paul  Pry  (q.v.):  from  Poole's 
farce. 

Prygge-     See  Prig. 

Psalm-smiter.    A  ranting  dissenter. 

Pub  (or  Public).  A  tavern  ;  in 
the  public  line,  engaged  as  a  licensed 
victualler  (1816). 

Public  -  buildings.  Inspector  of 
public  buildings,  (1)  an  idler:  from 
choice  or  necessity  ;  (2)  a  loafer  or  a 
man  seeking  work\ 

Public-ledger.     A  prostitute. 

Public-man.      A  bankrupt  (1785). 

Public  -  patterer.  A  swell  mobs- 
man  who  pretends  to  be  a  dissenting 
preacher,  and  harangues  in  the  open 
air  to  attract  a  crowd  for  confederates 
to  rob. 


Puck.     The  devil  (1362). 

Pucker.  To  talk  apart  or  in 
private.  In  a  pucker,  anxious,  agi- 
tated, angry,  confused :  cf.  Pudder. 
To  pucker  up,  to  get  angry  (1751). 

Pucker  -  water.  An  astringent : 
used  to  counterfeit  virginity. 

Puck  -  fist  (or  Puck  -  foist)  A 
braggart.  [Nares  :  equivalent  to  vile 
fungus,  scum  of  the  earth]  (1601). 

Pud  (or  Pudsey).  A  hand,  fist 
(1823).  As  verb,  to  greet  affection- 
ately or  familiarly. 

Pudder.  Confusion,  bother :  cf. 
Pucker.  As  verb,  to  bustle,  search, 
dabble,  potter  (q.v.)  (1600). 

Pudding.  1.  Drugged  liver:  used  by 
burglars  to  silence  house-dogs.  2. 
The  guts  (1785).  Pudding-house,  the 
belly  ;  pudding  -  ken,  a  cook  -  shop  ; 
pudding -snammer,  a  cook-shop  thief ; 
pudding-filler  (old  Scots'),  a  glutton 
(1503).  3.  Good  luck.  Colloquial- 
isms, mostly  contemptuous  are  : — • 
Pudding-bellied,  big-stomached  ;  pud- 
ding-faced, fat,  round,  and  smooth  in 
face ;  pudding-head,  a  fool :  whence 
pudding  -  headed,  stupid  ;  pudding- 
heart,  a  coward  ;  pudding-hose,  baggy- 
breeches  ;  pudding  -  sleeves,  (1)  large 
baggy  sleeves  as  in  the  full  dress 
clerical  gown  ;  (2)  a  parson ;  in  pudding 
time,  in  the  nick  of  time,  opportunely  ; 
puddingy,  fat  and  round ;  pudding 
about  the  heels,  slovenly,  thick-ankled  ; 
to  ride  post  for  a  pudding,  to  exert  for 
little  cause  ;  to  give  the  crows  a  pudding, 
(1)  to  hang  on  a  jibbet,  and  (2)  to 
die :  see  Hop  the  twig.  Also  pro- 
verbs and  sayings  : — The  proof  of  the 
pudding  is  in  the  eating  ;  Hungry  dogs 
will  eat  dirty  puddings  ;  Cold  pudding 
will  settle  your  love  ;  Better  some  of  a 
pudding  than  none  of  a  pie ;  There  is 
no  deceit  in  a  b&g-pudding  ;  Puddings 
and  paramours  should  be  hastily 
handled  ;  Puddings  an'  wort  are  hasty 
dirt ;  It  would  vex  a  dog  to  see  a 
pudding  creep ;  Be  fair  conditioned 
and  eat  bread  with  your  pudding 
(1594). 

Puddle.  A  term  of  contempt : 
also  as  adj.  Puddle-poet,  a  gutter 
rhymster ;  a  puddle  of  [a  man,  etc.], 
a  'blundering  fool  (1665).  As  verb, 
(1)  to  tipple:  see  Screwed;  (2)  to 
muddy,  turbidize  (1602).  The  puddle, 
(1)  the  Atlantic  Ocean  :  see  Big  Pond, 
Herring-pond,  and  Pond  ;  (2)  in  Corn- 
wall, the  English  Channel. 


355 


Puddle-dock. 


Putting-time. 


Puddle  -  dock.  The  Duchess  (or 
Countess)  of  Puddledock,  an  im- 
aginary dignitary.  [Puddledock,  an 
ancient  pool  in  Thames  Street,  not  of 
the  cleanest  description.] 

Pudsey.  1.  A  foot:  see  Creepers. 
2.  See  Pod  and  Pud. 

Pudgy.     See  Pod. 

Puff.  1.  A  sham;  an  impostor. 
2.  False  praise :  also  puffing  and 
puffery-  3.  A  decoy  (as  a  critic  who 
extols  a  book  or  a  play  from  interested 
motives),  a  mock  -  bidder,  runner- 
up  (q.v.)  of  prices  at  auctions,  gam- 
bler's confederate,  bonnet  (q.v.):  also 
puffer.  As  adj.  (also  puffed),  fat. 
As  verb  (also  puff  up),  to  blow,  bloat, 
fill  with  wind,  falsehood,  conceit. 
Puff-worker  (American),  a  penny-a- 
liner  making  a  speciality  of  theatrical 
paragraphs  (1596).  4.  The  breath. 
To  puff  and  blow,  to  gasp  ;  out  of  puff, 
winded  ;  puff-guts,  a  fat  man,  jelly- 
belly  (q.v.).  6.  Life ;  existence : 
Never  in  one's  puff  ;  the  cope  of  one's 
puff,  the  copestone  of  one's  life  (1777). 
To  puff  the  glim,  to  fill  up  the  hollows 
.  .  .  found  above  all  old  horses'  eyes, 
by  pricking  the  skin  and  blowing 
air  into  the  loose  tissues  under- 
neath. 

Puffer.  1.  A  locomotive,  puffing- 
Bitty.  2.  A  small  river  tug  or  launch  : 
also  puff-puff.  See  Puff. 

Pug.  1.  An  endearment.  2.  A 
whore  (1567).  3.  A  pugilist:  also 
pugU  (old).  Hence  Pug's  -  acre,  a 
corner  of  Highgate  cemetery  where 
Tom  Sayers  and  other  pugilists  lie 
buried  (1692).  4.  An  upper  servant. 
Pug's  -  hole,  the  housekeeper's  room 
(1847).  5.  A  dog:  with  no  reference 
to  breed.  6.  A  fox  (1809). 

Puggard.  A  thief  (q.v.).  Pugging, 
thievish  (1604). 

Puke.  1.  A  term  of  contempt: 
cf.  puker  (Shrewsbury),  a  good-for- 
nothing  (1847).  2.  An  inhabitant  of 
the  State  of  Missouri  (Century  Diet.). 
As  verb,  to  vomit :  still  in  use  at 
Winchester  (1600). 

Puling.  Sickly.  Puler,  a  weak- 
ling (1608). 

P  u  1  L  1.  A  drink  ;  a  go  (q.v.). 
As  verb,  to  drink,  lush  (q.v.).  Putter- 
on,  an  appetiser :  of  liquids  only :  cf. 
Drawer-on  (1436).  2.  An  advantage, 
hold,  power :  e.g.  to  have  a  pull  over 
one,  to  have  at  an  advantage,  in  one's 
power,  or  under  one's  thumb  (150(1). 


3.  A  person  speaking  of  any  intricate 
affair,  or  feat  of  ingenuity,  which  he 
cannot  comprehend,  will  say,  There  is 
some  pull  at  the  bottom  of  it,  that 
I'm  not  fly  to  ( Vaux).  4.  An  attempt 
to  extort  something  from  another,  go 
(q.v.)  (1749).  5.  Rowing  exercise: 
also  as  verb,  to  row  (1S41).  As  verb, 
(1)  see  subs.  ;  (2)  to  strike  a  ball  from 
the  off  to  the  leg  side  of  the  wicket ; 
to  take  a  pull,  to  drive  a  straight  ball ; 
(3)  to  arrest,  raid  :  see  Nab  and  Cop : 
pulled  up,  brought  before  a  magis- 
trate (1785)  ;  (4)  to  slow  a  hone,  while 
seeming  to  ride  one's  best ;  (5)  to 
steal,  cheat  (1383).  The  long  pull,  in 
drawing  malt  liquors,  to  give  excess 
measure  in  order  to  attract  custom. 
Colloquialisms  are  : — To  putt  down, 
(1)  to  steal  from  shop  doors;  (2)  to 
destroy,  depress,  endanger  chances ; 
to  pull  in  the  pieces,  to  make  money : 
FT.,  faire  son  beurre  ;  to  pull  it  (or  foot), 
to  decamp :  see  Amputate  and  Ske- 
daddle ;  to  putt  through,  to  succeed,  to 
get  out  of  a  difficulty  ;  to  putt  together, 
to  co-operate ;  to  putt  up,  (1)  to  take 
to  task,  to  arrest,  to  stop  ;  (2)  to  exert 
oneself,  to  make  a  special  effort ;  to 
putt  faces,  to  grimace ;  to  putt  a  long 
face,  to  look  blue  (q.v.) ;  to  putt  off, 
to  succeed  ;  to  get  there  (q.v.) ;  to  putt 
oneself  together,  to  rouse  oneself ;  to 
rally  ;  to  putt  (or  draw)  in  one's  horns, 
to  retract;  to  cool  down  (1785);  to 
putt  down  a  side,  to  spoil  all ;  to  putt 
by  the  sleeve,  to  remind ;  to  putt  out 
(American),  (1)  to  chuck  (q.v.);  (2) 
(athletic),  to  strike  to  the  utmost,  to 
extend  (q.v.),  usually  by  means  of  a 
friendly  pace-maker ;  (3)  (common),  to 
run  away  ;  (4)  (tailors  ),  to  hurry,  to 
get  on  with  work  in  hand  ;  to  pull  up 
a  Jack,  to  stop  a  post-chaise  on  the 
highway  (1819) ;  to  putt  a  kite,  to  be 
serious,  to  look  straight  (q.v.) ;  to 
putt  one's  (or  draw)  the  leg,  to  impose 
upon,  to  bamboozle  (q.v.),  to  chaff 
(q.v.) ;  to  putt  over,  to  catch,  to  arrest : 
a  general  verb  of  action,  see  Nab;  to 
putt  about  one's  ears,  to  ruin, 
chastise.  See  Bacon,  Baker, 
Crow,  Dead  horse,  Devil,  Foot,  HI 
Longbow,  Stakes,  String,  Vest,  Wires, 
Wool. 

Pulled-trade.     Secured  work. 

Pullet  (Poulet,  or  Pulley).  1.  A 
girl  of  tender  years.  2.  A  female 
confederate. 

Pulling  -  time.     The  evening  of  a 


356 


Pullman-pup. 


Punt. 


fair-day,  when  the  wenches  are  pulled 
about  (old). 

Pullman-pup.  The  Midland  night 
Scotch  train  from  Leeds  runs  in  front 
of  the  London  Scotch  train,  and  is 
therefore  nicknamed  the  Pullman  pup. 

Pully-hauly.  Rough-and-tumble, 
Haul  devil,  pull  baker  (q.v.). 

Pulpit  -  cuffer  (drubber,  drum- 
mer, smiter,  or  thumper).  A 
ranting  parson,  a  cushion-thumper 
(q.v.).  Pulpit-cuffing,  violent  exhor- 
tation (1699). 

Pulpiteers  (Winchester  College). 
An  arrangement  during  Cloister-time 
of  Sixth  Book  and  Senior  Part  V. 
going  up  to  books  together  .  .  . 
Middle  and  Junior  Part  taken  together 
were  called  Cloisters. 

Pulse.  To  feel  one's  pulse,  to  gauge 
opinions  (views,  feelings),  sound 
(q.v.),  take  one's  measure  (q.v.). 

Pummel  (Fumble,  or  Pommel). 
A  drubbing:  amongst  pugilists,  a 
crippler  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  beat, 
tan  (q.v.) :  also  pum  (1515). 

Pump.  1.  In  pi.,  dancing  shoes ; 
as  verb,  to  don  dancing  shoes  (1592). 

2.  In  pi.,  the  eyes:  see  Glim  (1825). 

3.  A    public   house :    see   Lush-crib. 

4.  A  solemn  noodle.     As  verb,  (1)  to 
question  artfully,  make  one  tell  with- 
out knowing  he's  telling,  sound  (q.v.) : 
hence,  as  subs.,  an  indirect  question  : 
Your  pump  is  good  but  the  sucker's 
dry  !  a  retort  on  an  attempt  to  pump 
(1633) ;  (2)  to  duck  under  the  pump  : 
also  to  give  a  taste  of  the  pump  (B.  E., 
1696) :  christened  with  pump  water,  said 
of  a  red-faced  boy  or  girl  (1760) ;  (3) 
to  go  breathless,  wind  (q.v.) :  pumped 
out  (or  dry),  completely  blown  (1696) : 
hence  pumper,  anything  that  pumps  : 
as  counsel,  a  race,  a  course,  a  spurt ; 

(4)  to  vomit,  cast  up  accounts  (q.v.) : 

(5)  to  steal ;  (6)  to  cry  (1837). 
Pump  -  and  -  Tortoises       (The). 

The  late  38th  Regiment  of  Foot,  now 
the  1st  Batt.  South  Staffordshire 
Regiment. 

Pumpkin.  1.  A  man  or  woman  of 
Boston,  America,  from  the  number 
of  pumpkins  raised  and  eaten  by  the 
people  of  that  country ;  Pompkins- 
hive,  for  Boston  and  its  dependencies 
(Grose),  2.  The  head.  Some  (or  big) 
pumpkins  (or  as  big  as  pumpkins),  a 
high  appreciation :  cf.  Small  potatoes. 

Pumpkin-head.     A  fool. 

Pump-sucker.     A  teetotaller. 


Pump-thunder.  A  blusterer :  see 
Furioso  :  also  as  verb. 

Pum-pum.     A  fiddler. 

Pumpwater.     See  Aqua  and  Yard. 

Pun:  1.  A  play  upon  words, 
similar  in  sound  but  different  in 
meaning :  also  as  verb  (B.  E.).  2. 
(Harrow  School).  Punishment.  Pun- 
paper,  specially  ruled  paper  for  puns 
and  impositions.  To  pun  out  (Christ's 
Hospital),  to  inform  against :  e.g.  I'll 
pun  out ;  I'll  pun  you  out :  exclusively 
a  London  expression  ;  at  Hertford,  to 
pun  or  pun  of. 

Punch.  1.  Generic  for  anything 
thick  and  short :  as  a  fat  child,  a 
horse  well-set  and  well-knit,  having  a 
short  back  and  thin  shoulders,  with  a 
broad  neck,  and  well  lined  with 
flesh.  Punchy,  fat-bellied.  Punchi- 
ness,  stoutness  of  build.  2.  A  blow ; 
also  as  verb  :  e.g.  to  punch  one's  head 
(1603).  As  verb,  (1)  to  drive  and 
brand  cattle :  whence  puncher  (bull 
or  cow-puncher),  a  cowboy ;  (2)  to 
walk ;  hence  to  punch  outsides,  to  go 
out  of  doors  (1780).  Cobbler's  punch, 
urine  with  a  cinder  in  it  (Orose). 

Punchable.  Old  passable  money, 
anno  1695  (B.  E.).  See  Punch. 

Punch-and-Judy.     Lemonade. 

Puncher.     A  pugilist.     See  Punch. 

Punch  -  clod.  A  farm  -  labourer, 
clod-hopper. 

Punch-house.     A  brothel  (1696). 

Punchy.  A  house  of  entertain- 
ment. See  Punch. 

Punish.  A  strong  verb  of  action : 
thus  (in  boxing)  to  hit  hard,  handle 
severely ;  (in  cricket),  to  hit  freely ; 
(general),  to  punish  the  bottle,  to  drink 
hard ;  to  punish  the  spread,  to  eat 
much  and  heartily ;  and  so  forth. 
Hence  punishing,  exhausting,  fatigu- 
ing ;  punisher,  a  glutton  for  work  ; 
punishment,  a  severe  beating,  com- 
plete exhaustion,  etc.  (1819). 

Punk  (or  Punquetto).  A 
harlot.  As  verb,  to  procure.  Hence, 
punker,  a  wencher ;  punkish,  mere- 
tricious (1575).  As  verb,  (1)  see  subs.  ; 
(2)  to  punctiire  a  tyre  :  also,  as  subs., 
a  punctured  tyre. 

Punsh.     See  Punch. 

Punt.  1.  To  gamble :  formerly 
generic,  but  mostly  confined  to  small 
or  chicken  stakes.  Punter,  a  gambler  ; 
punting-shop,  a  hell  ( 1700).  2.  (Rugby 
footballers').  To  kick  the  ball  before 
it  touches  the  ground.  Punt-about, 


357 


Puny. 


Purser. 


a  practice-ball  or  game.     3.  To  act 
as  decoy  :  also  Punter. 

Puny.  1.  A  freshman.  2.  A 
student  at  the  Inns  of  Court.  3.  A 
junior.  4.  A  puisne  judge  or  bencher 
(1548).  Punyship,  youth.  As  adj., 
weak,  small  (B.  E.). 

Pup.  LA  puppy  (q.v.).  2.  A 
pupil.  To  sell  a  pup,  to  swindle  a 
greenhorn,  flap  a  jay  (q.v.). 

Pupe  (Harrow  School).  A  pupil 
room. 

Pupil  -monger.  A  tutor : 
specifically  at  the  universities 
(1662). 

Puppy  (Pup,  Puppy-dog).  1. 
A  vain  or  unmannerly  fool,  fop,  cox- 
comb (1593).  Puppyism,  conceit  or 
affectation ;  puppyish  (or  puppily), 
impertinent ;  puppy-headed,  stupid. 
2.  A  blind  man  :  Fr.,  sans-mirettes ; 
sans-chdsses.  As  adj.,  blind. 

Puppy  -  snatch.  A  snare,  plant 
(q.v.)  (1670). 

Purchase.  Plunder.  As  verb 
(or  to  live  on  one's  purchase),  to 
live  by  swindling,  thieving,  or  black- 
mailing. To  get  in  purchase,  to  beget 
in  bastardy  (1512). 

Pure.  1.  A  mistress.  Purest-pure, 
a  top  mistress  or  fine  woman  (B.  E.). 
2.  Dogs'  -  dung.  Pure  -  finder,  a  man 
engaged  in  collecting  dogs'  -  dung 
from  the  public  streets.  As  adj.,  (1) 
neat,  unadulterated.  Pure  •  element, 
water:  see  Adam's  Ale  (1772);  (2) 
used  intensively  :  cf.  Prime,  Exquisite, 
Tip-top,  Stunning,  No-end,  Mighty, 
Out-and-out  (1362).  The  pure  quill, 
the  best,  the  real  thing :  any  person 
or  thing  of  superlative  quality. 

Purge.     Beer,  swipes  (q.v.). 

Purger  (or  perger).  Primarily  a 
teetotaller,  tea-pot  sucker  (q.v.): 
hence  a  term  of  contempt. 

Puritan.  1.  A  name  given  in  con- 
tempt (c.  1564-69)  to  clergymen  and 
laymen  who  wanted  a  simpler,  and 
what  they  considered  a  purer,  cere- 
monial than  was  authorised :  by 
extension,  a  man  or  woman  setting  up 
for  better  (esp.  chaster)  and  more 
pious  than  their  neighbours.  Hence, 
Puritanism,  a  condition  of  exacerbated 
righteousness ;  unco'  guidness ;  a 
habit  of  life  beyond  impeachment, 
strict,  godly,  and  austere.  As  adj., 
sour,  precise,  malevolently  and  tyran- 
nically severe:  cf.  Precisian  (1567). 
2.  A  wanton.  [Probably  an  echo 

358 


of    the    hypocrisy   imputed    to    the 
Puritans.] 

Purko.  Beer.  [Barclay,  Perkins, 
and  Co.] 

Purl.  1.  Beer  infused  with  worm- 
wood. 2.  Beer  warmed  nearly  to 
boiling  point,  and  flavoured  with 
gin,  sugar,  and  ginger.  Purl-man,  a 
boating  vendor  of  purl  to  Thames 
watermen  (1680).  3.  A  dive,  head 
foremost.  As  adj.,  thrown,  spilt 
(q.v.),  foaled  (q.v.) :  e.g.  He'll  get 
purled  at  the  rails.  Hence  (as  subs.), 
or  purler,  a  fall,  a  spill. 

Purpose.  To  as  much  purpose  as 
the  geese  slur  upon  the  ice  (or  as  to 
give  a  goose  hay),  to  no  purpose  at  all : 
also  to  no  more  purpose  than  to  beat 
your  heels  against  the  ground  (or 
wind)  (Ray,  1670). 

Purse.  A  sum  of  money  :  a  prize, 
a  collection,  a  gift.  Also  (generic), 
money,  resources :  see  Rhino.  As 
verb,  to  take  purses,  steal  (1609). 
One  or  two  colloquialisms  merit  notice  : 
thus,  a  light  (or  empty)  purse,  poverty ; 
a  long  (or  heavy)  purse,  wealth ; 
sword  and  purse,  the  military  power 
and  wealth  of  a  nation ;  to  make  a 
purse,  to  amass  money ;  purse-proud 
(or  full),  haughty,  because  rich 
(1696) ;  out  of  purse,  penniless  ;  purse- 
pinched,  poor ;  I've  left  my  purse  in 
my  other  hose  (old),  or  on  the  piano, 
a  bald  excuse  for  not  parting  (q.v.). 
Amongst  proverbs  there  are : — A 
full  purse  makes  the  mouth  to  speak '; 
An  empty  purse  fills  the  face  with 
wrinkles ;  Ask  thy  purse  what  thou 
should* st  buy  ;  An  empty  purse  and  a 
new  house  make  a  man  wise,  but  too 
late ;  An  empty  purse  frights  away 
friends ;  A  friend  at  court  is  better 
than  a  penny  in  the  purse. 

Purse  -  leech.  A  money-grubber 
(1648). 

Purse  -  milking.  Spendthrift, 
greedy  (1621). 

Pursenets.  Goods  taken  upon 
trust  by  young  unthrifts  at  treble 
the  value ;  also  a  little  purse 
(B.  E.). 

Purser.  A  ship's  storekeeper : 
used  contemptuously  as  follows  : — 
Purser's  dip  (quart,  etc.),  an  under- 
sized candle,  or  quart  short  in  measure ; 
purser's  grin,  a  hypocritical  or  satiri- 
cal sneer :  e.g.  There  are  no  half- 
laughs  or  purser's  grins  about  me, 
I'm  right  up  and  down  like  a  yard  of 


Purser*  s-pump. 


Put. 


pump  water,  meaning  that  the  speaker 
is  in  earnest ;  'pursers-name,  a  false 
name  ;  purser 's-shirt  on  a  handspike 
(said  of  ill-fitting  clothes). 

Purser  's-pump.  1.  A  syphon.  2. 
A  bassoon  (1785). 

Pursy  (or  Pursive).  1.  Rich. 
2.  Fat  with  well-being.  3.  Short- 
winded. 

Purting-glumpot.     A  sulker. 

Puseum  (The).  The  Pusey  House 
hi  St.  Giles  Street,  Oxford. 

Push.  1.  A  crowd,  assembly  of  any 
kind  :  e.g.  (thieves'),  a  band  of  thieves ; 
(prisons'),  a  gang  associated  in  penal 
labour  ;  (general),  a  knot  or  party  of 
people,  at  a  theatre,  a  church,  a  race- 
meeting,  etc.  :  Fr.,  dbadie,  tigne,  vade, 
trepe  (1672).  2.  A  robbery,  swindle. 
Thus,  I'm  in  this  push  1  I  mean  to 
share — an  intimation  from  one  mags- 
man  to  another  that  he  means  to  stand 
in  (q.v. )  (1772).  3.  Enterprise,  energy : 
also  pushery,  forwardness.  Colloquial- 
isms :  to  get  (or  give)  the  push  (or  the 
order  of  the  push),  to  be  discharged  (or 
to  reject),  to  be  sent  (or  send)  about 
one's  business ;  put  to  the  push  (or 
at  a  push),  subjected  to  trial,  in  a 
difficulty  or  dilemma  (1696) ;  to  push 
one's  barrow,  to  move  on ;  at  push  of 
pike,  at  defiance  (1696). 

Pushed.  1.  Drunk:  see  Screwed. 
2.  Hard-up  (1827). 

Pusher.  1.  A  canary  just  from 
the  shell.  2.  A  woman :  see  Petti- 
coat. Hence  square  pusher,  a  girl  of 
good  reputation.  3.  A  blucher  boot, 
high-low.  4.  A  finger  of  bread  :  used 
by  children  with  a  fork  or  spoon  when 
feeding. 

Pushing-school.  A  fencing- 
school. 

Pushing-tout.  A  thieves'  watch- 
man, that  lies  scouting  in  and  about 
the  City  to  get  and  bring  intelligence 
when  and  where  there  is  a  Push,  or 
Crowd  of  People  (Higden). 
Push-pin.  See  Push. 
Puss.  1.  Sometimes  complacently 
used  of  a  woman  suspected  of  loose 
morals  (cf.  Cat) :  but  usually  a  playful 
endearment :  e.g.  little  puss,  saucy 
puss,  you  puss,  you  (1583).  2.  A 
hare,  or  rabbit  (1821).  3.  (local 
Woolwich :  obsolete).  A  cadet  of 
the  Royal  Military  Academy.  [The 
uniform  was  a  short  jacket  with  a 
pointed  tail :  vide  old  pictures  at  the 
R.A.  Institution,  Woolwich.] 


Puss  -  gentleman.  An  effeminate 
(1782). 

Pussy  -  cat.  1.  A  Puseyite.  2. 
See  Puss. 

Put.  1.  A  rustic,  shallowpate  : 
also  country  put  (1688).  2.  A  wanton 
[Fr.,  putain].  3.  (Stock  Exchange).  An 
option  to  deliver,  or  not  deliver,  at  a 
future  day  :  also  put  and  call.  Phrases 
more  or  less  colloquial  merit  a  men- 
tion : — To  put  off  (-by  or  -on),  (l)to 
baffle,  delay,  dismiss,  (2)  to  foist  or 
deceive,  (3)  to  get  rid  of  or  sell : 
whence  a  put  off  (put-by  or  put-on),  a 
shift,  trick,  or  excuse ;  to  put  to,  to 
ask  a  question,  advice,  etc.:  to  put 
down,  ( 1 )  to  baffle  or  suppress,  and  (2) 
to  enter  one's  name,  for  a  speech, 
donation,  etc.  ;  to  put  upon,  (1)  to 
accuse,  and  (2)  to  inflict  or  oppress ; 
to  be  put  upon  (or  on),  to  be  depressed, 
deceived,  or  blamed  ;  to  put  in  for,  to 
compete;  to  put  two  and  two  (or  this 
and  that)  together,  to  draw  conclusions  ; 
to  be  put  up,  to  be  accused  or  pulled 
up  (q.v.) ;  to  be  put  to  it,  (1)  to  be 
compelled,  and  (2)  to  be  hard  pressed 
or  embarrassed  (1696);  to  put  in  one's 
head,  ( 1 )  to  suggest,  and  (2)  to  remind  ; 
to  put  out  of  one's  head,  to  forget ;  to 
put  up  (or  put  it  up)  with,  (1)  to  sub- 
mit or  endure,  (2)  to  accommodate 
(or  be  received)  as  a  lodger  or  guest, 
(3)  to  nominate,  and  (4)  to  spend  or 
bet ;  to  put  back,  to  hinder  or  refuse  ; 
to  put  a  quarrel  (or  rudeness)  on  one, 
to  force  to  anger  or  incivility ;  to  put 
away,  (1)  to  dispose  of  by  eating 
(whence  put  -  away,  an  appetite  or 
twist  (q.v.),  sale,  pawning,  imprison- 
ment, etc.,  and  (2)  to  inform  against, 
nark  (q.v.) ;  to  put  a  hand  to,  (1)  to 
begin  a  matter,  (2)  to  sign  or  endorse 
a  document,  and  (3)  to  steal  ;  to  put 
finger  in  the  eye,  to  cry ;  to  put  on,  to 
imitate,  assume  a  character,  airs, 
etc.  (whence,  a  put-on,  a  trick  or  shift), 
and  (4)  see  Put-off,  supra ;  to  put  out, 

(1)  to  confuse  or  perplex,  and  (2)  to 
vex  ;  as  much  as  one  can  put  in  one's 
eye,  nothing  (1696) :  to  put  a  good  (or 
bad)  face  on,  to  appear  pleased  (or  the 
reverse) ;    put-up,  arranged,   planned 
(whence   a  put  up  job,  a   concerted 
swindle    or     robbery,    whence    also 
putter -up);    to    put    about,    (1)    to 
publish  a  rumour,  lie,  or  statement, 

(2)  to  change  one's  tactics,  and  (3)  to 
inconvenience,  annoy,  or  embarrass  ; 
to  put  through,  (1)  to  succeed,  and  (2) 


359 


Putney. 


Quad. 


to  swindle  ;  to  put  out  (forth  or  off),  to 
set  out ;  to  put  on,  to  bet :  see  Pot ;  to 
put  one  on,  (1)  to  tip  (q.v.),  (2)  to  bet 
for  another,  and  (3)  to  promise  a 
bonus  if  a  certain  horse  wins ;  to  put 
up  to,  (I)  to  explain  or  impart  informa- 
tion, and  (2)  to  suggest  or  incite  ;  to 
put  out,  to  vex ;  to  put  in  one's  motto, 
(I)  to  enter  rashly  into  a  discussion, 
and  (2)  to  lay  down  the  law  ;  to  stay 
put  (American),  to  remain  as  placed  ; 
to  put  in  a  hole,  (1)  to  inconvenience, 
non-plus,  or  get  the  better  of  (see 
Hole),  (2)  to  defraud  (thieves'  :  see 
Well),  and  (3)  to  victimise  ;  to  put  on 
one's  mettle,  to  urge ;  to  be  put  to  one's 
trumps,  to  be  forced  back  on  one's 
resources ;  to  put  by,  to  save ;  to  put 
(or^fay)  heads  together,  to  confer;  to 
put  one's  head  in  the  lion's  mouth,  to 
run  into  danger ;  to  put  to  the  door, 
to  eject ;  to  put  over  (Australian),  to 
kill ;  to  put  on  the  woman,  to  shed 
tears  ;  to  put  a  hat  on  a  hen,  to  attempt 
the  impossible  (Ray,  1765) ;  to  put 
together  with  a  hot  needle  (or  burnt 
thread),  to  fasten  insecurely  ;  Put  up  I 
Shut  your  mouth  !  (American).  See 
also  Ape,  Back,  Bag,  Balmy,  Balmy- 
stick,  Basket,  Bed,  Best-leg,  Boot, 
Business,  Cart,  Chair,  Doctor,  Double, 
Down,  Drag,  Dukes,  End,  Frills, 
Grindstone,  Hand,  Head,  Horse,  Ki- 
bosh, Light,  Miller,  Miller's-eye,  Nail, 


Name,  Nose,  Oar,  Pin,  Pipe,  Pot, 
Side,  Spoke,  Strong,  Time-o'-day, 
Tongue,  War-paint,  Wrong-leg. 

Putney.  Oo  to  Putney  on  a  pig  I 
Go  to  the  deuce  ! 

Putrid.  A  depreciative :  if. 
Awful,  Bloody,  etc. 

Putter.  A  foot :  see  Creepers 
(1821). 

Putter-on.  An  instigator,  promp- 
ter (1601). 

Puttock.     1.  A  whore. 

Putty.  1.  Money  :  generic  :  see 
Rhino.  2.  A  glazier  or  painter.  The 
putty  and  plaster  on  the  Solomon  knob, 
an  intimation  that  the  master  is 
coming  ;  be  silent ! 

Puzzle  (or  Dirty  -  puzzle).  A 
slattern  (1583). 

Puzzle  -  cove  (or  cause).  A 
lawyer  (1785). 

Puzzledom.  Perplexity,  bewilder- 
ment :  also  puzzlement.  Whence, 
puzzle  -  headed  and  puzzleheadedneu 
(1748). 

Puzzle-  headed  -  spoon.  See 
Apostle-spoon. 

Puzzle-text.     A  clergyman  (178o). 

Puzzling  Arithmetic.  A  state- 
ment of  the  odds  (1613). 

Puzzling  -  sticks.  The  triangle  to 
which  culprits  were  tied  for  flagella- 
tion (1819). 

Pygostole.    A  M. B.  waistcoat  (q.v.). 


Q  (Cue  or  Kue).  1.  '  Halfe  a  far- 
thing, so  called  because  they  set  down 
in  the  Battling  or  Bntterie  Bookes 
in  Oxford  and  Cambridge  the  letter 
Q  for  halfe  a  farthing,  and  in  Oxford 
when  they  make  that  Cue  or  Q  a 
farthing,  they  say,  Cap  my  Q,  and 
make  it  a  farthing,  thus  *  (Min- 
shen).  2.  A  score  (whence  a  re- 
minder). 3.  An  item  of  small  value. 
Q  in  a  corner,  something  not  seen  at 
once,  but  subsequently  brought  to 
notice.  See  P's  and  Q's. 

Q.H.B.  or  (K.H.B.).  A  worthless 
soldier :  also  Queen's  (or  King's)  bad 
bargain  (or  shilling)  (1785). 

Q.T.  On  the  Q.T.,  on  the  quiet : 
&lao  on  the  strict  Q.T. 

Qua.  A  prison.  Quo-keeper,  a 
gaoler  (1798). 

Quab.     An  unfledged  bird  (1628). 


Quack.  1.  A  duck :  also  quacking  - 
cheat  and  quacker  (1567).  2.  See 
Quacksalver.  As  verb,  to  give  an 
new  title  to  an  old  and  unsaleable 
book.  In  a  quack,  in  the  shortest 
time  possible  :  cf.  Crack. 

Quackle.  To  drink,  gobble, 
choke  (1847):  provincial  in  England, 
and  colloquial  in  America  (1627). 

Quacksalver  (Quacksalve,  or 
Quack).  Originally  a  charlatan  ;  a 
travelling  empiric  who  cackled  about 
his  salves :  shortened  by  Wycherley 
to  quack,  which  now  means  any  noiay, 
specious  cheat.  Also  as  adj.  and 
verb  (1579).  Quackery,  a  professional 
humbug. 

Quad.  1.  A  quadrangle.  As  verb 
(Rugby),  to  promenade  Cloisters  at 
calling  over  before  a  football  match : 
also  quod  (q.v.)  (1840).  2.  A  horse, 


300 


Qucedam. 


Queen  Bess. 


a  quadruped.  3.  A  bicycle  for 
four. 

Quaedam.     A  harlot  (1692). 

Quae  -  genus.  A  bastard ;  cf. 
Johnny  Quce-Oenus,  a  character  title. 

Quaff.  1.  To  carouse  (1696): 
also  to  quaff  off.  2.  To  drink  with 
gusto.  Quafftide,  the  time  of  drinking. 

Quag.  Marsh-land,  a  quagmire 
(B.  E.).  As  adj.,  untrustworthy, 
unsafe  (1859). 

Quail.  A  harlot :  cf.  Plover, 
Pheasant,  etc.  (1602). 

Quail-pipe.  1.  A  woman's  tongue 
(1692).  2.  The  throat. 

Quail  -  pipe  boots.  Boots  full  of 
plaits  and  wrinkles :  temp.  Chas.  II.  ; 
also  quitt-pipes  (1602). 

Quaint.  Curious,  neat,  also 
strange  (.B.  E.). 

Quake-breach.     A  coward  (1608). 

Quaker.  1.  A  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Like  Puritan 
(q.v. ),  which  was  ultimately  accepted, 
Quaker  originated  in  contempt,  but 
it  has  never  been  accepted  by  the 
Society.  Quakerdom,  the  world  of 
Quakers ;  Quakerish,  prim,  demure,  and 
so  forth  (1664).  2.  A  rope  or  pile  of 
excrement :  Fr.,  rondin  and  sentinette. 
To  bury  a  Quaker,  to  ease  the  bowels  ; 
Quaker's  burying  ground,  a  jakes.  3. 
Sham  wooden  guns  (1840).  Stewed 
quaker,  a  remedy  for  colds  :  composed 
of  vinegar  and  molasses  (or  honey), 
mixed  with  butter  and  drunk  hot. 

Quaker  City.  Philadelphia. 
[William  Penn,  its  founder,  belonged 
to  the  Society  of  Friends.] 

Quaker's  Bargain.  A  bargain 
Yea  or  Nay,  a  take-it-or-leave-it 
transaction  (1697). 

Quaking  -  cheat.  1.  A  calf.  2.  A 
sheep. 

Quality  (The).  The  gentry  ;  the 
upper  ten  (q.v.) :  cf.  the  dignity 
applied  (Patten,  1548)  to  nobles  in  the 
army.  Quality-air,  a  distinguished 
carriage  (1599). 

Qualm.  A  stomach-fit ;  also 
calmness  (B.  E. ).  Qualmish,  '  crop- 
sick,  queasy  stomackt '  (B.  E. ). 

Quandary.  A  difficulty  or  doubt; 
a  low  word  (Johnson,  1755).  As  verb, 
to  hesitate,  puzzle  (1440). 

Quantum.  As  much  as  you  want 
or  ought  to  have  :  spec,  a  drink  ;  a 
go  (q.v.).  Quantum  suff.,  enough. 

Quarrel.  See  Bread-and-Butter, 
Pick,  Take. 


Quarrel-picker.      A  glazier  (1676). 

Quarroms  (Quarrome,  or  Quar- 
ron).  The  body  (1567). 

Quarter.  A  quarter  dollar, 
twenty-five  cents  (1824). 

Quarter-decker.  An  officer 
more  remarkable  for  manners  than 
seamanship.  Quarter  -  deckish,  punc- 
tilious. 

Quartereen.  A  farthing :  see 
Rhino. 

Quarter-  sessions  Rose.  A 
perpetual  rose.  [Fr.,  rose  de  quatre 
saisons.] 

Quart-mania.  Delirium  tremens : 
see  Gallon-distemper. 

Quarto  (or  Mr  Quarto).  A 
publisher,  bookseller :  see  Barabbas 
(1772). 

Quart-pot-tea.  Tea  made  in  the 
bush  ;  really  the  proper  way  to  make 
it :  a  tin  quart  of  water  is  set  down  by 
the  fire,  and  when  it  is  boiling  hard 
a  handful  of  tea  is  thrown  in,  and  the 
pot  instantly  removed  from  the  fire. 

Quash.  To  annul,  overthrow, 
extinguish;  vulgarly  pron.  squash 
(B.  E.). 

Quashie  (or  Quassy).  A  negro  ; 
generic  :  see  Snowball  (1836). 

Q  u  a  t.  A  dwarfish  person  :  also 
(occasionally)  a  shabster  (q.v.)  (1602). 
As  verb,  to  ease  the  bowels  :  also  to  go 
to  quat. 

Quatch.     Flat  (1598). 

Quatro.     Four.     [From  the  It.] 

Quaver.     A  musician. 

Quavery-  wavery.  Undecided 
(1749). 

Quay.     Unsafe,  untrustworthy. 

Quean  (or  Queen).  1.  Primarily 
a  woman  :  without  regard  to  character 
or  position.  2.  A  slut,  hussy  (q.v.), 
strumpet.  To  play  the  quean,  to 
wanton  (1362).  Queanry,  (1)  woman- 
kind ;  (2)  harlotry ;  and  (3)  wanton- 
ness. 

Queasy.  Qualmish,  squeamish 
(1696). 

Queed.     The  devil  (1726). 

Queen.  Queen  Anne  (Queen 
Elizabeth,  My  Lord  Baldwin— or  any 
personage  whose  decease  is  well- 
known)  is  dead,  a  retort  on  stale  news. 
Queen  Elizabeth's  women,  ensigns  of 
antiquity  (1619). 

Queen  Anne's  Fan.  A  sight 
(q.v.) :  see  Bacon,  Thumb,  and  Fig. 

Queen  Bess.  The  Queen  of  Clubs  ; 
perhaps  because  that  Queen,  history 


361 


Queen  City. 


Queer. 


says,  was  of  a  swarthy  complexion : 
see  Ned  Stokes. 

Queen  City.  Cincinnati :  also 
Porkopolis  and  The  Paris  of  America. 

Queen  City  of  the  Lakes.     Buffalo. 

Queen  City  of  the  Mississippi. 
St  Louis. 

Queen  Dick.  Nobody.  In  the 
reign  of  Queen  Dirk,  never ;  to  the 
tune  of  the  life  and  death  of  Queen 
Dick,  no  tune  at  all  (1785).  English 
synonyms :  a  Latter  Lammas  (see 
Lammas) ;  on  the  Greek  Kalends 
(q.v.);  on  St.  Tib's  Eve  (see  Tib's 
Eve) ;  on  to-morrow-come-never  ;  in 
the  month  of  five  Sundays ;  when 
two  Fridays  (or  three  Sundays)  come 
together ;  when  Dover  and  Calais  meet ; 
when  Dudman  and  Ramehead  meet ; 
when  the  world  grows  honest ;  when 
the  Yellow  River  runs  clear ;  on  the 
31st  June  (or  some  other  impossible 
date) ;  once  in  a  blue  moon  ;  when 
two  Sundays  come  in  a  week ;  when 
the  devil  is  blind  (or  blind  drunk) ; 
at  Doomsday  ;  one  of  these  odd-come- 
ahortlys ;  when  the  ducks  have  eaten 
up  the  dirt ;  when  pigs  fly ;  on  St. 
Geoffrey's  day  (1691). 

Queen  Elizabeth.  1.  See  Queen 
Anne.  2.  The  street-door  key. 

Queen  Elizabeth's  pocket- 
pistol.  A  brass  cannon  of  a  pro- 
digious length  at  Dover  Castle  (B.  £.). 

Queenite.  A  partizan  of  Queen 
Caroline.  [The  consort  of  George  IV.] 
Cf.  Kingite. 

Queen  of  the  Dripping  -  pan. 
A  cook. 

Queen's  (or  King's)  Ale.  The 
strongest  ale  brewed  (1574). 

Queen's  Bad-bargain  (or  Shilling). 
See  Q.H.B. 

Queen's  Bays  (The).  The  Second 
Dragoon  Guards,  now  The  Bays. 
[The  Corps  were  (c.  1767)  mounted  on 
bay  horses ;  the  other  heavy  regi- 
ments (except  the  Scots  Greys)  having 
black.] 

Queen's  Bus.  A  prison  van: 
Black  Maria  (q.v.) ;  also  Her  Majesty's 
Carriage. 

Queen's  (or  King's)  Carriage  (or 
Cushion).  An  improvised  seat : 
made  by  two  persons  crossing  and 
clasping  hands,  the  rider  holding  both 
bearers  round  the  neck ;  as  bandy- 
chair  (q.v.)  (1818). 

Queen's  College.     See  College. 

Queen's     (or     King's)     English. 


The  English  language  correctly 
written  or  spoken  (1593). 

Queen's  (or  King's)  Head.  A 
postage  stamp  (1843). 

Queen 's-herb.     Snuff. 

Queen's  (or  King's)  Picture  or 
Portrait.  1.  Money :  generic  :  see 
Rhino.  2.  A  sovereign ;  20s.  To 
draw  the  Queen's  (or  Ring's)  picture 
(or  portrait),  to  coin  money  (1632). 

Queen's  (or  King's)  Pipe.  See 
Pipe. 

Queen 's-stick.     A  stately  person. 

Queen  Street  To  live  in  Queen 
Street  (or  at  the  sign  of  the  Queen's 
head),  to  be  under  petticoat-govern- 
ment (q.v.)  (1785). 

Queen  's-woman.    A  soldier's  trull. 

Queer  (Quire,  or  Quyer).  1.  A 
generic  depreciative :  criminal,  base, 
counterfeit,  odd :  cf.  Rum.  Later 
usages  are  (1),  out  of  sorts  or  seedy 
(q.v.)  from  drink,  sickness,  or  acci- 
dent; (2)  unfavourable  or  unpro- 
pitious ;  and  (3)  strange  or  cranky 
(q.v.) :  whence  also  queers  (subs.), 
queered,  and  queery.  Thus  (old) 
queer-bail,  fraudulent  bail,  straw- 
bail  (q.v.)  queer-bird,  a  jail-bird,  a 
convict ;  queer  -  bitch,  an  odd,  out- 
of-the-way  fellow  (Grose) ;  queer  •  bit 
(cole,  money,  paper,  screens,  soft,  or 
queer),  base  money,  coin  or  notes 
(whence  queer-shover,  to  shove  the 
queer,  to  pass  counterfeit  money ; 
and  queer-bit  maker,  a  coiner) ;  queer- 
bluffer,  a  cut-throat  innkeeper  ;  queer- 
booze,  poor  lap,  swipes  (q.v.);  queer- 
bung,  an  empty  purse ;  queer-checker, 
a  swindling  box-keeper ;  queer-card 
(fellow,  or  fish),  a  person  strange  in 
manners  or  views  (also,  in  pi.,  queer- 
cattle)  ;  queer  -  clout,  a  handkerchief 
not  worth  stealing  ;  queer-cole-maker,  a 
coiner  ;  queer-cole-fencer,  a  receiver  (or 
utterer)  of  base  coin  ;  queer-cove,  (bird, 
cull,  or  gill),  (1)  a  rogue,  thief,  or 
gaol-bird,  (2)  a  fop,  (3)  a  fool,  and  (4) 
a  shabbily-dressed  person ;  queer- 
cuffin,  (1)  a  magistrate,  a  beak  (q.v.), 
and  (2)  a  churl ;  queer-degen,  a  poor 
sword  ;  queer-diver,  a  bungling  pick- 
pocket;  queer-doxy,  (1)  a  jilting  jade, 
and  (2)  an  ill-dressed  whore ;  queer- 
drawers,  old  or  coarse  stockings ; 
queer-duke,  (1)  a  decayed  gentleman, 
and  (2)  a  starveling  ;  queer- em  (queer- 
'un  or  queer-' um),  the  gallows  ;  queer- 
fun,  a  bungled  trick  ;  queer-ken  (or 
queer-ken  hall),  (1)  a  prison,  and  (2)  a 


Queer-roost. 


Quittet. 


house  not  worth  robbing  ;  queer-kicks, 
tattered  breeches  ;  queer-mort,  a  dirty 
drab,  a  jilting  wench,  a  pocky  whore  ; 
queer-nab,  a  shabby  hat ;  queer-peeper, 
(1)  a  mirror  of  poor  quality,  and  (2),  in 
pi.,  squinting  eyes  ;  queer-plunger,  a 
cheat  working  the  drowning  man 
and  rescue  dodge;  queer-prancer,  (1) 
a  foundered  whore,  and  (2)  an  old 
screw ;  queer-rooster,  a  police  spy 
living  among  thieves ;  queer-topping, 
a  frowsy  wig  ;  queer-wedge,  base  gold  ; 
queer  -  whidding,  a  scolding  ;  queer- 
gammed,  crippled  ;  to  queer,  to  spoil,  to 
get  the  better  of ;  to  be  queered,  to  be 
drunk ;  to  tip  the  queer,  to  pass  sen- 
tence ;  to  be  queer  to  (or  on),  (1)  to 
rob  ;  (2)  to  treat  harshly ;  in  Queer 
Street,  (1)  in  a  difficulty,  (2)  wrong, 
and  (3)  hard-up.  2.  A  term  made 
use  of  by  the  dealers  in  soot,  signify- 
ing a  substitute  imposed  for  the 
original  article,  inferior  in  point  of 
value,  4d.  per  bushel  (Egan).  3.  A  quiz 
(q.v.),  look,  hoax:  also  queer-quish. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  ridicule;  (2)  to  dis- 
tinguish, divine,  spot  (q.v.).  Queerer, 
a  quizzer  (q.v.)  (1790).  As  adj.,  cute, 
knowing,  fly  (q.v.)  (1789).  As  verb, 
(1)  see  subs.  3;  (2)  to  spoil,  outwit, 
perplex.  To  queer  a  pitch  (cheap 
Jacks  and  showmen),  to  spoil  a  chance 
of  business ;  to  queer  the  noose  (or 
stifler),  to  cheat  the  hangman ;  to 
queer  fate,  to  get  the  better  of  the 
inevitable  ;  to  queer  the  ogles,  to  blacken 
the  eyes  (1785).  Queer  (fine,  odd,  or 
tight)  as  Dick's  (or  Nick's)  hatband, 
out  of  order  or  sorts,  not  knowing 
why :  also  as  queer  as  Dick's  hatband 
that  went  nine  times  round  and  wouldn't 
meet  (1785). 

Queer  -  roost.  To  doss  (or  sleep) 
on  the  queer-roost,  to  live  as  man  and 
wife,  to  live  tally  (q.v.),  dab  (q.v.) 
it  up  (1800). 

Quencher.  A  drink,  go  (q.v.) : 
also  modest  quencher  (1840). 

Querier.  A  chimney-sweep  solicit- 
ing custom  in  an  irregular  manner,  by 
knocking  at  the  doors  of  houses  and 
such  like. 

Question.  To  question  a  horse,  to 
test  a  horse  before  a  race.  See 
Pop. 

Qui.  To  get  the  qui,  to  be  dis- 
missed, get  a  quietus. 

Quibble.     See  Quip. 

Quick.  Quick  and  nimble,  more 
like  a  bear  than  a  squirrel,  a  jeer  on 


leisurely  movement  (1823).  See 
Sticks  and  Trigger. 

Quid.  1.  A  sovereign,  20s.  : 
formerly  a  guinea.  Also  in  pi., 
generic  for  money :  see  Rhino  (1696). 
2.  As  much  tobacco  as  a  person  can 
take  between  his  thumb  and  two  fore- 
fingers, when  cut  small,  in  order  to  put 
into  his  mouth  to  chew  (Dyche).  (1748). 
As  verb,  to  chew  (1785),  to  puzzle, 
embarrass.  See  Quip. 

Quidnunc.  1.  A  person  curious, 
or  professing,  to'  know  everything. 
[Latin,  What  now  ?]  (1709).  2.  A 
politician.  [Popularised  by  a  character 
in  Murphy's  Upholsterer  (1758).] 

Quid  pro  Quo.  A  tit  for  tat, 
Rowland  for  an  Oliver  (q.v.),  an 
equivalent :  also  quid  for  quod :  cf. 
quip  (1565). 

Quien.     A  dog. 

Quier.     See  Queer. 

Quiet.  On  the  quiet :  see  Q.T.  As 
quiet  as  a  wasp  in  one's  nose,  uneasy, 
restless  (1670). 

Quietus  (or  Quietus  est).  A 
form  of  finality,  settling  blow,  death, 
etc.  :  originally,  a  quittance  or  pardon 
(1537). 

Quiff.  A  satisfactory  result :  spec, 
an  end  obtained  by  means  not  strictly 
conventional.  As  verb,  to  do  ,well, 
jog  along  merrily.  To  quiff  in  the 
press,  to  change  a  breast  pocket  from 
one  side  to  the  other ;  to  quiff  the 
bladder,  to  conceal  baldness :  cf. 
quiff  (military),  a  small  flat  curl  on 
the  temple. 

Qui  -  hi.  An  English  resident  or 
official  in  Bengal. 

Quill  (Winchester  College).  To 
curry  favour.  To  be  quilled,  to  be 
pleased ;  quitter  (or  quilster),  a  toady 
(Fr.,  suceur) :  cf.  Sucker.  Phrases  : 
Under  the  quill,  under  discussion :  spec, 
in  writing ;  to  carry  a  good  quill,  to  write 
well ;  in  a  quill,  in  a  push  ;  to  piss  in  a 
quill  (Irish  proverb  :  They  pissed  in  the 
same  quill),  to  be  agreed  to  act  as  one  ; 
to  pias  through  a  quitt,  to  write  (1594). 

Quill  -  driver  (man,  mongeaj 
merchant  ;  Brother,  or  Knight 
of  the  Quill)  A  penman  — 
— author,  journalist,  clerk,  or  (racing) 
bookmaker  :  Fr.,  rond  de  cuir.  Hero 
of  the  quitt,  a  distinguished  author ; 
quill-driving,  clerking ;  to  drive  the 
quill,  to  write  (1680). 

Quill-pipes.     See  Quail-pipe  boots. 

Quillet.     See  Quibble. 


363 


Quilt. 


Rabitter. 


Quilt  A  fat  man  (1598).  The. 
Quill,  the  Union  Jack :  cf.  Rag.  As 
verb,  to  beat,  tan  (q.v.).  Quitting,  a 
rope's-ending  (1786). 

Quilting.  A  patch  working- party 
with  a  spree  at  the  end  :  see  Bee  ( 1825). 

Quinsey.     See  Hempen-squincey. 

Quip.  1.  A  play  upon  words,  a 
jesting  or  evasive  reply,  a  retort.  2. 
A  trifling  critic  (1696).  As  verb,  (1) 
to  trifle,  jest,  censure  ;  (2)  to  criticise. 
Variants  more  or  less  allied  in  mean- 
ing and  usage  are  conveniently 
grouped :  e.g.  Quib,  Quill,  Quibble, 
Quiddle,  Qutblet  (also,  mod.  Amer.  : 
the  patter  between  turns  in  negro 
minstrelsy),  Quidlet,  Quillet,  Quib- 
lin,  and  Quidlin ;  Sir  Quibble  Queere 
(Quibbler,  Quipper,  or  Quiddler),  a 
trifler  or  shatter-brain  (q.v.) ;  quib- 
bling (or  quiddling),  uncertain,  un- 
steady, mincing  (of  gait) ;  quiddifical, 
triflingly  (1420). 

Quire.     See  Queer. 

Quirk.  An  evasion,  shift,  quip 
(q.v.).  Quirkist,  shifty,  quibbling 
( 1696) ;  quirk*  and  quilleUs,  tricks  and 
devices  ;  quirldum  (Jamieson  :  a  cant 
term),  a  puzzle ;  quirky,  sportively 
tricky  (1538). 

Quisby.  An  eccentric,  queer  card 
(q.v.)  (1838).  As  adj.  and  adv., 
bankrupt,  drunk,  upset,  out-of-sorte, 
wrong  :  generic  for  misadventure.  To 
do  quisby,  to  be  idle. 

Qui-tam.  A  solicitor.  He  who, 
i.e.  he  who,  as  much  for  himself  as  for 
the  King,  seeks  a  conviction,  the 


penalty  for  which  goes  half  to  the 
informer  and  half  to  the  Crown.  The 
term  would,  therefore,  with  greater 
propriety,  be  applied  to  a  spy  than 
to  a  solicitor  (//often).  Qui-tam  horsr, 
one  that  will  both  carry  and  draw 
(Grose). 

Quius-kius.  A  warning  to 
silence. 

Quiz  (or  Quoz).  1.  A  puzzle,  jest, 
hoax  :  also  quizzification  ;  (2)  a  jesting 
or  perplexing  critic  ;  also  quizzer ;  (3) 
any  odd  -  looking  person  or  thing. 
As  verb,  to  banter,  puzzle,  confound. 
Hence  quizzical  or  quizzically),  jocose 
or  humorous ;  to  quizzify,  to  make 
ridiculous  (1749).  2.  A  weekly  oral 
examination :  also  spec.,  notes  made 
and  passed  on  to  another  :  hence  quiz- 
class,  surgery-quiz,  legal-quiz,  etc. ; 
quiz-master,  a  tutor  or  coach  (q.v.). 
As  verb,  (a)  to  attend  ;  (b)  to  conduct 
such  a  class.  3.  A  monocular  eye- 
glass :  also  quizzing-glass.  As  verb, 
(1)  see  subs.  ;  (2)  to  watch,  nose  (q.v.), 
nark  (q.v.). 

Quockerwodger.  1.  A  puppet  on 
strings.  2.  A  tool,  agent,  or  fime, 
damnee,  a  dependent 

Quod  (or  Quad).  A  prison. 
Quodded,  imprisoned  ;  quod  -  cove*  a 
turnkey  (1696). 

Quodger.     Quo  jure,  by  what  law. 

Quodling.  A  fledgling,  green-'un 
(q.v.). 

Quote  (or  Quot).     A  quotation. 

Quoz.     See  Quiz. 

Quyer.     See  Queer. 


R.     See  Three  R's. 

Rabbit  1.  A  term  of  contempt : 
hence  rabbit-sucker  (i.e.  a  sucking 
rabbit),  an  innocent  fool ;  young 
unthrifte  taking  up  goods  upon  tick 
at  excessive  rates  (B.  E.):  cf.  Poet- 
sucker  (1598).  2.  A  wooden  drinking 
can  :  also  rabit  (B.  E.).  3.  A  rowdy  : 
also  Dead-rabbit  and  Dead-duck.  [A 
gang  of  roughs  paraded  New  York  in 
1848,  carrying  dead  rabbits  and  ducks 
as  emblems  of  victory.]  4.  An  elec- 
tioneering agent  (or  tool)  working  in 
a  more  or  less  secret  and  underhand 
fashion.  5.  A  horse  that  runs  in  and 
out  (q.v.).  6.  A  new-born  babe. 
Babbit-catcher,  a  midwife  (1785).  As 


intj.,  Confound  it !  Also  odsrabbit  I 
and  drabbit !  Phrases ;  to  buy  the 
rabbit,  to  get  the  worst  of  a  bargain  ; 
fat  and  lean,  like  a  rabbit  (proverbial) ; 
to  go  rabbit-hunting  triih  a  dead  ferret, 
to  undertake  a  business  with  im- 
proper or  useless  means  (1760):  also 
see  Welsh-rabbit 

Rabbit-pie  Shifter.     A  policeman. 

Rabbi  t-skin  (or  Cat  -  skin).  An 
academical  hood.  To  get  one's  rabbit- 
skin,  to  win  the  B.A.  degree.  [The 
trimming  is  of  rabbit's  fur.] 

Rabitter  (Winchester  College). 
A  blow  with  the  side  of  the  hand  on 
the  back  of  the  neck :  as  in  killing  a 
rabbit. 


364 


RabUe. 


Rag. 


Rabble.  Generic  for  confusion 
(B.  E.). 

Rabid  -  beast.  A  new-comer  who 
sets  up  against  the  authority  of  his 
elders :  cf.  Reptile. 

Rabshakle.     A  profligate. 

Rachel.  To  renovate,  make  young 
again.  [Madame  Rachel  was  a  notori- 
ous '  beautiful  for  ever '  swindler.] 

Rack  (Winchester).  1.  A  chop 
from  the  neck  or  loin,  a  bone. 
Phrases :  To  live  at  rack  and  manger, 
to  live  on  the  best,  gratis :  to  lie  at 
rack  and  manger,  (1)  to  live  hard 
(B.  E.) ;  (2)  to  be  in  great  disorder 
(Grose) ;  to  go  to  rack  and  ruin,  to  go 
utterly  wrong;  on  the  rack,  (1)  in  a 
state  of  tension ;  (2)  on  the  move, 
shinning  round  (Amer.  spec,  for 
money) ;  to  rack  off,  to  relate,  tell. 

Rackabimus.  A  sudden  or  un- 
expected stroke  or  fall. 

Rackabones  (or  Rack-of -bones). 
A  skinny  person  or  animal,  bag  of 
bones  (q.v.),  shape  (q.v.). 

Racket.  1.  A  confusion,  sportive 
or  the  reverse.  2.  Generic  for  dis- 
order, clamour,  or  noisy  merriment 
(B.  E.) ;  3.  Any  matter  or  happening 
(1785) :  also,  a  general  verb  of  action. 
Thus,  to  racket  about  (round,  through, 
etc. ),  to  go  the  round  at  night ;  to  go 
on  the  racket,  to  spree  (q.v.) ;  to  raise  a 
racket,  to  make  a  disturbance  ;  What's 
the  racket  ?  What's  going  on  ?  ;  to  be  in 
a  racket,  to  be  part  in  a  design ;  to 
work  the  racket,  to  carry  on  a  matter  : 
cf.  Rig,  Lay,  etc.  :  whence  racket-man, 
a  thief  (q.v.) ;  to  stand  the  racket,  (1) 
to  pay  a  score,  and  (2)  to  take  the 
consequences  ;  without  racket,  without 
a  murmur ;  to  tumble  to  the  racket,  to 
understand,  twig  (q.v.) ;  rackety  (or 
racketty),  (1)  noisy,  and  (2)  dissipated  ; 
rocketer  (or  rackapelt),  a  libertine.  To 
play  racket,  to  prove  inconstant  (1369). 

Raclan.     A  married  woman. 

Rad.     A  Radical  (1844). 

Raddled.  Drunk :  see  Screwed 
(1767). 

Rafe  (or  Ralph).     A  pawn-ticket. 

Raff  and  Raffle.     See  Riff-raff. 

Raffling-shop.  A  lottery  agent's  : 
the  article  or  lottery  ticket  was 
divided  into  shares,  and  cast  for  by  a 
throw  of  the  dice  (1714). 

Raft.  1.  A  whole  lot.  2.  A 
goodly  number.  [The  rafts  of  lumber 
on  American  waterways  are  some- 
times of  enormous  size.] 


Rag.  Generic :  1.  in  pi.,  clothes, 
old  or  new ;  2.  in  sing.,  a  tatterde- 
malion, ragamuffin,  any  one  despic- 
able and  despised ;  and,  3.  anything 
made  out  of  textile  stuff  (as  a  hand- 
kerchief, shirt,  undergrad's  gown, 
newspaper,  and  exercise-  [or  examina- 
tion-] paper) :  hence  tag-  (or  shag) 
rag-and-bobtail  (or  fag  end),  one  and 
all,  the  common  people  (1786) ;  tag- 
rag,  tattered,  villainous,  poor,  dis- 
reputable ;  rag  -  mannered,  violently 
vulgar  ;  raggery,  duds,  esp.  women's  : 
FT.,  chiffons ;  rag-bag  (or  rag-doll),  a 
slattern  ;  rag-trade,  ( 1 )  tailoring,  (2) 
dressmaking,  and  (3)  the  dry-goods 
trade  in  general ;  rag-stabber,  a  tailor, 
snip  (q.v.);  rag-tacker,  (1)  a  dress- 
maker, (2)  a  coach  -  trimmer  ;  rag- 
sooker  (or  seeker),  an  instrument 
attached  to  the  end  of  a  long  pole  for 
removing  clothes-pins  from  the  lines 
and  afterwards  dragging  the  released 
clothes  over  the  fence  ;  rags-and-jags, 
tatters ;  to  have  Iwo  shirts  and  a  rag, 
to  be  comfortably  off  (1760);  to  tip 
one's  rags  a  gallop,  to  move,  depart, 
get  out ;  to  get  one's  rag  (or  shirt)  out, 
(1 )  to  bluster,  and  (2)  to  get  angry ; 
to  rag  out,  (1)  to  dress,  clobber  up 
(q.v.) ;  and  (2)  to  show  the  white  rag  : 
see  White  Feather.  4.  Bank  paper 
(bills  of  exchange  and  so  forth),  soft 
(q.v.).  Whence  rag-shop,  a  bank; 
rag-shop  boss  (or  cove),  a  banker  ;  rag- 
shop  cove,  a  cashier ;  rag-money  (or 
currency),  soft  (q.v.);  to  flash  one's 
rags,  to  display  one's  notes ;  without 
a  rag,  penniless.  [In  Old  Cant,  rag, 
a  farthing :  whence  in  pi.,  money 
(B.  E.).]  5.  A  flag  :  spec.  The  Union, 
but  also  the  regimental  colours  ;  rag- 
carrier,  an  ensign  (Grose).  6.  (a)  The 
curtain ;  whence  (b)  a  denouement, 
i.e.  a  curtain,  a  situation  on  which 
to  bring  down  the  drop ;  rags-and- 
sticks,  a  travelling  outfit.  7.  The 
order  of  the  rag,  the  profession  of  arms  ; 
rag- fair,  kit  inspection  (Grose) :  see 
Rag  -  and  -  famish.  8.  The  tongue  : 
also  red-rag,  or  red- flannel  (1696).  9. 
Talk,  banter,  abuse :  as  verb,  (a)  to 
scold  ;  (b)  to  chaff  ;  and  (c — American 
University)  to  declaim  or  compose 
better  than  one's  class-mates :  see 
Ragtime  :  whence  rag-box  (or  shop), 
the  mouth  ;  rag-sauce,  (a)  chatter,  and 
(b)  cheek  (q.v.) ;  ragster,  a  bully  or 
scold  ;  a  dish  of  red  rag,  abuse ;  to 
chew  the  rag,  (a)  to  scold,  and  (b)  to 


365 


Ragamuffin. 


sulk ;  to  give  the  red  r  ig  a  holiday,  to 
be  silent ;  too  much  red  rag,  loquacious. 
10.  Generic  for  a  jollification,  a  drink- 
ing-bout, or  (Amer.  Univ.)  a  brilliant 
success  in  class  :  also  rag-time.  [In  this 
connection  rag  -  rowtering,  romping.] 
As  adj.,  rag  -  time,  merry,  lively. 
Whence  rag-time  girl,  a  sweetheart,  a 
best  girl.  As  verb,  to  divide,  nap 
the  regulars  (q.v.).  The  rag,  (I)  The 
Raglan  Music-hall ;  (2)  The  Rag-and- 
Famish  (q.v.).  To  take  the  rag  off,  to 
surpass,  overcome,  take  the  cake  (q.v. ). 

Ragamuffin.  A  tattered  vaga- 
bond :  also  as  adj.  and  adv.,  beggarly, 
ragged,  disorderly.  [Also  occasion- 
ally the  Devil.]  Also  ragaboot,  rag- 
shag,  ragabrash,  etc.  (1383). 

Rag-and-famish  (or  The  Rag). 
The  Army  and  Navy  Club. 

Rag-baby.  The  policy  advocated 
by  Greenbackers ;  inflation  of  the 
currency  as  a  panacea  for  financial 
ills  (Bartiett). 

Rage.  To  wanton  :  hence  ragerie, 
wantonness ;  skittishness :  cf.  Rag, 
subs.  10  (1383).  The  rage  (or  all  the 
rage),  the  fashion,  vogue,  go  (q.v.) 
(1785). 

Rag  -  fair.  1.  A  district  in  the 
parish  of  St.  Mary,  Whitechapel, 
near  the  Tower  of  London,  where  old 
clothes  and  frippery  were  sold.  2. 
See  Rag,  subs.  7. 

Ragged.     Collapsed. 

Ragged-brigade.  Thirteenth 
Hussars.  Also  The  Green  Dragoons  ; 
The  Evergreens ;  and  The  Great 
Runaway  Prestonpans. 

Ragged-soph.     See  Soph. 

Ragged  Robin.  A  keeper's  fol- 
lower (New  Forest). 

Ragman  (or  Rageman).  1.  The 
devil.  2.  See  Rigmarole  (1363). 

Ragout.  '  A  Relishing  Bit,  with 
a  high  Sawce'  (B.  E.). 

Rags  -  and  -  bones.  A  miser- 
able remnant,  pell  -  mell  of  rubbish. 
Thus  rag-and-bone  shop  (also  rag-shop), 
a  crapulous  and  tumbled  room ;  a 
piggery  (q.v.). 

Rag-splawger  (or  gorger). 
A  rich  man ;  generally  used  in  con- 
versation to  avoid  direct  mention  of 
names  (Orose) :  FT.,  riflard. 

Rag-water.  1.  Any  common 
spirit  (B.  E.).  2.  Gin  (Orose). 

Raid.  To  raid  the  market,  to 
derange  prices  by  exciting  distrust 
or  causing  a  panic. 


Rails.  A  curtain  lecture  :  whence, 
a  dish  of  rails,  a  regular  jobation. 
Front  (or  head)  rails,  the  teeth.  See 
Ride. 

Raillery.  Drolling.  To  railly,  to 
droll.  A  raiUeur,  or  droll  (B.  E.). 

Railings.  To  count  the  railings,  to 
go  hungry :  see  Peckham. 

Railroad.  Whisky,  so  called 
because  of  the  rapidity  with  which 
it  hurries  men  to  the  end  of  their 
tether.  As  verb,  to  run  a  matter 
with  all  speed,  rush  (q.v.). 

Rain.  Proverbs  and  sayings — It 
never  rains  but  it  pours,  misfortunes 
never  come  singly ;  If  it  should  rain 
pottage,  he  would  want  his  dish,  said  of 
a  wastrel  or  star-gazer  (q.v.).  It 
rains  by  planets,  i.e.  partially ;  to  get 
out  of  the  rain,  to  absent  oneself,  to 
refrain  from  meddling.  See  also 
Cats-and-Dogs,  Right,  etc.  (1749). 

Rainbow.  1.  A  mistress.  2.  A 
footman  in  livery :  also  knight  of  the 
rainbow.  3.  A  pattern  book.  [Dressed 
in  or  exhibiting  variety  of  colour.] 
(1821).  4.  A  sovereign;  half-a-rain- 
bow,  ten  shillings  :  see  Rhino. 

Rainbow  -  chase.  A  run  after 
a  dream,  wild  goose  chase  (q.v.). 
[From  the  folk-story  of  the  pot  of  gold 
found  where  the  two  points  of  a  rain- 
bow touch  the  earth.] 

Rain-nappe  r.  An  umbrella  ; 
mush  (q.v.)  (1823). 

Rainy-  (or  wet-)  day.  Hard 
times ;  whence,  to  lay  up  for  a  rainy 
day,  to  provide  against  necessity  or 
distress  (1626). 

Raise.  An  improvement  in  con- 
ditions (1848).  As  verb,  to  rear:  of 
human  beings,  crops  and  cattle  (1597). 
See  Bead,  Bill,  Bobbery,  Bristles, 
Cain,  Dander,  Dash,  Dead,  Devil, 
Hair,  Hatchet,  Hell,  Market,  Mischief, 
Muss,  Ned,  Organ,  Racket,  Roof,  Row, 
Rumpus,  Wind. 

Raise-mountain.     A  braggart 

Rake  (Rakehell,  Rakehel- 
lonian,  or  Rakeshame).  1.  A 
disreputable  person,  blackguard,  esp. 
a  libertine  ;  one  so  bad  as  to  be  found 
only  by  raking  hell,  or  one  so  reckless 
as  to  rake  hell  (Century) ;  also  Rake 
hett  and  skin  the  devil,  and  you'll  not 
find  such  another  (1360).  As  verb, 
to  live  dissolutely.  Whence  rakish 
(raking,  rakehelly,  rakely,  or  rake- 
shamed),  dissolute  ;  rakery  (or  rakish- 
ness),  blackguardism ;  rake-jokes,  » 


Raker. 


Rank. 


blackguard.  2.  A  comb  :  also  garden- 
rake.  Colloquialisms  are  : — To  rake 
and  scrape,  to  pinch,  save,  play  the 
miser ;  to  rake  in  the  pieces,  to  make 
money  in  plenty ;  to  rake  the  pot,  to 
take  the  stakes :  see  Pot ;  to  carry 
heavy  rakes,  to  put  on  side  (q.v.) ; 
to  overbear  ;  to  rake  down,  to  scold,  to 
drub  :  also  as  subs,  rakedown,  a  scold- 
ing, beating  ;  better  with  a  rake  than  a 
fork  (Ray),  more  apt  to  pull  in  and 
scrape  up  than  to  give  out  and  com- 
municate :  also  vice  versa ;  lean  as  a 
rake,  as  lean  as  may  be. 

Raker  (or  Rake-kennel).  A 
scavenger:  also  Jack  Raker  (1611). 
To  go  a  raker,  to  bet  recklessly, 
plunge  (q.v.).  Baker,  a  heavy  bet. 

Rally.  The  rough  -  and  -  tumble 
work  after  the  transformation  scene 
in  a  pantomime. 

Ralph.  1.  A  fool  :  also  Ralph 
Spooner  (1696).  2.  A  mischief-mon- 
gering  deus  ex  machind  :  the  supposed 
author  of  the  tricks  played  on  a  re- 
calcitrant member  of  a  chapel  (q.v.). 

Ram.  A  practical  joke,  hoax. 
The  rams,  delirium  tremens :  see 
Gallon-distemper.  To  ram  one's  face 
in,  to  intrude,  meddle. 

Ramagious.  Untamed,  wild 
(Coles). 

Rambooze  (or  -buze).     See  Rum. 

Rambounge.  A  severe  brush  of 
labour  .  .  .  most  probably  a  cant 
term  (Jamieson). 

Rambustious,  Rambunctious, 
Rambumptious,  Ramgumption,  Ram- 
feezled,  Ramshackle,  Ramstrugen- 
ous,  and  similar  words.  See  Rum- 
gumption. 

Ramcat  (or  Ran-cat  cove).  A 
man  wearing  furs. 

Ramhead.  A  cuckold :  hence 
ramheaded  (1630). 

Ram  jam.  A  surfeit :  as  verb,  to 
stuff  (q.v.). 

Ramjollock.     To  shuffle  cards. 

Rammaged.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Rammer.     The  arm  ( 1785). 

Rammish.  1.  Stinking,  hircine, 
abominable  to  the  nose  :  also  rammy 
(1383).  2.  Lustful:  also  rammy  and 
rammishness ;  rammaking,  wantonness 
and  ram-skyt,  skittish  (1400). 

Ramnuggar  Boys  (The).  The 
14th  (The  King's)  Hussars.  [They 
encountered  enormous  odds  at  the 
battle  in  question.]  Also  The  Em- 
peror's Chambermaids. 


Ramp  (see  Romp).  1.  A  wanton. 
2.  Lascivious  horseplay.  As  verb,  to 
wanton ;  and  rampant  (or  rampish) 
(1530),  wanton.  3.  A  robbery  with 
violence  (1812).  4.  A  swindle.  5.  A 
footpad.  6.  A  trickster:  also  rampsman 
and  ramper :  cf .  Rush.  As  verb,  ( 1 ) 
to  rob  with  violence ;  (2)  to  blackmail ; 
and  (3)  to  bet  against  one's  own  horse  ; 
ramping,  violent  ;  ramping  -  mad, 
noisily  drunk  ;  to  ramp  and  reave,  to 
get  by  fair  means  or  foul.  7.  A  hall- 
mark. [A  rampant  lion  forms  part  of 
the  assay  stamp  for  gold  and  silver.] 

Rampage.  To  storm  ;  also  on  the 
rampage,  in  a  state  of  excitement, 
from  anger,  lust,  violent  movement, 
or  drink.  Whence  rampaging  (ram- 
pacious,  or  rampageous),  (1)  furious, 
hot  (q.v.),  wild,  or  outrageous:  and 
(2)  loud  (q.v.) :  whence  rampageous- 
ness.  Also  rampager  (or  rampadgeon) 
(1)  a  hector;  (2)  a  vagabond;  and 
(3)awencher(1722). 

Rampallian.  A  villain,  hector : 
cf.  Ramp  and  Rapscallion  (1593). 

Ram  -  reel.  A  dance  of  men  :  cf. 
Stag-party  (1813). 

Ramrod  (Winchester).  A  ball 
bowled  along  the  ground,  a  ray- 
monder  (q.v.). 

Ramshackle.     See  Rumgumption. 

Ranee-sniffle.  A  mean  and 
dastardly  piece  of  malignity. 

Randal  's-man  (or  Randlesman). 
A  green  handkerchief  with  white 
spots :  Jack  Randal's  colours :  cf. 
Belcher,  Bird's-eye  fogle,  etc. 

Randan.  1.  A  boat  rowed  by 
three  men,  two  pulling  an  oar  each, 
and  one  a  pair  of  sculls.  2.  See  Rant. 

Randem-  (or  Random-)  tandem. 
Three  horses  driven  abreast :  cf. 
Harum-scarum,  Sudden  death,  Tan- 
dem, and  Unicorn. 

Randle.  To  punish  by  surround- 
ing the  victim  and  systematically 
pulling  the  hair. 

Randy,  Rand,  Randan.    See  Rant. 

Ranger.  1.  A  highwayman.  2. 
In  pi.,  mounted  troops  using  short 
arms :  cf.  Connaught  Rangers  (late 
88th  and  94th  Regiments).  3.  See 
Range. 

Rank.  1.  A  generic  intensive : 
unmitigated,  utter  (1465):  e.g.  a 
rank  lie,  &  flat  falsehood ;  a  rank 
knave,  a  rogue  of  the  first  water ;  a 
rank  outsider  (see  Outsider) ;  a  rank 
swell,  a  pink  of  fashion  ;  a  rank  duffer, 


367 


Rank-and-riches. 


Rasper. 


a  downright  fool ;  and  BO  forth.  2. 
Eager,  anxious,  impatient  [Century] : 
e.g.  I  was  rank  to  get  back.  As  verb, 
to  cheat. 

Rank  -  and  -  riches.  Breeches, 
trousers. 

Ranker.  An  officer  risen  from  the 
ranks :  cf.  Gentleman-ranker. 

Rank  -  rider.  1.  A  highwayman. 
2.  A  jockey.  Whence  rank-riding, 
rough-riding  (1612). 

R  a  n  n  a  c  k  (or  Rannigal).  A 
good-for-nothing. 

Rannel.     A  whore  (1600). 

Ranshackle.  To  pillage,  ransack. 
[On  model  of  ramshackle  (q.v.)]. 

Rant  1.  To  talk  big,  high,  or 
boast  much  (B.  E.);  to  storm,  rave  : 
in  this  sense  rant  has  always  been 
literary.  Whence,  however,  many 
usages  more  or  less  colloquial : — 
Rantan  (randan,  randy,  rand,  randy- 
dan,  rant,  ranty,  rantan,  or  rantytan), 

(1)  a  jollification,  (2)  a  wenching  bout, 
(3)  the  sound  of  a  drum,  and  (4)  a 
drunken  frolic ;  also  as  verb  (or  to 
go  on  the  randan,  etc.),  to  go  on  a  round 
of  debauchery;   ranter,   (1)  extra va- 
gants,    unthrifts,    lewd   sparks,    also 
of  the  family  of  love    (B.  E.) ;   (2) 
a    noisy    talker,    bawling    singer,    or 
ruffian ;   (3)  a  Primitive  Methodist : 
often  extended  to  Dissenters  generally, 
and  spec,  to  a  sect  dating  from  1822, 
self-registered  as  such  in  the  Census 
returns ;    (4)    in    pi.,    idle,    drunken 
bolstering  ;  ranting,  ( 1 )  in  high  spirits  ; 

(2)  amorous  ;  (3)  extravagant ;  randy 
(or  ranty),  (1)  a  beggar,  ballad  singer, 
or   tinker :   espec.    such   as   bully   or 
menace ;    (2)    a    scold :    also    randy- 
dandy  (or  ranty-tanty) ;  (3)  a  ramping 
wanton ;  (4)  see  Rantan,  supra ;  as 
adj,  ( 1 )  vagrant ;  (2)  thieving,  shrew- 
ish ;  (3)  wanton  ;  as  verb,  (1)  see  ran- 
tan, supra ;  and  (2)  to  beat  continu- 
ously,  as  a  tinker ;   rantipole,   ( 1 )  a 
whore,  and  (2)  a  romp  (q.v.),  a  gallant 
hussy  ;  as  verb,  to  run  about  wildly  ; 
and  as  adj.,  wild,  rakish,  jovial  (//.  K.); 
to  ride  rantipole  (see  Ride) ;  rantanker- 
ous,  quarrelsome.     2.  To  appropriate 
anything  in  a  forcible  manner  :    Let's 
go  and  rant  their  marleys,'  says  one 
urchin  to  another,  and  straightway  the 
pair  annex  the  possessions  of  a  more 
respectable    party.     But    it    is    also 
used  to  denote  undue  freedom  with 
females,  and  springs,  no  doubt,  from 
rantipole. 


Rap.  Quick,  forcible,  explosive 
action:  generic:  e.g.  1.  a  blow,  a 
polt  on  the  pate,  and  a  hard  knock- 
ing at  a  door  (H.  E.).  2.  An  oath  or 
exclamation  (also  rapper).  3.  A 
severe  reprimand  :  as  a  rap  on  (or  over) 
the  fingers,  knuckles,  etc.  Hence,  as 
verb,  (1)  to  strike  smartly  or  to  speak 
forcibly  (espec.  to  reprimand) :  usually 
with  off  or  out ;  (2)  to  break  wind  ; 
(3)  to  swear ;  (4)  to  perjure  oneself : 
to  deal  a  blow  at  one's  honour  or 
another's  reputation  (1785).  Also  4.  on 
the  rap,  on  the  spree  (q.v.) ;  in  a  rap,  in 
a  moment ;  rapfully,  violently  ;  rapped 
(1)  rained  ;  (2)  knocked  out  of  time  ; 
(3)  killed.  5.  A  counterfeit  Irish 
coin  nominally  worth  a  halfpenny, 
but  intrinsically  less  than  half  a  farth- 
ing :  proclaimed  May  5th,  1737.  6. 
The  smallest  unit  of  value :  see  Care 
and  Worth.  7.  A  cheat  (Scots'). 
Sapless,  penniless,  stony  (q.v.)  (1724). 
As  verb,  (1)  see  subs.  1 ;  (2)  to  barter, 
swop  (q.v.)  (1696). 

Rape.     A  pear. 

Rapparee.  1.  An  Irish  robber  or 
outlaw.  2.  A  vagabond. 

Rapper.  1.  A  lie,  whopper  (q.v.). 
2.  See  Rap,  sense  1.  Rapping,  very 
(1688). 

Rapscallion  (Rascallion,  Rab- 
scallion,  Ramscallion,  or  Ra- 
scabilian).  A  worthless  wretch. 
Rapscattionry,  etc.,  the  world  of 
rascaldom.  Also  as  adj.  (1622). 

Raree-show.  A  peep-show  :  speci- 
fically one  carried  in  a  box.  Raree- 
showman,  a  poor  Savoyard  trotting  up 
and  down  with  portable  boxes  of 
puppet  -  shows  at  their  backs  .  .  . 
pedlars  of  puppets  (B.  E.). 

Rascal.  A  term  of  (a)  affection, 
and  (6)  contempt :  cf.  rogue,  scamp, 
etc.  RaskabUia,  the  rascal  people : 
see  Rapscallion  (1557). 

Rasher-of-wind.  1.  A  thin  person, 
lamp -post  (q.v.),  yard  of  pump- 
water  (q.v.).  2.  Anything  of  little  or 
no  account. 

Raspberry.  A  gesture  of  con- 
tempt :  the  tongue  is  inserted  in  the 
left  cheek  and  forced  through  the  lips, 
producing  a  peculiarly  squashy  noise 
that  is  extremely  irritating. 

Raspberry-tart.  1.  A  dainty  girl. 
2.  The  heart. 

Rasper.  Anything  especial:  as 
(hunting)  a  bad  leap ;  (common)  a 
punishing  blow,  rank  tradesman,  or 


Raspin. 


Razor. 


flat  falsehood ;  a  big  turn  or  large 
profit ;  and  so  forth.  Rasping -shorter, 
a  ball  which,  blocked  by  the  bat,  glides 
swiftly  along  the  ground  instead  of 
rebounding  (1834). 

Raspin  (The).     Bridewell. 

Rat.  1.  A  renegade :  espec. 
through  self-interest.  Whence  (politi- 
cal), a  deserter  ;  or  (trades-unionists') 
a  workman  accepting  lower  than  the 
Union  rate,  or  working  when  his 
mates  have  struck :  also  ratter.  As 
verb  (or  to  do  a  rat),  in  all  these  senses, 
whence  (loosely)  to  change  one's 
views  or  tactics.  Batting  (rattening, 
or  rattery),  apostacy ;  rat-shop  (house, 
or  office),  a  workshop  where  full  rates 
are  not  paid  ;  to  ratten,  to  destroy  tools 
and  appliances,  to  intimidate  fellow 
workmen,  or  (masters')  to  lock  out 
employees  or  engage  non  -  Union  (or 
free)  labour.  2.  A  clergyman  (1628) 
3.  A  drunken  person  when  in  custody 
(B.  E.).  Whence  (in  pi.),  d.t.'s  (q.v.) ; 
drunk  as  a  rat,  hopelessly  drunk: 
see  Screwed  (1553).  4.  An  infernal 
machine :  espec.  one  used  to  founder 
insured  bottoms.  5.  In  pi.,  a  star. 
6.  A  police  spy :  see  Nark :  hence 
(general)  a  term  of  contempt.  7.  A 
hairpad,  somewhat  resembling  a  rat 
in  shape,  circa  1860-70.  Also  as  verb. 
Phrases  :  To  smell  a  rat,  to  suspect  a 
trick  or  roguery  ;  to  give  green  rats,  to 
malign  or  back-bite ;  to  have  (or  see) 
rats,  (1)  to  be  eccentric,  (2)  out  of 
sorts,  (3)  drunk,  and  (4)  crazy :  also 
rats  in  the  garret  (loft,  or  upper  storey) ; 
like  a  drowned  rat,  sopping  wet;  Bat 
me,  a  variant  of  Rot  me:  an  objurga- 
tion ;  Bats  !  a  contemptuous  retort : 
see  Water  (1508). 

Rather !  A  strong  affirmative  : 
yes ;  I  should  think  so :  sometimes 
rayther.  Batherish,  in  some  degree  ; 
slightly.  Bather  of  the  ratherest,  said 
of  anything  slightly  in  excess  or  de- 
fect ;  in  Norfolk  of  underdone  meat. 

Rat-hole.  1.  An  overwide  space 
between  printed  words  ;  a  pigeon-hole 
(q.v.).  2.  See  Rat,  subs.  1. 

Rations.     A  flogging. 

Rat's-tail.     A  writ,  a  capias. 

Rattle.  1.  A  dice-box,  2  and  3. 
See  verb.  1,  and  Rattler,  2.  4.  In  pi., 
(a)  the  croup,  and  (b)  the  throat 
rattle  preceding  death.  As  verb, 
generic  for  rapid  movement  or  noisy 
loquacity:  hence  (1)  to  talk  or  move 
quickly  or  noisily ;  (2)  to  censure, 


confuse,  or  irritate.  Whence,  as  subs., 
(1)  a  clamour  of  words  ;  (2)  a  scolding  ; 
(3)  a  lively  talker  :  also  (senses  1  and 
2)  rattling.  Derivatives  are  numerous  : 
Battle-baby,  a  chattering  child ;  rattle- 
bag  (bladder,  brain,  cap,  head,  pate, 
scull,  or  rattler),  a  flighty  blab,  a 
chatterbox  (see  Rattle  -  trap).  As 
adj.,  chattering,  whimsical,  giddy ; 
rattled,  confused,  flurried ;  with  a 
rattle,  with  a  rush  or  spurt ;  to  rattle 
up,  to  gather  noisily ;  to  rattle  down, 
to  disperse  with  a  clatter ;  rattler,  (1) 
a  rattle-bag,  supra ;  (2)  a  smart  blow 
or  sound  scolding  ;  (3)  an  out-and-out 
lie ;  (4)  a  coach,  cab,  or  train  ;  (5)  a 
rattlesnake  (Amer.) ;  (6)  in  pi.,  the 
teeth,  grinders  (q.v.);  and  (7)  any- 
thing extra  fine  in  size,  value,  etc.  ; 
rattling,  (1)  brisk;  and  (2)  lively  and 
conspicuous  in  pace,  habit,  manners, 
etc.  ;  rattling  -  cove,  a  coachman  ; 
rattling  -  mumper,  a  carriage  beggar  : 
see  Shake,  Tats. 

Rattletrap.  1.  The  mouth.  2.  A 
Chatterbox  :  see  Rattle.  3.  Anything 
old  and  tumble-down  :  spec,  a  broken- 
down  rattling  conveyance.  4.  Per- 
sonal belongings  :  in  jocular  disparage- 
ment, and  (Grose)  any  curious,  portable 
piece  of  machinery  or  philosophical 
apparatus.  As  adj.,  worn-out,  crazy 
(1830). 

Rat  -  trap.  A  bustle,  bird-cage 
(q.v.). 

Raughty.     See  Rorty. 

Rave.  A  strong  liking,  a  craze  : 
as  X  has  a  rave  on  Miss  Z. 

Ravilliac.     Any  assassin  (B.  E.). 

Raw.  1.  A  novice:  also  Johnny 
Baw.  2.  Anything  uncooked,  as 
oysters,  sugar,  etc.  (1820).  3.  A 
tender  point,  foible  :  as  to  touch  on  the 
raws,  to  irritate  by  allusion  or  joke, 
rub  up  the  wrong  way  (1837).  As  adj . , 
(1)  See  subs.  1.  2.  Undiluted,  neat 
(q.v.);  a  raw  recruit,  a  nip  of  un- 
watered  spirits. 

Raw  -  head  (or  Raw  -  flesh).  A 
spectre,  a  scare-child  (B.  E. ) :  usually 
Baw-head  and  Bloody-bones  (1550). 

Raw  -  lobster.  A  policeman  :  cf. 
Lobster,  a  soldier. 

Raw-'uns  (The).     The  naked  fists. 

Ray.     Eighteen-pence. 

Raymonder.     See  Ramrod,  2. 

Razor.  1 .  A  pun.  Sick  razor,  a  bad 
pun.  2.  In  pi.,  aerated  waters, 
sober-water  (q.v.).  Parlour  full  of 
razors  :  see  Parlour. 


369 


Razor-strop. 


Red. 


Razor-strop.     A  copy  of  a  writ. 

Razzle-dazzle.     A  frolic. 

Reacher.  1.  A  blow  delivered  at 
long  point.  2.  An  exaggeration, 
stretcher  (q.v.) :  see  Whopper. 

Reach-me-down.  In  pi.,  second- 
hand or  ready-made  clothes :  also 
Hand-me-downs :  Fr.  decrochez-moi-ra. 

Read.  To  read  between  the  line*, 
to  look  into  a  milestone,  to  quest  for 
hidden  meanings  in  plain  English. 
To  read  the  paper,  to  take  a  nap :  see 
Doss. 

Read  -  and  -  write.  Flight.  As 
verb,  to  fight. 

Reader.  1.  A  pocket-book.  2. 
A  newspaper,  letter,  etc.  To  read, 
to  steal ;  reader-hunter  (or  merchant), 
a  pickpocket,  dummy -hunter  (q.v.); 
readered,  advertised  in  the  Police 
Gazette,  wanted  (q.v.). 

Ready  (The)  (Ready  -  stuff, 
John,  gilt,  or  Ready  -  money). 

1.  Money :    spec,    money    in    hand. 
Ready   thick-' un,    a   sovereign,    20s.  : 
see   Rhino   (1618).     2.   Prepared.     A 
good  ready,  on  the  spot  (q.v.).      As 
verb,  to  pull  a  horse. 

Real.  A  superlative :  very,  quite, 
really.  Real  fine,  glad,  good,  etc.,  very 
fine,  glad,  good,  etc.,  indeed ;  real 
jam,  an  acme :  see  Jam ;  real  grit, 
sound  to  the  core :  see  Grit :  the  real 
(or  the  real  thing),  the  genuine  article. 

Ream.     See  Rum. 

Ream-penny.  Peter- pence  (that 
is  Rome  -  penny).  To  reckon  one's 
ream  pennies,  to  confess  one's  faults. 

Rear.     A  jakes  :  also  as  verb. 

Rebec  (or  Rebeck).  An  old 
woman :  in  reproach :  cf.  Ribibe  ( 1 383). 

Receiver-general.      1.  A  prostitute. 

2.  A  boxer  giving  nothing  for  what  he 
gets. 

Recker,  The  (or  Rekker). 
The  town  recreation-ground.  [Where 
the  school-sports  are  held.] 

Reckon.  To  think,  suppose, 
consider — peculiar  to  the  Middle  and 
Southern  States,  and  provincial  in 
England :  cf.  guess  and  calculate 
(1611).  To  reckon  up,  to  gauge  a 
person,  measure  (q.v.),  size  (q.v.). 
Hence,  to  slander,  back-bite.  See 
Chickens  and  Host. 

Reckoning.     See  Accounts. 

Record.  To  beat  (break,  cut, 
lower,  or  smash)  the  record,  to  surpass 
all  previous  performances,  go  one 
better  (q.v.). 


Recordite.  One  of  the  Low 
Church  Party  of  the  Established 
Church.  [Their  organ  was  The 
Record.} 

Recreant  '  A  Poltron,  or  Coward, 
one  that  eats  his  Words,  or  unsaiee 
what  he  said'  (B.  E.). 

Recruit.  In  pi.,  money  in  pro- 
spect :  e.g.  Have  you  raised  the  re- 
cruits T  Has  the  money  come  in  ? 
(B.  E.)  Recruiting  service,  robbing  on 
the  highway. 

Rector.  1.  A  poker  kept  for 
show,  curate  (q.v.),  the  work-a-day 
iron.  2.  The  bottom  half  of  a  tea- 
cake  or  muffin  (as  getting  more 
butter),  the  top  half  being  the  curate, 
and  so  forth. 

Red.  1.  Gold  :  also  red-'un  :  Fr., 
jaune  (yellow) ;  Ital.,  rossume  (red- 
ness). Red-rogue,  a  gold  piece ;  red* 
toy  (or  kettle),  a  gold  watch ;  red- 
tackle,  a  gold  chain :  cf.  Ruddork : 
red-'un  also,  a  sovereign.  2.  Variously 
applied  to  objects  red  in  colour :  as 
(1)  a  red  herring  (q.v.) ;  (2)  in  pi.,  the 
menses  ;  (3)  in  pi.,  blushes :  also  red- 
rag,  whence  to  mount  the  red-rag  (or 
flag),  to  blush  ;  (4)  a  Red  Republican  : 
spec.  (France  '93)  a  violent  revolu- 
tionary of  the  established  order  :  see 
also  Admiral,  Red-cent,  and  Red- 
coat. Combinations  are  numerous — 
Red-book,  a  book  of  the  officers  of 
state  or  the  Peerage  :  cf.  Blue-book  ; 
red-beast,  a  Bow  St.  runner  (they 
wore  red  waistcoats) ;  also  see  infra ; 
red-cent,  originally  a  copper  cent,  now 
in  phrase,  not  worth  a  red  cent ;  red- 
coat, a  soldier :  also  the  reds ;  red- 
cock,  an  incendiary  fire  ;  red-cross,  an 
English  ship  :  as  bearing  the  red  cross 
of  St.  George  (1626);  red-dog  (see 
Shinplaster) ;  red-eel,  a  term  of  con- 
tempt; red-eye  (or  red-head),  fiery 
whisky ;  red-eye  sour,  whisky  and 
lemon ;  red-flannel,  the  tongue :  see 
Rag,  2;  red- fustian,  (1)  port,  (2) 
claret,  and  (3)  porter ;  also  red-tape ; 
red-grate  (see  Red-lattice) ;  red-head, 
a  red-haired  person,  carrots  (q.v.) ; 
red-herring,  a  soldier :  cf.  Soldier,  a 
red-herring ;  red-horse,  a  native  of 
Kentucky  ;  red-hot,  violent,  extreme  ; 
red-letter  day,  (1)  a  Church  festival 
(printed  in  red  characters  in  the 
Calendar) :  hence  (2)  a  happy  day  or 
lucky  occasion  :  whence  red-letter  man, 
a  Roman  Catholic ;  red  -  liner,  a 
mendicity  society  officer ;  red-petti- 


370 


Redbreasts. 


Regulator. 


coat,  a  symbol  of  means  :  e.g.  a  lass 
in  a  red  petticoat,  a  wife  with  a  por- 
tion ;  red-rag  (see  Rag  and  Red),  and 
(2),  a  source  of  annoyance  or  disgust : 
usually  a  red  -  rag  to  a  mad  bull ; 
red-ribbon,  brandy  :  cf.  White-satin  ; 
red-sail  docker,  a  buyer  of  stores 
stolen  out  of  the  royal  yards  and 
docks ;  red-skin,  a  North  American 
Indian.  Neither  fish,  flesh,  fowl,  nor 
good  red-herring,  nondescript,  neither 
one  thing  nor  another,  neither  hay 
nor  grass  ( 1528).  To  paint  (or  varnish) 
the  town  red  (or  crimson),  to  indulge  in 
a  drunken  spree. 

Redbreasts  (The).  1.  The  5th 
(Royal  Irish)  Lancers.  2.  See  Red. 

Red  Feathers  (The).  The 
late  46th  Foot,  now  the  2nd  batt. 
Duke  of  Cornwall's  Light  Infantry. 
[A  light  company  were  brigaded  with 
others  in  1777  as  The  Light  Battalion. 
The  Americans,  harassed  by  the 
Brigade,  vowed  no  quarter.  In 
derision,  to  prevent  mistakes,  the 
Light  Battalion  dyed  their  feathers 
red.]  Also  Murray's  Bucks ;  The 
Surprisers  ;  The  Lacedemonians  ;  and 
The  Docs. 

Redge  (or  Ridge).  Gold:  see 
Red,  subs.  1.  Hence  redge  -  cully,  a 
goldsmith. 

Red-knights.  The  Cheshire  Regi- 
ment (formerly  the  Twenty-second 
Regiment  of  Foot).  [In  1795  it  was 
served  with  red  jackets,  waistcoats, 
and  breeches  in  lieu  of  the  proper  uni- 
form.] Also  The  Two  Two's. 

Red  (or  Scarlet)  Lancers  (The). 
The  16th  (The  Queen's)  Lancers. 
[The  only  Lancer  regiment  with  a 
scarlet  tunic.] 

Red  -  lane  (close,  or  sea).  The 
throat,  gutter-alley  (q.v.)  (1566). 

Red  -  lattice  (or  Lettice).  An 
ale  -  house  sign.  Hence  red  -  lattice 
phrases,  pothouse  talk ;  also  green 
lattice  ;  red-grate,  tavern  or  brothel,  or 
both  combined  (1596). 

Redraw.  A  warder,  jigger  - 
dubber  (q.v.). 

Redshanks.  1.  Applied  alike  to 
Highlanders  and  Irish :  Scott  says, 
The  ancient  buskin  was  made  of  the 
undressed  deer  hide  .  .  .  which  pro- 
cured the  well-known  epithet  of  red- 
shanks. 2.  A  turkey.  [Properly  the 
pool-snipe.]  3.  A  duck  or  drake 
(1567). 

Red  -  tape.       1.    Official    routine, 


formality.  As  adj.,  formal :  also 
red  -  tapery  or  red  -  tapeiam,  official 
routine ;  red-tapist,  (a)  a  government 
clerk ;  (b)  a  precisian  :  cf.  Blue-tape 
(1775).  2.  See  Red. 

Reeb.  Beer  :  top  of  reeb,  a  pot  of 
beer. 

Reef.  1 .  To  draw  up  a  dress  pocket 
until  the  purse  is  within  reach  of  the 
fingers.  2.  (American).  To  saw  a 
horse's  mouth  (Century).  To  let  out 
a  reef,  to  unfasten  a  button  after  a 
meal.  To  need  a  reef  taken  in,  to  be 
drunk :  see  Screwed. 

Reefer.  1.  A  midshipman.  2.  A 
short  all-round  jacket. 

Reek.     Money  :    see  Rhino. 

Reekie.     See  Auld  Reekie. 

Reel.  To  red  off  (or  out),  to 
speak  or  produce  easily.  Off  the  reel, 
in  succession,  right  off. 

Reeler.  A  policeman,  peeler 
(q.v.). 

Reel-pot.  A  drunkard :  see 
Lushington.  Heeling,  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Reformado.  A  disbanded  soldier, 
a  degraded  officer.  [In  Sp.,  an 
officer  deprived  of  his  command  but 
retaining  rank  and  pay :  Fr.,  reformed] 
As  adj.,  degraded  (1598). 

Reener  (tramps').     Any  small  coin. 

Reesbin.  A  prison,  stir  (q.v.): 
see  Cage. 

Reflector.  A  prepared  card  :  the 
pattern  on  the  back  is  so  grouped  as 
to  signalise  its  face  value. 

Refresher.  1.  A  daily  fee  given  to 
a  barrister  after  the  retainer :  spec, 
when  a  case  is  adjourned  (1616).  2. 
A  drink,  go  (q.v.). 

Regardless.     See  Get-up. 

Regular.  In  pi.,  shares  of  a  booty  : 
see  Nab.  English  synonyms:  to 
come  (or  stand  in),  go  rags,  whack,  go 
whacks,  whack  up,  go  snacks.  2. 
(colloquial),  (a)  A  person  keeping 
stated  times  or  doing  regular  duty ; 
(b)  anything  recurring  periodically : 
as  a  daily  passenger,  a  drink  taken 
at  fixed  hours,  etc.  (1397).  As  adj., 
thorough,  out-and-out :  as  a  regular 
tartar,  a  shrew  (male  or  female) ;  a 
regul-ar  sell,  a  consummate  swindle ; 
a  regular  corpser,  a  knock-out  blow  ;  a 
regular  pelter,  &  cat-and-dog  rain ;  a 
regular  crow,  a  person  dismally  garbed. 

Regulator.  In  pi.,  a  band  of 
lynchers,  a  vigilance  committee  (q.v.) : 
see  Rustler. 


371 


RekoJ>oam. 


Rehoboam.  1.  A  shovel  -  hat 
(1841).  2.  A  quadruple  Magnum 
(q.v.),  a  double  Jeroboam  (q.v.) : 
usually  of  champagne. 

Reign.     To  be  at  liberty. 

Relation.     See  Avuncular  Relation. 

Relieve.     To  ease  oneself. 

Reliever.  Among  tailors  an  old 
coat  kept,  and  borrowed  by  such  men 
as  have  none  of  their  own  to  go  out 
in. 

Relieving  -  officer.  A  father ;  the 
governor  (q.v.). 

Religion.  To  get  religion,  to  be 
converted. 

Religious.  1.  Free  from  vice : 
specifically  of  horses.  2.  Of  a  horse 
given  to  going  on  his  knees:  see 
Devotional  habits. 

Remainder.  1.  The  unsold  part 
of  an  edition  bought  to  be  re-sold  at  a 
reduced  price.  2.  The  drainings  of 
pots  and  glasses  :  see  All  nations. 

Remedy  (Winchester).  1.  A 
holiday :  cf.  Work  (pain)  and  Re  mi. 
(1519).  2.  A  sovereign,  20s.:  see 
Rhino. 

Remedy-critch.     A  chamber-pot. 

Remember.     See  Parson  Meldrum. 

Re  mi  (Westminster  School).  A 
holiday :  cf.  Remedy. 

Renovator.  A  repairing  tailor : 
translator. 

Rent  Plunder,  booty.  To 
collect  rent,  to  rob  travellers  on  the 
highway.  Rent-collector,  a  highway- 
man :  specifically  one  whose  fancy 
was  for  money  only.  Rente  coining  in, 
dilapidated,  ragged.  To  pay  one's 
rent,  to  punish  (q.v.),  to  pay  out  (q.v.) 

Rep.  1.  A  woman  of  reputation 
(Orose).  2.  A  woman  of  a  certain 
reputation :  also  demi-rep :  cf.  Rip. 
Also  short  for  repute.  Pon  (or  on) 
rep,  Upon  my  reputation.  3.  A 
repetition. 

Repairs.  No  repairs,  said  of  a 
reckless  contest,  neck  or  nought. 

Repartee.  A  sudden  smart 
reply  (B.E.). 

Repeater.  An  elector  voting 
twice  on  the  same  qualification. 

Reporter.  A  duelling  pistol :  see 
Meat-in-the-Pot  (1827). 

Repose r.  A  final  drink,  night- 
cap (q.v.). 

Reptile.  1.  A  new  cadet:  cf. 
rabid  -  beast.  2.  A  degraded  wretch, 
baseling.  Reptile  press,  the  hireling 
press. 


Republican.  A  Commonwealths- 
man  IB.  E.). 

Republic  of  letters.  The 
post-office. 

Requisition.  To  take  by  force: 
now  recognised. 

Re  -  raw.  A  drinking  bout  As 
adj.,  drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Reservoir.  Au  reservoir,  Au 
revoir. 

Residential  -  club.  An  habitual 
assemblage  of  loafers :  spec,  a  crew 
of  idlers,  male  and  female,  frequenting 
the  reading  -  room  of  the  British 
Museum  for  the  sake  of  shelter  and 
warmth. 

Respectable.     Chaste,  decent 

Responsions  (Oxford).  The  first 
examination  for  candidates  for  the 
B.A.  degree. 

Respun.     To  steal :  see  Prig. 

Rest.  And  the  rest  f  A  retort  to 
anything  incomplete,  or  in  which 
something  is  being  kept  back. 

R  e  s  t  y.  Headstrong,  wayward, 
unruly,  masterless  (B.  E  ). 

Resurrection.  A  dish  made  of 
remains :  also  resurrection-pie. 

Resurrectionist  (or  Resurrec- 
tion -  man,  cove,  woman).  A  body 
anatcher.  Resurrection  -  rig,  body- 
snatching. 

Resurrectionists  (The).  The 
Buffs  (East  Kent  Regiment).  [From 
a  rally  at  Albuera  after  dispersal  at 
the  hands  of  the  Polish  Lancers.] 
Also  The  Buff  Howards;  The  Nut- 
crackers ;  and  The  Old  Buffs. 

Res-wort     Trousers  :  see  Kicks. 

Retoure.     See  Toure. 

Returned  -  empty.  A  colonial 
missionary  preferred  to  a  place  at 
home. 

R  e  t  -  s  i  o.  An  oyster :  ret-sios, 
oysters. 

Revelation.     A  drink,  go  (q.  v. ). 

Revel-dash  (or  rout).  A 
rough,  noisy,  and  indecent  gathering 
or  carouse.  Revel-rout,  a  company  of 
spreesters  (q.v.). 

Revenge.  An  opportunity  for  re- 
couping or  retaliation.  Revenge  in 
lavender,  a  vengeance  in  store,  a  rod 
in  pickle  (q.v.). 

Reverence.     See  Sir  Reverence. 

Reverent  Said  of  a  superior 
brand  of  whisky  or  brandy. 

Reversed.  A  man  set  (by  bullies) 
on  his  head,  and  his  money  turned  out 
of  his  breeches  (B.  E.). 


372 


Review. 


Rhino. 


Review.  Review  of  the  Black 
Cuirassiers,  a  visitation  of  the  clergy. 

Reviver.  1.  A  drink,  pick-me-up 
(q.v.),  go  (q.v.).  2.  A  mending 
tailor :  cf.  Translator.  As  verb,  to 
mend,  patch. 

Rev-lis.     Silver. 

Reward.  Supper :  specifically 
the  blood  and  entrails  of  the  quarry 
(B.  E.). 

Rex.  To  play  rex,  to  handle 
roughly  and  terribly,  play  hell  with 
(q.v.). 

Rheumatism  in  the  Shoulder. 
Arrest. 

Rhino.  Money:  Generic;  speci- 
fically ready  money.  Rhino-fat  (or 
rhinoccral),  rich  (1670).  Synonyms, 
generic.  Actual,  ballast,  beans,  bit 
(bite  or  byte),  blunt,  brads,  brass, 
bustle,  Calif  ornians,  captain  (the), 
caravan,  change,  charms,  checks, 
chink,  chinkers,  chips,  clink,  coal  (or 
cole),  cod  (q.v.),  coin,  coliander-seeds, 
coppers,  cork,  corn  in  Egypt,  crap  (or 
crop),  crisp,  cuckoos,  darby,  delog 
(back  slang),  dibs,  dimmock,  dinarly 
(or  dinarlies),  dingbat,  dirt,  dollars, 
dooteroomus  (or  doot),  dots,  ducats, 
dues,  dumps,  dust,  dye-stuffs,  evil, 
(the),  family- plate,  fat,  feathers,  flimsy 
(or  flim),  flour,  gent,  gilt  (gelt,  gelter, 
or  gil  -  tick),  gingerbread,  gingleboys, 
ginglers,  glanthorne,  goree,  greed, 
grocery,  haddock  (q.v.),  hard,  hard- 
stuff,  hen,  honey,  horsenails,  hoxters 
(or  huxters),  iron,  jink,  John  (John 
Davis  or  ready  -  John),  kelter  (or 
kilter),  King's  (or  Queen's)  pictures, 
lawful  pictures,  legem  pone,  leaver, 
lour  (or  loure),  £  s.  d.,  lurries,  mam- 
mon, metal,  mopusses,  mouldy-' uns, 
moss,  muck,  needful,  nobbings,  non- 
sense, nuggets,  ochre,  oil  of  angels, 
oil  of  palms,  ointment,  old,  oof  (or 
ooftish :  Yiddish),  paint,  palm-oil, 
pan,  pap  (cf.  soft),  paper,  pee,  penny, 
pewter,  pieces,  pile,  plate,  plums, 
pocket,  pony,  portcullis,  posh,  pot, 
powder,  prey,  punchable  (q.v.),  purse, 
queer,  quids,  rags,  ready  (ready-gilt 
or  ready-John),  redge  (or  ridge),  reek, 
regulars,  ribbon,  ring,  rivets,  root  of 
all  evil,  rowdy,  salt,  sawdust,  scads, 
screens,  screeves,  scuds,  shadscales  (or 
scales),  shan,  shekels,  shells,  shigs, 
shiners,  shot,  shin- plasters  (or  plasters), 
sinews  of  war,  skin,  soap,  soft,  soft 
flimsy  (base),  Spanish,  spanks,  span- 
kers, spondulicks,  spoon,  stamps, 


steven,  stevers,  stiff,  stuff,  stumpy, 
sugar,  tin,  tea  -  spoons,  tow,  wad, 
wedge,  wherewith  (or  wherewithal), 
yellowboys,  yennoms  (back  slang). 
£1,000,000,  marigold.  £100,000, 
plum.  £1,000,  cow.  £500,  monkey. 
£100,  century.  £25,  pony.  £10, 
double-finnup,  long-tailed  finnup  (also 
of  notes  of  higher  values),  tenner.  £5, 
Abraham  Newland  (q.v.),  finnup, 
fiver,  flimsy,  lil  (or  lill),  Marshall, 
pinnif.  £i  (and  in  many  cases  for- 
merly, £1  :  is.),  bean  (or  bien),  bleeder, 
canary,  chip,  couter  (or  cooter), 
dragon,  dunop,  foont,  George  (or 
yellow-George),  gingleboy,  ghstener, 
goblin,  goldfinch,  harlequin,  horse- 
sovereign,  illegitimate,  Jack,  James, 
Jane,  Jemmy-o' -Goblin  (rhyming), 
job  (or  jobe),  meg  (cf.  mag,  £d.), 
monarch,  mousetrap,  ned  (or  neddy), 
new-hat,  nob,  old  Mr.  Gory,  ponte, 
poona,  quid,  red-'un,  remedy,  ridge, 
(or  redge),  shiner,  skin,  skiv,  stranger, 
strike,  thick-'un  (also  of  5s.),  yellow- 
boy,  yellow-hammer,  i  os.,  half -bean, 
half  -  couter,  half  -  Jack,  half  -  James, 
half -Jane,  half -ned  (or  neddy),  net- 
gen,  smelt,  young  illegitimate.  75., 
spangle.  6s.  6d.,  George.  55.  3d. 
whore's  curse.  53.,  bull  (or  bull's- 
eye),  caroon,  cart-wheel,  coach-wheel, 
case,  caser,  decus,  dollar,  hind  coach 
(or  cart)  wheel,  Oxford,  thick-'un, 
tusheroon,  wheel.  2s.  6d.,  coach- 
wheel,  five-pot  piece,  flatch,  fore- 
coach-wheel,  George,  half-case,  half 
dollar,  half  -  Oxford,  half  -  yenork, 
madza-caroon,  slat.  2S.  half-dollar, 
is.  6d.,  hog  and  a  kye.  is.  i£d., 
loonslate  (or  loonslatt),  hangman's 
wages,  is.,  Abraham's  willing  (rhym- 
ing), blow,  bob,  bobstick,  borde, 
breaky-leg,  button,  deaner,  (or  deener), 
gen,  generalise,  grunter,  hog,  jogue 
levy,  lilywhite  -  groat,  Manchester, 
sovereign,  mejoge,  north-easter,  oner, 
peg,  teviss,  thirteener,  touch  -  me, 
twelver.  iod.,  dacha-saltee,  jumper. 
9d.,  ill  -  fortune,  picture  of  ill  -  luck. 
6d.,  bandy,  bender,  cripple,  croaker, 
crook,  crook-back,  deaner,  downer, 
fiddle,  fiddler,  fyebuck,  goddess  Diana, 
griff-metol,  grunter,  half-borde,  half- 
hog,  hog,  kick,  kye,  lord-of-the- 
manor,  northeaster,  pig,  pot,  sice, 
simon,  snide,  sow's-baby,  sprat,  sye- 
buck,  tanner,  tester,  tilbury,  tizzy. 
5d. ,  cinqua  soldi,  Md's-eye.  4d. ,  castle 
rag,  flag,  groat,  joe  (or  joey).  3d. 


373 


currants-and- plums,  threpa,  thrce- 
bwins,  thrums.  2d.,  dace,  deuce, 
duce.  id.,  D,  dibblish,  George, 
harper,  pollard,  saltee,  win,  yennep. 
^d.,  flatch,  madza-saltee,  Maggie  Rab 
(or  Robb),  magpie,  make  (magg  or 
mec),  post,  rap,  scurrick,  tonic.  4d., 
Covent -garden,  fadge,  farden,  fiddler, 
gennitraf,  grig,  Harrington,  jig  (or 
gigg)»  quartereen,  scrope.  Bate  coin 
or  trick  pieces,  cap,  cover  -  down, 
dandy,  double-header,  flats,  fleet-note, 
fletch  (or  flatch),  gaffing-coin,  galley- 
halfpenny,  gammy  lour,  gray,  hard, 
hardware,  kone,  mopus,  pony,  queer, 
soft-flimsy,  snide,  stumer. 

Rhody  (Little).  The  State  of 
Rhode  Island :  the  smallest  in  the 
Union. 

Rhyme-slinger.     A  poet. 

Rhyming  slang.  A  method  of 
indicating  words  by  a  rhyming  or 
quasi  -  rhyming  substitute ;  e.g. 
Abraham's  witting,  shilling  ;  stand-and- 
shiver,  river  ;  elephant's  trunk,  drunk  ; 
penny -come-quick,  trick  ;  and  so  forth. 
First  in  vogue  during  the  late  Fifties, 
but  artistically  developed  of  late  years 
by  The  Sporting  Times  or  Pink  'Un. 
With  use  the  rhyme  has  been  sup- 
pressed by  experts  :  e.g.  Fm-so-frisky, 
whisky  becomes  Fm-so,  while  floun- 
der-and-dab,  cab,  is  merely  flounder. 

Rib.  1.  A  wife :  crooked  rib,  a 
cross-grained  wife:  see  Dutch  (1609). 
2.  In  pi.,  a  stout  person.  See  Devil's 
Bones. 

Ribald  (Ribold,  or  Ribaud).  A 
profligate,  male  or  female.  Ribaldry 
(ribaudry,  or  ribble  -  rabble),  ( 1 )  in- 
decency, profligate  talk  ;  (2)  the  mob, 
the  scum  of  society ;  ribble-row,  (1)  a 
list  of  the  rabble,  (3)  an  inventory 
(1360). 

Ribbin    (Ribbon,   or  Ribband). 

1.  Money :  generic  ;  The  ribbin  runs 
thick  (or  thin),  the  breeches  are  well- 
lined  (or   there's   little   cash   about). 

2.  In  pi.,  reins :  to  handle  (or  flutter) 
the     ribbons,    to    drive.       See    Blue 
Ribbon. 

Rib-roast  (baste,  or  tickle). 
To  thrash,  punish  (q.v.).  Rib-roast- 
ing (etc.  :  also  rib-bending  or  ribbing), 
a  pummelling ;  rib-roaster  (etc.  :  also 
rib-bender,  ribber,  or  a  rib  of  roast),  a 
blow  on  the  body,  or  in  the  ribs, 
which  brings  down  an  opponent's 
guard  and  opens  up  the  head 
(1576). 


Ribstone.     See  Pippin. 

Rib-tickler.  1.  Thick  soup,  glue 
(q.v.).  2.  See  Rib-roast. 

Rice-bags.  1.  Trousers:  see  Kicks. 
2.  In  sing.,  a  rice  planter. 

Rich.  (1)  Outrageous;  (2)  ridicul- 
ous ;  and  (3)  spicy  (q.v.).  (1350). 

Rich-face.     A  red  face  (B.  E.). 

Richard.  A  dictionery ;  also 
Richard  Snary  and  Richardanary. 
Fr.,  musicien.  (Qrose). 

Rick  -  ma  -  tick.  1.  A  concern, 
business,  thing:  as  The  whole 
blessed  rick-ma-tick  went  to  smash. 
2.  Arithmetic. 

Ricochet.    Gay,  splendid. 

Rid.     To  rid  the  stomach,  to  vomit. 

Riddlemeree.  Rigmarole,  non- 
sense, piffle  (q.v.). 

Ride.  To  rob  on  the  highway. 
Phrases :  To  ride  and  tie,  two  set  out 
together,  one  on  horseback,  the  other 
on  foot :  when  one  arrives  at  the 
distance  agreed  on  ...  he  dismounts, 
ties  his  horse  to  some  gate,  tree,  post 
.  .  .  and  then  proceeds  on  foot ;  when 
the  other  comes  up  to  the  horse,  he 
unties  him,  mounts,  and  gallops  on ;  till 
having  passed  by  his  fellow  traveller 
he  likewise  arrives  at  the  place  of 
tying.  To  ride  the  fringes,  to  beat 
the  bounds ;  to  ride  as  if  fetching  the 
midwife,  to  go  post-haste ;  to  ride  out, 
to  adopt  the  profession  of  arms.  See 
Back,  Black  donkey,  Bodkin,  Brose, 
Cowlstaff,  Grub,  Holborn  Hill,  High- 
horse,  Hobby  -  horse,  Marleybone 
Stage,  Romford,  Roughshod,  Spanish 
Mare,  Stang,  Wild-mare. 

Rider.  LA  question  or  clause 
added  to  a  geometrical  problem,  an 
Act  of  Parliament,  an  examination 
paper,  etc.  2.  A  Dutch  coin  with  a 
man  on  horseback,  worth  about 
twenty -seven  shillings:  also  a  Scots 
gold  piece  issued  by  James  VI.  3.  A 
commercial  traveller ;  a  bagman 
(q.v.). 

Ridge  (or  Redge).  Gold :  manu- 
factured or  specie :  in  latter  case 
specifically,  a  guinea.  Whence,  ridge- 
montra,  a  gold  watch ;  cly  full  of 
ridge,  a  pocket  full  of  money ;  ridge- 
cully,  a  goldsmith. 

Ridiculous.  Indecent,  improper : 
any  violent  attack  upon  a  woman's 
chastity  is  called  very  ridiculous 
behaviour  :  a  very  disorderly,  and  ill- 
conducted  house  is  also  called  a 
ridiculous  one. 


374 


Riding-hag. 


Ring. 


Riding-hag.  The  nightmare : 
also  the  riding  of  the  witch. 

Riff-raff  (raff  or  raffle).  1. 
Refuse,  lumber.  2.  The  mob  :  spec. 
(Oxford  Univ.)  town  (q.v.)  as  op- 
posed to  gown  (q.v.),  or  vice  versa. 
3.  Booty.  As  adj.,  worthless.  Raff- 
merchant,  a  marine  -  store  dealer ; 
Raffish,  disreputable ;  raffishness, 
scampishness.  As  verb,  raff  (or 
raffle),  to  live  filthily,  to  pig  it  (q.v.). 
Baffle-coffin,  a  ruffian,  ribald  fellow 
(B.  E.). 

Rig.  1.  Generic  for  wantonness. 
As  subs.,  (a)  a  wanton  (also  rig-mutton 
and  rigsby) ;  (b)  a  drinking  bout ;  (c) 
anything  dubious,  as  a  knock-out,  a 
cross  -  fight,  a  cheat ;  (d)  an  un- 
scrupulous person  ;  and  (e)  a  half  OF 
whole  gelding.  As  verb,  (a)  to  play 
the  wanton;  (b)  to  spree  (q.v.);  (c) 
to  trick,  to  steal ;  and  (d)  to  ride 
pick-a-back.  Riggish,  wanton  ;  rigol- 
age,  wantonness ;  to  run  (play,  or 
carry)  a  rig,  to  play  fast-and-loose  ;  to 
rig  the  market,  to  raise  or  depress 
prices  for  one's  private  advantage : 
hence  to  swindle ;  up  to  the  rigs,  ex- 

rrt,  wide-awake,   fly  (q.v.)  (1320). 
Dress,  style,  a  turn  -  out,  outfit : 
also  rig-out  and  rigging.     As  verb,  to 
equip  ;   rigged,   dressed  ;  rum-rigging, 
fine  clothes  (1594). 

Riggen.     To  ride  the  riggen,  to  be 
very  intimate. 

Rigger.     A  racing  boat. 

Right.  Very,  just,  quite.  Col- 
loquialisms are  numerous  :  Right  as 
rain  (as  ninepence,  my  leg,  anything, 
a  fiddle,  trivet,  etc.),  absolutely  de- 
pendable ;  to  rights,  completely  to 
one's  satisfaction  ;  right  there,  on  the 
spot ;  right  great,  very  much ;  right 
now,  instanter ;  right  so,  just  so  ;  to 
do  one  right  (or  reason),  (1)  to  do 
justice,  and  (2)  to  pledge  in  drinking  ; 
right  out,  to  a  finish ;  right  down, 
downright ;  right  smart,  extremely 
clever ;  right  away  (out,  or  straight), 
right  off  (here,  or  out),  immediately ; 
to  turn  (or  send)  to  the  right-about,  to 
dismiss ;  right  you  are,  a  complete 
acquiescence:  all  right,  certainly, 
O.K.  ;  a  bit  of  all  right,  extremely 
good  ;  right  along,  at  these  presents  ; 
right  up  to  the  handle,  excellent ;  to 
do  (or  have)  one  to  rights,  to  serve  one 
out ;  to  set  to  rights,  to  put  in  order  ; 
right  on,  entirely,  straightforward ; 
right  forth,  straight ;  by  good  rights,  it 


should  be  so  ;  right  royal,  drunk.     See 

Leg- 
Right-abouts    (The).      The 
Gloucestershire        Regiment.        Also 
The  Old  Braggs  ;  The  Slashers ;  and 
The  Whitewashers. 

Right-eye  (or  hand).  My  right- 
eye  itches,  the  jesting  dovetail  is :  I'm 
going  to  cry  (or  receive  money). 

Right  -  hander.  A  hit  with  the 
right-hand. 

Right  -  side.  To  rise  on  the  right 
side,  a  happy  augury :  cf.  Wrong  side 
(q.v.)  of  the  bed  (1607). 

Right-sort.  GUI  :  see  White 
Satin  (1820). 

Righteous.  An  inverted  ap- 
preciation :  e.g.  a  righteous  (i.e.  fine) 
as  distinguished  from  a  wicked  (q.v.) 
day,  etc.  :  cf.  Religious.  More  holy 
than  righteous,  applied  to  a  tattered 
garment  or  person. 

Rigmarole.  A  tedious  story, 
twaddle,  rambling  statement :  also 
ragman  roll,  rig-my-rott,  and  rig- 
marole. As  adj.,  roundabout,  non- 
sensical. [A  corruption  of  Ragman 
roll — i.e.  the  Devil's  Roll :  cf.  Rage- 
man  —  applied  apparently  to  any 
document  containing  many  details  ; 
also  to  an  old  game  in  which  a  parch- 
ment roll  played  a  part.]  (1529). 
Rigol  (or  Rigil).  See  Rig. 
Rile  (Roil,  or  Royle).  To  vex, 
irritate,  disturb.  Rily,  cross-grained  ; 
rilement,  ill -temper.  [Originally,  to 
make  turbid.]  Fr.,  cavaler  (or  courir) 
sur  le  haricot  (1656). 

Rimble  -  Ramble.     Nonsense.     As 
adj.,  nonsensical  (1600). 
Rinder.     An  outsider. 
R  i  n  e  r.      To  shed  riners  with  a 
whaver,  to  cap,  surpass. 

Ring,  subs,  (colloquial).  1.  A 
place  set  apart  for,  or  a  concourse  en- 
gaged in,  some  specific  object :  as  (a) 
an  enclosure  used  for  betting,  and  (6) 
the  bookmakers  therein  ;  (c)  the  circle, 
square,  or  parallelogram  within  which 
a  fight  takes  place :  hence  The  prize 
ring,  the  world  of  pugilists ;  (d)  the 
space  within  which  horses  are  ex- 
hibited at  fair,  market,  or  auction  ; 
(e)  a  combination  for  controlling  a 
market  or  political  measure ;  in 
America  a  trust :  hence  ringman,  a 
bookmaker  (q.v.)  (1705).  2.  Money 
extorted  by  rogues  on  the  highway, 
or  by  gentlemen  beggars  (B.  E.).  As 
verb,  (1)  to  manipulate;  spec,  to 


375 


Ring-dropper. 


change :  e.g.  to  ring  cottars,  to  ex- 
change hate ;  to  ring  the  change*,  (a) 
to  substitute  bad  money  for  good ; 
and  (6)  so  to  bustle  that  change  is 
given  wrong  (1678);  (2)  when  house- 
breakers are  disturbed  and  have  to 
abandon  their  plunder  they  say  that 
they  have  rung  themselves ;  (3)  to 
patrol  cattle  by  riding  round  and 
round  them  :  also  to  ring  up ;  (4)  to 
create  a  disturbance,  racket  (q.v.) ; 
(5)  to  talk  :  spec,  to  scold  :  of  women. 
Phrases :  To  ring  the  horseshoes,  to 
welcome  a  man  returning  from  a 
drinking-bout ;  to  go  through  the  ring, 
to  go  bankrupt,  to  be  whitewashed 
(q.v.);  to  ring  in,  (1)  to  quote;  to 
implicate,  (2)  to  get  the  better  of,  (3) 
in  gaming,  to  add  to  (or  substitute) 
cards  in  a  pack  surreptitiously : 
whence,  to  ring  in  a  cold  deck,  to  sub- 
stitute a  prepared  pack  of  cards ; 
cracked  in  the  ring,  flawed  ;  to  come  on 
the  ring,  to  take  one's  turn ;  to  take 
the  mantle  and  ring,  to  vow  perpetual 
widowhood. 

Ring  -  dropper  (or  faller).  A 
sharper  who,  pretending  to  have  found 
a  ring,  induces  a  gull  to  part  for  a 
snide  or  stumer  article.  King-drop- 
ping :  see  Fawney-dropper. 

Ringer.  A  bell,  tinkler :  Fr., 
battante,  brandittante, 

Ring-man.  1.  The  middle  or  ring 
finger  :  cf.  Dark  mans,  Ruff -mans,  etc. 
(1544).  2.  See  Ring. 

Ring- tail.    A  recruit,  snooker  ( q.  v. ). 

Ring -tailed  roarer.  The  non- 
sense-name of  some  imaginary  beast. 

Rink.  To  get  out  of  one'*  rink,  to 
sow  wild  oats.  [Rink,  a  course,  a 
race,  ring,  or  circle.] 

Rinse.  Any  sort  of  potable,  lap 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  to  drink,  lush  (q.v.). 

Riot  Act  To  read  the  riot  act,  to 
administer  a  jobation,  reprove. 

Riotous  -  living.  Luxuries.  [Cf. 
Luke  zv.  13.] 

Rip.  A  reprobate,  rake  (q.v.). 
Hence  anything  censurable :  as  a 
screw  (q.v.)  of  a  horse  (Grose),  a 
shabby  mean  fellow :  sometimes  in 
jest.  As  verb,  (1)  to  take  one's  own 
course,  go  as  one  will,  tear  along,  drive 
furiously  :  usually  in  phrase,  let  her 
rip :  also  to  rip  and  stave :  whence 
ripper,  a  tearer  ;  to  rip  and  tear,  to  be 
furious  ;  to  rip  out,  to  explode  ;  also 
as  an  oath,  rip  me  f  (1600);  (2)  to 
•earoh,  rummage  :  espec.  with  a  view 


to  plunder ;   (3)   to  steal ;  ripper,  a 
robber  (1388). 

Ripe.  1.  Drunk.  2.  Ready 
(1609). 

Ripon  (or  Rippon).  1.  A  spur. 
2.  A  sword.  [The  Yorkshire  City  waa 
formerly  famous  for  its  fine  steel.] 
(1625). 

Ripper.  Anything  especial :  a 
good  ball  (cricket),  a  knock-down 
blow  (pugilistic),  a  fine  woman,  an 
outrageous  lie,  etc.  Hence  ripping, 
great,  excellent,  stunning  (q.v.). 

Ripping  (Eton  College).  A  cere- 
mony incidental  to  the  departure  of 
a  Senior  Colleger  for  King  s  College, 
Cambridge :  when  he  has  '  got  King's* 
his  gown  is  stitched  up  that  it  may  be 
ripped  afterwards.  See  Ripper. 

Rise.  An  advance :  in  salary, 
price,  betting,  status,  rank,  etc. : 
see  Raise.  As  verb,  (1)  to  play  into 
one's  hands,  listen  credulously ;  (2) 
See  Raise.  To  get  (have  or  take)  a 
rise  out  of  one,  to  mortify,  make 
ridiculous,  outwit  (1600).  To  rise  a 
barney,  to  collect  a  crowd. 

Rising.  (1)  Upwards  of;  (2)  ap- 
proaching to. 

Rispin.     See  Respin. 

River  Lea.       The  sea. 

River  -  rat.  A  riverside  thief  : 
specifically  one  who  robs  the  corpses 
of  men  drowned. 

River  Tick.      See  Tick. 

Rivet.  In  pi.,  money  :  see  Rhino. 
As  verb,  to  marry,  hitch  (q.v.), 
splice  (q.v.)  (1700). 

Riz.     See  Raise. 

Rizzle.     To  rest  after  a  meal. 

R.  M.  D.  Ready  Money  down, 
immediate  payment. 

Roach.     See  Sound. 

Road.  To  take  to  the  road,  to  turn 
highwayman  (the  road  also,  highway 
robbery),  footpad,  beggar,  tramp,  or 
commercial.  Whence  road  -  agent, 
gentleman  (or  knight)  of  the  road,  (1)  a 
highwayman,  and  (2)  a  commercial 
traveller  (1704). 

R  o  a  f.  Four.  Hence  roaf-yan- 
ne.pt,  fourpence  ;  roaf  -  gen,  four 
shillings. 

Roach  -  and  -  dace.  The  face : 
see  Dial. 

Roadster.  A  person  who  prefers 
the  road  to  cross-country  riding. 

Roarer.  Anything  especially  loud : 
e.g.  (1),  a  broken-winded  horse  (Orose) ; 
(2)  a  pushing  newsvendor ;  (3)  a 


376 


Roaratorio. 


Rocketer. 


stump-orator.  Hence  roar,  (1)  to 
breathe  hard  :  of  horses ;  (2)  to  rant 
(q.v.);  roaring,  the  disease  in  horses 
causing  broken  wind  (1752). 

Roaratorio.     An  oratorio. 

Roaring.  Brisk ;  successful ; 
strong :  see  Drive,  Humming,  etc. 

Roaring-boy  (blade,  girl, 
lad,  ruffian,  etc.,  or  Roarer). 
A  street  bully :  late  16th  and  17th 
centuries :  also  oatmeal  (q.v.)  and 
terrible -boy  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to 
riot,  swagger ;  roaring,  riotous.  As 
adv.,  extravagantly,  noisily,  superbly. 

Roaring  Buckle.     See  Buckle. 

Roaring  Forties.  The  degrees 
of  latitude  between  40°  and  50°  N.— 
the  most  tempestuous  part  of  the 
Atlantic :  also,  occasionally  to  the 
same  zone  in  the  South  Atlantic. 

Roaring  game  (The).  Curling. 
[Burns :  The  curlers  quest  their  roar- 
ing play.] 

Roaring  Meg.  (1)  A  very  famous 
piece  of  ordnance ;  whence  (2)  any- 
thing loud,  efficient,  or  extraordinary 
(1575). 

Roast.  1.  To  ridicule,  quiz  (q.v.) 
(1732).  2.  (a)  To  watch  closely, 
stall  (q.v.).  Also  to  roast  brown  and 
to  get  (or  give)  a  roasting:  FT.,  pousser 
de  la  ficelle.  Thus  (old)  to  smell  of  the 
roast,  to  get  into  prison  (1587). 
Phrases;  To  rule  the  roast,  to  lead, 
domineer  ;  to  cry  roast  meat,  to  chatter 
about  one's  good  fortune ;  to  make 
roast  meat  for  worms,  to  kill ;  to 
give  roast  meat  and  beat  with  the  spit, 
to  do  one  a  curtesy,  and  twit  or 
upbraid  him  with  it  (B.  E. ) ;  to  roast 
snow  in  a  furnace,  to  attempt  the  un- 
necessary or  absurd.  Also  proverbial 
sayings : — Set  a  fool  to  roast  eggs, 
and  a  wise  man  to  eat  them  ;  You  are 
in  your  roast  meat  when  others  are 
in  their  fod  ;  There's  reason  in  roasting 
of  eggs ;  Great  boast  and  small  roast 
make  unsavoury  mouths. 

Roast  -  and  -  boiled.  The  Life 
Guards :  who  are  mostly  substantial 
housekeepers,  and  eat  daily  of  roast 
and  boiled  (Grose). 

Roaster.     A  landlord's  agent. 

Roast  -  meat  clothes.  Sunday 
or  holiday  gear. 

Rob.     See  Barn,  Peter. 

Roba.     See  Bona-roba. 

Rob  -  altar.  A  sacrilegious  plun- 
derer. 

Robbery.     Exchange  is  no  robbery, 


an  excuse  for  a  forced  or  jesting  im- 
position. 

Rob  -  davy  (or  Rob  -  o' -  davy). 
Metheglin. 

Robe.  Gentleman  of  the  long  robe,  a 
lawyer  :  see  Long  Robe. 

Roberd's-man  (knave,  or 
Roberts  '-man). '  The  third  (old)  Rank 
of  the  Canting  Crew,  mighty  Thieves, 
like  Robin-hood'  (B.  E.)  (1362). 

Robert  (or  Roberto).  A  police- 
man. 

Robin.  1.  A  penny:  see  Rhino.  2. 
A  flannel  under-shirt  (Bartlett).  See 
Round  Robin. 

Robin  Hood.  Many  phrases  trace 
back  to  the  legend  of  this  heroic  thief. 
Thus  Robin  Hood,  a  daring  lie  ;  Robin 
Hood's  pennyworth,  a  great  bargain ; 
Good  even,  good  Robin  Hood  (said  of 
civility  extorted  by  fear) ;  Many  talk 
of  Robin  Hood  that  never  shot  in 
his  bow,  Many  speak  of  things  of 
which  they  have  no  knowledge ;  Tales 
of  Robin  Hood  are  good  enough  for 
fools. 

Robin  Redbreast.  A  Bow  Street 
runner :  also  robin  and  redbreast. 

Robin 's-eye.     A  scab. 

Robinson.     See  Jack  Robinson. 

Rob-pot.  A  drunkard,  malt- 
worm  (q.v.)  (1622). 

Rob-thief.  A  thief  robbing  thief  ; 
dog  eating  dog. 

Roby  Douglas.     The  breech. 

Rock.  Generic  for  hard  eatables. 
( 1 )  A  cheese  made  from  skim-milk,  and 
said  to  be  used  in  making  pins  to 
fasten  gates  (Hampshire);  (2)  A  kind 
of  hard  sweetmeat;  (3)  School  bread 
as  distinguished  from  baker's-bread 
(Derby  School);  (4)  A  hard  kind  of 
soap;  (5)  A  rock  pigeon;  (6)  In  pi., 
money ;  pocketful  of  rocks,  flush ;  on 
the  rocks,  stranded  (q.v.) ;  (7)  A 
pebble,  a  stone  (at  Winchester,  a 
medium-sized  stone) :  as  verb,  to 
throw  stones;  (8)  A  cause  of  diffi- 
culty, defeat,  or  annoyance :  as  an 
over-trump  at  cards,  an  obstacle 
suddenly  placed  in  one's  way,  and 
so  forth  (1601).  The  Rock,  Gibraltar. 
To  do  by  rock  of  eye  and  rule  of  thumb, 
to  substitute  guesswork  for  exact 
measurement.  See  Bedrock,  Rocker. 

Rocker  (or  Rokker).  (1)  To 
understand  ;  (2)  to  speak. 

Rocketer.  A  flushed  pheasant, 
rising  quick  and  straight ;  rocketting, 
rising  straight. 


377 


Rock-scorpion. 


Romany. 


Rock-scorpion.  A  mongrel  Gibral- 
tarine :  Spanish,  Portuguese,  French, 
Genoese,  Barbary  Hebrew,  Moorish, 
negro — a  mixture  of  all  mettles. 

Rocky  (Rocked,  or  Rocketty). 
1.  Broken  :  by  drink,  illness,  poverty  ; 
and,  2.  difficult,  dubious,  debateable. 
Hence  to  go  rocky,  to  go  to  pieces,  go 
wrong.  Whence  rockiness,  (I)  crazi- 
ness  ;  (2)  incapacity,  utter  or  partial ; 
off  one's  rocker,  crazy ;  rocked  in  a 
stone  kitchen,  the  person  spoken  of  is 
a  fool,  his  brains  having  been  dis- 
ordered by  the  jumbling  of  his  cradle 
(Grose). 

Rod.  An  angler.  See  Breach, 
Pickle,  Tail 

Rod  -  maker  (Win ton).  The  man 
who  made  the  rods  used  in  Bibling 
(q.v.). 

Rodney.  A  regular  Rodney,  an  idle 
fellow,  lazybones. 

Rodomontade.  Boasting,  swag- 
ger. Hence  Rodomont,  a  boaster. 
[A  character  in  Ariosto.] 

Rof-efil.     A  life  sentence,  for  life. 

Roger.  1.  A  portmanteau,  poge 
(q.v.).  2.  A  goose  :  also  Roger  (or  ttb) 
of  the  buttery.  3.  A  pirate  flag :  also 
Jolly  Roger.  4.  A  rogue  (q.v.). 

Rogerian.     A  kind  of  wig. 

Rogue  (Roge,  or  Roger).  1.  A 
professed  beggar ;  the  fourth  Order 
of  Canters  (Awddey).  2.  Wild  rogue, 
a  born  rogue.  3.  A  knave  or  rascal. 
A  rogue  in  grain,  a  great  rogue,  or  a 
corn  -  chandler  (Grose) ;  a  rogue  in 
spirit,  a  distiller  or  brandy-merchant 
(Grose).  As  verb,  to  beg.  4.  Any- 
thing vicious,  bastard,  unstandard- 
ized.  Thus  rogue  -  elephant,  an  evil- 
minded  murderous  male  or  female  ; 
rogue's  badge,  blinkers  for  a  vicious 
horse.  5.  An  endearment :  whence 
roguish,  playfully  mischievous :  also 
a  wag.  Derivatives:  Rogues' -gallery, 
a  collection  of  photographs  of  con- 
victed prisoners  ;  rogue-house,  a  prison 
or  lock  -  up  ;  rogue  -  money  (Scots'), 
an  assessment  for  police  purposes ; 
rogue's  -  march,  the  drumming  -  out 
(q.v.)  of  a  disgraced  soldier  or  sailor  ; 
rogue' s-yarn,  a  worsted  thread,  varying 
in  colour  in  each  dockyard,  woven  in 
each  strand  of  rope  to  prevent  theft 
and  to  trace  defective  manufacture. 

Rogue-and-pullet.  A  man  and 
woman  in  confederacy  as  thieves. 

Rogue  -  and  -  villain.  A  shilling  : 
see  Rhino. 


Rogueship.  See  Spittle-rogue- 
ship. 

Roister  (R oyster  Doister, 
Royster,  Roisterer,  etc.).  1.  A 
swaggerer.  2.  A  frolic.  Whence  as 
verb  (also  roist),  to  swagger ;  roist- 
ing  (roistering,  roisterly,  or  roisterous), 
uproarious  (1553). 

R  o  k  e  r.  A  ruler,  stick,  poker. 
Flat-roker,  a  flat  ruler.  [Roke,  to  stir 
a  fire,  a  liquid,  etc.] 

Roland  (or  Rowland)  for 
Oliver.  A  match,  tit  for  tat,  six 
of  one  and  half-a-dozen  of  the  other, 
a  fanciful  or  practical  proof  of  equality 
Fr.,  Guy  Contre  Robert  (14th  century). 

Roly-poly.  1.  A  country  bump- 
kin (1602).  2.  A  jam  roll  pudding, 
dog  -  in  -  a  -  blanket :  also  roll-up.  As 
adj.,  round  and  fat  (1841).  3.  (com- 
mon). A  comic  dance. 

Roll.  In  pi.,  a  baker :  see  Burn- 
crust  :  also  Master  of  the  Rolls.  As 
verb,  a  verb  of  spirit :  generic  ( 1 ),  to 
gad  ;  (2)  to  rollick  in  one's  walk  ;  and 
(3)  to  swagger :  also  to  roll  about. 
Whence  to  roll  in  bub  (or  grub),  to  have 
plenty  to  eat  (or  drink) ;  to  roll  in 
gold,  to  be  monstrous  rich :  to  roll  in 
one's  ivories,  to  kiss ;  to  roll  in  every 
rig,  to  be  up-to-date ;  to  roll  the  leer, 
to  pick  pockets ;  to  have  a  roll  on,  to 
swagger,  to  put  on  side  (q.v.) ;  to  roll 
one's  hoop,  to  go  ahead,  be  on  the  safe 
side ;  rolling,  smart,  ready ;  rolling 
kiddy,  a  clever  thief ;  rollick  (or  rollop), 
to  romp  along. 

Roller.  1.  A  roll-call.  2.  In  pL, 
United  States  Rolling  Stock.  3.  In 
pi.,  the  horse  and  foot  patrols  (1785). 
4.  A  go-cart.  5.  A  big  wave  coming 
in  from  a  distance,  and  so  with  enor- 
mous energy :  also  runner. 

Rolley.     A  vehicle. 

Rollickers.  The  2nd  Bat.  The 
Princess  Victoria's  Royal  Irish  Fusil- 
iers (formerly  the  Eighty-Ninth  Foot). 
Also  (1798)  Blayney's  Blood-hounds. 

Rolling-pin.     See  Pin. 

Roll-me-in-the-dirt.     A  shirt. 

Roll -up.     See  Roly-poly. 

Rom.     See  Romany. 

Romance.  A  lie,  taradiddle.  As 
verb,  to  lie  pleasantly,  to  stretch  in 
discourse  (B.  E. ). 

Roman -fall.  A  posture  (c.  1868) 
in  walking  :  the  head  well  forward  and 
the  small  of  the  back  well  in  :  see 
Grecian  Bend. 

Romany  (Rommany,  or  Rom).    (1) 


378 


Rombdow. 


Rorty. 


A  gipsy  ;  and  (2)  the  language  spoken 
by  gipsies.  Whence  to  patter  Romany, 
to  talk  the  gipsy  flash  (Grose) ; 
Romany  rye,  a  gentleman  who  talks 
and  associates  with  gipsies.  [A  few 
Romany  words  have  passed  into 
English,  but  the  only  European 
tongues  on  which  the  Gipsy  has  had 
much  influence  are  those  of  the  Penin- 
sula. In  Spanish  and  Portuguese 
almost  all  the  slang  is  Gipsy  and 
almost  all  the  Gipsy  is  slang.  ]  See  Rum. 

Rombelow.     See  Rumbelow. 

Rumboyle  (or  Romboyles).  To 
make  hue  and  cry,  whiddle  beef 
(q.v.):  Fr.,  battre  morasse.  Whence 
romboyVd,  wanted  (q.v.). 

Rome.     See  Rum,  passim. 

Romer  (or  Romekin).  A  drink- 
ing glass  (or  can). 

Rome-ville.     London. 

Romford.     See  Rumford. 

Romp.  A  boisterous  girl,  tom- 
boy (q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  to  lark  (q.v.), 
play  the  rig  (q.v.),  wanton;  and  (2) 
to  romp  in,  to  win  easily  (racing). 

Roncher  (or  Rouncher).  Any- 
thing of  exceptional  size  or  quality. 

Rook.  1.  A  cheat :  spec,  gaming  : 
also  rooker :  cf.  sense  2  and  Pigeon : 
hence  rookery  (or  roking),  swindling ; 
rooky  (or  rookish),  rascally,  scampish  ; 
as  verb,  to  cheat,  swindle  :  hence  also 
rookery,  (1)  a  gambling  hell;  and  (2) 
any  place  of  ill  -  repute  ;  e.g.  (a)  a 
brothel,  (6)  subalterns'  barrack  quar- 
ters, and  (c)  a  neighbourhood  occu- 
pied by  a  criminal  or  squalid  popu- 
lation, a  slum  (q.v.)  (1590).  2.  A 
simpleton,  pigeon  (q.v.).  [One  fit  for 
rooking:  see  sense  1].  (1596).  3.  A 
clergyman:  Fr.,  corbeau.  4.  A  sloven. 
5.  A  housebreaker's  jemmy  (q.v.),  a 
crow  (q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  see  subs. 
2  ;  (2)  to  win  heavily. 

Rookery.  See  Rook,  1.  2.  A 
scolding  match. 

Rooky  (or  Rookey).  A  recruit : 
see  Snooker,  and  Rook,  subs.  1. 

Room.  To  inhabit.  Roomer,  a 
lodger :  spec,  one  occupying  a  single 
apartment.  See  Apartments. 

Roombelow.     See  Rumbelow. 

Roorback.  A  j  ournalistic  or  printed 
lie. 

Roosher.     A  constable  :  see  Nark. 

Roost.  Bed  :  also  roosting  -  place. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  sleep;  (2)  to  lodge 
(1749);  (3)  to  imprison;  (4)  to  cheat. 
To  roost  over  one,  to  get  a  rise  (q.v.). 


^Rooster.  1.  A  euphemism  for  the 
male  of  the  barndoor  hen.  2.  A 
street  brawler,  a  rough.  See  Queer. 

Roost-lay.  Poultry  stealing :  see 
Lay. 

Root  (The).  Money.  [The 
root  of  all  evil.]  As  verb,  to  kick. 
Whence  (The  Leys  School)  root- 
about,  promiscuous  football  practice : 
also  as  verb. 

Rooter.  A  superlative :  as  a 
brutal  attack,  a  very  smart  dress,  a 
priceless  gem,  a  flagrant  untruth,  and 
so  forth. 

Rooty.     Bread. 

Rope.  1.  In  pi.,  a  half-back.  2. 
A  trick  or  knack ;  spec,  (nautical)  to 
know  the  ropes  (or  to  be  up  to  the  ropes), 
(1)  to  be  expert,  and  (2)  to  be  artful, 
fly  (q.v.) ;  to  pull  (or  work)  the  ropes, 
to  control  or  direct ;  to  rope  in  (or 
rope),  (1)  to  lose  a  race  by  pulling 
(q.v.)  or  other  foul  means ;  (2)  to 
decoy  (in  a  mock  auction,  gambling- 
den,  etc. ) :  hence  roper-in,  a  decoy  ; 
and  (3)  to  pull  (or  gather)  in :  as  to 
rope  in  the  pieces,  to  make  money. 
Hence  plenty  of  rope,  lots  of  choice ; 
at  the  end  of  one's  rope,  exhausted, 
done  for  ( 1623).  As  verb,  1.  To  hang  : 
see  Ladder ;  rope-tricks  (roping,  or 
ropery),  roguery ;  rope-ripe,  fit  for 
hanging ;  to  cry  rope,  to  warn,  to  bid 
beware ;  give  rope  (or  line)  enough 
and  he'll  hang,  He'll  decoy  himself  to 
his  undoing  ;  Mr.  Roper  (or  the  roper), 
the  hangman  ;  the  Rope-walk,  the  Old 
Bailey ;  to  go  into  the  rope-walk,  to 
take  up  criminal  practice  (1553).  2. 
To  beat  with  a  rope  :  hence  rope's-end, 
a  thrashing  ( 1460).  Phrases :  A  rope 
of  sand,  (1)  a  feeble  hold,  and  (2)  an 
endless  or  unprofitable  task ;  on  the 
high  ropes,  elated,  arrogant :  see 
High  Horse  ;  What  a  rope  !  What  the 
devil ;  to  put  a  rope  to  the  eye  of  a 
needle,  to  attempt  the  impossible  or 
absurd ;  also  the  proverbial  saying, 
A  rope  and  butter,  if  the  one  slip,  the 
other  may  hold. 

R  o  p  e  r  (M  r  s).  A  marine.  To 
marry  Mrs.  Roper,  to  list  in  the 
Marines. 

R  o  p  p  e  r.  A  scarf,  comforter. 
[?  Wrapper.] 

R  o  r  a  m  (or  ?  R  o  1  a  n  d).  The 
sun  :  cf.  Oliver,  moon. 

Roritorious.  Uproarious :  cf. 
'rory-tory'  (Devon)  showy,  dashing. 

Rorty  (or  Raughty).     Of  the  very 


379 


Rory-o'-More. 


beat  Hence  rorty  •  toff,  an  out-and- 
out  swell ;  rorty-dashcr,  a  fine  fellow  ; 
to  do  the  rorty,  to  have  a  good  time. 

Rory-o'-More.  1.  The  floor.  2. 
A  whore.  3.  A  door  :  also  Rory. 

Rorys  (The).  The  Princess 
Louise's  Argyll  and  Sutherland  High- 
landers. 

Rosary.  A  base  coin  (Ed.  I.) 
resembling  the  current  silver  penny : 
it  bore  (verso)  a  rose  or  rosette. 

Rose.  1.  A  bitch.  2.  In  pi., 
Buenos  Ayres  and  Rosario  Ry. 
Ordinary  Stock.  Under  the  rose, 
secretly,  in  confidence  (1546).  A  rose 
between  two  thorns  (or  nettles),  a  woman 
sitting  between  two  men:  the  usual 
retort  is  :  a  thorn  (or  nettle)  between 
two  roses  !  To  strike  with  a  feather 
and  stab  with  a  rose,  to  chastise  play- 
fully: a  music-hall  refrain. 

Roseberys.  London  County 
Council  2£  per  cent.  Stock :  Lord 
Rosebery  was  the  first  chairman  of 
the  Council. 

Rosebud.     A  debutante  ((1847). 

Rosh  (Roush).  To  hustle, 
horse-play.  Hence  atop  roshing  I  an 
injunction  to  silence. 

Rosin  (Rozin,  or  Rozin-the- 
bow).  1.  A  fiddler;  and,  2.  fiddler's 
lap.  Whence  as  verb,  (1)  to  fiddle  ; 
and  (2)  to  drink :  rosinned,  drunk  : 
see  Screwed  (1607). 

Rosser.     See  Rozzer. 

R  o  s  t.  To  turn  boost  to  rost,  to 
turn  from  swagger  to  humility. 

Rosy.  1.  Drink;  and,  2.  blood: 
i.e.  claret  (q.v.).  Hence  rosy -drop, 
a  grog  blossom :  also  the  ruby.  Rosy 
about  the  gills,  (1)  fresh-coloured, 
(2)  sanguine  :  cf.  white  about  the  gills  : 
also  rosy,  favourable,  auspicious, 
healthy :  whence  the  rosy,  good  fortune. 

Rot.  Nonsense,  bosh  (q.v.) : 
also  tommy  -  rot  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to 
humbug,  to  bully ;  rotter,  a  good-for- 
nothing.  Rot  it  (or  Rot  'urn)  (common) 
Hang  it ! 

Rotan.     Any  wheeled  vehicle. 

Rot  -  gut.  Poor  drink  :  generic : 
spec,  bad  beer  or  alcohol :  also  rotlo 
(1597). 

Rothschild.     See  Come. 

Rotten  -  row.  To  belong  to  Rotten 
row,  to  be  laid  up  as  past  service :  of 
ships. 

Rotten-sheep.     A  traitor  :  Fenian. 

Rouge.  A  point  in  the  Eton 
game  of  football :  3  rouges,  1  goal. 


Rough.  A  ruffian.  As  adj.,  un- 
couth, hard,  severe  (B.  E. ) :  also 
(of  fish)  coarse  or  stale.  To  cut  (or 
turn)  up  rough  (or  to  rough  up),  (1)  to 
be  annoyed,  and  (2)  to  use  strong 
language ;  to  rough  one,  to  vex  ;  to 
rough  it  (or  lie  rough),  (1)  to  endure 
hardship ;  (2)  to  take  pot-luck  ;  and 
(3)  to  sleep  in  one's  clothes ;  rough- 
arid  -  ready,  unpolished,  happy  -  go- 
lucky  ;  rough  on,  hard,  severe.  Rough 
on  rats,  a  hard  case.  See  Buff. 

Rough  -  and  -  tumble.  A  free 
fight,  a  mellay.  As  adj.,  boisterous 
(1838). 

Rough-diamond.  A  person  of  heart 
but  no  manners  (1753). 

Rough-fam  (or  Rough-fammy). 
A  waistcoat  pocket  (1812). 

Rough-music.  A  clatter  of  sticks, 
pots,  pans,  and  musical  instruments  : 
for  the  annoyance  of  offenders  out- 
raging public  prejudice :  sometimes 
accompanied  by  burning  in  effigy. 

Roughrider's-washtub.  The 
barrack  water-cart. 

Roughshod.  To  ride  roughshod 
(over,  or  down),  to  domineer,  be  void 
of  guts  (q.v.)  or  bowels  (q.v.). 

Rough-up.  A  fight  at  short 
notice. 

Round.  An  appointed  and  es- 
tablished circuit  of  travel :  generic  : 
cf.  Rounder  and  gentleman  of  the 
round,  an  officer  of  the  watch  (1596). 
Thus  (1)  topers',  (a)  liquor  enough  to 
go  round  the  table,  and  (b)  a  toast 
drunk  round ;  (2)  gamesters',  (a)  cards 
to  all,  and  (b)  a  hand  in  which  all  the 
players  deal  in  turn  ;  (3)  an  habitual 
course  of  visits,  calls  for  orders,  in- 
spection ;  (4)  a  shot,  a  cartridge  ;  and 
(5)  archery,  a  competition ;  (6), 
pugilists',  the  successive  periods  of 
action  in  a  mill :  between  fall  and  fall ; 
and,  under  Queensberry  Rules,  so 
many  encounters  so  many  minutes 
long ;  (7)  trousers :  short  for  round- 
the-houses  (q.v.).  As  adj.,  a  general 
qualitative :  simple,  straightforward, 
unmistakable.  Thus  a  round  sum, 
(1)  a  large  amount,  and  (2)  a  sum 
stated  in  one  term  :  e.g.  thirty  pounds, 
thirty  shillings,  three  pence ;  a  round 
answer,  plain  speech  ;  round  dealing, 
honest  trading ;  round  trot,  a  good 
pace ;  round  tale,  the  unvarnished 
truth ;  round  oath,  a  swingeing  ex- 
pletive ;  round  -  reply,  a  straight 
answer;  roundly,  plainly,  vehemently, 


Round-about. 


Royster. 


briskly ;  round  (or  brown)  dozen  (see 
Brown)  (1240).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
betray,  peach  (q.v.) ;  (2)  to  turn  upon 
and  berate :  also  to  round  on.  To 
round  up,  to  collect  cattle  :  for  in- 
spection, branding,  etc. :  also  as 
subs.  :  whence  (general),  to  complete, 
take  stock.  To  bet  round,  to  bet 
upon  (or  against)  several  horses  in  a 
race.  Bound  in  the  gills  (face,  body, 
twist,  or  guts),  languid,  Mondayish 
(q.v.). 

Round  -  about.  1.  A  farthingale. 
2.  A  short  close-fitting  jacket :  also 
rounder.  3.  A  female  thiefs  all- 
round  pocket.  4.  A  horizontal  wheel 
or  frame,  turned  by  a  small  engine, 
and  furnished  with  wooden  horsey 
and  carriages  ;  a  merry-go-round.  5. 
A  treadmill,  everlasting  -  staircase 
(q.v.).  6.  A  housebreaker's  tool;  it 
cuts  a  round  piece,  about  five  inches 
in  diameter,  out  of  a  shutter  or  door  ; 
also  round  robin. 

Round-and- square.     Everywhere. 

Round-betting.     See  Round. 

Roundem.     A  button. 

Rounder.  1.  A  person  or  thing 
taking  or  making  a  round  (q.v.).  2. 
A  round  of  cheers.  3.  A  big  oath. 
4.  A  man  who  goes  habitually  from 
bar  to  bar.  To  round  (or  round  in 
the  ear),  to  whisper.  See  Round  and 
Round-about. 

Roundhead.  A  Puritan  (q.v.) 
[The  hair  was  worn  closely  cropped.] 
To  round  the  head,  to  cut  the  hair 
round. 

Roundy  (or  Roundy  -  ken).  A 
watch-house,  lock-up. 

Round  0.  A  thumping  lie :  see 
Whopper. 

Round  Robin.  1.  The  host.  2.  A 
religious  (or  political)  brawler.  3. 
We  find  the  first  instance  of  a  Round 
Robin  in  1626 ;  sailors  write  their 
names  and  marks  in  a  good  round 
circular  form  so  that  none  might 
appear  for  a  ringleader  (New  English). 
4.  A  big  swindle :  see  Roundabout. 

Round-shaving.     A  reprimand. 

Round-the-houses.  Trousers :  of. 
Rounds. 

Ronny.     A  potato,  murphy  (q.v.) 

Rouse.  1.  A  large  glass  full  of 
liquor.  2.  A  big  bumper.  3.  A 
carouse  (1596).  4.  Fighting. 

R  o  u  s  e  r.  Generic  for  anything 
exceptional.  Hence  rousing,  very 
great,  startling,  exciting  (1677). 


Roust.  1.  To  frisk,  disturb, 
shift.  2.  To  steal :  see  Roustabout. 

Roustabout  (Rouse  -  about, 
or  Rouser).  1.  A  rough  -  and  -  ready 
colonial  or  backwoodsman.  2.  A 
fidget.  3.  A  term  of  contempt. 

Rout.  1.  A  fashionable  party. 
2.  A  card  party  at  a  private  house 
(Grose).  As  verb,  to  assemble  in 
company  (1775). 

Router.  A  cow :  hence  router 
putters,  cows' -feet. 

Rove.  To  wander  idly  up  and 
down  (B.  E.). 

Rover.  1.  A  young  woman  en- 
gaged, lawfully  or  not,  in  collecting 
money  for  charity.  2.  A  pirate,  free- 
booter (formerly :  now  recognised) 
a  wanderer,  a  vagabond  (B.  E.) 
Also  to  run  (or  shoot)  at  rovers,  to  run 
wild,  to  act  at  random  (1440).  3. 
In  pi.,  the  thoughts  (Jamieson). 

Row.  1.  A  disturbance,  shindy 
(q.v.),  boisterous  talk:  also  rowing. 
2.  A  mob  (Univ.).  Rowing-man  (ow 
as  ough  in  bough),  a  spreester  (q.v.). 
As  verb,  to  abuse,  create  a  disturb- 
ance ;  to  get  into  a  row,  to  get  into 
trouble;  [Orose:  s.v.  Rout,  shortened 
into  row,  Cambridge  slang.]  The 
Row,  1.  Rotten  Row,  Hyde  Park.  2. 
Paternoster  Row  (booksellers')  (1812). 
Phrases :  A  hard  (or  long)  row  to  hoe,  a 
difficult  task ;  to  hoe  one's  own  row, 
to  mind  one's  own  business ;  to  row 
in  the  same  boat,  to  share. 

Rowdy.  1.  A  blackguard.  2. 
A  political  brawler.  Rowdy  (rowdy- 
dowdy,  or  rowdy-dow),  blackguardly, 
turbulent,  vulgar ;  rowdyism  (rowdy- 
dow,  or  rowdiness),  blackguardism 
(1842).  3.  Money:  see  Rhino:  cf. 
Ruddy. 

Rowl.  1.  To  recite  well :  cf.  Rush. 
2.  Money  :  see  Rhino. 

Royal.  A  docker  whose  name  is 
on  the  dock's  books  and  who  takes 
precedence  as  regards  casuals. 

Royal -goats.  The  Royal  Welsh 
Fusiliers  (formerly  the  Twenty-third 
Foot).  Also  Nanny  -  goats.  [A  goat 
is  kept  as  a  regimental  pet.] 

Royal-image.  In  pL,  money :  see 
Rhino. 

Royal  Poverty.  Gin:  see  White 
Satin. 

Royal  -  scamp.  A  gentleman  of 
the  road  (q.v.)  as  distinguished  from 
a  foot-pad  (1783). 

Royster.     See  Roister. 


381 


Rozin. 


Ruffler. 


Rozin.     See  Rosin. 

Rozzer.     A  policeman. 

R's.     See  Three  R's  (The). 

Rub  (or  Rubber).  1.  An  obstacle, 
disputable  point,  difficulty :  also 
(Old  Cant),  a  hard  shift  (B.  E.) ;  as 
verb,  to  hinder,  obstruct  (1590).  2. 
A  loan  :  as  of  a  newspaper.  As  verb, 
to  run  or  take  away :  also  to  rub  off ; 
to  rub  to  the  whitt,  to  send  to  Newgate 
(1550).  Colloquialisms:  To  rub  along 
(on  or  out),  ( 1 )  to  manage  somehow, 
to  live  indifferently,  and  (2)  to  live 
tolerably  well ;  to  rub  down,  (1)  (police) 
to  search:  the  prisoner's  arms  are 
raised,  the  vest  unbuttoned,  and  the 
officer's  hand  passed  over  the  body : 
also  to  run  the  rule  over ;  (2)  to  scold, 
rate,  or  take  to  task  ;  to  rub  in,  (1)  to 
nag,  annoy,  or  aggravate  persistently. 
Fr.,  monster  une  scie ;  (2)  to  peg  away, 
insist,  or  exaggerate ;  to  be  rubbed 
about,  to  be  made  a  convenience ;  to 
rub  out  (tailors'),  to  cut  out;  also  (3) 
(colloquial)  to  forget  old  grievances, 
cancel  a  debt :  also  to  rub  off ;  to  rub 
out,  to  kill :  hence  rubbed  out,  dead  ; 
to  rub  up,  (1)  to  refresh  the  memory, 
(2)  to  polish,  and  (3)  to  touch  a  tender 
point  or  remembrance :  hence  to  rub 
up  the  wrong  way,  to  irritate,  to  annoy  : 
also  to  rub  on  the  gaule  ;  to  give  a  rub 
of  the  thumb,  to  explain  or  show  the 
way. 

Rubbacrock.  A  filthy  slattern,  a 
puzzle  (q.v.). 

Rubbage  (or  Rubbidge).  Rub- 
bish. 

Rubber.  1.  A  round  of  three 
games  :  also  rub.  2.  A  slight  reproof  ; 
reflections  upon  any  one  ...  a  ren- 
counter with  drawn  swords  (B.  E.) 
3.  In  pi.,  indiarubber  over -shoes, 
goloshes. 

Rubber  -  neck  (or  Rubber).  To 
crane  one's  neck  ;  hence,  to  see  every- 
thing. Also  to  rubber  around,  to 
keep  one's  eyes  open. 

Rubbish.  Money :  generic :  see 
Rhino. 

Rubric.  In  (or  out  of)  the  rubric, 
in  (or  out  of)  holy  orders. 

Rub  -  rub.  '  Us'd  on  Greens  when 
the  Bowl  Flees  too  fast,  to  have  it 
forbear,  if  Words  wou'd  do  it'  (B.  E.). 

Ruby.  Blood,  claret  (q.v.),  grog- 
blossom  (q.v.).  Hence,  ruby  face, 
a  very  red  face. 

Ruck.  1.  The  mob.  2.  Rubbish. 
To  come  in  with  the  ruck  (or  to  ruck 


in),  to  come  in  unnoticed,  or  (racing) 
unplaced.  As  verb,  (1)  to  inform, 
split  (Q.V.)  ;  (2)  to  turn  rusty; 
(3)  to  drag  or  crease.  To  ruck  (or 
rucket)  along  (Oxford  University) 
to  walk  quickly. 

Ruction.     An  uproar. 

Ruddocks  (or  Red,  or  Golden, 
Ruddocks).  Money :  specifically 
gold :  also  ruddy.  [Formerly  gold 
was  conventionally  red  —  a  girdle  of 
gold  so  red,  and  good  red  gold.]  Cf. 
Ridge  and  Redge  (1570). 

Rudesby.  A  rude  boisterous 
person.  [  Johnson  (1745),  a  low  word.] 
Cf.  Sneaksby,  Idlesbie,  Wigsby,  etc. 
(1593). 

Rudge-gown.  An  outcast : 
also  rug-gown.  Whence  rug-gowned, 
meanly ;  rugheaded,  shock  -  headed 
(1597). 

Rue.  Repentance  :  as  rue-quarrel 
to  repent  and  withdraw  ;  rue-bargain, 
smart-money. 

Ruff.  1.  An  old-fashioned  double 
band  (B.  E.).  2.  A  court  card :  hence 
to  ruff,  to  trump.  3.  Ruffs  Guide 
to  the  Turf.  The  wooden  ruff,  the 
pillory. 

Ruffian.  1.  Spec,  the  Devil :  also 
old  ruffian.  Whence,  2.  any  one 
behaving  roughly  or  severely :  as  a 
magistrate,  or  a  brutal  bully  or 
assassin  (B.  E.) ;  also  a  pugilist  all 
spirit  and  no  science ;  and  so  forth. 
As  adj.,  (1)  wanton  ;  (2)  brutal ;  and 
(3)  violent.  As  verb,  (1)  to  pimp,  (2) 
to  bully,  and  (3)  to  maul.  Also 
ruffianly  (or  ruffinous),  wanton,  out- 
rageous. Ruffian  cook  ruffian,  he 
scalded  the  devil  in  his  feathers,  said 
of  a  bad  cook.  Ruffian' s-hatt, '  So  that 
part  of  Smithfield  was  antiently  called, 
which  is  now  the  horse-market,  where 
tryals  of  skill  were  plaid  by  ordinary 
ruffianly  people  with  sword  and 
buckler.'  (B.  E.) 

R  u  ffl  e.  A  handcuff :  usually  in 
pi.  The  Ruffle,  the  flourish  to  a 
trick  at  cards :  the  deck  held  firmly 
at  the  lower  end  by  the  left  hand  is 
rapidly  manipulated  by  the  right 
hand  with  a  crackling  noise.  See 
Kuffler. 

Ruffler  (Ruffle,  or  Ruffling 
Roister.)  1.  Spec,  (in  Statute  27 
Hen.  Vm.),  a  sham  soldier  or  sailor) : 
whence,  2.  a  bully,  cheat,  or  violent  or 
swaggering  blackguard  (also  ruffler). 
( 1 )  To  plunder,  rob :  spec,  with  menaces 


Ruffmans. 


Rumbo. 


and  imprecations  ;  and  (2)  to  swagger, 
flaunt  it,  put  on  side  (q.v.)  or  be 
turbulent ;  rufflery,  violence  ;  ruffered, 
boisterous ;  and  ruffle,  to  dispute 
(1537). 

Ruffmans.     A  hedge  (1567). 

Ruff-peck.     Bacon  (1567). 

Rufty  -  tufty.  Rough,  boisterous, 
indecent  (1592).  As  intj.,  Hey-day. 

Rug.  1.  A  Rugbeian.  2.  A  sort  of 
drink.  3.  A  tug.  As  verb,  to  pull 
roughly ;  to  get  a  rug,  to  get  a  share, 
get  there  (q.v.)  (1300).  AH  rug,  all 
right,  certain  (1696).  See  Bug  and 
Ruggins. 

Ruge.     See  Rouge. 

Rugger.  Football :  the  Rugby 
game. 

Ruggin's.  Bed;  at  rug,  asleep: 
e.g.  the  whole  gill  is  safe  at  rug,  the 
household  are  asleep  (Grose). 

Ruin.     See  Blue  Ruin. 

Rule.  To  run  the  rule  over,  to 
search,  frisk  (q.v.). 

Rule  -  of  -  thumb.  A  rough-and- 
ready  way :  practical  rather  than 
exactly  scientific  (Grose). 

Rum  (Rome,  Roome,  or  Ram), 
adj.  (Old  Cant).  1.  A  generic  appre- 
ciative, good,  fine,  clever,  excellent, 
strong,  etc.  (1567):  cf.  sense  2  and 
Queer;  whence  rumly,  bravely,  cleverly, 
delicately ;  rum-beak  (or  beck),  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace ;  rum-bing  (or 
bung),  a  full  purse ;  rum-bit  (or  bite), 
(1)  a  clever  rogue ;  and  (2)  a  smart 
trick ;  rum  bleating -cheat,  a  fat  wether ; 
rum  -  blowen  (or  blower),  a  handsome 
mistress ;  rum-bluffer,  a  jolly  host ; 
rum-bob,  (1)  a  young  apprentice,  (2) 
a  clever  trick,  and  (3)  a  smart 
wig ;  rum-booze  (bouse,  buse,  buze,  or 
bouze),  ( 1 )  wine ,  or  (2)  good  liquor 
of  divers  kinds  ;  rum  -  boozing  -  welt, 
a  bunch  of  grapes  ;  rum  -  bubber,  a 
good  thief ;  rum-buffer  (or  bugher),  a 
valuable  dog ;  rum-chant,  a  good 
song ;  rum  -  chub  (butcher'-'),  an 
ignorant  buyer  ;  rum-dank,  a  gold  or 
silver  cup ;  rum-clout  (or  wipe),  a  silk 
handkerchief;  rum  -  cod,  (1)  a  full 
purse,  and  (2)  a  large  sum  of  money ; 
rum-cole,  new  money ;  rum-cove  (or 
cull),  ( 1 )  a  clever  rogue,  (2)  a  rich  man, 
(3)  a  lover,  and  (4)  an  intimate  :  also 
rum-cull  (theatrical),  a  manager,  or 
boss ;  rum  -  degen  (tol,  or  filter),  a 
splendid  sword  ;  rum  -  dell  (doxy  or 
mart),  a  handsome  whore  ;  rum-diver, 
a  clever  pickpocket ;  rum-drawers,  silk 


stockings ;  rum-dropper,  a  vintner ; 
rum-duke,  (1)  a  handsome  man,  (2)  a 
jolly  companion,  and  (3) '  The  boldest 
or  stoutest  Fellows  (lately)  amongst 
the  Alsatians,  Minters,  Savoyards,  etc. 
Sent  for  to  remove  and  guard  the 
Goods  of  such  Bankrupts  as  intended 
to  take  Sanctuary  in  those  Places ' 
(B.  E.);  rum-duchess,  a  handsome 
woman  ;  rum  -  dubber  (or  fie),  an  ex- 
pert picklock  ;  rum  -  Jam  (or  fern),  & 
diamond  ring ;  rum-fun,  a  clever 
fraud ;  rum-gdt  (or  gilt),  new  money; 
rum-gill,  (1)  a  clever  thief,  and  (2)  a 
handsome  man ;  rum-gagger,  a  whin- 
ing beggar ;  rum-glymmer,  a  chief 
link-boy ;  rum-going,  fast  trotting ; 
rum-gutlers,  canary ;  rum-hopper,  an 
innkeeper ;  rum-kicks,  silver  or  gold- 
braided  breeches  ;  rum-ken,  a  popular 
inn  or  brothel ;  rum-kin,  a  large  mug  ; 
rum-maunder,  a  clever  beggar ;  rum- 
mizzler,  a  thief  expert  at  clearing 
(q.v.);  rum-mort,  a  lady;  rum-one, 
a  settling  blow  ;  rum-nab,  a  good  hat ; 
rum-Nantz,  brandy ;  rum-Ned,  a  rich 
fool ;  rum  -  pad,  the  highway ;  rum- 
padder,  a  highwayman ;  rum  -  peeper, 
a  silver  looking-glass  ;  rum-peck,  good 
food ;  rum  -  prancer,  a  fine  horse ; 
rum-quidds,  a  large  booty ;  rum-ruff- 
peck,  Westphalian  ham ;  rum-squeeze, 
fiddlers'  drink  in  plenty ;  rum-snitch, 
a  hard  blow  on  the  nose ;  rum-topping, 
a  rich  head-dress  ;  rum-ville,  London. 
2.  In  modern  slang  (by  inversion),  in- 
different, bad,  questionable,  odd : 
as  adj.,  rummy  (or  rumly).  3.  Any- 
body or  anything  odd  or  singular  in 
habit,  appearance,  etc.  ;  rum-Ned,  a 
silly  fellow ;  rum-duke,  a  half-witted 
churl ;  to  come  it  rum,  to  act  (or  talk) 
strangely  (1729). 

Rumble.  A  seat  for  servants  at 
the  back  of  a  carriage :  also  rumble- 
tumble  (which  likewise  =  a  stage-coach). 
(1830).  As  verb,  to  try,  search, 
handle  (1821). 

Rumble r.  A  hackney  coach. 
Rumbler's- flunkey,  (1)  a  footman,  and 
(2)  a  cab-runner ;  running '-rumbler, 
a  carriage  thief's  confederate  (1816). 

Rumbling.  '  The  rolling  of  Thunder, 
motion  of  a  Wheelbarrow,  or  the 
noise  in  the  Gutts '  (B.  E.). 

Rum-blossom  (or  bud).  A  nasal 
pimple :  cf.  Grog-blossom. 

Rumbo.  1.  Rum  grog  :  also  rum- 
bullion and  rumbowling :  cf.  Rum- 
booze  (1651).  2.  A  prison:  also 


383 


Rumbo -ken. 


Run. 


rumbo-ken.  3.  Stolen  rope  (Clark 
Russell).  As  adj.,  good,  plenty. 

Rumbo  -  ken.  1.  A  pawnbroker's 
shop.  2.  A  prison :  also  rumbo 
(1724). 

Rumbowline      (or     Rambowline). 

1.  Condemned  stores  :  rope,  canvas, 
etc.  ;  whence,  2.   anything  inferior  or 
deteriorated :    as    adj.,    adulterated. 
See  Rumbo. 

Rumford.  To  ride  to  Romford,  to 
get  new  breeched.  [Grose  :  Rumford 
was  formerly  a  famous  place  for 
leather  breeches :  a  like  saying  is 
current  of  Bungay.]  Also  proverbial, 
Tou  may  ride  to  Rumford  on  this 
knife,  it  is  so  blunt  (1700). 

Rum-gagger.  A  sailor  who  begs 
(Clark  Russell). 

Rumgumption,  Rumbumption.  A 
class  of  colloquialisms  compounded 
with  an  intensive  prefix:  (1)  ram 
(imitatively  varied  Dy  rum),  very, 
strong  ;  and  (2)  rum  (q.v.),  good,  fine, 
etc. :  also  cf.  ramp,  as  in  rampageous. 
Thus,  rambunctious  (or  rambustious), 
noisy,  high-and-mighty ;  rambustion, 
a  row  ;  rambumptious,  conceited,  self- 
assertive  ;  rumbumption,  conceit,  cock- 
sureness  ;  rumgumption,  mother-wit ; 
ramgumptious,  shrewd,  bold,  rash ; 
ramfeezUd,  exhausted ;  rambuskious 
rough  ;  ramgunschoch,  rough  ;  ram- 
shackle, rickety,  crazy.  Substan- 
tives are  similarly  formed  :  e.g.  ram- 
bunction,  rambumption,  ramgumption, 
etc.,  whilst  such  variants  as  rummel- 
fumption,  rumble-gumption,  rumstru- 
genous,  and  the  like  are  coined  at 
will  Also  rumbusticator,  a  man  of 
means,  and  ramstam,  a  headlong  fool, 
and  as  adj.,  deliberately  or  undilutedly 
silly  (1762). 

Rum  -  hole.  A  grog  -  shop :  see 
Lush  -  crib.  Sum  -  homee  (or  omer)  of 
the  case  :  see  Omer. 

Rum  -  Johnny.  A  native  wharf 
labourer. 

Rum  kin.      1.  A  drinking  vessel. 

2.  A  tailless  fowl. 

Rumly  (or  Romely).     See  Rum. 

Rummy.     See  Rum. 

Rum  -  mill.  A  grog-shop,  lush- 
crib  (q.v.). 

Rump.  1.  The  posteriors.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  slight;  to  flog.  Also 
subs.,  (2)  fag  end  :  spec,  (political)  the 
remnant  of  the  Long  Parliament 
after  Pride's  Purge  (1653);  whence 
rumper,  a  long  Parliamentarian.  He 


hath  eaten  the  hen's  rump  (Ray),  said 
of  a  person  full  of  talk  (1625). 

Rump  -  and  -  dozen.  An  Irish 
wager :  i.e.  A  rump  of  beef  and  a 
dozen  of  claret  (1785). 

Rump-and-kidney  Men.  Fiddlers 
that  play  at  feasts,  fairs,  weddings, 
etc.,  and  live  chiefly  on  the  remnants, 
or  victuals  (B.  E.). 

Rump  -  and  -  stump.  Entirely, 
completely. 

Rumpty  (Stock  Exchange).  The 
thirty-second  part  of  a  pound  sterling, 
a  tooth  (q.v.). 

Rumpus.  1.  A  row,  noise,  dis- 
turbance. 2.  A  masquerade.  Also 
as  verb  and  adj.  (1819). 

Rum-slim  (orRum-slu m). 
Punch. 

Rum-sucker.  A  toper,  lushing. 
ton  (q.v.). 

Rum  Tom  Pat     A  clergyman. 

Rumtitum.  On  prime  twig,  in 
fine  order  or  condition ;  a  flash  term 
for  a  game  bull  (Orose). 

Rum-'un.     See  Rum. 

Run.  Generic  for  freedom  or 
continuance.  Thus,  run  (of  dice, 
cards,  or  luck),  a  spell  or  period  of 
good  or  bad  fortune ;  run  (of  a  play, 
book,  fashion,  etc.),  the  course  of 
representations,  sale,  popularity  ;  the 
run  of  things,  the  state  of  affairs ; 
the  run  of  a  place,  freedom  of  range : 
the  run  of  one's  teeth  (or  knife  and 
fork),  victuals  for  nothing ;  a  run  on 
a  bank,  a  steady  call,  through  panic, 
on  its  resources ;  cattle-run,  a  farm 
where  cattle  roam  at  will  ;  a  run  to 
town  (or  into  the  country),  a  trip ;  to 
have  (or  lose)  the  run,  to  lose  sight  of  ; 
to  get  (or  have)  the  run  on,  (1)  to  turn 
a  joke  on,  and  (2)  to  have  the  upper 
hand  ;  to  have  a  run,  (1)  to  take  a 
walk,  a  constitutional  (q.v.) ;  (2) 
to  get  an  opportunity  :  see  P.P.  ;  and 
(3)  to  make  a  fight  for  anything ;  to 
run,  to  manage ;  to  run  a  bluff,  to 
carry  things  with  a  high  hand ;  to  run 
a  buck  (see  Buck) ;  to  run  for  office 
(parliament,  congress,  etc.),  to  start 
as  a  candidate ;  to  run  a  rig,  to  play 
a  trick ;  to  run  a  chance  (or  risk),  to 
take  the  odds;  to  run  a  tilt  at,  to 
attack ;  to  run  the  cutter,  to  smuggle  ; 
to  run  an  eye  over,  to  glance  at ; 
to  run  the  gauntlet  (see  Gauntlet) ;  to 
run  across,  to  meet  casually ;  to  run 
after,  to  court ;  to  run  against,  (1)  to 
come  in  collision  with,  (2)  to  cal- 


384 


Run. 


Runner-up. 


liate,   (3)   to   attack,   and   (4)   to 
leet    casually ;    to    run   amuck    (see 
^muck) ;  to  run  away  with,  ( 1 )  to  elope, 
2)  to  steal ;  to  run  away  with  a  notion, 
be  over  credulous ;  to  run  big,  to 
out  of  training ;   to  run  counter, 
oppose  ;  to  run  down,  to  pursue, 
depreciate,    attack ;    to   run   dry,    to 
give  out ;  to  run  foul  of,  to  attack  or 
antagonise ;  to  run  hard,  ( 1 )  to  threaten, 
endanger,  make  difficult,  and  (2)  to 
equal  or  almost  achieve  ;  to  run  high 
(1)  to  be  violent,  (2)  to  excel  in  a 
marked    degree ;    to   run   in,    (1)    to 
arrest,  and  (2)  to  introduce ;   to  run 
in  one's  head,  (1)  to  bear  in  mind,  (2) 
to  remember ;  to  run  into  the  ground, 
to  carry  to  excess ;  to  run  it  (Ameri- 
can cadets'),  to  go  beyond  bounds  ; 
to  run  like  mad,  to  go  at  the  top  of 
one's  speed :    FT.,  ventre   a  terre ;   to 
run  low,  (1)  to  diminish,  (2)  to  be  of 
little  account ;  to  run  mad  after,  to 
have  a  strong  desire  for ;  to  run  off, 
(1)  to  repeat,  (2)  to  count ;  to  run  off 
with,  (1)  to  elope,  (2)  to  carry  beyond 
bounds ;  to  run  off  the  straight  (see 
Straight) ;  to  run  on,  to  keep  going : 
spec,  to  chatter ;  to  run  on  all  fours 
(see  Fours) ;   to  run  on  pattens  (see 
Pattens) ;  to  run  on  the  hirl,  to  gad, 
to  loaf  (q.v.) ;  to  run  one's  face  (or 
shape),  to  obtain  credit ;  to  run  one's 
head  into  a  noose,  to  fall  into  a  snare  ; 
to  run  one's  tail,  to  live  by  prostitution  ; 
to   run   one's   week   (Am.    Univ.),   to 
trust  to  chance  for  success ;  run  one 
way  and  look  another,  to  play  a  double 
game;  to  run  out,  (1)  to  end,  (2)  to 
have  had  one's  day,  (3)  to  be  lavish ; 
to  run  out  on,  to  enlarge  on  ;  to  run 
over,  (1)  to  count,  (2)  to  call  to  mind, 
(3)  to  examine,  (4)  to  describe,  and 
(5)   to  sum  up;   to  run  riot,   (1)   to 
be  violent,  (2)  to  exaggerate,  (3)  to 
have  plenty,  (4)  to  be  active,  (5)  to 
disobey ;   to  run  rusty  (see  Rusty) ; 
to  run  sly  (see  Sly) ;  to  run  smooth,  to 
be  prosperous  ;  to  run  thin,  to  back 
out  of  a  bargain;  to  run  to,  (1)  to 
risk,   (2)  to  suffice,   (3)  to  afford  ;  to 
run  together,  to  grow  like ;  to  run  to 
seed,  (1)  to  age,   (2)  to  deteriorate; 
to  run  through,  (1)  to  be  uniform,  (2) 
to  pervade,  (3)  to  be  present,  (4)  to 
kill,  and  (5)  to  be  prodigal ;  to  run 
up,  (1)  to  increase,  (2)  to  build,  and 
(3)  (see  Runner-up) ;   to  run  up  an 
account,  ( 1 )  to  get  credit,  (2)  to  get  into 
debt,  and  (3)  to  charge ;  to  run  up 


bills,  to  obtain  goods  with  no  inten- 
tion of  paying;  to  run  upon,  (1)  to 
quiz,  (2)  to  require  ;  to  run  to  waste, 
( 1 )  to  empty,  (2)  to  fritter  away ;  to 
run  wild,  (1)  to  romp  (q.v.),  and  (2) 
to  riot ;  by  (or  with)  a  run,  suddenly  ; 
a  run  for  one's  money,  a  good  time  in 
exchange  for  a  certain  expenditure 
of  energy  and  cash  ;  run  off  one's  legs, 
(1)  exhausted,  (2)  bankrupt;  a  near 
run,  (1)  a  close  finish,  (2)  a  bare 
escape,  (3)  cheek  by  jowl ;  run  after, 
in  repute ;  run  down,  seedy,  poor. 
Also  proverbs  and  sayings,  To  run 
through  thick  and  thin ;  His  shoes 
were  made  of  running  leather ;  To 
run  a  wild-goose  chase ;  The  coaches 
won't  run  over  him  (i.e.  He's  in  gaol) ; 
He  that  runs  may  read  (said  of  things 
unmistakably  plain) ;  To  run  where 
the  devil  drives  ;  Run  tap,  run  tapster 
(Ray :  of  a  tapster  that  drinks  so 
much  himself  and  is  so  free  to  others 
that  he  is  fain  to  run  away) ;  To  hold 
with  the  hare  and  run  with  the  hounds. 
Runabout.  A  gadabout,  vaga- 
bond. 

Runaway  Preston  -  pans  (The 
Great).  The  13th  Hussars.  [A 
panic  seized  some  of  the  men  in  the 
fight  with  the  Jacobite  rebels.]  Also 
The  Green  Dragoons ;  The  Ragged 
Brigade  ;  The  Evergreens  ;  and  The 
Geraniums. 

Run  -  down.  The  bridge  between 
stage  and  auditorium :  FT.,  practicable 
and  pont. 

Runner.  1.  A  figure  or  letter 
placed  down  the  length  of  the  page 
to  indicate  the  particular  number 
or  position  of  any  given  line.  2.  A 
tout :  e.g.  (Stock  Exchange),  a  broker's 
assistant  with  a  private  canvassing 
connection ;  (racing),  a  messenger 
stationed  at  a  telegraph  office  to  get 
early  information ;  (old  gaming),  a 
gambling  -  house  watchman  whose 
duty  was  to  apprise  the  approach  of 
the  police ;  (American),  (a)  a  steam- 
boat and  railroad  tout :  see  Ticket- 
scalper  ;  and  (b)  a  commercial  travel- 
ler. 3.  A  police  officer :  also  Bow 
Street  runner :  occasionally  a  sheriffs 
officer.  4.  A  wave :  cf.  Roller.  6. 
A  smuggler :  also  a  crimp,  a  single 
rope  rove  through  a  movable  block, 
and  (formerly)  a  vessel  sailing  with- 
out a  convoy  in  time  of  war  [Clark 
Russett.'] 

Runner  -  up.      1.  In  coursing,  the 


385 


It 'IS'  . 


hound  taking  second  prize,  losing 
only  the  final  course  against  the 
winner ;  whence,  2.  any  competitor 
running  second  or  taking  second  place ; 
whence  run  up,  the  race  from  the  slips 
to  the  first  turn  of  the  hare:  see  to 
run  up. 

Running.  Pace,  staying  power  ; 
whence,  in  (or  out)  of  the  running,  (1) 
in  (or  out)  of  competition  ;  (2)  quali- 
fied (or  not) ;  (3)  likely  to  win  (or  not) ; 
to  make  good  running,  to  do  well ;  to 
make  good  one's  running,  to  do  as 
well  as  one's  rival ;  to  make  the  run- 
ning, to  force  the  pace  ;  spec,  (racing) 
to  start  a  second-rate  horse  at  a  high 
speed  with  a  view  of  giving  a  better 
chance  to  a  stayer  belonging  to  the 
same  owner ;  to  take  up  the  running, 

(1)  to  increase  one's  pace,  (2)  to  take 
the  lead  or  most  active  part.     As  adj. 
hasty.     As  prep.,  approaching,  going 
on  for :  cf.  Rising. 

Running-glasier.  A  thief : 
a  sham  glazier. 

Running  -  leather.  To  have  shoes 
of  running  leather,  to  be  given  to 
rambling. 

Running  (or  Flying)  Patterer 
(or  Stationer).  A  hawker  of  ballads 
dying  -  speeches,  newspapers,  and 
books  :  cf.  Pinner-up. 

Running-rumble.     See  Rumbler. 

Running  -  smobble.  Snatching 
goods  off  a  counter,  and  throwing 
them  to  an  accomplice,  who  brushes 
off  with  them  (Orose). 

Running  -  snavel.  A  thief  whose 
speciality  is  the  kinchin-lay  (q.v.) ; 
see  Snaffle. 

Runt.  A  term  of  contempt : 
specifically  of  an  old  woman.  Whence 
runty,  surly,  boorish.  Also  a  short, 
squat  man  or  woman  (cf.  Welsh 
runt  s  small  cattle]. 

Run-to-seed.     Pregnant. 

Ruof.     Four. 

Rural.     A  rustic. 

Rush.  Generic  for  violence. 
Whence  (1)  as  subs.,  robbery  with 
violence :  distinguished  from  a  ramp 
(q.v.),  which  might  refer  to  the  lifting 
of  a  single  article,  whereas  the  rush 
involves  cleaning  out  (q.v.) ;  hence 

(2)  any  swindle  ;  and,  as  verb,  to  rob, 
cheat,  extort  (e.g.  I  rushed  the  old 
girl  for  a  quid):  also  the  rush  dodge, 
and  to  give  one  the  rush.     Into  modern 
colloquial  usage  rush  enters  largely : 
as  (3)  extreme  urgency  of  affairs  ;  (4)  a 


great  demand,  a  run  (q.v.);  (5)  a 
stampede  of  hones  and  cattle ;  (6)  a 
in<- 11  ay  ;  (7)  in  Amer.  schools,  (a)  a 
gabbled  or  brilliant  recitation,  and 
(6)  a  very  successful  pass ;  (8)  a 
forward's  work  at  football :  whence  a 
scrimmage  (q.v.)  or  play  in  which  the 
ball  is  forced  ;  (9)  the  lowest  minimum 
of  value :  cf.  Straw,  Rap,  Cent,  etc. 
(1362).  As  verb,  (1)  to  hurry,  force 
(or  advance)  a  matter  with  undue 
haste ;  (2)  to  go  for  an  opponent 
blindly :  chiefly  pugilists'  ;  (3)  to 
charge  or  attack  wildly ;  and  (4)  at 
football,  (a)  to  force  a  ball,  (b)  to 
secure  a  ball  by  forcing.  Also  to  do 
a  rush,  to  back  a  safe  -  'un  (q.v.), 
and  (among  bookmakers'  touts)  to 
bet  flash  (q.v.),  to  induce  business 
to  bonnet  (q.v.).  Whence  rusher,  (1) 
a  cheat,  a  thief  (spec,  a  thief  work- 
ing a  house  insufficiently  guarded) 
(2)  a  man  of  sensational  energy,  as  a 
ranting  divine,  a  bawling  politician, 
a  reckless  punter,  a  wild  -  hitting 
pugilist ;  and  (3)  a  forward  good  at 
running  ball -in -hand  or  forcing  the 
play  (football).  Also,  to  roam  on  the 
rush,  to  swerve  from  the  straight  at 
the  spurt  for  the  finish ;  on  (or  with)  a 
'rush,  with  spirit,  energetically ;  on 
the  rush,  on  the  run,  hard  at  it ;  to 
rush  the  season,  to  anticipate  social 
and  other  functions ;  to  rush  a  biS 
(parliamentary),  to  put  a  bill  through, 
(a)  without  debate,  or  (6)  by  closuring 
the  Opposition. 

Rush-ring.  To  marry  with  a  rush- 
ring,  (I)  to  marry  in  jest ;  and  (2)  to 
feign  marriage. 

Rush-buckler.     A  violent  bully. 

Russia.  A  pocket-book,  reader 
(q.v.). 

Russian  -  law.  '  A  100  blowee  on 
the  bare  shins'  (Day,  1641). 

Rust  (1)  To  collect  old  metal  and 
dispose  of  it  to  the  marine-store  dealers. 
To  nab  the  rust,  to  take  offence,  get 
restive :  cf.  Rusty.  English  syno- 
nyms :  to  chew  oneself,  to  comb  one's 
hair,  to  cut  up  rusty,  to  get  dandered 
(or  one's  dander  up) ;  huffed  or  huffy, 
in  a  pelter,  in  a  scot,  in  a  wax,  one's 
mad  up,  on  the  high  ropes,  the  needle, 
the  monkey  up,  the  monkey  on  one's 
back,  popped,  shirty,  the  spur,  waxy, 
to  have  one's  bristles  raised,  one's 
shirt  or  one's  tail  out,  to  lose  one's 
vest,  to  be  miffed,  to  pucker  up,  to 
squall,  to  stand  on  one's  hind  leg; 


380 


Rustic. 


Safe. 


to  throw  up  buckets ;  (2)  to  receive 
punishment  unexpectedly  ;  (3)  to  take 
money. 

Rustic.  A  clownish  country 
fellow  (.B.  E.). 

Rusticate.  To  banish  by  way  of 
punishment,  send  down  (q.v.) :  hence 
rustication. 

Rustle.  To  bestir  oneself,  grapple 
with  circumstances,  rise  superior  to 
the  event;  whence  rustler,  (1)  an 
energetic  resourceful  man ;  and  (2) 
a  rowdy,  a  desperado  :  spec.  (Western 
States)  a  cattle  -  lifter.  Rustling, 
active,  energetic,  smart  (q.v.). 

Rusty.  An  informer.  As  adj.  (also 
resty),  ill  -  tempered,  sullen,  restive, 


insolent,  or  (Grose)  out  of  use  :  whence 
to  ride  rusty  (or  nab  the  rust) :  see  Bust ; 
rusty-guts,  a  churl  (1362). 

Rusty  -  fusty  -  dusty.  Begrimed 
malodorous,  and  dirty. 

Rusty  Buckles  (The).  The 
Second  Dragoon  Guards  (Queen's 
Bays] :  also  The  Bays. 

Rut  To  keep  a  rut,  to  play  the 
meddler,  make  mischief. 

Rutat  (or  Rattat).  A  potato,  a 
tatur. 

Ry.  A  dishonest  practice,  sharp 
dodge. 

Ryder.     A  cloak. 

Rye.      See  Romany. 

Rye-buck.     All  right;  O.K.  (q.v.) 


Sa.     Six. 

Sabbath-day  's  journey.  A 
short  walk  :  also  (ironically)  an  excuse 
for  not  stirring. 

Sabe  (save,  or  savvy).  Shrewd- 
ness, nous  (q.v.),  gumption  (q.v.). 

Sable  Maria.     See  Black  Maria. 

Sabin.     A  whimster  (1637). 

S  a  c  c  e  r.  The  sacrament :  cf. 
Soccer,  Rugger,  Brekker,  Collecker. 

Sacheverel.  The  iron  door,  or 
blower,  to  the  mouth  of  a  stove  :  from 
a  divine  of  that  name  who  made  him- 
self famous  for  blowing  the  coals  of 
dissension  in  the  latter  end  of  the 
reign  of  Queen  Anne  (Orose). 

Sack.  A  pocket.  As  verb,  to 
pocket ;  to  dive  into  a  sack,  to  pick 
a  pocket.  Phrases  are :  To  give  (or 
get)  the  sack  (bag,  billet,  bullet,  canvas, 
kick-out,  mitten,  pike,  or  road),  to  give 
or  get  discharge :  from  employment, 
office,  position,  etc.  :  see  Bag ;  also 
to  sack  and  to  bestow  (or  get)  the  order 
of  the  sack ;  to  buy  the  sack,  to  get 
drunk ;  to  break  a  bottle  in  an  empty 
sack,  a  bubble  bet,  a  sack  with  a 
bottle  in  it  not  being  an  empty  sack 
(Orose) ;  more  sacks  to  the  mitt  !  (1) 
Pile  it  on  !  a  call  to  increased  exer- 
tion, and  (2)  plenty  in  store. 

Sacrifice.  The  surrender,  or  loss 
of  profit.  As  verb,  to  sell  regard- 
less of  cost. 

Sad.  Mischievous,  troublesome, 
of  little  account,  merry,  fast :  as  a 
sad  dog,  (1)  a  wicked  debauched 


fellow    (Orose);    and    (2)    a    playful 
reproach  (1706). 

Saddle.  A  charge  upon  the 
proceeds  of  a  benefit  performance. 
Phrases :  To  put  the  saddle  on  the 
right  horse,  (1)  to  blame  (or  praise) 
where  justly  due,  and  (2)  to  cast  a 
burden  where  best  borne ;  to  suit 
one  as  a  saddle  suits  a  sow,  to  become 
ill,  to  be  incongruous ;  to  saddle  a 
market  (Amer.  Stock  Exchange),  to 
foist  a  stock  on  the  market ;  to  saddle 
one  with  a  thing,  to  impose  a  thing  on, 
to  constrain  to  accept  an  unwelcome 
gift ;  He  has  a  saddle  to  fit  every 
horse,  He  has  a  salve  (or  remedy)  for 
every  sore  (or  mishap) ;  to  saddle  the 
spit,  to  give  a  dinner  or  supper ;  to 
saddle  one's  nose,  to  wear  spectacles ; 
to  saddle  a  place  (or  pension),  to 
oblige  the  owner  to  pay  a  certain 
portion  of  his  income  to  some  one 
nominated  by  the  donor  (Orose) ; 
saddle-leather,  the  skin  of  the  post- 
eriors ;  saddle-sick,  galled  by  riding. 

Saddleback.     A  louse  :   see  Chates. 

Sadly.     Indifferent  in  health. 

Safe.  Trustworthy,  certain  :  e.g. 
So-and-so  is  safe  enough,  He  is  certain 
to  meet  his  engagements  ;  safe  to  be 
hanged,  sure  of  the  gallows ;  safe  as 
houses  (the  bellows,  coons,  the  Bank — 
anything),  perfectly  sure ;  a  safe 
card,  a  wide-awake  fellow ;  a  safe-'un, 
a  horse  not  meant  to  run,  nor,  if  he 
runs,  to  win;  also  stiff-'un  (q.v.) 
dead-'un  (q.v.),  or  stumer  (q.v.) 


387 


Salt. 


with  such  an  entry  a  bookmaker  can 
safely  operate  (1624). 

Sails.  A  sail  maker  (1835).  Phrases: 
To  sail  in,  to  put  in  an  appearance, 
or  take  part  in  a  matter ;  to  take  the 
wind  oni  of  one's  tails,  to  run  foul 
of,  to  spoil  sport ;  to  sail  near  (dose 
to,  or  too  near)  the  wind,  (1)  to  run 
risks,  (2)  to  act  with  caution,  (3) 
to  live  closely  to  one's  income,  and 
(4)  to  verge  upon  obscenity ;  How 
you  sail  about,  How  you  saunter 
about. 

Sailor 's-blessing.     A  curse. 

Sailor's-pleasure.  Yarning, 
smoking,  dancing,  growling,  etc. 
(Clark  Russell). 

Sailor's- waiter.  A  second  officer 
on  a  merchantman :  the  crew  call 
him  the  sailor's-waiter,  as  he  has  to 
furnish  them  with  spun  yarn,  marline, 
and  all  other  stuffs  that  they  need  in 
their  work. 

Saint.  A  piece  of  spoiled  timber 
in  a  coachmaker's  shop,  like  a  saint, 
devoted  to  the  flames  ( Grose).  Phrases 
and  derivatives:  St.  Anthony's  pig,  a 
scholar  of  the  City  of  London  School ; 
St.  Geoffrey's  Day,  never :  see  Queen 
Dick ;  St.  Giles's  breed,  fat,  ragged, 
and  saucy  (Grose) ;  St.  Giles's  Greek, 
cant,  slang  (q.v.),  peddler's  French; 
St.  Lawrence's  tears,  the  Perseides :  a 
shower  of  meteors  appearing  from  9th 
to  llth  August ;  St.  Lubbock's  day,  a 
bank-holiday ;  St.  Luke's  bird,  an 
ox ;  St.  Marget's  ale,  water :  see 
Adam's  AJe ;  St.  Martin's  evU,  drun- 
kenness ;  St.  Martin's  ring,  a  copper- 
gilt  ring ;  St.  Martin's  lace,  imitation 
gold  lace,  stage  tinsel ;  St.  Monday, 
a  holiday  taken  on  Monday  to  re- 
cover from  the  effects  of  the  Sunday's 
rest :  whence  Mondayish,  lazy :  see 
Cobbler's  Sunday  and  Shoemaker's 
holiday  ;  St.  Nicholas  (see  Nicholas) ; 
St.  Patrick  (or  St.  Patrick's  well),  the 
best  whisky ;  to  borrow  St.  John  (see 
Borrow) ;  to  dine  with  St.  Anthony 
(cf.  Duke  Humphrey) ;  the  'spital 
stands  too  nigh  St.  Thomas  a'  Water- 
ings, Widows  who  shed  most  tears  are 
sometimes  guilty  of  such  indiscretions 
as  render  them  proper  subects  for 
the  public  hospitals  (Haditt) ;  saint 
of  the  saucepan,  an  expert  cook. 

Sake.  For  sake's  sake  (any  sake, 
goodness  take,  etc.),  a  strong  appeal. 
For  old  sake's  sake,  for  auld  lang  syne 
(1670). 


Sal.     Salary. 

Salad.  1.  When  an  officer  on  board 
ship  is  wakened  and  fails  to  obey  the 
summons,  but  has  another  nap,  it  is 
called  taking  a  salad.  2.  A  lettuce. 

Salad-days  (or  Stage).  The 
days  of  youthful  simplicity,  inex- 
perience (1608). 

Salamander.  (1)  Anything  fire- 
proof, and  (2)  a  fire -eating  juggler 
(circus). 

Salesman's -dog.  A  shop  tout, 
barker  (q.v.). 

Salisbury.     A  lie. 

Sally.     See  Aunt  Sally. 

Sallinger's-  (or  Sallenger's  —  i.e. 
St  Leger's)  Round.  To  dance 
Sallinger's  •  round,  to  wanton.  [Sal- 
linger's round,  a  loose  ballad  and  tune, 
tent  pus  Elizabeth.] 

Salmagundy  (or  Salmon-gundy). 
1.  Salt  beef  from  the  brine,  sliced  and 
mixed  with  an  equal  quantity  of 
onions,  with  pepper  and:  salt,  and 
brought  into  consistence  with  oil  and 
vinegar.  2.  A  cook. 

Salmon  (or  Salomon).  The  man, 
the  Beggar's  Sacrament  or  Oath 
(1536). 

Salmon-and-trout.  The  mouth : 
see  Potato-trap. 

Salt.  1.  A  sailor:  esp.  an  old 
hand :  also  salt-water.  2.  Money : 
specifically  (Eton  College)  the  gratuity 
exacted  at  the  now  obsolete  triennial 
festival  of  the  Montem  (q.v.) :  also 
(generic),  a  measure  of  value.  3. 
pointed  language,  wit :  whence  salt- 
pits  (old  Univ.),  The  store  of  attic 
wit  (1580).  As  adj.,  (1)  wanton 
(1598).  Salt-water,  urine ;  (2)  costly, 
heavy,  extravagant :  generic  for  ex- 
cess :  e.g.  as  salt  as  fire,  as  salt  as 
may  be :  also  salty.  As  verb,  to 
swindle :  specifically  to  cheat  by 
fictitiously  enhancing  value :  e.g. 
to  salt  books,  ( 1 )  to  make  bogus  entries 
showing  extensive  and  profitable 
business  ;  to  salt  an  invoice,  to  charge 
extreme  prices  so  as  to  permit  an 
apparently  liberal  discount ;  to  salt  a 
mine,  to  sprinkle  (or  plant,  q.v.)  a 
worn-out  or  bogus  property  with 
gold  dust,  diamonds,  etc.,  with  a  view 
to  good  sales,  and  so  forth :  hence 
salter,  a  fraudulent  vendor.  (2)  To 
be-jewell  profusely :  see  To  salt  a 
mine.  (3)  On  a  particular  day,  the 
senior  undergraduates  in  the  evening 
called  the  freshmen  to  the  fire,  and 


Salt-box. 


Sank. 


made  them  hold  out  their  chins; 
whilst  one  of  the  seniors  with  the 
nail  of  his  thumb  (which  was  left 
long  for  that  purpose)  grated  off  all 
the  skin  from  the  lip  to  the  chin, 
and  then  obliged  him  to  drink  a  beer 
glass  of  water  and  salt  (Martin,  First 
Lord  Shaftesbury,  1.  42).  Phrases : 
with  a  grain  of  salt,  under  reserve  : 
Lat.  ;  not  worth  one's  salt,  unworthy  of 
hire  ;  to  eat  one's  salt,  to  be  received 
as  a  guest  or  under  protection  :  salt 
also,  hospitality ;  to  put  (cast,  or  lay) 
salt  on  the  tail,  to  ensnare,  achieve :  as 
children  are  told  to  catch  birds ;  to 
come  after  with  salt  and  spoons  (of  one 
that  is  none  of  the  Hastings,  B.  E.) ; 
man  of  salt,  a  man  of  tears. 

Salt  -  box.  A  prison  cell :  speci- 
fically (Newgate),  the  condemned 
cell :  Fr.,  abattoir. 

Salt-box-cly.  An  outside  pocket 
with  a  flap. 

Saltee  (or  Saulty).  A  penny :  see 
Rhino. 

Salt  -  eel.  A  rope's-end  ;  to  have 
salt  -  eel  for  supper,  to  be  thrashed 
(1696). 

Salt  -  horse  (or  Salt  -  junk).  Salt 
beef:  also  old -horse  (or  junk)  which 
see  (1857). 

Saltimbanco.  A  street  clown,  a 
Jim  Crow,  a  Billy  Barlow  :  Fr.,  pitre. 

Salt  River.  A  cant  phrase  :  an 
unlucky  wight,  who  has  failed  to  be 
elected  to  some  public  office,  was 
rowed  up  Salt  River.  If  very  griev- 
ously defeated,  they  were  apt  to  be 
rowed  up  to  the  very  headwaters  of 
Salt  River  (De  Vere). 

Salts-and-senna.     A  doctor. 

Salubrious.  1.  Drunk:  see 
Screwed.  2.  Pretty  well,  thank  you. 

Salve.  Praise,  gammon  (q.v.); 
cf.  Lip- salve. 

Sam.  A  Liverpudlian :  also 
Dicky  Sam.  To  stand  Sam,  to  pay  the 
shot,  to  treat  (q.v.). 

Sambo.  A  negro :  generic :  c. 
1558,  a  tribe  of  Africans  is  called 
Samboses. 

Sammy  (or  Sammy-soft).  A 
fool.  As  adj.,  foolish  (1837). 

Sample.  To  drink :  see  Lush. 
Sample-room,  a  drinking  bar. 

Sample-count.  A  traveller,  am- 
bassador of  commerce  (q.v.). 

Samson  (or  Sampson).  1.  A 
drink  made  of  brandy,  cider,  sugar, 
and  a  little  water  (Halliwell).  2. 


(Durham     School).     A     baked     jam 
pudding. 

Samson  and  Abel  (Oxford 
University).  A  group  of  wrestlers 
in  the  quadrangle  of  Brasenose 
[Some  said  it  represented  Samson 
killing  a  Philistine  ;  others  Cain  killing 
Abel :  the  matter  was  compromised.] 

Samson 's-posts.  A  mousetrap  so 
constructed  that  the  capture  is 
crushed  to  death. 

Sand.  1.  Moist  sugar.  2.  Energy, 
spirit,  go  (q.v.).  To  eat  sand,  to 
shorten  a  watch  by  turning  the  glass 
before  it  is  quite  run  out,  is  called 
eating  of  sand.  If  the  sun  is  not 
seen  for  days  together  ...  it  has  hap- 
pened that  an  helmsman  has  eaten  so 
much  sand,  that  day  has  been  changed 
into  night,  and  the  night  into  day 
(1743). 

Sandbag.  1.  A  long  sausage-like 
bag  of  sand  dealing  a  heavy  blow  that 
leaves  no  mark :  also  as  verb,  and 
sandbagger.  2.  In  pi.,  The  Grenadier 
Guards.  Also  Old  Eyes,  Coalheavers, 
Housemaids'  Pets,  and  Bermuda 
Exiles  (q.v.). 

Sandboy.  As  happy  (jolly,  or 
merry)  as  a  sandboy,  All  rags  and  all 
happiness  ...  a  merry  fellow  who  has 
tasted  a  drop  (Bee). 

Sandgate  -  rattle.  A  quick  and 
violent  stamping  dance. 

Sand-man  (or  Sandy-man).  When 
sleepy  children  begin  to  rub  their 
eyes  the  sand-man  (or  dustman)  is 
coming. 

Sandpaper.  1.  To  smooth  down. 
2.  To  be  well  quizzed  or  roasted  (q.v.). 

Sandwich.  1.  A  man  carrying 
two  boards  slung  over  his  shoulders, 
back  and  front,  as  an  advertisement : 
also  sandwich  man :  see  Toad-in-the- 
hole.  2.  A  gentleman  between  two 
ladies :  cf.  Bodkin ;  Thorn  between 
two  roses,  etc.  :  Fr.,  dne  d  deux  pan- 
nieres.  As  verb,  to  insert  between 
dissimilars. 

Sandwich  -  boat.  See  Bumping- 
race. 

Sandy.  A  Scot :  short  for  Alex- 
ander (1500). 

Sandy  -  pate.  A  red-haired  man 
or  woman. 

Sangaree.  A  drunken  bout 
(Halliwell). 

Sank  (S  a  n  k  y,  or  Centipers). 
A  soldiers'  tailor :  whence  sank-wor k, 
making  up  soldiers'  clothes. 


389 


-Sap. 


Sawney. 


Sap  (Saphead,  Sap-pate,  or 
Sapscull).  1.  A  fool :  tappy  (or  tap- 
headed,  etc.),  foolish,  namby-pamby, 
lazy  (1665).  2.  A  hard  worker, 
diligent  student,  hash  (Charterhouse) : 
also  aa  verb,  to  read  hard,  swot  (q.v.). 
3.  Ale :  see  Drinks.  As  verb,  to 
booze  (q.v.):  sappy-drinking,  ex- 
cessive drinking. 

Sappy.  1.  Severe :  of  a  caning. 
2.  See  Sap. 

Sarahs.  Manchester,  Sheffield, 
and  Lincoln  Deferred  Stock. 

Sarah's  Boots.  Sierra  Buttes 
Gold  Mining  Co.'s  Shares. 

Sardine.  1.  A  sailor :  spec,  an 
old  whaling  hand.  [The  living  space 
on  board  a  whaler  is  limited.]  2.  One 
of  the  crowd  :  see  Herring.  Packed 
like  sardines,  huddled.  3.  In  pi., 
Royal  Sardinian  Ry.  Shares. 
I  Sark  (Sherborne  School).  To  sulk. 

Sassenger  (or  sassiger).  A 
sausage. 

Satan's  Bones.     See  Bones. 

Sate-poll.     A  stupid  person. 

Satin.     See  White  Satin. 

Saturday-nighter  (Harrow 
School).  An  exercise  set  for  Satur- 
day night. 

Saturday  -  scavenger  (or  scara- 
mouch). See  Weekly  Scarifier. 

Saturday-soldier.     A  volunteer. 

Saturday  -  to  -  Monday.  A  week- 
end jaunt. 

Satyr.     A  cattle-thief. 

Sauce  (Sarse,  Sass,  or  Sauci- 
ness).  1.  Impudence,  assurance 
(1555) :  hence  saucy,  (a)  impudent, 
bold,  presuming  ;  and  (6)  smart  (q.v.) ; 
as  verb  (or  to  eat  sauce.),  to  abuse, 
to  lip  (q.v.);  sauce -box  (sauce  -  pate, 
sauceling,  or  sauce-jack),  an  imperti- 
nent :  see  Jack-sauce.  2.  Vegetables : 
whence  garden-sauce,  a  salad ;  long- 
sauce,  carrots,  parsnips,  beet,  etc. ; 
short-sauce,  potatoes,  turnips,  onions, 
etc. :  whence  any  accessory  or  sequel, 
(1705).  3.  Money :  see  Rhino.  Phrases: 
To  serve  with  the  same  sauce,  to  minis- 
ter or  retaliate  in  kind  (1609) ;  Whafs 
sauce  for  the  goose  is  sauce  for  the 
gander  (1700);  tit  -  for  -  tat  (q.v.); 
carrier'*-  (or  poor  man's-)  sauce, 
hunger  :  cf.  Hunger  is  the  best  sauce  ; 
More  sauct  than  pig,  exceeding  bold. 

Saucepan.  To  have  tht  saucepan 
on  the  fire,  to  be  set  on  a  scolding 
bout.  The  saucepan  runs  (or  boils) 
over,  You  are  exceeding  bold  (B.  E.). 


Saucebox.  1.  The  mouth,  2.  Se« 
Sauce. 

Saucers.  Eyes  :  spec,  large,  wide- 
opened  eyes  :  also  Saucer-eyes  (1599). 

Saucy  Greens.  The  2nd  Batt. 
Worcester  Regiment,  formerly  the 
Thirty-Sixth  Foot  [From  the  fac- 
ings 1742-1881). 

Saucy- Jack.     See  Saucy,  and  Jack. 

Saucy  Pompeys.     See  Pompadours. 

Saucy  Sixth  (The).  The  Royal 
Warwickshires,  formerly  The  6th 
Foot  Also  Guise's  Geese ;  and  The 
Warwickshire  Lads. 

Saucy  Seventh  (The  Old). 
The  Seventh  (The  Queen's  Own) 
Hussars  (in  the  Peninsula) :  also  The 
Lily  -  white  Seventh,  Young  Eyes, 
Old  Straws,  and  Strawboots. 

Saunter.     To  loiter  idly  (B.  E.). 

Savagerous.     Savage. 

Save.  To  set  part  of  one  bet 
against  another,  hedge  (q.v.).  [Two 
persons  back  different  horses,  agreeing, 
if  either  wins,  to  give  the  other,  say 
£5,  who  thus  saves  a  fiver.  Also,  as 
in  pool,  to  save  the  stakes.  Likewise 
to  keep  a  certain  horse  on  one  side, 
not  betting  against  it,  saving  it  as  a 
clear  winner  for  oneself :  hence  saver,  a 
bet  so  made.]  Hang  saving,  blow  the 
expense.  See  Bacon. 

Save-all.     A  stingy  person,  miser. 

Savers.     Halves ! 

Save  -  reverence.  See  Sir-Rever- 
ence. 

Saving-chin.  A  projecting  chin  : 
that  catches  what  may  fall  from  the 
nose :  cf.  Nutcrackers. 

Savey  (or  Savvy).  1.  To  know ; 
as  subs.,  understanding,  wit,  nous 
(q.v.).  2.  To  have,  know,  do,  and  all 
the  other  verbs  that  be. 

Saw.  1.  The  alternate  trumping  by 
two  partners  of  suite  led  for  the  pur- 
pose ;  a  ruff  :  also  see-saw,  and  as  verb. 
2.  A  hoax :  also  as  adj.  and  verb :  Fr., 
scie.  Saw  your  timber  I  Be  off  !  Cut 
your  stick  (q.v.).  Held  at  the  (or  a) 
long  saw,  held  in  suspense. 

Sawbones.  A  surgeon,  flesh- 
tailor  (q.v.). 

Sawder  (or  Soft  -  sawder).  Soft 
speech,  blarney  (q.v.). 

Sawdust  (or  Sawdusty).  1. 
Humbug :  also  as  adj.  2.  A  variety 
of  the  confidence  trick. 

Sawney  (or  Sawny).  1.  A  lout. 
As  adj.,  stupid  (1567).  2.  A  Soot, 
Sandy  (q.v.).  3.  Bacon;  also  stolen 


Sawney  ing. 


Scant-of -grace. 


cheese  ;  hence,  sawney-hunter,  a  bacon 
thief. 

Sawneying.  Soft-speaking,  pimp- 
ing, carneying  (q.v.). 

Sawyer.  A  snag:  a  fallen  tree, 
rising  and  falling  with  the  waves. 

Say.  See  Ape's  Paternoster ; 
Boh  ;  Jack  Robinson  ;  Knife  ;  Mouth  ; 
Nothing ;  Parson  ;  Prayers ;  Te  Deum ; 
Thing;  When. 

Say-so.  An  assertion ;  also  a  mild 
oath :  on  my  say-so,  On  my  word  of 
honour  :  also  sammy  say  -  so.  You 
say  you  can,  but  can  you  ?  You  lie. 

Scab.  1.  A  rascal :  spec,  a  con- 
stable or  sheriff's  officer :  often  jocular. 
Hence  scabby  (or  scab),  contemptible  ; 
beggarly ;  scabby-sheep,  a  ne'er-do- 
weel  :  also  scabUonian  (1591).  2.  A 
workman  who  refuses  to  join,  or 
continues  at  work  during  a  strike  ;  a 
blackleg  (q.v.);  generally  applied  to 
all  non- Union  men :  FT.,  flint.  3.  A 
button-hole. 

Scabbado.     Syphilis  (1725). 

Scabby.  Unevenly  printed, 
blotchy. 

Scabby-neck.     A  Dane. 

Scab  -  raiser.  A  drummer.  [One 
of  whose  duties  was  to  wield  the  cat.  ] 

Scad.  An  abundance :  hence  in 
pi.,  money,  resources. 

Scadger.  A  mean  fellow,  a 
cadger  (q.v.). 

Scaff  (Christ's  Hospital).  A  selfish 
fellow :  the  adj.  forms  are  scaly  (and 
scabby),  mean,  stingy. 

Scaff  -  and  -  raff.  Refuse,  rabble, 
riff-raff  (q.v.). 

Scaffolders.  Spectators  in  the 
gallery,  the  gods  (q.v.)  (1599). 

Scalawag  (or  Scailawag).  1. 
Anything  low  class.  2.  (Century) 
Used  in  the  Southern  States,during  the 
Reconstruction  period  (1865-76)  in 
an  almost  specific  sense,  being  op- 
probriously  applied  by  the  opponents 
of  the  Republican  party  to  native 
Southerners  who  acted  with  that 
party,  as  distinguished  from  Carpet- 
bagger, a  Republican  of  Northern 
origin.  As  adj.,  wastrel,  shrunken, 
profligate  :  cf.  Carpet-bagger. 

Scaldabanco.  '  One  that  keepes  a 
seate  warme,  but  ironically  spoken  of 
idle  lectures  that  possesse  a  pewe  in  the 
schooles  or  pulpet  in  churches,  and 
baffle  out  they  know  not  what ;  also 
a  hot-headed  puritane '  (Florio). 

Scalder.     Tea. 


Scalciings!  (Winchester).  Begone! 
Be  off !  Also  a  general  warning, 
Look  out ! 

Scald-rag.     A  dyer  (1630). 
Scaldrum  -  dodge.        The    art    of 
burning  the  body  with  a  mixture  of 
acids  and  gunpowder,  so  as  to  suit  the 
hues  and  complexions  of  the  accident 
to  be  deplored.     Scaldrum,  a  beggar. 
Scales.     See  Shadscales. 
Scallops.     An     awkward     girl 
(Hattiwett). 

Scalp.  1.  To  sell  under  price ;  to 
share  commission  or  discount :  e.g. 
to  scalp  stock,  to  sell  stock  regardless  of 
value  ;  ticket-scalping,  the  sale  of  un- 
used railway  tickets,  or  tickets  bought 
in  quantities  as  a  speculation,  at  a 
cheaper  than  the  official  rate ;  ticket- 
scalper,  a  ticket  broker.  2.  (a)  To 
ostracise  for  rebellion,  and  (b)  to 
ruin  one's  influence. 

Scaly.     Shabby,  mean,  fishy  (q.v.). 
Scaly-fish.     An  honest,  rough, 
blunt  sailor  (Grose). 
Scamander.     To  loaf  ( q.v. ). 
Scammered.    Drunk :  see  Screwed. 
Scamp.      1.   A   highway  robber 
(also  scampsman) ;    and,  2.  highway 
robbery  (also  scampery) :  whence  as 
verb,  to  rob  on  the  highway ;  royal- 
scamp,     a     highwayman    who     robs 
civilly ;    royal-foot-scamp,    a    footpad 
behaving  in  like  manner ;  done  for  a 
scamp,   convicted.     3.   A  rogue ;   an 
arrant  rascal ;  sometimes  (colloquial) 
in    jest :     hence    scampish,    roguish, 
tricky  ;  scampery,  roguery.     As  verb] 
to  do  carelessly  and  ill,  give  bad  work 
or  short  measure. 

Scamper.  'To  run  away,  or 
Scowre  off,  either  from  Justice,  or 
Thieves,  Debtors,  Criminals,  that  are 
pursued ;  or  from  ill  fortune,  as 
Soldiers  that  are  repulst  or  worsted ' 
(B.  E.). 

Scandal-broth   (chatter,   or 
water).     Tea,  cat-lap  (q.v.). 
Scandalous.     A  periwig. 
Scandal  -  proof.      1.  'A  thorough 
pac'd  Alsatian,  or  Minter,  one  harden'd 
or  past  Shame '  (B.  E. ).    2.  '  One  who 
has  eaten  shame  and  drank  after  it, 
or  would  blush   at   being    ashamed ' 
(Grose). 

S  c  a  n  m  a  g.     Scandalous    jobber, 

pettifogging     slander,     talk.     [Short 

and  derisive  for  Scandalum  magnatum.] 

Scant  -  of  -  grace.      A    scapegrace 

(1821). 


391 


Scape. 


Scissors. 


Scape.  A  cheat  (1599).  As  verb, 
to  neglect  one's  brush  (Bee). 

Scape-gallows.  One  who  deserves 
but  has  escaped  the  gallows  (Orose). 

Scape-grace  (or  thrift).  A 
good  -  for  -  nothing,  a  ne'er  -  do  -  well 
(1577). 

Scaramouch.  1.  A  buffoon.  2. 
A  disreputable  rascal.  [Stanford  :  It. 
Scaramuccia,  the  braggart  buffoon 
of  Italian  comedy.]  (1662).  3.  A 
puppet. 

Scarborough  -  warning  (leisure, 
scrabbling).  No  warning  at  all ;  the 
blow  before  the  word. 

Scarce.  To  make  one's  self  scarce, 
to  retire  (1749). 

Scare.  To  scare  up,  to  find,  dis- 
cover :  e.g.  to  scare  up  money. 

Scarecrow.  A  scarecrow  is  a  boy 
who  has  served  a  thief  until  he  is 
well  known  to  the  police,  and  is  so 
closely  watched  that  he  may  as  well 
stay  at  home  as  go  out. 

Scarehead.  A  line  in  bold  type 
calculated  to  arrest  attention. 

Scarlet.  To  dye  scarlet,  to  drink 
deep  (1598).  To  wear  scarlet,  (1)  to 
win  the  higher  University  degrees ; 
(2)  to  attain  sheriff  or  aldermanic 
rank.  [Which  were  scarlet  -  robed.] 
(1610). 

Scarlet  -  fever.  Flirtation  with 
soldiers :  Fr.,  culotte-  (or  pantalon-) 
rouge :  cf.  Yellow-fever. 

Scarlet  -  horse.  A  hired  hack 
(high-red). 

Scarlet  Lancers  (The).  See  Red 
Lancers. 

Scarlet  -  runner.  1.  A  Bow  Street 
officer,  Robin-redbreast  (q.v.).  [They 
wore  scarlet  waistcoats.]  2.  A  foot- 
man. 

Scarlet-town.      Reading  [Berks.] 

Scarlet-woman.  The  Church  of 
Rome. 

Scarper.    To  run  away. 

Scat.     Begone ! 

S  c  a  t  e.  A  light-heels  (HaUiwell). 
As  verb,  to  be  loose  in  the  bowels 
(HaUvu'cll). 

Scatteration.  A  commotion,  dis- 
persal. Hence  scatterationist,  a  poli- 
tician running  his  personal  fads  with- 
out reference  to  either  party  or  public. 

Scatterbrain.  An  unreasoning 
ass ;  scatterbrained,  giddy. 

Scattergood.  A  spendthrift 
(1577). 

Scatter-gun.     A  shot-gun. 


Scatterling.     A  vagabond  (1599). 

Scavenger's-  daughter.  An 
instrument  of  torture  invented  by  Sir 
W.  Skevington,  Lieutenant  of  the 
Tower  of  London,  temp.  Hen.  VIII. 

Scew.     See  Skew. 

Scellum.  A  thief:  cf.  Skellum 
(1630). 

Scene.  An  exhibition  of  feeling 
or  temper.  Behind  the  scenes,  having 
access  to  information  not  open  to  the 
general  public;  in  the  know  (q.v.). 

Scene-rat.  An  extra  in  ballet  or 
pantomime. 

Scheme  (Winchester).  A  candle 
on  reaching  a  measured  point  ignites 
paper,  which  by  burning  a  string 
releases  a  weight ;  this  falls  on  the 
head  of  a  boy  to  be  waked. 

Schism-shop.  A  dissenting  meet- 
ing-house ;  schism-monger,  a  dissenting 
parson  :  amongst  Catholics  any  Pro- 
testant church  or  chapel. 

Schirt  (Winchester).  A  goal :  at 
football :  see  Gowner.  [  Wrench :  This 
was  the  word  in  general  use  till  1860, 
when  it  was  superseded  by  goal.] 

Schliver.     A  clasp-knife. 

Schol  (Harrow).  1.  A  scholar. 
2.  A  scholarship. 

School.  A  party  of  persons  met 
together  for  the  purpose  of  gambling. 
Also  (modern)  any  small  band  of 
associates,  as  thieves  or  beggars  work- 
ing together,  a  set  of  passengers 
travelling  regularly  by  the  same  train, 
etc.  Hence  schoolman,  a  companion, 
a  mate. 

Schooling.  1.  A  term  of  confine- 
ment in  a  reformatory.  2.  Pitch-and- 
toss. 

School -butter.    A  flogging. 

Schoolmaster.  1.  See  Bilk.  2. 
A  horse  good  at  jumping :  generally 
ridden  with  one  in  training. 

School  -  street.  The  University 
(Oxford  Univ.). 

Schooner.  A  tall  glass  :  containing 
twice  the  quantity  of  an  ordinary 
tumbler :  three  -  masted  schooner,  a 
schooner  of  extra  size.  See  Prairie 
Schooner. 

Schwassle  -  box.  See  Swatchel- 
cove. 

Scissorean  -  operation.  Gutting 
a  book. 

Scissors.  To  give  one  scissors,  to 
pay  out,  to  cut  up  (q.v.) :  also  Scissors  I 
an  exclamation  of  disgust  or  im- 
patience. 


392 


Scissor  s-and-paste. 


Scoundrel. 


Scissors-and-paste.  Com- 
pilation: as  distinguished  from  orig- 
inal work :  Fr.,  travailier  d  coups  de 
ciseaux  (to  compile). 

S  c  o  b  (Winchester  College).  An 
oak  box  with  a  double  lid,  set  at  the 
angles  of  the  squares  of  wooden 
benches  in  school :  used  as  desk  and 
book-case.  [Probably  the  word  has 
been  transferred  from  the  bench  itself, 
and  comes  from  Fr.,  escabeau,  Lat., 
scabettum.]  Wrench  (1620). 

Scoff  (or  Scorf).  1.  To  eat :  also 
as  subs.,  food.  2.  To  run  away, 
skedaddle  (q.v.):  also  to  scoff  (or 
scuff)  away. 

Scoffer.     Plate. 

Scoldrum.     See  Scaldrum. 

Schollard.     A  scholar. 

Scolopendra.  A  prostitute :  i.e. 
a  ramping  thing  with  a  sting  in  its 
tail. 

Scold's  Cure.  A  coffin :  the 
blowen  has  napped  the  scold's  cure ; 
the  wench  is  in  her  coffin  (Orose). 

Sconce.  1.  The  head  (Grose).  2. 
Sense,  judgment,  brains  (1567).  3. 
A  fine,  a  score :  hence  to  build  a  sconce 
(or  to  sconce),  (1)  to  run  up  a  score  ; 
spec,  with  no  intention  of  paying ; 

(2)  to  be  mulcted  in  fines ;  and  (3)  to 
pay  out,  to  chastise  (1630).     As  verb, 
(1  to  3),  see  subs.  ;  (4)  to  reduce,  dis- 
continue :  e.g.  to  sconce  one's  diet,  to 
bant  (q.v.):  to  sconce  the  reckoning,  to 
reduce  expenses  ;  (5)  to  hinder,  get  in 
the  way :  as  of  a  kick  at  football,  a 
catch  at  cricket,  etc. :  e.g.    If  you  had 
not  sconced,  I  should  have  made  a 
flyer. 

S  c  o  n  i  c  k.  To  hurry  about, 
shin  about  (q.v.) :  also  to  sconick 
round. 

Scoop.  1.  A  big  haul ;  an  advan- 
tage :  spec,  (journalists')  news  secured 
in  advance  of  a  rival,  a  series  of  beats 
(q.v.).  2.  On  'Change,  a  sudden 
breaking  down  of  prices,  enabling 
operators  to  buy  cheaply,  followed  by 
a  rise.  As  verb,  (1)  to  make  a  big 
haul ;  (2)  to  get  the  better  of  a  rival ; 

(3)  to  fetch,  fit ;  (4)  to  gulp  (whalers') : 
the  whale  gets  into  a  patch   of  food 
or  brit  (resembling  sawdust  on  the 
surface  of  the  water) .  .  .  goes  through 
it  with  only  the  head  out  and  mouth 
open  :  as  soon  as  a  mouthful  of  water 
is  obtained  the  whale  closes  its  lips, 
ejects  the  water,  the  feed  being  left  in 
the  mouth  and  throat.     On  the  scoop, 


on  the  drink,  or  a  round  of  dissipa- 
tion. 

Scoot  (Skoot,  or  Skute).  To 
move  quickly  ;  on  the  scoot,  on  the  run  ; 
scooter,  a  restless  knockabout ;  scoot- 
train,  an  express. 

Scorcher.  Anybody  or  anything 
severe,  eccentric,  or  hasty.  Spec. 
to  scorch,  to  ride  a  bicycle,  drive  a 
motor,  etc.,  at  top  speed :  whence 
scorching,  hot  (q.v.). 

Score.  To  get  the  better  of :  also 
to  score  off  one. 

Scorf.     See  Scorf. 

Scorpion  -  of-the-brow. 
Accrochecceurs,  the  beau  -  catchers, 
bell-ropes  or  aggravators  (q.v.). 

Scot.  1.  A  person  easily  vexed  ; 
esp.  one  given  to  resent  company 
sport;  the  diversion  is  called  getting 
one  out  (or  round  the  corner).  2. 
Temper,  a  paddy  (q.v.). 

Scotch.  1.  Scotch  whisky:  cf. 
Irish.  2.  See  Scotch-peg.  Phrases: 
Scotch-bait,  a  halt  and  a  resting  on  a 
stick,  as  practised  by  pedlars  (Grose) ; 
Scotch-casement,  the  pillory ;  Scotch- 
chocolate,  brimstone  and  milk  ;  Scotch- 
coffee,  hot  water  flavoured  with  burnt 
biscuit ;  Scotch  -  fiddle,  the  itch ;  to 
play  the  Scotch-fiddle,  to  work  the 
index  finger  of  one  hand  like  a  fiddle- 
stick between  the  index  and  middle 
finger  of  the  other  ;  Scotch  Greys,  lice  : 
hence  headquarters  of  the  Scots'  Greys 
a  lowsy  head  ;  Scotch-hobby,  a  little 
sorry,  scrubbed,  low  horse  of  that 
country  (B.  E. ) ;  Scotch-mist,  a  soaking 
rain ;  Scotch-ordinary,  the  house  of 
office ;  Scotch-peg  (rhyming),  a  leg : 
also  Scotch ;  Scotch-pint,  a  bottle 
containing  two  quarts  ;  Scotch-prize, 
a  capture  by  mistake :  cf.  Dutch ; 
Scotch-seamanship,  all  stupidity  and 
main  strength  ;  Scotch-warming-pan, 
a  chambermaid ;  to  answer  Scotch 
fashion,  to  reply  by  asking  another 
question;  cf.  Yankee  fashion  (1675). 

Scotchman.  A  florin.  Flying 
Scotchman,  the  daily  2  p.m.  express 
from  Euston  to  Edinburgh  and  the 
North:  cf.  Wild  Irishman.  The 
Scotchman  hugging  the  Creole,  a  para- 
sitical creeper. 

Scots  (The).  The  1st  Batt. 
Cameronians  (Scottish  Rifles),  for- 
merly The  26th  Foot  (1762). 

Scott.     See  Great  Scott. 

Scoundrel.  1.  A  Hedge-bird  or 
sorry  Scab  (B.  E.).  2,  A  man 


Scratch. 


roid  of  every  principle  of  honour 
(Grote). 

Scour.  To  run  away  :  also  to  scour 
away  (or  off).  To  scour  the  darbies 
(or  eramp-ringt),  to  go  (or  lie)  in 
chains  (1573). 

Scourer  (or  Scowrer).  1. 
Drunkards,  beating  the  watch,  break- 
ing windows,  clearing  the  streets,  etc. 
(B.  E.).  2.  A  night- thief.  To  scour 
the  streets,  to  act  riotously  (1700). 

Scout.  1.  A  college  servant — 
valet,  waiter,  messenger,  etc.,  in  one 
(1750).  2.  A  watchman,  or  (modern)  a 
spy,  esp.  a  police  spy  :  hence  scout-ken, 
a  watch-house  (1754).  3.  A  watch 
(1688).  4.  A  mean  fellow,  scab 
(q.v.)  (1749).  As  verb,  to  shoot 
pigeons  outside  a  gun-club  enclosure 
To  scout  on  the  lay,  to  go  in  search  of 
booty  (1787). 

Scowbank.  A  term  of  contempt 
for  a  sailor. 

S  c  r  a  g  (or  C  r  a  g).  1.  The  neck ; 
colquarron  (q.v.):  as  verb,  (1)  to 
hang ;  and  (2)  to  throttle :  hence 
scragging,  an  execution :  scrag  -  boy, 
the  hangman;  scragging -post  (scrag- 
squeezer  or  scrag),  the  gallows ;  scragg- 
'em  fair,  a  public  execution  (1555). 
2.  A  raw- bones :  hence  scraggy,  lean, 
thin.  3.  (Shrewsbury  School).  A 
duck's  egg  and  a  rent  across  the  paper. 
To  scrag  a  lay,  to  steal  clothes  put  on  a 
hedge  to  dry,  go  snowy-hunting  (q.v.). 

Scragg's  Hotel.    The  workhouse. 

Scramble.  A  feed  of  any 
kind :  usually  with  a  qualifying  subs.: 
as  tea  -  scramble,  muffin  -  scramble, 
toffee-scramble,  etc. 

Scran.  1.  Food:  spec,  broken 
victuals.  2.  Refuse.  3.  A  meal : 
hence  scran  -  bag,  a  haversack,  or 
tommy-bag  (q.v.) ;  on  the  scran,  beg- 
ging. Bad  scran  to  ye  /  (Irish),  a 
mild  malediction  (1724).  4.  The 
reckoning  at  a  public-house. 

Scrap.  1.  A  fight,  rough-and- 
tumble  (q.v.):  also  scrap-up:  hence 
scrapping  (or  scrapping -match),  prize- 
fighting or  boxing;  scrapper,  a  pugil- 
ist 2.  A  blow  (1610).  3.  A  villainous 
scheme  or  plot  (Grose)  ;  to  whiddle  the 
whole  scrap,  to  discover  a  plot. 

Scrape.  1.  Trouble,  difficulty 
(1741).  2.  An  obeisance:  also  as 
verb,  to  salute  by  scraping  the  feet; 
scrape-shoe,  a  sycophant :  see  Leg 
(1632).  3.  A  shave :  hence  scraper,  (a) 
a  razor,  and  (b)  a  barber ;  and  as  verb. 


to  shave.  4.  Cheap  butter  :  whence 
bread  and  scrape,  (a)  bread  very 
thinly  spread  with  butter,  and  (6) 
short  commons:  scrape  also,  short 
shrift.  5.  A  turn  at  fiddling :  also 
scraping ;  as  verb,  to  fiddle ;  scraper 
(or  gut  scraper),  a  fiddler :  see  Cat- 
gut-scraper (1607).  6.  A  miser:  also 
scraper,  scrape  -  penny,  scrape  -  all, 
scrapescaU,  and  scrapegood  :  as  verb,  to 
stint,  deny  (1631).  To  scrape  the 
enamel,  to  scratch  the  skin :  by  a  fall. 
See  Acquaintance ;  Leg. 

Scraper.  A  cocked  hat  See  Scrape, 
Catgut-scraper,  Elbow-scraper. 

Scraping.  A  mode  of  expressing 
dislike  to  a  person,  or  sermon,  prac- 
tised at  Oxford  by  the  students,  in 
scraping  their  feet  against  the  ground 
during  the  preachment ;  frequently 
done  to  testify  their  disapprobation  of 
a  proctor  who  has  been,  they  think,  too 
rigorous  (Orose). 

Scrape-trencher.     A  glutton. 

Scrappy  (Scrappiness,  and 
Scrappily).  Made  up  of  odds  and 
ends,  in  driblets  ;  without  system. 

Scratch.  1.  A 'hermaphrodite  : 
also  scrat.  2.  A  swaggerer  (Halli- 
wett).  3.  The  itch  (HalliweU) :  hence 
scratchland,  Scotland  :  cf.  Scots  Greys. 
4.  A  miserly  man  (Halliwdl).  5.  In 
handicaps  (a)  a  starting  line  for  those 
contestants  allowed  no  odds,  (6)  the 
time  of  starting,  (c)  a  start,  (d)  con- 
testants starting  from  the  scratch-line ; 
in  boxing,  a  line  drawn  across  the 
ring  (q.v.)  to  which  boxers  are  brought 
for  a  set-to :  hence  to  come  (or  bring) 
up  to  (or  toe)  the  scratch,  to  be  ready, 
willing.  6.  A  fluke  (q.v.).  As  adj., 
generic  for  chance :  hap-hazard,  hasty, 
first  come  first  served :  thus  a  scratch- 
crew  (team,  or  company),  a  crew, 
etc.,  got  together  at  short  notice  and 
without  special  selection;  scratch- 
race,  a  contest,  unrestricted  by  con- 
ditions, a  go-as-you-please  affair; 
a  scratch-meal,  a  pick-up  (q.v.)  meal ; 
etc.,  etc.  ;  also  to  scratch  along,  to 
manage  somehow.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
expunge,  blot-out ;  spec,  (a)  to  reject 
a  horse,  a  candidate,  etc.  ;  and  (b)  to 
retire ;  (2)  to  scribble :  as  subs.,  a 
scrawl;  scratcher  (U.  S.),  a  daybook 
(1745).  Phrases:  No  great  scratch,  of 
little  value;  Old  Scratch  (q.v.);  to 
scratch  one's  wool,  to  try  one's  memory, 
puzzle  out ;  Scratch  my  breech  and  I'll 
claw  your  elbow,  Ka  me,  Ka  thee. 


394 


Scratched. 


Screwed. 


(q.v.);  not  a  sixpence  to  scratch  with, 
penniless. 

Scratched.  Drunk :  see  Screwed 
(1630). 

Scratcher.  An  independent 
elector,  a  bolter  (q.v.).  See  Scratch. 

Scrawny.  A  thin,  ill-made  man  or 
woman,  rasher  of  wind  (q.v.). 

Screamer.  1.  An  exceptional 
person  or  thing  :  hence  screaming,  first- 
rate,  splendid:  spec,  as  causing  screams 
of  laughter.  2.  A  thief  who,  robbed 
by  another  thief,  applies  to  the  police  ; 
in  American  a  squealer  (q.v.). 

Screech.  Whisky :  see  Old 
Man's  Milk. 

Screecher.  Anything  harsh  or 
strident :  hence  screechy,  loud 
mouthed. 

Screed.  Screed  6"  drink,  (1)  a 
full  supply ;  whence  (2)  a  drinking 
bout  (1815). 

Screen.  A  bank  note  (1785). 
Hence  screen- faking,  fingering  notes  ; 
queer-screens,  counterfeit  paper :  cf. 
Screeve  (1821). 

S  c  r  e  e  v  e  (or  Screave).  1.  Any- 
thing written  :  a  begging  letter,  testi- 
monial, chalk  pavement  work,  etc.  2. 
A  bank  note  (Scots') :  cf.  Screen. 
Screeveton,  the  Bank  of  England. 
As  verb,  to  write,  draw ;  screever  (or 
screeve-faker),  ( 1 )  a  cheeky  beggar ; 
(2)  a  pavement-artist. 

Screw.  1.  An  extortioner,  miser: 
as  verb,  to  coerce  into  paying  or 
saving  money,  or  making  a  promise, 
yielding  one's  opinion,  vote,  person, 
etc. :  also  to  screw  up  (or  out),  and  to  put 
on  (or  under  or  turn)  the  screw ;  screwy 
(or  screwing),  mean  (1696).  2.  (a)  An 
unnecessarily  minute  examination ; 
and  (b)  a  screw ;  the  instructor  is  often 
designated  by  the  same  name.  3.  An 
old  or  worthless  horse:  whence  (loosely) 
anything  old ;  screwy,  worn-out,  worth- 
less (1835).  4.  A  small  roll  of  tobacco : 
usually  costing  Id.  5.  (common). 
Money  earned.  6.  A  turnkey :  Fr., 
raf  and  griffleur :  as  verb,  to  imprison : 
also  to  put  under  the  screw ;  screwing, 
a  term  of  imprisonment  (1821).  7. 
A  skeleton-key  :  as  verb,  to  burgle : 
spec,  by  means  of  false  keys ;  the 
screw  (or  screw  •  game),  burglary ; 
screwsman,  a  burglar  ;  also  to  stand  on 
the  screio  (Grose),  the  door  is  not  bolted, 
merely  locked.  8.  A  prostitute.  9. 
A  dram,  pick-me-up  (q.v.).  10.  A 
stomach-ache  (HaUiwett).  A  screw 


loose,    something    wrong    (Grose :    a 
complete  flash  phrase). 

Screwed  (or  Screwy).  Drunk, 
tight  (q.v.).  Synonyms:  [Further 
lists  will  be  found  under  Drinks, 
Drunk,  D.T.'s,  Gallon  -  distemper, 
Lush,  Lush-crib,  and  Lushington.] 
To  be  afflicted,  afloat,  alecied,  all  at 
sea,  all  mops-and-brooms,  in  one's 
armour,  in  one's  altitudes,  at  rest, 
Bacchi  plenus,  battered,  be-argered, 
beery,  bemused,  a  bit  on,  blind, 
bloated,  blowed,  blued,  boozed,  bosky, 
a  brewer,  bright  in  the  eye,  bubbed, 
budgy,  buffy,  bung  -  eyed,  candy, 
canon  (or  cannon),  chirping  -  merry, 
chucked,  clear,  clinched,  concerned, 
corked,  corkscrewed,  corky,  corned, 
crooked,  in  one's  cups,  cup-shot,  cut, 
dagged,  damaged,  dead  -  oh  !  dis- 
guised, disorderly,  doing  the  Lord  (or 
Emperor),  done  over,  down  (with 
barrel-fever :  see  Gallon-distemper), 
dull  in  the  eye,  full  of  Dutch-courage, 
electrified,  elephant's  -  trunk  (rhym- 
ing), elevated,  exalted,  far  gone, 
feeling  funny  (or  right  royal),  fettled 
(or  in  good  fettle),  fighting-tight  (or 
drunk),  flawed,  floored,  fluffed,  flum- 
moxed, flushed,  flustered,  flustrated, 
flying-high,  fly-blown,  fogged  (or 
foggy),  fou  (Scots),  on  fourth,  foxed, 
fresh,  fuddled,  full,  full-flavoured,  full 
to  the  bung,  fuzzy,  gay,  gilded,  glori- 
ous, grape-shot,  gravelled,  greetin'- 
fou',  groggy,  hanced,  half-seas-over, 
happy,  hard-up,  hazy,  heady,  hearty, 
helpless,  hiccius-doccius,  hickey,  high, 
hockey,  hoodman,  in  a  difficulty  (see 
Gallon  -  distemper),  incog,  inspired, 
jagged,  jolly,  jug-bitten,  kennurd 
(back  slang,  drunk),  all  keyhole,  kisk, 
knocked  -  up,  leary,  lion  drunk,  in 
Liquor- pond  Street-loaded,  looking 
lively,  lumpy,  lushy,  making  inden- 
tures with  one's  legs,  malted,  martin- 
drunk,  mashed,  mellow,  miraculous, 
mixed,  moony,  mopped,  moppy, 
mortal,  muckibus,  muddled,  mugged, 
muggy,  muzzy,  nappy,  nase  (or  nazy), 
noddy  -  headed,  noggy,  obfuscated, 
oddish,  off  (off  at  the  nail,  or  one's 
nut),  on  (also  on  the  bend,  beer, 
batter,  fuddle,  muddle,  sentry,  skyte 
spree,  etc.  :  see  Flare-up  and  Floored), 
out  (also  out  of  funds,  register,  al- 
titudes, etc.),  overcome,  overseen, 
overshot,  over  -  sparred,  overtaken, 
over  the  bay,  palatic,  paralysed, 
peckish,  a  peg  too  low,  pepst,  pickled, 


395 


Scribbler' 8-luck. 


Seng. 


piper  -  drunk  (or  merry),  ploughed, 
poddy,  podgy,  potted-off,  pot-shot, 
pot-sick,  pot-valiant,  primed,  pruned, 
pushed,  queered,  quick  -  tempered, 
raddled,  ram  in  aged,  ramping-mad, 
rather  touched,  rattled,  reeling  (or 
tumbling),  ripe,  roaring,  rocky,  salu- 
brious, scammered,  scooped,  sewn  up, 
shaky,  three  (or  four)  sheets  in  the 
wind,  shot,  shot  in  the  neck,  slewed, 
smeekit,  smelling  of  the  cork,  snapped, 
snuffy,  snug,  so,  soaked,  sow-drunk, 
spiffed,  spoony  -  drunk,  spreeish, 
sprung,  squiffed  (or  squiffy),  stale- 
drunk,  starchy,  swattled,  swiggled, 
swilled,  swinnied,  swine-drunk,  swiped 
(or  swipey),  swivelly,  swizzled,  taking 
it  easy,  tangle-footed,  tap-shackled, 
taverned  (also  hit  on  the  head  by  a 
tavern  bitch,  or  to  have  swallowed  a 
tavern  token),  teeth  under,  thirsty, 
tight,  tipsy,  top-heavy,  topsy-boosy, 
tosticated,  under  the  influence,  up  a 
tree,  up  in  one's  hat,  waving  a  flag  of 
defiance,  wet,  wet  -  handed,  what- 
nosed,  whipcat  (Florio),  whittled, 
winey,  yappish  (yaupy  or  yappy). 
Also,  to  have  a  guest  in  the  attic,  the 
back  teeth  well  afloat,  a  piece  of  bread 
and  cheese  in  the  head,  drunk  more 
than  one  has  bled,  the  sun  in  one's 
eyes,  a  touch  of  boskiness,  a  cup  too 
much,  a  brick  in  the  hat,  a  drop  in  the 
eye,  got  the  flavour,  a  full  cargo  aboard, 
a  jag  on,  a  cut  leg,  the  malt  above  the 
wheat,  one's  nun,  one's  soul  in  soak, 
yellow  fever.  Also,  to  have  been 
barring  too  much,  bitted  by  a  barn 
mouse,  driving  the  brewer  s  horse, 
biting  one's  name  in,  dipping  rather 
deep,  making  M's  and  Ts,  paid, 
painting  the  town  red,  shaking  a 
cloth  in  the  wind.  Also,  to  wear  a 
barley  cap,  to  cop  the  brewer,  to  let 
the  finger  ride  the  thumb,  to  lap  the 
gutter,  to  need  a  reef  taken  in,  to  see 
the  devil,  to  take  a  shard  (or  shourd), 
to  shoe  the  goose,  to  see  one 
apiece. 

Scr ib bier'  s- luck.  An  empty 
purse  and  a  full  hand. 

Scribe.     See  One  eyed  Scribe. 

Scrimshanker.  A  loafer :  cf. 
Bloodsucker ;  whence  scrimshank  to 
shirk  duty. 

Scrimshaw  (or  Scrimshander). 
The  art,  if  art  it  be,  of  manufacturing 
useful  and  ornamental  articles  at  sea  : 
handsome  writing  desks,  toilet  boxc; , 
and  work  -  boxes  made  of  foreign 


woods,  inlaid  with  hundreds  of  other 
pieces  of  precious  woods  of  various 
shapes  and  shades.  Also  scrimshon 
ana  scrimshorn. 

Scrip.  A  promise  to  pay  in 
writing. 

Scroby.  To  be  tipped  the  scroby 
(or  clawf)  for  breakfast,  to  be  whipped 
before  the  justices  (Orose). 

Scroof    (or   Scroofer).      A   para- 
site :  as  verb,  to  sponge  (q.v.). 

Scrope.     A  farthing  :  see  Rhino. 

Scrouger.  Anything  excep- 
tional in  size,  quality,  capacity,  etc. 
(1847). 

Scroyle.  A  diseased  wretch:  Fr., 
AroueUes,  King's-evil  (1596). 

Scrub.  1.  Any  mean,  or  ill-con- 
ditioned person  or  thing ;  as  adj., 
paltry,  mean :  also  scrubbed,  and 
scrubby  ;  scrub-race,  a  contest  between 
contemptible  animals  (1598).  2. 
(American  University).  A  servant. 
As  verb  (Christ's  Hospital),  (1)  to 
write  fast:  e.g.  scrub  it  down :  also  as 
subs.,  handwriting  [Lat.,  scribere]; 
(2)  to  drudge. 

Scrubbado.    The  itch  ( 1 696). 

Scrubber,  subs.  (Australian). 
Cattle  left  to  run  wild  in  the  moun- 
tains (1859). 

Scrubbing  (Winchester) :  obsolete. 
A  flogging  of  four  cute. 

Scrudge.     A  prostitute. 

Scruff.  The  lowest  quality  of  cod. 
As  verb,  to  hang  :  see  Ladder. 

Scrumptious.  First  -  class,  nice, 
fastidious  (1835). 

Scrunch.  1.  A  hard  bite,  crushing 
blow  ;  and  2.  (figuratively)  a  complete 
effect  of  tyranny ;  as  verb,  to  crush, 
grind  down,  squeeze ;  scruncher,  a 
glutton. 

Scud.  (1)  A  fast  runner ;  and 
(2)  a  hot  spin  (q.v.);  (3)  in  pi., 
money :  see  Rhino.  As  verb,  to 
sail,  ride,  or  run  very  fast 
(B.  E.). 

Scuddick.  1.  The  smallest  item  of 
value.  2.  Generic  for  money. 

Scuff.     A  crowd. 

Scuffle  -  hunter.  A  loafer  about 
wharfs,  quays,  and  warehouses  under 
pretence  of  asking  employment  as 
porters  and  labourers :  their  chief 
object  is  to  pillage  and  plunder  what- 
ever comes  in  their  way. 

Scufter.    A  police  officer. 

S  c  u  g  (Eton  and  Harrow).  A 
sneak  (q.v.) ;  a  play-cad  (q.v.). 


Sculduddery. 


See. 


Sculduddery  (or  Skulduggery). 
Bawdry  ;  also  as  adj.  (1713). 

Scull  (University).  1.  The  head 
(or  master)  of  a  College  ;  hence  scull- 
race,  an  examination.  2.  In  pi.,  a 
waterman  using  a  pair  of  sculls  or 
short  oars  (q.v.).  3.  A  one-horse 
chaise  or  buggy  (1785). 

Scullery-science.     Phrenology. 

Scull  -  thatcher.  1.  A  wig-maker 
(1785).  2.  A  hatter:  see  Nob- 
thatcher. 

Sculpin.  A  mean  or  mischief  - 
making  fellow  [Local  slang,  New 
Eng.]  (Century). 

Scum.  The  Riff-raff,  or  Tagrag 
and  Long  -  tail  (B.  E.).  As  adv., 
enough. 

Scumber  (or  scummer).  Excre- 
ment :  as  verb,  to  defecate  (1598). 

Scumble.     To  glaze  a  picture. 

Scurf.  A  shabby  fellow.  As 
verb,  to  arrest ;  lay  hold  of  (1785). 

Scurrick.  A  halfpenny :  see 
Rhino. 

Scurry.  A  short  race  run  for 
amusement  by  inferior  horses  or  non- 
winners  :  cf.  Scab-race. 

Scute.  A  small  coin :  hence  a 
low  standard  (1596). 

Scuttle.  1.  An  affected  gait.  2.  A 
hasty  move  ;  a  bolt  (q.v.) :  as  verb, 
to  run  off  (1704).  As  verb  (Christ's 
Hospital,  Hertford),  (1)  to  cry  out 
under  oppression,  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  the  authorities ;  hence  scuttle- 
cat,  one  who  scuttles  (obsolete) ;  (2)  to 
stab.  To  scuttle  a  nob,  to  break  a 
head.  On  the  scuttle,  on  a  round  of 
dissipation. 

Scuttling.  A  practice  once  very 
prevalent  within  the  county  of  Lan- 
caster. The  offence  was  committed 
by  a  body  of  young  persons,  male  and 
female,  belonging  to  one  part  of  the 
city,  who  had  a  real  or  fancied  griev- 
ance against  another  similar  body 
of  persons  from  an  adjacent  part. 
The  opposing  forces  were  armed  with 
belts  with  large  buckles  to  them, 
knives,  pokers,  stones,  and  the  like, 
and  the  mobs  so  armed  turned  out  at 
times  for  a  regular  affray,  and  in- 
flicted serious  injuries  upon  one 
another.  Not  only  did  these  roughs 
enter  into  conflict  with  others  of  a 
similar  class,  but  they  frequently 
attacked  unoffending  passers-by. 

Scuttle  -  mouth.  A  large-shelled 
oyster. 


Sea.  At  sea,  puzzled,  wide  (q.v.): 
cf.  Half-seas  -  over.  Phrases  and 
combinations :  Sea  -  crab,  a  sailor  ; 
sea-dog,  (1)  a  privateer  (temp.  Eliz.), 
and  (2)  a  sailor ;  spec,  an  old  salt 
(q.v.) ;  sea-galloper,  a  special  corres- 
pondent ;  sea-grocer,  a  purser ;  sea- 
lawyer,  (1)  a  shark,  and  (2)  a  captious 
or  scheming  fo'csle  hand :  whence 
sea-lawyer  ing,  argument  with  officers  ; 
sea-legs,  ability  to  walk  the  deck  of  a 
rolling  ship  without  staggering  ;  sea- 
wag,  an  ocean-going  vessel ;  sea-rat 
(old),  a  pirate :  cf.  River-rat ;  sea- 
rover,  a  herring  :  see  Atlantic  ranger  ; 
son  of  a  sea-cook,  a  nautical  term  of 
abuse ;  sea-connie  (or  cunnie),  (1)  the 
helmsman  on  an  Indian  trader,  and 
(2)  a  Lascar  quartermaster  ;  sea-coal, 
money. 

Seal.  A  preacher  is  said  to  be 
owned  when  he  makes  many  con- 
verts, and  his  converts  are  called  his 
seals.  In  Mormon  phraseology,  all 
wives  taken  after  the  first  are  called 
spiritual  wives,  and  are  said  to  be 
sealed  to  the  husband  .  .  .  under  the 
solemn  sanction  of  the  church,  and 
in  all  respects,  in  the  same  relation  to 
the  man  as  the  wife  that  was  first 
married. 

Sealer.  One  that  gives  bonds  and 
judgments  for  goods  and  money 
(B.  E.) :  see  Squeeze-wax. 

Seam.     See  White-seam. 

Sear.  Light  (or  tickle)  of  the  sere, 
wanton,  fond  of  bawdy  laughter 
(1596). 

Seat.     See  Back-seat. 

S  e  a  t  -  of  -  Honour,  (Shame,  or 
Vengeance).  The  posteriors  (1725). 

Secesh.     See  Blue  Bellies. 

Second."  See  Bow,  Chop,  Fiddle, 
and  String. 

Second  Peal.     See  Peal. 

Second  -  timer.  A  prisoner  twice 
convicted. 

Secret.  Let  into  the  secret,  when 
one  is  drawn  in  at  horse-racing,  cock- 
fighting,  bowling,  and  other  sports 
or  games,  and  bit  (B.  E.).  In  the 
grand  secret,  dead. 

Sedgley  -  curse.  '  A  Sedgly  curse 
light  on  him,  which  is,  Pedro,  The 
fiend  ride  through  him  booted  and 
spurred  With  a  sythe  at  his  back' 
(Fletcher). 

See.  1.  In  pi.,  the  eyes  (1785) 
also  seer,  the  eye.  2.  A  sight,  glance. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  believe,  credit,  con- 


397 


Set. 


sent :  e.g.  I  don't  aoe  that.  Phrases : 
To  MC  it  out,  (1)  to  finish  a  matter,  (2) 
to  keep  up  a  carouse,  and  (3)  to  come 
to  an  understanding,  or  know  the 
reason  why ;  to  see  one  through,  to 
help  to  a  finish  ;  to  see  a  man,  to  have 
a  drink  ;  to  sec  the  devil,  to  get  tipsy  : 
see  Screwed  ;  to  see  the  back  of,  to  get 
rid  oi;  to  see  one  coming,  to  impose  on ; 
to  see  double,  (1)  to  be  drunk:  see 
Screwed,  and  (2)  to  squint ;  to  see 
one's  aunt,  to  evacuate :  see  Bury  a 
Quaker ;  to  see  as  far  into  a  millstone 
(or  milestone)  as — ,  to  be  as  able  or 
cute  as —  ;  to  see  stars  (spots  or  candles), 
to  be  dazed  :  spec,  from  a  blow.  Also 
see  Brickwall,  Elephant,  Show,  etc. 

Seed.  Run  to  seed,  shabby,  gone 
off  the  bloom,  seedy  (q.v.). 

Seedy.     Generic   for  depreciation, 

(1)  weak   or  out-of -sorts  in  health, 

(2)  worn  or  out  at  elbows  in  dress, 

(3)  poor  in  pocket,  (4)  suspicious  or 
shady    in    character.     Hence,    seedi- 
ness  (1743). 

Seek.  To  seek  others  and  lose  one- 
self, to  play  the  fool  (1598). 

Seek  -  sorrow  (or  trouble).  A 
whining  malcontent  ( 1580). 

Seeley's  pigs.  Pig  iron  in  Govern- 
ment dockyards.  [Some  of  the  yards 
were  half  paved  with  pigs,  which 
waste  was  brought  to  public  notice  by 
Mr.  Seeley,  M.P.  for  Lincoln.] 

See  -  saw.  A  double  ruff  (q.v.),  a 
saw  (q.v.) :  at  whist. 

S  e  g  g  o  n.  A  term  of  contempt : 
spec,  a  poor  labourer.  Also  seg-head, 
a  blockhead  ;  seg-kite,  an  over-grown 
and  greedy  person  (1577). 

Sell.  A  successful  hoax,  swindle : 
see  Gammon.  As  verb,  to  betray, 
impose  on,  swindle ;  see  Bargain. 
Whence  to  sett  a  pup,  to  fool ;  to  be 
sold  like  a  bullock  in  Smithfitld,  to 
fall  badly  by  treachery  ;  Sold  again  I 
Done  !  (q.v.)  (1597). 

Semi-bejan.     See  Be  Jan. 

Semper  (Winchester).  A  very 
common  prefix ;  e.g.  a  boy  was  said  to 
be  semper  continent,  tardy,  or  ex- 
trumps  if  he  was  often  at  Sick  House, 
or  late  for  Chapel,  or  habitually  went 
up  to  Books  without  having  looked  at 
his  lessons.  An  official  who  was 
always  at  the  College  meetings  went 
by  the  name  of  Semper  Testis  (Mans- 
field]. 

Send.  To  send  up,  to  commit  to 
prison,  fully  (q.v.)  (1852).  To  send 


down  (or  away),  (1)  to  expel ;  and  (2) 
to  rusticate  (q.v.)  (1714).  To  send  in, 
to  drive  or  break  in :  Hand  down  the 
jemmy  and  send  it  in  ;  apply  the  crow 
to  the  door  and  drive  it  in  (Grose). 
See  Coventry,  Daylight,  Flea  in  the 
ear,  Green  River,  Owls,  Packing,  Salt 
River,  Up. 

Send  -  off.  A  start,  God  -  speed. 
Send-off  notice,  an  obituary  (1870). 

Sender.     A  severe  blow. 

Sensation.  A  small  quantity ;  as 
much  as  can  be  perceived  by  the 
senses  :  spec,  a  half -quartern. 

Sense.  To  feel,  take  in,  under- 
stand (1651). 

Sentimental  -  club  (The).  The 
Athenaeum. 

Sentinel.  A  wake  candle,  glim 
(q.v.) :  FT.,  flambarde. 

Sentry.  On  sentry,  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Sentry  -  box.  Chelsea  Hospital  to 
a  sentry-box,  a  fanciful  bet. 

Sep.  A  cadet  joining  in  Sep- 
tember. 

Separate.  The  first  eleven  or 
twelve  months'  probationary  im- 
prisonment, solitary  confinement. 

Serene.     See  All  Serene. 

Sergeant.    See  Come. 

Sergeant  -  major.  A  fat  loin  of 
mutton. 

Sergeant  -  major 's  brandy  -  and  - 
soda.  A  gold-laced  stable  jacket. 

Sergeant  -  major's  wash  cat 
(1)  A  new  kit ;  and  (2)  the  troop  store- 
man. 

Serpent.  Stung  by  a  serpent, 
with  child  (Ray).  To  hold  a  serpent 
by  the  tail,  to  act  foolishly. 

Servant.  A  lover  en  parade 
(1396). 

Serve.  1.  To  rob:  e.g.  I  served 
him  for  his  thimble,  I  robbed  him  of 
his  watch  (1785).  2.  See  Servant, 
and  Time.  3.  To  find  guilty,  convict, 
and  sentence  (1785).  4.  To  maim, 
wound,  punish  (q.v.):  whence  to 
serve  out,  to  take  revenge  ;  to  serve  out 
and  out,  to  kill  (1785).  To  serve  up, 
to  ridicule.  See  Slops. 

Sessions.  An  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise. 

Set.  1.  A  determined  stand ;  to 
get  set,  to  collar  the  bowling.  2.  A 
grudge,  a  sustained  attack :  in  argu- 
ment or  conduct :  also  dead-set. 
Phrases :  To  set  the  hare's  head  to  the 
goose  giblets,  to  balance  matters,  give 


393 


Set-back. 


Shack. 


tit  for  tat;  to  set  jewels,  to  take  the 
best  portions  of  a  clever  book  not 
much  known  to  the  general  public,  and 
incorporate  them  quietly  in  a  new  work 
by  a  thoroughly  original  author :  the 
credit  of  this  term  belongs  to  Mr. 
Charles  Reade,  who  explained  that  the 
process  is  accountable  for  the  presence 
of  some  writing  by  one  Jonathan 
Swift,  in  a  story  published  at  Christ- 
mas, 1872,  and  called  The  Wander- 
ing Heir;  all  set,  desperate  fellows, 
ready  for  any  kind  of  mischief  (Dun- 
combe).  See  Cap,  Dead  -  set,  Ears, 
Hard-set,  Shoulder,  Wheel. 

Set-back.     See  Back-set. 

Set  -  down.  1.  A  snub ;  an  un- 
expected or  overwhelming  reply : 
also  as  verb,  to  take  to  task,  rebuff, 
get  the  better  of  (1749).  2.  A  square 
meal. 

Set-off.  1.  A  contrast,  an  alter- 
native, a  quid  pro  quo  (q.v.)  (1749). 
2.  An  adornment,  an  ornament  (1619). 

Set-out.  A  company,  clique, 
display,  or  turn-out  —  any  arrange- 
ment, state  of  things,  or  event  (1816). 
1%  Setta.  Seven  :  also  setter. 
-"Setter.  1.  'The  nature  of  the 
Setter  is  to  draw  any  person  famili- 
arly to  drinke  with  him,  which  person 
they  call  the  bonie '  (Grose) ;  '  They  that 
draw  in  Bubbles,  for  old  Gamesters 
to  Rook ;  also  a  Sergeant's  Yeoman, 
or  Bailiff's  Follower,  or  Second,  and 
an  Excize-Officer  to  prevent  the 
Brewers  defrauding  the  Bang '  (B.  E. ) ; 
'  That  make  it  their  Business  to  go 
about  upon  information,  to  pry  into 
the  Disposition  and  Avenues  of 
Houses,  and  bring  notice  of  the 
Booty'  (Hall);  also  (modern)  a  police 
spy:  see  Nark  (1591).  2.  A  runner- 
up  of  prices  ;  a  bonnet  (q.v.).  Clock- 
setter,  (1)  one  who  tampers  with  the 
clock  to  shorten  his  watch ;  also  (2) 
a  busy  -  body,  a  sea  -  lawyer  (q.v.) 
(Century). 

Settle.  1.  To  knock  down,  do 
for  (q.v.) ;  to  settle  one's  hash  (see 
Hash) ;  hence  settler,  (a)  a  knock- 
down blow  ;  and  (b)  a  finishing  stroke. 
2.  To  give  (or  get)  penal  servitude  for 
life. 

Settler.  1.  A  parting  drink :  see 
Screwed.  2.  See  Settle. 

Set-to.  1.  A  bout  at  fisticuffs, 
with,  or  without,  the  gloves.  2. 
Determined  opposition.  Also  as 
verb, 


Set-up.  1.  Port,  bearing,  carriage. 
2.  A  treat  (q.v.) ;  to  set  up,  to  stand 
Sam :  cf.  Set-down.  As  adv.,  con- 
ceited. 

Seven.  To  be  more  than  seven, 
wide-awake  :  also,  more  than  twelve. 

Sevendible.  A  very  curious  word, 
used  only  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  to 
denote  something  particularly  severe, 
strong,  or  sound.  It  is,  no  doubt, 
derived  from  sevendouble — that  is, 
sevenfold  —  and  is  applied  to  linen 
cloth,  a  heavy  beating,  a  harsh  repri- 
mand, etc.  (Hotten). 

Seven-pennorth  (or  Sevenpence). 
Seven  years'  imprisonment  (1821). 

Seven  -  year.  A  long  time  :  pro- 
verbial (1560). 

Severely.  A  generic  intensitive  : 
e.g.  to  be  left  severely  alone,  to  be 
altogether  neglected. 

Sew.  To  sew  up  one's  stocking,  to 
silence,  confute  (1859). 

Sewed  up  (pugilists').  1.  Severely 
punished :  spec,  with  bloated  eyes.  2. 
Exhausted,  drunk,  sick.  3.  Grounded : 
also  Sued  up. 

Sewer.  1.  The  Metropolitan  and 
Metropolitan  District  Railways.  2. 
In  pi.,  The  East  London  Railway 
Shares.  Common  -  sewer,  (1)  an  in- 
discriminate tippler  ;  (2)  the  throat ; 
and  (3)  a  receive-all  (1749). 

Sex.     The  sex,  womankind. 

Sey  (Se,  or  Say).  Yes  :  pronounced 
See. 

S  h  a  b.  1.  To  mess  up,  make 
shabby.  To  get  (or  make)  shabby,  (1) 
in  sorry  rigging  (B.  E.),  out-at- 
elbows ;  and  (2)  mean,  base,  seedy 
(q.v.) :  whence  shabbaroon  (shabroon, 
shabrag,  or  shabster),  a  ragamuffin,  a 
mean-spirited  fellow  (B.  E.) :  also 
shabby  -  genteel,  aping  gentility,  but 
really  shabby ;  to  shab  off,  to  sneak  or 
slide  away  (B.  E.)  (1680).  2.  To 
scratch  oneself :  like  a  lousy  man  or 
mangy  dog. 

Shabby-  woman  (The).  The 
statue  of  Minerva  which  guards  the 
portal  of  the  Athenaeum,  and  looks  so 
little  like  '  Eve  on  hospitable  thoughts 
intent ' — for  since  the  Athenaeum  Club 
was  established,  no  member  has  ever 
afforded  the  simplest  rites  of  hospit- 
ality to  a  friend  (1864). 

Shack.  1.  A  shiftless  fellow,  a 
vagabond  :  also  shackaback,  shackbag, 
shackrag,  a  shakerag  :  as  verb,  to  go  on 
tramp,  to  idle,  to  loaf:  as  adj.  (also 


399 


ShacMe. 


Shake-down. 


#hack-na*ty),  contemptible  :  cf.  shag- 
bag  (1740).  2.  A  log  cabin:  the 
average  shack  comprises  but  one 
room,  and  is  customarily  roofed  with 
earth,  supported  by  poles  :  in  Canada 
shack,  dwelling.  3.  A  misdirected  or 
returned  letter. 

Shackle.     A  raffle. 

Shackly  (or  Shackling).  Rickety, 
ramshackle  (q.v.). 

Shack-stoner.     Sixpence. 

Shad.     A  prostitute. 

Shadbelly.  A  Quaker:  the 
Quaker  coat  from  neck  to  skirt  follows 
the  ventral  line  of  the  shad — hence 
shad-bellied,  sloping  in  front  like  a 
Quaker  coat :  cf.  Cutaway. 

Shade.  In  pi.,  wine-vaults.  As 
verb,  to  conceal,  keep  secret. 

Shadkin.     A  marriage-broker. 

Shadow.  1.  A  spy  or  close  at- 
tendant :  e.g.  (a)  a  detective ;  (b)  a 
dress-lodger's  (q.v.)  guard;  (c)  a 
bosom  friend ;  and  (d)  a  jackal  (q.v.) : 
as  verb,  (1)  to  track,  spy,  dog  (q.v.) ; 
and  (2)  to  be  inseparable  (1607).  2. 
(Westminster  School).  When  a  boy 
is  first  placed  in  the  school,  he  is 
attached  to  another  boy  in  the  same 
form,  something  in  the  relation  of  an 
apprentice  ;  the  new  boy  is  called  the 
shadow,  the  other  the  substance ;  in 
the  first  week  the  shadow  follows  the 
substance  everywhere,  takes  his  place 
next  to  him  in  class  .  .  .  and  is  exempt 
from  any  responsibility  for  his  own 
mistakes  in  or  out  of  school ;  during 
this  interval  of  indulgence  his  patron 
is  expected  to  initiate  him  in  all  the 
work  of  the  school ...  in  short  to  teach 
him  by  degrees  to  enter  upon  ...  a 
responsible  existence  of  his  own 
(Collins).  May  your  shadow  never 
be  (or  grow)  less,  may  you  prosper  ! 

Shadrach.  A  mass  of  badly 
smelted  iron.  [Cf.  Daniel,  iii.  26,  27.] 

Shadscales  (or  Scales).  Money : 
generic :  see  Rhino. 

Shady.  Generic  for  decadence 
and  deterioration  —  moral,  physical, 
and  material ;  hence,  on  the  shady 
side  of  [e.g.  40],  beyond  (or  older) 
than  40  years  of  age  ;  to  keep  shady,  to 
keep  in  the  background,  to  be  cautious 
and  reticent  (1852).  The  shady 
groves  of  the  Evangelist,  St.  John's 
Wood. 

Shaft.  To  make  a  shaft  (or  a 
bolt)  for  it,  to  take  a  risk  for  what  it  is 
worth,  to  venture  (1596). 

400 


Shaftsbury.  A  gallon- pot  full  of 
wine,  with  a  cock  (B.  E.,  c.  1696). 

Shag.  To  shag  back,  to  hesitate, 
to  hang  back,  to  refuse  a  fence.  As 
wet  as  a  shag,  as  wet  as  may  be.  [Shag, 
cormorant]. 

Shag-  (or  shake-)  bag  (or  rag). 
1.  A  poor  shabby  fellow  (It.  E.);  a 
man  of  no  spirit :  a  term  borrowed 
from  the  cock-pit  (Orose) :  originally, 
a  beggarly  soldier :  also  as  adj.,  mean, 
beggarly  (1588).  2.  A  fighting-cock; 
and  so,  by  implication,  a  hen  of  the 
game  (q.v.)  (1700). 

Shake.  1.  Standard  of  value: 
usually  in  the  phrase  no  great  shakes ; 
anything  of  small  account  2.  A 
show.  Fair  shakes,  a  tolerable  bargain 
or  chance.  3.  In  pi.,  generic  for 
unsteadiness :  specifically  delirium 
tremens.  4.  A  fad :  also  in  combina- 
tion :  as  the  milk-shake,  the  vegetarian 
shake,  etc. ;  shook  on,  in  love  with.  5. 
Generic  for  quick  action :  e.g.  a  great 
shake,  a  quick  pace;  in  a  brace  (or 
couple)  of  shakes  (or  in  the  shake  of  a 
lamb's  tail),  instantly.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to 
steal :  e.g.  to  shake  a  swell,  to  rob  a 
gentleman ;  to  shake  a  chest  of  slop,  to 
steal  a  chest  of  tea ;  to  be  shook  of  a  skin, 
to  be  robbed  of  a  purse ;  Have  you 
shook  f  Have  you  stolen  anything,  etc.; 

(2)  to  shake  hands  ;  generally  Shake  I 

(3)  to  throw  dice,  or  (printers')  quads, 
to  gamble :  see  Jeff ;  and  to  shake  an 
elbow  (q.v.)  (1623);  4.  to  turn  one's 
back    on,    to    desert.     Phrases    and 
colloquialisms:    More   than  one    can 
shake    a    stick    at,    past    counting; 
nothing  worth  shaking  a  stick  at,  worth- 
less ;  to  shake  a  foot  (toe,  or  leg),  to 
dance  ;  to  shake  a  loose  leg  (see  Leg) ; 
to  shake  together,  to  get  on  well  or 
smoothly ;  to  shake  up,  to  upbraid ; 
to  shake  a  fall,  to  wrestle ;  to  shake 
up,  to  scold ;  to  shake  a  cloth  in  the 
wind,  to  be  hanged ;  to  shake  down, 
(1)  (see  Shake -down),  and  (2)  to  ac- 
commodate oneself  to,  to  settle  down  ; 
to  shake  the  ghost  into  one,  to  frighten  ; 
to  shake  the  bullet  (or  red  rag),  (1)  see 
Bullet  and  Red,  and  (2)  to  threaten  to 
discharge  (tailors') ;  to  shake  up,  to 
get   (American) ;    You   may   go   and 
shake  your  ears,  advice  to  one  who  has 
lost  his  money  (Ray)  (1602). 

Shake-buckler.  A  swash-buckler, 
a  bully  (1570). 

Shake  -  down.  1.  An  improvised 
bed :  also  as  verb,  to  sleep  on  a 


Shake-lurk. 


Shape. 


temporary  substitute  for  a  bed.  2. 
A  brothel  kept  by  a  panel-thief  (q.v.). 
3.  A  rough  dance,  a  break-down  (q.v.). 

Shake-lurk.  A  begging  petition  : 
specifically  one  on  account  of  ship- 
wreck :  shake-glim,  one  for  fire. 

Shaker.  1.  The  hand  :  see  Daddle. 
2.  A  shirt :  see  Fleshbag.  3.  An 
omnibus. 

Shakerag.     See  Shagbag. 

Shakester.     See  Shickster. 

Shake-up.  A  commotion,  a  dis- 
turbance. 

Shaky.  Anything  questionable : 
generic — unstable,  insolvent,  unwell, 
dishonest,  immoral,  drunken,  ignor- 
ant. Shakiness,  hesitancy,  degeneracy 
(1841). 

Shaler.     A  girl. 

Shalley-gonahey.     A  smock-frock. 

Shallow.  1.  An  empty  -  headed 
Justice  of  the  Peace  (cf.  Shakespeare, 
'  2  Hen.  IV.'  m.  ii.) :  whence,  2.  a  fool ; 
also  shallow  -  ling  and  shallow  -  pate 
(1615).  3.  A  low  -  crowned  hat,  a 
whip  -  hat :  whence  lUly  -  shallow,  a 
white  whip-hat.  4.  (a)  The  peculiar 
barrow  used  by  street  traders  (also 
Trolley  and  Whitechapel  brougham  : 
Fr.,  bagnole) ;  and  (b)  a  square  and 
oval  willow  basket,  about  four  inches 
deep,  and  thirty  inches  long,  by 
eighteen  broad.  5.  A  man  who  goes 
about  half-naked,  telling  frightful 
tales  about  shipwrecks,  hair-breadth 
escapes  from  houses  on  fire,  and  such 
like  calamities :  also  Shivering  Jemmy. 
To  live  shallow,  to  live  quietly  and  in 
retirement,  as  when  wanted  (q.v.). 

Sham.  1.  Generic  for  false.  As 
subs.,  (a)  a  cheat,  a  trick ;  (b)  a  sub- 
stitute, as  a  pillow-sham,  false  sleeves, 
fronts,  or  cuffs :  as  adj.,  spurious, 
counterfeit :  as  verb,  to  cheat ;  to 
feign  :  also  to  cut  a  sham,  to  play  the 
rogue  ;  shamocrat,  one  who  apes  rank 
or  wealth  (1677).  2.  Champagne,  boy 
(q.v.) :  also  shammy.  See  Abraham  ; 
Snite. 

Shamble.  In  pi.,  the  legs.  Whence 
Shake  your  shambles,  Begone  !  As  verb, 
to  walk  awkwardly.  Shamble-legged, 
shuffling. 

Shambrogue.  The  shamrock  :  also 
shamroot  (1613). 

Shameless.  A  bold  forward 
blade  (B.  E.). 

Sham  -  leggar.  A  man  offering 
worthless  stuff  for  sale  cheap. 

Shammock.     To  loaf  (q.v.). 

401 


Shamrock.  To  drown  the  sham- 
rock, to  go  drinking  on  St.  Partick's 
Day  (Mar.  17th). 

Shan  (or  Shand).  Base  coin  : 
hence  as  adj.,  worthless  (1815). 

Shandrydan  (or  Shandry).  A 
light  two- wheeled,  one-horsed  cart : 
hence,  any  old  rickety  trap  (1843). 

Shandy  -  gaff.  Beer  and  ginger- 
beer  (1853). 

Shaney  (or  Shanny).  A  foo 
(1800). 

Shanghai.  1.  A  tall  dandy  [Bart- 
lett :  In  allusion  to  the  long-legged 
fowls  from  Shanghai,  all  the  rage  a 
few  years  ago.]  2.  A  catapult:  also 
as  verb.  3.  A  glaring  daub  required 
by  frame-makers  for  cheap  auctions  ; 
they  are  turned  out  at  so  much  by  the 
day's  labour,  or  at  from  12  dollars  to 
24  dollars  a  dozen,  by  the  piece ;  all 
the  skies  are  painted  at  once,  then  all 
the  foregrounds ;  sometimes  the 
patterns  are  stencilled ;  the  dealer 
attaches  the  semblance  of  some  well- 
known  name,  of  which  there  are 
several,  and  without  initials.  4. 
Drugging  a  sailor,  when  he  enjoys 
himself  after  a  long  cruise,  on  shore, 
and  carrying  him,  while  in  a  state  of 
insensibility,  to  a  vessel  about  to 
depart,  where  he  finds  himself,  upon 
his  recovery,  entered  in  all  forms  on 
the  book. 

Shank.  1.  In  pi.,  the  legs ;  gams 
(q.v.) ;  to  shank  it  (or  to  ride  shanks' s 
mare,  or  nag),  (1)  to  go  on  foot  or  by 
the  Marylebone  stage  (q.v.):  and  (2) 
to  leave  without  ceremony  (1302).  2. 
The  fag  end. 

Shannon.  It  is  said,  persons 
dipped  in  that  river  are  perfectly  and 
for  ever  cured  of  bashfulness  (Grose). 

Shant.  A  quart ;  a  pot :  e.g. 
shant  of  gatter,  a  pot  of  beer.  Also 
shanty. 

Sha'n't.  Shall  not.  Now  we 
shan't  be  long,  It's  all  right :  a  general 
note  of  satisfaction  or  agreement : 
a  street  catch  of  the  late  nineties. 

Shanty.  1.  A  rough  and  tumble 
hut.  2.  A  public  -  house.  3.  A 
brothel.  4.  A  quart.  5.  Beer  money  ; 
also  as  verb,  (1)  to  dwell  in  a  hut,  (2) 
to  take  shelter.  6.  See  Chantey. 

Shap.  In  pi.,  leather  overalls, 
with  tags  and  fringes  down  the  seams. 

Shape.  In  pi.,  (1)  an  ill-made 
man,  and  (2)  a  tight  -  laced  girl. 
Hence  to  show  one's  shape,  (1)  to  strip  : 


Shappo. 


Shaver. 


specifically  (old)  to  peel  (q.v.)  at  the 
whipping-poet,  and  (2)  to  turn  about 
and  march  off ;  ttuck  on  one's  shape, 
pleased  with  one's  appearance ;  There's 
a  shape  for  you,  an  ironical  comment 
on  a  skeleton-like  person  or  animal — 
rack-of -bones  (q.v.) ;  to  travel  on  one's 
shape,  to  swindle,  to  live  by  one's 
appearance ;  to  spoil  one's  shape,  to 
be  got  with  child  ;  shape  -  smith,  a 
stay  -  maker  ;  in  good  shape,  quite 
correct ;  to  cut  up  (or  show)  one's 
shape,  to  frolic.  As  verb,  to  turn 
out ;  to  behave  (1369). 

Shappo.  A  hat,  the  newest  Cant. 
Nab  being  very  old,  and  grown  too 
common  (B.  E.) ;  also  shappeau, 
shoppo,  shopo,  shapo  [Pr.,  chapeau]. 

Shard.  To  take  a  shard,  to  get 
tipsy :  see  Screwed. 

Share-penny.  A  miser,  a  skin- 
flint (q.v.)  (1606). 

Shark.  1.  A  greedy  adventurer, 
a  swindler :  also  sharker.  As  verb 
(or  to  live  on  the  shark),  to  live  by 
roguery  or  thieving.  Whence  shark- 
guU,  a  flat-catcher  (q.v.) ;  to  shark  up, 
to  press,  to  enlist  on  terms  of  piracy  ; 
sharking,  (1)  roguery,  and  (2)  greedy, 
tricky  (1590).  2.  A  custom-house 
officer:  also  in  pi.,  the  press-gang.  3. 
One  of  the  first  order  of  pickpockets 
(Bow  St.  term,  A.D.  1786  —  Grose). 
4.  A  recruit.  5.  At  Yale,  reck- 
less absence  from  college  duties :  of 
persons  and  conduct.  6.  A  lean 
hungry  hog  (Bartletf).  As  verb,  (1) 
to  fawn  for  a  dinner ;  (2)  see 
subs. 

Sharp.  1.  A  swindler,  'one  that 
lives  by  his  Witts'  (B.  E.)  a  rook, 
(q.v.) :  the  opposite  of  flat  (q.v.) : 
also  sharper :  cf.  Sharker :  as  verb, 
to  cheat ;  sharping  (or  on  the  sharp) 
subs,  and  adj.,  swindling ;  sharper's 
tools,  (1)  fools,  and  (2)  false  dice: 
see  Bible-sharp  and  Flats-and-sharps 
(1688).  2.  A  pointed  weapon:  a 
sword  as  contrasted  with  a  foil.  3. 
An  expert.  As  adj.,  subtil,  ready, 
quick  or  nimble-witted,  forward,  of 
lively  apprehension ;  also  poor  and 
needy  (B.  E.).  As  adv.,  to  the 
moment :  e.g.  I'll  be  there  at  five 
o'clock  sharp.  Mr.  Sharp,  a  similar 
expression  to  '  two- pun-ten  '  (q.v.),  to 
signify  that  a  customer  of  suspected 
honesty  is  about :  the  shopman  asks 
one  of  the  assistants,  in  a  voice  loud 
enough  to  be  generally  heard,  Has 


Mr.  Sharp  come  in  yet  ?  the  signal  is 
at  once  understood,  and  a  general 
look-out  kept  (Hotien).  Sharp  as  the 
corner  of  a  round  table,  stupid.  Sharp's 
the  word  /  1.  Of  any  one  very  attentive 
to  his  own  interest,  and  apt  to  take 
all  advantage :  sometimes  with  and 
quick's  the  motion  (Grose) ;  also,  2.  a 
call  to  brisk  movement,  or  ready 
obedience  (1706). 

Sharp's  Alley  Bloodworms. 
1.  Beef  sausages ;  and  2.  black 
puddings  (a  noted  abattoir  near 
Smithfield). 

Sharp-set.  1.  Hungry ;  2.  hard- 
driven  (1577). 

Sharpshin.     The  smallest  quantity. 

Sharpshooter.  A  swift  clipper- 
built  schooner.  See  Devil's  sharp- 
shooters. 

Sharp  stick.  Persecution,  retri- 
bution. 

Shatterbrain  (or  pate).  A 
giddy  person;  shatterbrained  (or 
pated),  heedless,  weak  in  intellect :  see 
Shitterbrain  and  Shuttlehead. 

Shave.  1.  A  narrow  escape,  a 
squeak  (q.v.) :  usually  with  close, 
near,  etc. :  whence  to  make  a  shave  (or 
to  shave  through),  to  get  through  by 
the  skin  of  one's  teeth  (1844).  2.  A 
false  report,  a  practical  joke,  a  sell 
(q.v.)  (1854).  3.  A  money  considera- 
tion paid  for  the  right  to  vary  a  con- 
tract, by  extension  of  time  for  delivery 
or  payment,  etc.  4.  The  proportion  of 
the  receipts  paid  to  a  travelling  com- 
pany by  a  local  manager.  See  Shaker. 
As  verb,  to  extort,  to  strip,  to  cheat 
(1548) ;  hence  shaving  (or  shaven/), 

(1)  usury,  and  (2)  overcharge  (with 
drapers    called    shaving    the    ladies) : 
also  f haver,  (1)  a  cheat,  a  swindler; 

(2)  a  banker,  broker,  or  money-lender 
given  to  usury;  and  (3)  shaver  (q.v.) : 
whence  shaving-shop,  a  wild-cat  bank 
(q.v.) ;   shaving-terms,   make   all   you 
can  (1548). 

Shaved.  Drunk :  see  Screwed 
(1598). 

Shaveling  (or  Shorling).  1.  A 
monk :  cf.  Beardling :  also,  2.  see 
Shaver  (1563). 

Shaver.  1.  A  fellow ;  a  party : 
spec,  (modern),  a  more  or  less  pre- 
cocious youngster.  2.  A  child,  and 
occasionally  a  woman  :  also  Shaveling 
and  Shave,  verb  (1586).  3.  A  short 
jacket,  bum-perisher  (q.v.).  4.  See 
Shave. 


402 


Shavings. 


Shdl. 


Shavings.  The  clipping!  of 
money  (B.  E.). 

Shay.     A  chaise. 

She.  1.  A  woman:  also  she-one: 
cf.  He,  a  man :  hence  She-house,  a 
house  under  petticoat  rule ;  she- 
school,  a  girls'  school  (1602).  2. 
(Charterhouse).  A  plum  pudding : 
also  shee  :  cf .  He. 

Shearer's  Joy  (Australian).  Colon- 
ial beer. 

Shears.  Pair  of  shears,  a  striking 
likeness  ;  little  or  no  difference  :  e.g. 
There's  a  pair  of  shears,  they're  as 
like  as  two  peas.  See  Knight. 

Shebang.  A  room,  a  shop,  a  hut, 
a  tent,  a  cabin  ;  an  engine-house.  [De 
Vere  : — Shebang  .  .  .  used  even  yet  by 
students  of  Yale  College  and  elsewhere 
to  designate  their  rooms  or  a  thea- 
trical or  other  performance  in  a  public 
hall,  has  its  origin  probably  in  a  cor- 
ruption of  the  French  cabane,  a  hut, 
familiar  to  the  troops  that  came  from 
Louisiana,  and  constantly  used  in 
the  Confederate  camp  for  the  simple 
huts,  which  they  built  with  such 
alacrity  and  skill  for  their  winter 
quarters.] 

Shebeen.  (1)  Any  unlicensed  place 
where  excisable  liquors  are  sold ; 
whence  (2)  a  low  (or  wayside)  public- 
house.  Also  as  verb,  shebeening,  and 
shebeener :  the  last  term  applies  to 
persons  frequenting  as  well  as  to  those 
keeping  a  shebeen. 

Shed.  To  urinate  (q.v.) :  also 
to  shed  a  tear.  To  shed  a  tear,  to  take 
a  drink  :  originally  to  take  a  dram  of 
real  or  short  (q.v.). 

She-dragon.  1.  A  vixen,  an  elderly 
termagant.  2.  A  kind  of  wig. 

Sheeney  (or  Sheney).  1.  A  Jew, 
Yid  (q.v.):  used  by  Gentiles  and  by 
Jews  ( j  ocosely  by  the  latter).  Whence, 
2.  a  pawnbroker :  pawnbroking,  like 
the  fruit  and  fish  trade,  is  mainly  (in 
London  at  least)  in  the  hands  of  Jews. 
Also  as  adj.,  base,  Jewish,  fraudulent : 
also  sheen. 

Sheep.  1.  Sheep,  like  pigeon  (q.v.), 
is  commonly  generic  for  timidity  and 
bashfulness :  thus,  as  subs.,  a  simple- 
ton ;  sheep-faced  (or  sheepish),  bashful  ; 
sheep's  -  head,  a  blockhead  ;  sheep- 
headed,  stupid ;  sheep's  heart,  a 
coward  ;  sheep  -  hearted,  cowardly  ; 
Like  a  sheep's  head,  all  jaw,  said  of 
a  talkative  person ;  old  sheepgnts,  a 
term  of  contempt  (1556).  2.  (Aber- 


deen Univ.).  A  second  class-man. 
Phrases  and  proverbs :  To  wash  sheep 
with  scalding  water,  to  act  absurdly ; 
to  lose  a  sheep  (erroneously  ship)  for  a 
half-penny  worth  of  tar,  to  go  niggardly 
about  a  business  :  also  proverbially, 
as  well  be  hung  for  a  sheep  as  a  lamb. 

Sheep-biter.  1.  A  slinking  thief; 
also  sheep-shearer  and  sheep-napper 
(the  latter,  a  sheep-stealer) ;  sheep- 
biting,  sneaking  (1588).  2.  'A 
poor,  sorry,  sneaking  ill-lookt  Fellow ' 
(B  E.). 

Sheep-dog.  A  companion ;  a 
chaperone. 

Sheep' s-clothing.     See  Wolf. 

Sheep  "s-eyes.  To  cast  (or  make) 
sheep's  eyes  (or  lamb' s-eyes),  to  ogle, 
to  leer  :  formerly  to  look  modestly  and 
with  diffidence  but  always  with 
longing  or  affection :  FT.,  ginginer, 
lancer  son  prospectus  (1500). 

Sheepskin.  (1)  The  diploma  re- 
ceived on  taking  a  degree ;  also  (2) 
a  person  who  has  taken  a  degree ; 
and  (3)  a  deed  or  similar  document 
[engrossed  on  parchment]. 

Sheepskin-fiddle.  A  drum. 
Hence,  sheepskin-fiddler,  a  drummer. 

Sheepwalk.     A  prison. 

Sheepwash  (Winchester).  To  duck. 

Sheet-alley.  Bed,  blanket-fair 
(q.v.). 

Sheet.  A  sheet  [or  three,  or  four 
sheets']  in  the  wind  (or  wind's  eye) 
more  or  less  tipsy,  half  seas  over  (q.v. ) : 
see  Screwed. 

She-familiar.  A  kept  mistress 
(HattiweU). 

Sheffield  Handicap.  A 
sprint  race  with  no  defined  scratch 
(q.v.).  The  scratch  man  receives  an 
enormous  start  from  an  imaginary 
flyer  (q.v.). 

She-flunkey.     A  lady's  maid. 

Shekel.  In  pi.,  money  :  generic  : 
see  Rhino. 

Shelf.  On  the  shelf,  1.  (general), 
laid  aside,  in  reserve,  past  service : 
Fr.,  6r«2Z/;  2.  (military),  under  arrest; 
3.  (old),  in  pawn  ;  4.  (thieves'),  trans- 
ported ;  5  (common),  dead  :  whence 
off  the  shelf,  resurrected  (1589). 

Shell.  1.  An  undress  jacket :  also 
shell-jacket.  2.  At  the  end  of  this 
room  [the  Westminster  schoolroom] 
there  is  a  kind  of  semicircular  apse,  in 
which  the  shell  form  were  formerly 
taught,  and  the  shape  of  which  is  said 
to  have  given  rise  to  this  name,  since 


403 


Shdl-back. 


Shilling. 


adopted  at  several  other  public 
schools  (Collins).  3.  In  pL,  money: 
see  Rhino  :  hence  to  shell  out,  to  pay  : 
Fr.,  allonger  Us  radis :  shelling -out, 
clubbing  money  together  (1591).  4. 
A  drinking  glass.  See  Brown  shell. 

Shell-back.  A  sailor :  also  old 
shell. 

Shell-out     A  variety  of  pool 

S'help.     SeeS'welp. 

Shelta.  A  kind  of  cryptic  Irish 
spoken  by  tinkers  and  confirmed 
tramps;  a  secret  jargon  composed 
chiefly  of  Gaelic  words  disguised  by 
changes  of  initial,  transposition  of 
letters,  backslanging,  and  similar  de- 
vices. [Discovered  by  C.  G.  Lei  and  and 
announced  to  the  world  in  his  book  The 
Gypsies  (1882);  in  1886  there  was  a 
correspondence  on  the  subject  in  The 
Academy;  in  1889  The  Gypsy  Lore 
Society  was  started  and  several 
articles  on  Shelta  appeared  in  its 
Journal ;  finally  in  Chambers' s  En- 
cyclopaedia (1902)  there  is  a  long 
account  of  this  once  mysterious  but 
now  fully  explained  speech.] 

Shelve.  To  hold  over  part  of  the 
weekly  bill ;  the  reverse  of  horsing 
(q.v.). 

Shemozzle  (Shimozzel,  or 
Shlemozzle)  (East  End).  A  diffi- 
culty. As  verb  (East  End).,  to  be  off, 
to  decamp. 

Shenanigan.  Bounce,  chaff, 
nonsense,  trickery  (Bartlett,  1877). 

She  -  napper.  '  A  Woman  Thief- 
catcher  ;  also  a  Cock  (he)  or  Hen  (she) 
Bawd,  a  Procuress'  (B.  E.). 

She-oak.     Colonial  brewed  ale. 

Shepherd.  To  guard,  to  keep 
under  surveillance,  to  chaperon  :  as  a 
ticket- of -leave  man  (see  Nark),  an 
unmarried  woman.  Also  (football) 
to  head  off  whilst  one's  side  is  running 
or  kicking.  At  Harrow,  shepherd, 
every  sixth  boy  in  the  cricket-bill  who 
answers  for  the  five  below  him  being 
present.  Also  (mining)  shepherding, 
consists  of  sitting  by  a  huge  fire  with  a 
pipe  in  your  mouth,  telling  or  listening 
to  interminable  yarns,  .  .  .  grumbling 
at  your  present  and  regretting  your 
past  luck,  diversified  by  occasionally 
lounging  up  to  a  sinking  party  for  the 
purpose  of  examining  the  tack'  thrown 
up,  and  criticising  the  progress  made. 

Sherbetty.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Sheriff.  The  chief  officer  of  justice 
within  a  county  is  naturally  found  in 


combination :  thus  sheriffs  picture 
frame,  the  hangman's  noose :  see 
Nubbing-cheat ;  sheriff's- journeyman, 
a  hangman ;  sheriff's  ball,  an  execu- 
tion :  whence,  to  dance  at  the  sheriff's 
ball  and  loll  out  one's  tongue  at  the 
company,  to  hang  ;  sheriffs  bracelet*, 
handcuffs ;  sheriffs  hotel,  a  prison 
(1824). 

Sherry  (or  Shiny).  To  run 
away  :  also  to  shirr y  off  (1785). 

Sherry-fug.     To  tipple  sherry. 

Sherry  -  moor.  A  fright  [Ilalli- 
vxtt :  From  the  battle  of  Sheriffe- 
muir  when  '  all  was  blood,  uproar,  and 
confusion ']. 

Shet     See  Shut. 

Shewle.     Cat's  meat. 

Shicer  (or  Shice).  1.  Any  worth- 
less person  or  thing :  generic  for  con- 
tempt. Also,  2.  nothing,  nix  (q.v.): 
e.g.  to  work  for  shice,  to  get  no  pay- 
ment. Spec.  Shice,  base  money ; 
and,  as  adj.,  (1)  spurious,  shabby,  bad  : 
also  shicery  and  shirkery  ;  and  (2)  tipsy. 

Schickster  (Shickser,  or 
Schickster).  A  woman  :  specifically 
(among  Jews),  (1)  a  female  servant  not 
of  the  Jewish  faith  ;  and  (2)  a  woman 
of  shady  antecedents.  Shickster- 
crabs,  ladies'  shoes. 

Snif.     Fish. 

Shift.  1.  To  eat ;  and  especially 
to  drink :  hence  shifter,  a  drunkard. 
2.  To  change  one's  smock,  change 
one's  clothes  ( 1695).  To  do  a  shift,  1. 
to  go  away,  to  change  one's  quarters. 
2.  To  evacuate.  To  shift  one's  bob : 
see  Bob. 

Shifter.  1.  An  intriguer :  shifty- 
cove,  a  trickster:  also  (a),  a  thief; 
(b)  a  sharper ;  and  (c)  a  drunkard ; 
whence  shifty  (or  shifting),  tricky 
(now  recognised);  shifting,  (1) 
shuffling,  stealing,  swindling ;  and 
(2),  drinking  (1567).  2.  An  alarm: 
as  given  by  one  thief  in  watching  to 
another  on  the  job  ( Vaux). 

Shifting  -  ballast.  Landsmen  on 
board  ship  :  spec,  soldiers. 

Shig.  In  pi.,  money :  specifically 
silver.  At  Winchester  shig,  a  shilling 
(Mansfield,  c,  1840). 

Shiggers  (Winchester).  White 
football  trousers  costing  10s.  :  see 
Shig. 

Shikerry.     See  Shicer. 

Shillagalee.     A  loafer. 

Shilling.  To  take  the  King's  (or 
Queen's)  shilling,  to  enlist  (1702). 


404 


Shilling-shocker. 


Ship-husband. 


Shilling  -  shocker  (or  dreadful). 
A  sensation  novel  sold  at  a  shilling : 
a  fashion  initiated  (1887)  by  The 
Mystery  of  a  Hansom  Call,  by  Mr. 
Fergus  Hume  :  cf.  Penny-awful. 

Shilly-shally  (also  shally- 
shally).  To  trifle,  not  to  know  one's 
mind ;  to  stand  shilly-shally,  to  be 
irresolute.  Hence  shilly  -  shally  (or 
shitty  -  shallying),  indecision.  [Shall 
I  ?  Shall  I  ?]  ;  shilly-shallier,  a  trifler 
(1630). 

Shimmy  (or  Shimmey).  A 
chemise :  also  (Felsted),  a  shirt : 
obsolete. 

Shin.  (1)  Generic  for  action  :  spec, 
to  walk,  to  tramp :  also  to  shin  it : 
hence  to  shin  up,  to  climb  ;  to  shin  it 
(shin  round,  or  break  shins),  to  go  a 
round  of  lenders :  whence  shinner,  a 
borrower  ;  to  shin  out  of,  to  clear  off  ; 
to  break  one's  shins  (see  above)  ;  also 
(2)  to  be  in  a  hurry ;  and  (3)  to  fall 
against,  or  over,  a  person  or  thing ; 
against  one's  shins,  unwillingly  (Ray) : 
also  shinny,  a  negro  tramp  :  cf.  Hoboe. 
To  kick  on  the  shins. 

Shindy.  1 .  A  dance  :  in  Western 
America  shindig,  &  noisy  dance.  2. 
A  disturbance,  a  quarrel :  also  shinty  : 
whence,  3.  a  boisterous  spree  (q.v.). 
4.  A  liking,  a  fancy. 

Shine.  1.  A  happening,  a  to-do 
(q.v.),  whether  warlike  or  not;  speci- 
fically a  frolic.  2.  A  show,  or  dis- 
play. 3.  A  row,  a  shindy  (q.v.) ;  to 
cut  a  shine,  to  make  a  show ;  every 
shine,  every  one  ;  as  verb,  (a)  to  make 
a  stir,  or  impression,  and  (6)  to  raise 
or  show  money ;  to  take  the  shine  out 
of,  (c)  to  outwit,  and  (d)  put  in  the 
shade  ;  to  shine  up  (or  take  a  shine)  to, 
to  make  oneself  agreeable,  have  a 
fancy  for.  4.  Money  :  generic  :  see 
Rhino.  5.  A  flash  :  e.g.  from  a  rifle. 

Shiner.  LA  coin  :  spec,  a  gold 
piece :  in  pi.,  money :  generic  :  also 
shino  and  shinery  (1760).  2.  A  look- 
ing glass  (1785).  3.  A  silk  hat.  4. 
A  clever  fellow.  5.  A  boaster :  also 
shine,  to  boast.  The  shiners,  the 
Northumberland  Fusiliers,  formerly 
The  5th  Foot.  [From  smart  ap- 
pearance at  the  time  of  The  Seven 
Years'  War.] 

Shine-  (or  Shine  y-)  rag.  To 
win  the  shine-rag,  to  be  ruined,  to 
meet  with  disaster. 

Shinfeast.  A  good  fire  (Holli- 
wdl). 


Shingle.  A  signboard :  to  hang 
out  (or  stick  up)  one's  shingle,  to  start 
business ;  shingle-splitting,  in  hiding 
for  debt.  As  verb,  to  chastise.  To 
have  a  shingle  short,  to  be  crazy,  have 
a  tile  loose. 

Shingl  e- tramper.  A  coast- 
guardsman. 

Shining- light.  An  exemplar 
(1796). 

Shinkin-ap-Morgan.  A 
Welshman  (1660). 

Shinner.  A  stocking  (1585).  See 
Shin. 

Shinny  (or  Shiny).  Drunk : 
see  Screwed. 

Shinplaster.  A  small  paper  note 
used  as  money ;  a  printed  promise  to 
pay  a  small  sum  issued  as  money 
without  legal  security.  The  name 
came  into  early  use  in  the  United 
States  for  notes  issued  on  private 
responsibility,  in  denominations  of 
from  three  to  fifty  cents,  as  substitutes 
for  the  small  coins  withdrawn  from 
circulation  during  a  suspension  of 
specific  payments ;  people  were  there- 
fore obliged  to  accept  them,  although 
very  few  of  them  were  ever  redeemed. 
Such  notes  abounded  during  the 
financial  panic  beginning  with  1837, 
and  during  the  early  part  of  the  Civil 
War  of  1861-65.  After  the  latter 
period  they  were  replaced  by  the 
fractional  notes  issued  by  the  Govern- 
ment and  properly  secured,  to  which 
the  name  was  transferred  (Century). 

Shin-rapper.  1.  A  disabling  blow 
on  the  sptint  bone :  also,  2.  one  who 
delivers  such  a  blow. 

Shinscraper.  The  treadmill :  see 
Everlasting-staircase. 

Ship.  A  body  of  compositors 
working  together ;  one  acts  as  a 
clicker,  takes  charge  and  makes  out 
the  general  bill  which  is  shared  and 
shared  alike :  an  abbreviation  of 
companionship.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
dismiss,  sack  (q.v.) ;  (2)  to  expel, 
rusticate  (American  Univ.);  (3)  to 
turn  out  of  bed,  mattress  on  top 
(Sherborne  School) ;  and  (4)  to  turn 
back  in  a  lesson  (Shrewsbury  School). 
Ship  blown  up  at  Point  Nonplus, 
Exemplifies  the  quietus  of  a  man 
when  plucked  penniless  ;  or,  genteelly 
expelled.  Oxf.  Univ.  cant  (Grose). 
See  Anno  Domini,  Home,  Pump. 

Ship  -  husband.  A  seaman  who 
rarely  goes  on  shore. 


405 


Ship-in- full -sail. 


Shoe. 


Ship  -  in  -  full  -  sail.  A  pot  of 
ale. 

Ship  of  the  desert.     A  camel. 

Ship  -  shape.  Spick  and  span, 
smart  above  and  below :  originally 
ship  -  shape  and  Bristol  fashion. 
[Bristol's  fame  as  a  port  in  early  days 
was  far  higher  than  now]. 

Shirk  (Eton  College:  obsolete). 
Shirking  was  a  marvellous  invention. 
Fellows  were  allowed  to  boat  on  the 
river,  but  all  the  approaches  to  it  were 
out  of  bounds  ;  we  might  walk  on  the 
terrace  of  Windsor  Castle,  but  it  was 
unlawful  to  be  caught  in  the  streets 
of  Windsor  which  led  to  the  terrace 

...  If,  out  of  bounds,  you  saw  a 
master  coming,  you  had  to  shirk, 
which  was  done  by  merely  stepping 
into  a  shop.  The  master  might  see 
yon  but  he  was  supposed  not  to  see 
you.  The  absurdity  was  .  .  .  that  to 
buy  anything  in  the  shops  in  High 
Street,  where  all  the  school  tradesmen 
dwelt,  we  were  obliged  to  go  out  of 
bounds  (Seven  Years  at  Eton).  To 
shirk  in  (Winchester),  to  walk  into 
water  instead  of  plunging.  To  shirk 
out,  to  go  out  contrary  to  rules : 
whence  shirkster,  one  who  shirks. 

Shirker.  One  who  prefers  the 
road  to  cross  -  country  riding  :  cf. 
Skirter. 

Shirallee.  Swag  (q.v.) ;  a  bundle 
of  blankets. 

Shirt.  To  get  one's  shirt  out  (or 
lose  one's  shirt),  to  make  (or  get) 
angry :  hence,  shirty,  angry,  ill-tem- 
pered. Colloquialisms:  To  bet  one's 
shirt  (or  put  one's  shirt  on),  to  risk  all ; 
to  fly  round  and  tear  one's  shirt,  to 
bestir  oneself ;  shirt  (or  flag)  in  the 
wind,  a  fragment  seen  through  the 
fly,  or  through  a  hole  in  the  breech  ; 
that's  up  your  shirt,  that's  a  puzzler 
for  you.  See  also  Boiled  shirt, 
Bloody  shirt,  Historical  (or  Illustrated) 
shirt. 

Shirt  -  sleevie  (Stonyhurst).  A 
dance  :  on  winter  Saturday  evenings, 
and  sometimes  in  the  open  air  at  the 
end  of  summer  term.  [The  costume 
is  an  open  flannel  shirt  and  flannel 
trousers.] 

Shise.     See  Shice. 

Shivaroo.     A  spree. 

Shiver.  In  pi.,  the  ague, ' chills. 
See  Beat  and  Timbers. 

Shivering  Jemmy  (or  James). 
A  beggar  faked  up  with  rags. 


Shivery-shaky.  Trembling, 
shivery -shakes,  chills. 

Sho.     Pshaw ! 

Shoard.  To  take  a  shoard,  to  get 
tipsy :  see  Screwed. 

Shoat  (or  Shote).  An  odd  man : 
his  principal  business  being  to  pick 
up  chips,  feed  the  hogs,  etc. 

Shock.  A  Brunt.  To  stand  the 
shock,  to  bear  the  brunt  (B.  K.). 
Shocking,  what  is  offensive,  grating, 
grievous,  and  espec.  indecent. 

Shocker.  Anything  to  surprise  or 
startle  :  see  Shilling  Shocker. 

Shocking.     See  Hat 

Shod.     See  Shoe. 

Shoddy.  1.  Old  material — cloth, 
rags,  etc. — ground  up  or  shredded, 
and  rewoven  with  a  new  warp. 
Hence,  2.  anything  of  poor  quality 
or  pretentious  reputation :  spec,  (in 
derision)  a  workman  in  a  woollen 
factory.  Also  as  adj.,  sham.  Also 
derivatives  such  as  shoddyite,  shoddy- 
ise,  etc. 

Shoe.  A  room  in  Southgate 
Debtors'  Prison.  Phrases,  colloquial- 
isms, and  proverbial  sayings:  To  un'» 
one's  shoes  (old  tournament),  to 
vanquish  one's  adversary ;  to  die  i» 
one's  shoes  (or  boots),  to  be  hanged : 
see  Ladder  ;  to  shoe  the  wild  colt,  to  be 
initiated,  to  exact  footing  (q.v.) ;  also 
to  shoe ;  to  shoe  all  round,  to  provide 
hat  -  band,  gloves,  and  scarf  at  a 
funeral ;  many  shoeings  being  only 
partial ;  to  make  children's  shots,  to 
look  ridiculous ;  to  lick  one's  shoes, 
to  fawn  on,  to  cringe  ;  in  another't 
shoes,  in  his  place  ;  to  put  the  shoe  on 
the  right  foot,  to  lay  blame  (or  praise) 
where  justly  due  ;  to  tread  one's  shoe 
straight,  to  do  what  is  right  and 
proper;  to  tread  one's  shoe  awry,  (1) 
to  play  fast  and  loose ;  and  spec. 
(2)  to  play  the  wanton ;  to  shoe  the 
goose,  to  undertake  anything  absurd 
or  futile  :  cf.  He  that  will  meddle  with 
all  things  may  go  shoe  the  goslins ; 
and  (3)  to  get  tipsy ;  to  shoe  the 
cobbler,  to  tap  the  ice  quickly  with  the 
forefoot  when  sliding :  see  Cobbler's- 
knock ;  to  unit  for  dead  men's  shoes 
(see  Dead  men's  shoes) ;  to  throw  an 
old  shoe,  '  to  wish  them  Luck  on  their 
business'  (B.  E.) :  the  shoe  pinchf*  (of 
untoward  circumstances  or  event*); 
also  No  man  knows  where  the  Bhoe 
pinches  but  he  who  wears  it  (B.  E. ) ; 
another  pair  of  shoes,  something  quite 


40« 


Shoe-bucJdes. 


Shoot. 


different :  Fr.,  une  autre  paire  de 
manches ;  over  shoes,  over  boots,  in 
for  a  sheep,  in  for  a  lamb  ;  One  shoe 
will  not  fit  all  feet,  people  nor  cir- 
cumstances are  not  all  alike  ;  He  came 
in  hosed  and  shod,  he  was  born  to  a 
good  estate. 

Shoe  -  buckles.  Not  worth  shoe- 
buckles,  of  little  account  (Ray). 

Shoe-horn.     To  cuckold  (1650). 

Shoeing  -  horn.  A  pretext  or  in- 
citement (1562). 

Shoe  -  leather.  A  cry  of  warning  ; 
Look  out !  Fr.,  Chou !  chou !  or 
Acresto  ! 

Shoemaker.  Phrases,  etc. :  Who 
goes  worse  shod  than  the  shoemaker's 
wife,  an  excuse  for  the  lack  of  some- 
thing one  ought  to  possess ;  in  the 
shoemaker's  stocks,  'pincht  with  straight 
shoes'  (B.  E.) ;  shoemaker's  pride, 
creaking  shoes  ;  shoemaker's  holiday, 
'  There  was  nothing  which  he  [Oliver 
Goldsmith]  enjoyed  better  than  what 
he  used  facetiously  to  term  a  shoe- 
maker's holiday  —  three  or  four  of 
his  intimate  friends  rendezvoused  at 
his  chambers  to  breakfast  about  ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning ;  at  eleven 
they  proceeded,  by  the  City  Road 
and  through  the  fields,  to  Highbury 
Barn  to  dinner ;  about  six  o'clock  in 
the  evening  they  adjourned  to  White 
Conduit  House  to  drink  tea ;  and 
concluded  the  evening  by  supping  at 
the  Grecian  or  Temple  Exchange 
coffee  houses,  or  at  the  Globe  in 
Fleet  Street ;  the  whole  expenses  of 
this  day's  fete  never  exceeded  a  crown, 
and  .  .  .  oftener  from  three-and-six- 
pence  to  four  shillings,  for  which  the 
party  obtained  good  air  and  exercise, 
good  living,  the  example  of  simple 
manners,  and  good  conversation  ' 
(1793). 

Shoesmith.     A  cobbler. 

Shoestring.  A  small  bet  run  up 
to  a  large  amount. 

Shoful  (Showfull,  or  Schofel). 
Generic  for  anybody  or  anything 
questionable.  Spec,  shoful,  (1)  base 
money  (also  shoful  money) :  whence 
shoful  -  pitcher,  a  dealer  in  counter- 
feit ;  shoful  -  pitching,  shoving  the 
queer  (q.v.) ;  shoful- jewellery,  pinch- 
beck gauds :  also  (2)  a  hansom  cab 
(because  an  infringement  on  Hansom's 
patent) ;  and  shovel  (q.v.)  (1851). 

Shog.  A  jog :  also  as  verb,  to  be 
off  (1599). 


Sholl.  To  bonnet  (q.v.),  to  crush 
the  hat  over  the  eyes. 

Shoo  !  Be  off !  Away  !  As  verb, 
to  scare  away.  Cannot  sny  Shook  to 
a  goose,  a  retort  on  timidity  or  bash- 
fulness  :  see  Boh  (1611). 

Shook  on.     See  Shake. 

S  h  o  o  1.  To  loaf,  to  go  on  the 
tramp,  to  beg.  Whence  shooling,  idl- 
ing ;  shoolman,  a  loafer  or  vagabond  : 
Fr.,  battre  sa  fleme  (1748). 

Shoon.     A  fool,  a  lout. 

Shoot.  1.  A  shooting  party  (1573). 
2.  A  vacant  piece  of  ground  :  where 
rubbish  is  got  rid  of.  3.  A  fancy. 
The  Shoot  (London),  The  Walworth- 
road  station  on  the  S.  E.  &  C.  Ry. 
[A  large  number  of  workpeople  alight 
there.]  Phrases:  Shoot  as  a  generic 
verb  of  action  is  found  in  frequent 
combination :  as  to  shoot  (jerk,  or 
whip)  the  cat,  ( 1 )  to  vomit ;  see  Cat, 
and  (2)  to  sound  a  refrain  in  the 
infantry  bugle  call  to  defaulters' 
drill,  which,  it  is  fancied,  follows  the 
sound  of  the  words,  shoot  the  cat — 
shoot  the  cat ;  to  shoot  the  crow,  to 
run  off  without  paying,  to  bilk  (q.v.) ; 
to  shoot  horses,  to  take  horses  out  of  a 
van  to  prevent  unloading  (strikers') ; 
to  shoot  one's  linen,  to  jerk  or  display 
the  cuffs ;  to  shoot  one's  lines,  to 
declaim  with  vigour ;  to  shoot  (bolt, 
or  shove)  the  moon,  to  remove  furniture 
by  night  to  prevent  seizure  for  rent : 
see  Moon ;  to  shoot  one's  bolt,  to  ex- 
haust one's  credit  or  resources,  to  come 
to  an  end  of  things ;  to  go  the  whole 
shoot,  to  risk  all ;  to  shoot  off  one's 
mouth  (or  jaw),  to  abuse ;  to  be  shot, 
(1)  to  make  a  disadvantageous  bet 
which  is  instantly  accepted  (turf), 
and  (2)  to  be  photographed  (photo- 
graphers'); see  Snap-shot;  to  shoot 
on  the  post,  to  make  a  close  win  at  the 
finish  ;  to  shoot  over  the  pitcher,  to  brag 
of  one's  shooting ;  to  slwot  one's  star, 
to  die ;  to  shoot  the  sun,  to  determine 
the  longitude  (nautical) ;  to  shoot  one's 
granny,  to  find  a  mare's  nest ;  to  be 
disappointed ;  to  shoot  the  market 
(Stock  Exchange),  to  make  a  man  a 
close  price  in  a  stock  without  knowing 
if  there  would  be  a  profit  or  loss  on  the 
bargain ;  shoot  that  [hat,  man — any- 
thing] !  (1)  a  mild  imprecation, 
Bother  !  ;  Shoot  that  I  an  injunction  to 
silence  :  e.g.  shoot  the  shop ;  to  shoot 
in  the  eye,  to  do  an  ill  turn ;  to  be  shot 
in  the  neck,  to  be  drunk ;  I'll  (or 


407 


Shootabout. 


Short. 


may  1)  be  shot  if  — ,  a  mild  imprecation 
or  strenuous  denial.  See  also  Shot. 

Shootabout  (school :  esp.  Charter- 
house). An  irregular  form  of  foot- 
ball 

Shooter.  Generic.  Thus,  (1)  a 
revolver  :  also,  according  to  capacity, 
a  five,  »ix,  or  seven-shooter ;  (2)  the 
guard  of  a  mail  coach  (old) :  he  was 
armed  with  a  blunderbuss ;  (3)  a 
shooting  star ;  (4)  a  shooting-stick 
(printers') ;  a  piece  of  hard  wood  or 
metal  used  with  a  mallet  for  tight- 
ening quoins  in  a  chase ;  (5)  a  ball 
(cricket),  bowled  full  pitch  but 
shooting  in  close  to  the  ground ;  and 
(6)  a  black  morning  coat  (Harrow)  as 
distinguished  from  the  tail  coat  worn 
by  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Forms. 

Shooting-iron.     A  gun  or  revolver. 

Shooting  -  stars.  Dizziness:  as 
caused  by  a  blow. 

Shop.  ( 1 )  Generic  for  a  place  :  of 
residence,  business,  manufacture,  en- 
gagement, or  resort ;  and  (2)  one's 
profession,  business,  or  occupation ; 
(3)  (old,  and  thieves'),  a  prison : 
whence,  as  verb,  to  imprison,  to 
confine  ;  (4)  a  guardroom  :  also  spec. 
The  Royal  Military  Academy ;  and 
(5)  a  place :  whence  to  be  shopped  (or 
get  a  shop),  to  come  in  first,  second,  or 
third  ;  and  (6)  to  kill,  to  burke  (q.v.) ; 
to  talk  shop,  to  talk  business  in  society  : 
Fr.,  parler  boutique  ;  to  sink  the  shop, 
to  refrain  from  shop  -  talk ;  shoppy 
(or  full  of  the  shop),  wholly  engrossed 
in  business  matters ;  the  other  shop, 
a  rival  (trader,  establishment,  etc.). 
As  verb,  to  work  in  a  shop ;  whence 
shopped,  (1)  in  work,  also  (2)  dis- 
charged. Phrases:  To  shut  up  shop, 
(1)  to  come  to  an  end,  to  retire ;  (2) 
to  cease  talking  (1570);  and  (3)  to 
finish,  to  do  for  ;  to  come  (or  go)  to  the 
wrong  shop,  to  make  a  mistake ;  'ill 
over  the  shop,  confused,  awry. 

Shopkeeper.  An  article  long  in 
stock  :  sometimes  old  shopkeeper. 

Shop-lift  (lifter,  or  bouncer). 
'One  that  steals  under  Pretence  of 
Cheap'ning'  (B.  E.):  cf.  lift  Hence 
shop-lifting  and  similar  compounds 
(1678). 

Shopocracy.  The  world  of  shop- 
keepers :  cf.  Monocracy,  Shamo- 
cracy,  etc. 

Shoppy.  (1)  Commercial ;  (2)  full 
of  shops  ;  and  (3)  see  Shop. 

Shop-shift.     A  tradesman's  trick. 


Shop-'un.  A  boxed  or  pickled 
egg :  as  distinguished  from  new- 
laid. 

Shoreditch  (The  Duke  of).  A 
mock  title:  When  Henry  VIII. 
became  king  he  gave  a  prize  at  Wind- 
sor to  those  who  should  excel  in  this 
exercise  [archery],  when  Barlo,  one 
of  his  guards,  an  inhabitant  of  Shore- 
ditch,  acquired  such  honour  as  an 
archer  that  the  king  created  him 
Duke  of  Shoreditch  on  the  spot. 
This  .  .  .  title  continued  so  late  as 
1683. 

Shoreditch  -  fury  (obsolete).  A 
prostitute  (1599). 

Shores.     Lake  Shore  Ry.    Shares. 

Short.  1.  A  card  (all  below  the 
eight)  prepared  so  that  nothing  above 
the  eight  can  be  cut :  by  which  the 
chances  of  an  honour  turning  up  are 
reduced  to  two  to  one :  cf.  Long  and 
Brief.  2.  In  pL,  knee  breeches,  small 
clothes.  3.  A  bear  (q.v.) ;  one  who 
has  sold  short,  and  whose  interest  ia 
to  depress  the  market :  as  adj.  or  adv., 

(1)  not  in  hand  when  contracting  to 
deliver ;  or  (2)  unable  to  meet  one's 
engagements :    e.g.    short    of    Eries, 
Brighton  A's,  etc.     4.  In  pL,  flannel 
trousers,     cute    (q.v.).     As    adj.,  (1) 
Unadulterated,  neat  (q.v.) :  as  subs., 
a  dram  [spec,   of   gin]  unlengthened 
by  water ;  (2)  a  term  used  by  cashiers 
of  banks,  in  asking  how  a  cheque  is  to 
be  paid,  How  will  you  take  it  ?   i.e. 
in  gold  or  notes  ?  if  in  notes,  Long  or 
short  ?  i.e.  in  notes  for  small  or  large 
amounts  (Hotten) ;  (3)  hard  up ;  short 
of    cash    (1603).     Phrases    and    col- 
loquialisms :  To  come  short  home,  to  be 
imprisoned  ;  to  bite  off  short  (tailors'), 
to  dismiss  abruptly,  or  refuse  curtly  ; 
to  cut  it  short,  to  be  as  brief  as  may 
be ;  short  and  sweet,  a  jesting  regret, 
or  sarcastic  comment :  frequently  with 
the  addition,  like  a  donkey's  gallop ; 
the  short  and  long  (or  the  short  and 
plain),    ( 1 )    the    whole    truth :    now 
usually  the  long  and  the  short :  also 

(2)  a  couple  of  persons,  one  of  dwarf 
and    one    of   giant   stature    walking 
together ;     short    of    puff,     winded ; 
short  (or  short-uxiisted),  crusty,  irrit- 
able ;  short  of  a  sheet,  crazy ;  for  short, 
for    brevity's    sake ;    A    short    hone 
is   soon   curried,  a  simple  matter  is 
soon    disposed    of ;    short    commons, 
not  too  much  to  eat ;  short-limbered, 
touchy  ;  a  short  shrift  and  a  long  rope, 


408 


Short-ear. 


Shovel. 


instant    dispatch ;    a    short    memory, 
iorgetfulness. 

Short-ear  (American  University). 
A  rowdy  :  see  Lamb. 

Shorter.  One  who  dwindles  the  sur- 
face and  the  edges  of  coins  by  clipping, 
filing,  shaking  together  in  a  bag,  pre- 
cipitation, or  other  means ;  a  sweater 
(q.v.). 

Short-head.  A  horse  that  fails  by 
a  short  head. 

Shortheels.  A  wanton.  Hence, 
short-heeled,  unchaste. 

Short-length.  A  small  glass  of 
brandy,  a  '  wee  three.' 

Short-one.  A  passenger  whose 
name  was  not  on  the  way  -  bill, 
shoulderstick  (q.v.),  a  bit  of  fish  (q.v.). 

Short-pot.  '  False,  cheating  Potts 
used  at  Ale-houses,  and  Brandy- 
shops'  (B.  E.). 

Short-staff.     See  Gentleman. 

Short-stick.    An  insufficient  length. 

Shot.  1.  A  reckoning,  a  share  of 
expense.  2.  Money  (generic) :  as 
shot  in  the  locker,  money  in  hand,  or  at 
will ;  also  shot-bag,  a  purse  ;  shot-free, 
nothing  to  pay  :  also  scot-free  ;  shot- 
clog,  a  simpleton,  tolerated  because 
he  is  willing  to  pay  reckonings ;  shot- 
flagon,  the  host's  pot,  given  where  the 
guests  have  drunk  above  a  shilling's- 
worth  of  ale  (Halliwett) ;  whence 
shot-pot,  one  entitled  to  the  shot- 
flagon  ;  shot-ship,  a  company  shar- 
ing and  sharing  alike  ;  shot  -  shark, 
a  waiter  (1591).  3.  A  corpse.  4.  A 
guess.  5.  An  attempt,  a  venture 
(1844).  As  adv.,  drunk  :  see  Screwed  : 
also  shot  in  the  neck :  see  Shoot.  As 
verb,  to  fake  a  horse  :  a  dose  of  small 
shot  gives  a  temporary  appearance  of 
sound-windedness.  As  intj.,  (Royal 
High  School,  Edin. ),  a  cry  of  warning 
at  the  approach  of  a  master.  Phrases : 
Like  a  shot,  quickly,  at  full  drive ; 
shot  in  the  neck,  drunk ;  see  Screwed  ; 
shot  in  the  tail  (or  giblets),  got  with 
child  ;  not  by  a  long  shot,  hopelessly  out 
of  reckoning :  whence  a  long  shot,  a 
bold  attempt  or  large  undertaking : 
also  see  Shoot. 

Shot-clog.     See  Shot. 

Shot-soup.      Bad  pea-soup. 

Shotten-herring.  A  term  of  con- 
tempt: spec,  a  lean  meagre  fellow. 
Hence,  shotten  -  souled,  despicable 
(1598). 

Shoulder.  Shouldering,  among 
coachmen  and  guards,  is  that  species  of 


cheating  their  employers  hi  which 
they  take  the  fares  and  pocket  them, 
generally  of  such  passengers  as  they 
overtake  on  the  road,  or  who  come 
across  the  country  to  the  main  road 
and  are  not  put  down  in  the  way-bill : 
hence  shoulder-stick,  a  passenger  not 
on  the  way-bill :  see  Short-one  and 
cf.  Swallow  (1828).  A  slip  of  the 
shoulder,  seduction.  See  Cold  shoulder, 
Wheel. 

S  h  o  u  1  d  e  r-clapper.  A  bailiff  ; 
shoulder-dapped,  arrested  (1593). 

Shoulder-feast.  A  dinner  given 
to  bearers  after  a  funeral  (1785). 

Shoulder-hitter.  A  bully,  rowdy  : 
spec,  a  gambling  tout  (1858) 

Shoulder-knot.     A  footman. 

Shoulder-of-mutton  fist.  A  coarse 
big,  broad  hand  :  in  contempt. 

Shoulder-pegged.     Stiff-limbed. 

Shoulder-sham.  A  Partner  to  a 
File.  (B.  E.) 

Shout.  A  turn  in  paying  for  a 
round  of  drinks.  Hence  as  verb,  to 
stand  treat ;  shouting,  a  general  in- 
vitation to  drink ;  to  shout  oneself 
hoarse,  to  get  drunk  :  see  Charter  the 
Bar. 

Shouting.  All  over  but  the  shout- 
ing, said  of  anything  obviously 
finished. 

Shove.  Phrases:  To  shove  for  (or 
to  be  on  the  shove),  to  move,  to  try  for  ; 
to  shove  the  moon,  to  remove  secretly, 
by  night :  see  Moon ;  to  shove  the 
tumbler,  to  be  whipped  at  the  cart's 
tail  (B.  E.) ;  a  shove  in  the  mouth,  a 
dram ;  to  shove  the  queer,  to  pass  bad 
money  ;  a  shove  in  the  eye,  a  punch  in 
the  eye  :  generic  ;  to  give  the  shove,  to 
send  packing ;  to  get  the  shove,  to  be 
dismissed  :  see  Bag. 

Shove  -  halfpenny  (also  Shove- 
[or  Shovel-]  board,  Shove  -  groat, 
Slide-groat,  Slide-thrift,  or  Push- 
penny.)  A  gambling  game,  played 
on  a  table  on  which  transverse  lines 
have  been  drawn  rather  more  than 
the  width  of  a  halfpenny  apart.  The 
play  consists  in  sending  the  halfpenny 
by  a  smart  stroke  of  the  palm  from 
the  end  of  the  table  so  as  to  make  it 
rest  in  the  compartments  formed  by 
the  lines.  [Ed.  VI.  shillings,  as  being 
smooth  and  easily  pushed,  were  much 
in  vogue  as  counters.]  (1528). 

Shovel.  1.  A  hat,  broad-brimmed, 
turned  up  at  the  sides,  and  scooped  in 
front,  as  worn  by  deans  and  bishops 


409 


Shy. 


of  the  Established  Church :  also 
shovel-hat :  whence  shovel-hatted.  2. 
A  hansom  -  cab  :  see  Shofu).  3.  An 
ignorant  marine  engineer.  Phrases: 
Put  to  bed  with  a  shovel  (or  spade, 
buried  ;  He  was  fed  with  a  shovel  (or 
fire-shovel),  a  jeer  at  a  large  mouth). 
That's  before  you  bought  your  shovel, 
You  are  too  previous,  That's  up 
against  you,  That  settles  your  hash. 

Shover.  One  who  utters  base 
money;  a  smasher  (q.v. );  a  sour- 
planter  (q.v.):  also  shover  of  the 
queer. 

Shove-up.     Nothing  ( Vaux). 

Show.  ( 1 )  An  entertainment ;  a 
spectacle  (as  the  Lord  Mayor's  show) ; 
(2)  one's  business :  cf.  shop ;  and  (3) 
a  piece  of  work :  also  show-box,  a 
theatre  (1530).  (4)  A  chance,  a  turn, 
an  opportunity  (1537).  Phrases  and 
colloquialisms :  To  show  away  (or  off), 
to  give  oneself  airs :  hence  showing 
off,  making  the  most  of  oneself ;  to 
show  a  leg  (nautical),  (1)  to  turn  out ; 
and  (2)  see  Leg;  to  show  up,  (1)  to 
make  an  appearance  (also  to  show  one- 
self), and  (2)  to  expose  :  also  as  subs, 
in  both  senses ;  to  show  the  door  (or 
the.  outside  of  the  door),  to  dismiss 
without  ceremony  ;  to  boss  the  show,  to 
manage  ;  to  show  one  London  (school), 
to  hold  one  by  the  heels  upside  down  ; 
to  see  London,  to  hang  by  the  heels  :  as 
from  a  rail,  trapeze ;  to  give  the  show 
away,  to  blab  ;  etc.  Also  see  Agility, 
Cold  Shoulder,  Elephant,  Heels,  Leg, 
Teeth,  Water,  White  Feather. 

Shower.     A  shower-bath. 

Showing.  A  front  showing,  parade 
at  short  notice :  i.e.  without  time 
to  properly  prepare  accoutrements 
and  kit 

Showman.     A  manager. 

Show-Sunday.  Among  the  com- 
monalty, Easter  Sunday,  when  if  you 
don't  wear  something  new,  the  rooks 
will  bewray  you ;  at  Oxford,  the 
Sunday  in  Commemoration  Week  (a 
kind  of  University  Parade  took  place 
in  the  Broad  Walk  of  Christ's,  but 
the  invasion  of  Town  has  stopped  it) ; 
amongst  artists,  etc.,  the  Sunday 
before  sending  -  in  day,  when  the 
studios  are  open  to  visitors  and  friends. 

Shreds  (or  Shreds  and  Patches). 
A  tailor. 

Shrieking  (or  Whining)  Sister- 
hood. The  world  of  women  re- 
formers :  hence,  busybodies. 


Shrimp.  1.  A  dwarf,  a  pigmy  :  in 
contempt  (1383).  2.  A  prostitute. 

Shuck.  The  lowest  standard  of 
value ;  spec,  the  paper  currency  of  the 
Confederate  States :  at  the  close  of 
the  Civil  War  these  notes  became  a* 
valueless  as  pea-shucks ;  hence,  less 
than  shuck,  less  than  nothing ;  to  care 
(or  be  worth)  not  a  shuck,  to  care  (or  be 
worth)  little ;  shuckless,  worthless ; 
Shucks  I  Nonsense  :  a  contemptuous 
denial  or  refusal.  As  verb,  to  un- 
dress, peel  (q.v.). 

Shuffle.  1.  To  make  use  of  false 
pretences  or  unfair  shifts.  Shuffling- 
fellow,  '  A  slippery,  shiteing  Fellow  * 
(B.  E.).  2.  (Winchester),  to  pretend, 
to  feign :  as  to  shuffle  sleep :  hence 
shuffler. 

Shum.     In  pi.,  money  :  see  Rhino. 

Shunter.  One  who  buys  or  sells 
stocks  on  the  chance  of  undoing 
his  business,  on  one  of  the  provincial 
Stock  Exchanges,  at  a  profit. 

Shurk.     A  sharper. 

Shut  1.  To  shut  up,  to  hold  one's 
tongue,  to  compel  silence,  to  dry  up 
(q.v.) :  also  shut  your  neck  (mouth, 
head,  or  face  ;  Shut  up  I  or  Shut  it  /) : 
FT.,  ferme  ta  boite :  hence,  to  be  shut 
up,  to  be  silenced,  exhausted,  or  done 
for  (1563).  2.  To  give  up,  as  one 
horse  when  challenged  by  another  in 
a  race.  To  be  shut  of,  to  be  rid  of, 
freed  from,  quit  of  :  as  subs,  a  riddance 
(1596). 

Shuts  (Christ's  Hospital).  A  hoax 
a  sell  (q.v.) :  as  intj.,  Sold  again  ! 

Shutters.    To  put  up  the  shutters. 
1.  To  bung  up  an  opponent's  eye- 
To  announce  oneself  a  bankrupt,  to 
stop  payment 

Shutter-racket  The  practice  of 
robbing  houses  or  shops  by  boring  a 
hole  in  the  window  shutters  and  taking 
out  a  pane  of  glass  (1785). 

Shuttle-bag.  To  swallow  the 
shuttle-bag,  to  get  husky. 

Shuttle  -  head  (brain,  or  wit). 
An  eccentric,  a  scatterling.  Whence 
shuttle-headed,  etc.,  nighty,  scatter- 
brained ;  shuttleness,  rashness,  thought- 
lessness. Also  shittle-head,  etc.  ( 1 440). 

Shy.  Generic  for  a  piece  of  action : 
as  a  throw,  a  chance,  an  attempt,  a 
jibe ;  as  verb,  to  do,  to  make,  to 
throw,  and  all  other  verbs  of  action 
(1824).  As  adj.,  adv.  and  verb,  (1) 
missing,  hard  to  find  :  whence  shy- 
cock,  one  who  keeps  within  doors  for 


410 


Shyster. 


Sight. 


fear  of  bailiffs  (Grote) :  henoe  (2),  coy, 
•queamish,  cold,  or  averse  (B.  E.) ; 
(3)  of  dubious  repute  or  character  ;  as 
verb,  to  fight  shy  of,  to  keep  out  of  the 
way,  to  abstain  (1796). 

Shyster.  1.  One  of  a  class  of  men 
who  hang  about  the  police  courts  of 
New  York  and  other  large  cities,  and 
practise  in  them  as  lawyers,  but  who 
in  many  cases  have  never  been  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  ;  they  are  men  who 
have  served  as  policemen,  turnkeys, 
sheriff's  officers,  or  in  any  capacity  by 
which  they  have  become  familiar 
with  criminals  and  criminal  courts. 
2.  A  swindler,  duffer,  or  vagabond  :  a 
generic  term  (1903)  of  contempt. 
Sice.  Sixpence  :  see  Rhino. 
Sick.  In  its  primary,  extended, 
and  old  literary  sense  (as  in  the  Bible 
and  Shakespeare),  sick  (disabled  by 
disease  or  bad  health)  now  borders  on 
the  colloquial,  having  been  super- 
seded by  ill,  whilst  sick  is  confined 
to  vomiting  or  nausea.  There  are 
also  exceptional  usages.  Thus  sick 
(muddy)  wine ;  sick  (stale)  fish ;  a 
sick  hand  (at  cards,  esp.  whist,  with- 
out trumps) ;  a  sick  (pale)  look ;  a 
sick  (ruffled)  temper,  etc. :  also,  It 
makes  me  sick  (or  gives  me  the  sick),  I 
am  disgusted  with  it ;  sick  as  a  horse 
(dog,  rat,  cat,  cushion,  or  what  not), 
sick  as  may  be ;  sick  of  the  idles  (the 
Lombard  fever,  or  the  idle  crick  and 
the  belly  work  in  the  heel),  a  pretence  to 
be  idle  upon  no  apparent  cause ;  to 
speak  in  the  sick  tune,  to  affect  sick- 
ness ;  sickly,  untoward  or  disgusting ; 
sickrel  (B.  E.),  a  puny,  sickly  Creature. 
Also  (American),  lacking,  in  need  of  : 
as  paint-stcfc,  nail-stcfc :  cf.  home-sick, 
mother  -  sick,  sleep  -  sick,  etc.  Like- 
wise, sitting  up  with  a  sick  friend,  an 
excuse  for  marital  absence  all  night 
(1600). 

Sickener.  Too  much  (even  of  a 
good  thing),  a  cause  of  disgust :  cf. 
Bellyful. 

Side.  Swagger  (q.v.),  conceit; 
thus,  to  put  on  side,  to  give  oneself 
airs  :  FT.,  se  hancher.  As  intj.,  Yes  ! 
See  Blanket,  Best  side,  Blind  side, 
Jack,  Mouth,  Pull,  Right  side,  Seamy, 
Set,  Shady,  Shinny,  Split,  Wrong 
side. 

Sideboard.  A  shirt -collar  of  the 
stand  -  up  ordjer.  In  pi.,  whiskers, 
•ide-wings,  gills  (q.v.). 

Side-pocket.      An    out-of-the-way 


drinking  saloon.  Wanted  as  much  as 
a  dog  (or  a  toad)  vxints  a  tide-pocket,  a 
simile  used  for  one  who  desires  any- 
thing by  no  means  necessary :  see  also 
Wife. 

Side-sim.     A  fool  (1610). 

Side  -  slip.  Bastard,  a  bye-blow 
(q.v.). 

Side  -  splitter.  A  funny  story. 
Hence,  stde  -  splitting,  screamingly, 
funny. 

Sidetrack.  To  shunt  (q.v.),  to 
avoid,  to  place  on  one  side,  to  dis- 
continue. 

Side  -  winder.  A  heavy  blow  with 
the  fist :  also  sidewipe  (1850). 

Sidledywry.     Crooked  (1785). 

Sidney-bird.     See  Sidney-sider. 

Siege.  1.  Excrement,  faecal  matter. 
2.  A  jakes.  3.  Defecation  :  as  verb,  to 
stool  (1548). 

Sieve.  A  loose-spoken  person,  a 
blab  (q.v.) :  cf.  As  well  pour  water  into 
a  sieve  as  tell  him  (1670). 

Sift.  To  embezzle  small  coins  : 
such  as  might  pass  through  a  sieve. 

Sifter.  A  drink  composed  of 
whisky,  honey,  strawberry  -  syrup, 
lemon,  and  ice. 

Sight.  1.  Generic  for  magnitude 
(that  is,  something  worth  looking 
at):  thus  a  sight  of  people,  a  multitude  ; 
a  sight  of  work,  untiring  industry,  or 
enough  and  to  spare  ;  a  sight  of  money, 
a  large  amount ;  hence,  out  of  sight, 
unrivalled,  beyond  comparison ;  a 
smart  (pretty,  precious,  powerful,  etc.) 
sight,  a  great  deal ;  o  sight  for 
sore  eyes,  something  to  please :  also 
in  sarcasm.  2.  An  opportunity,  a 
chance,  a  show  (q.v.) ;  to  get  within 
sight,  to  near  the  end.  3.  An  oddity, 
a  scarecrow :  also  contemptuously, 
Her  new  jacket  was  a  perfect  sight, 
or  You've  made  yourself  a  regular 
sight,  Not  fit  to  be  seen  (1694).  4. 
As  far  as  can  be  seen  at  one  time,  as 
the  reach  of  a  river,  or  a  bend  in  a 
road  :  thus,  in  directing  a  person,  Go 
three  sights  on,  and  take,  etc.  :  also 
a  look.  5.  A  gesture  of  derision :  the 
thumb  on  the  nose -tip  and  the  fingers 
spread  fan-wise  :  also  Queen  Anne's 
Fan  ;  a  double  sight  is  made  by  joining 
the  tip  of  the  little  finger  (already  in 
position)  to  the  thumb  of  the  other 
hand,  the  fingers  being  similarly 
extended ;  emphasis  is  given  by 
moving  the  fingers  of  both  hands  as  if 
playing  a  piano :  similar  actions  are 


411 


Silver-grays. 


taking  a  grinder  (q.v.)  or  working  the 
coffee-mill  (q.v.) ;  pulling  bacon  (q.v.) ; 
making  a  nose  (or long  nose) ;  Cocking 
•nooks,  etc.  (1702).  To  put  out  of 
sight,  to  eat,  to  consume. 

Sign.  Here  may  be  arranged  two 
or  three  obsolete  colloquialisms  :  sign 
of  a  house  to  let,  a  widow's  weeds 
(1785);  the  sign  of  the  feathers,  a 
woman's  best  good  graces  ;  at  the  sign 
of  the  horn,  in  cuckoldom ;  the  sign 
of  the  prancer  (1567),  the  Nag's  Head  ; 
the  sign  of  the  three  balls,  a  pawn- 
broker's ;  sign  of  the  five  (ten,  or  fifteen) 
shillings,  The  Crown,  The  Two  Crowns, 
or  The  Three  Crowns  (1785) ;  to  live 
at  the  sign  of  the  cat's  foot,  to  be  hen- 
pecked. 

Signboard.    The  face :  see  Dial 

Sign  -  manual.  The  mark  of  a 
blow  (1822). 

Sikes.     See  Bill  Sikes. 

Sil.      See  Silver-beggar. 

Silence.  To  knock  down,  to  stun, 
to  kill  (1785):  whence  silencer,  a 
knock-down  or  stunning  blow.  Silence 
in  the  court,  the  cat,  etc.,  a  gird  upon 
any  one  requiring  silence  unnecessarily 
(Grose). 

Silent-flute.     See  Flute. 

Silk.  LA  King's  Counsel ;  also 
silk-gown  ;  the  canonical  K.C.'s  robe  is 
of  silk ;  that  of  a  Junior  Counsel  of 
stuff ;  hence  to  take  silk,  to  attain  the 
rank  of  King's  (or  Queen's)  Counsel. 
2.  A  bishop  :  the  apron  is  of  silk  (1838). 
To  carry  (or  sport)  silk,  to  run  (or 
ride)  in  a  race. 

Silk-petticoat.     See  Silk-stocking. 

Silk  post.  Assumption  of  a  gentle- 
man commoner's  gown.  Oxf.  Univ. 
Cant  (Grose). 

Silk-purse.     See  Sow's  ear. 

Silk-snatcher.  Thieves  who 
snatch  hoods  or  bonnets  from  persons 
walking  in  the  streets  (Grose). 

Silk-stocking.  A  rich  man 
or  woman.  [Silken  hose  were  re- 
garded as  extravagant  and  luxurious.] 
Hence,  the  silk-stocking  gentry  (or 
element),  the  wealthy  classes ;  and 
silken,  luxurious ;  Your  silkiness  I 
Mr.  Luxury.  Also  silk  -  petticoat,  a 
woman  of  fashion  (1596). 

Silkworm.  A  cant  among  the 
hackney  fraternity  for  their  best 
customers,  women  who  ramble  twice 
or  thrice  a  week  from  shop  to  shop,  to 
turn  over  all  the  goods  in  town  with- 
out buying  anything.  The  silk- 


worms are,  it  seems,  indulged  by  the 
tradesmen ;  for  though  they  never 
buy,  they  are  ever  talking  of  new  silks, 
laces,  and  ribbons,  and  serve  the 
owners,  in  getting  them  customers 
(Steele,  1714). 

Silly.  A  simpleton :  also  silly- 
billy  (or  willy),  spec,  a  kind  of  clown, 
or  rather  a  clown's  butt ;  but  not 
after  the  style  of  Pantaloon,  for  the 
part  is  comparatively  juvenile ;  Silly 
Billy  is  supposed  to  be  a  schoolboy, 
although  not  dressed  in  a  charity- 
boy's  attire.  He  is  very  popular  with 
the  audience  at  the  fairs  ;  indeed,  they 
cannot  do  without  him  (1620).  Also 
siilyton  and  sUliken.  Hence  to  knock 
one  silly,  to  hit  out  of  time,  or  to  affect 
au  possible :  e.g.  Shf  knocked  him 
silly,  She  sent  him  of!  his  chump  (wits, 
onion)  about  her. 

Silly-season.  The  parliamentary 
recess  :  in  the  absence  of  debates,  with 
a  real  or  assumed  dearth  of  news, 
the  newspapers  are  driven  to  print  all 
kinds  of  political  and  social  twaddles  : 
cf.  Gigantic  gooseberry,  Shower  of 
frogs. 

Silver.  In  pi.,  India  Rubber, 
Gntta  Percha,  and  Telegraph  Co. 
shares :  the  works  are  at  Silvertown. 
See  Penny. 

Silver-beggar  (or  lurker). 
A  tramp  with  briefs  (q.v.)  or  fake- 
men  ts  (q.v.)  concerning  bogus  losses 
by  fire,  shipwreck,  accident,  and  the 
like ;  guaranteed  by  forged  signatures 
or  shams  (q.v.)  of  clergymen,  magis- 
trates, etc.,  the  false  subscription- 
books  being  known  as  delicates  (q.v.). 
Also  ail,  (1)  a  forged  document,  and 
(2)  a  note  on  The  Bank  of  Elegance, 
or  The  Bank  of  Engraving  (1859). 

Silver-cooper.     A  kidnapper. 

Silver-fork  (Winchester :  obsolete). 
A  wooden  skewer :  used  as  a  chop- 
stick  when  forks  were  scarce  (Mans- 
field, c.  1 840).  The  Silver  Fork  School* 
a  school  of  novelists  which  laid 
especial  stress  on  the  etiquette  of  the 
drawing  room :  as  Theodore  Hook, 
Lady  Blessington,  Mrs.  Trollope,  and 
Lord  Lytton :  it  is  only  within  the 
last  forty  years  that  the  old  two- 
pronged  steel  fork  has  been  ousted  by 
cheap  four-prongs  in  imitation  of 
silver  ware. 

Silver-grays.  At  a  convention  of 
New  York  State  certain  measures  being 
unacceptable,  many  withdrew  whose 


412 


Silver-hett. 


Sink. 


locks  were  silvered  by  age,  drawing 
forth  the  remark,  There  go  the  silver 
grays  !  The  term  remains  and  is  the 
only  one  now  (1859)  used  to  dis- 
tinguish one  branch  of  the  Whig 
party  (Bartlett). 

Silver-hell.  A  low-class  gambling 
den :  where  silver  is  the  usual  stake 
(1820). 

Silver  -  hook.  To  catch  fish  with 
a  silver  hook,  to  purchase  a  catch 
in  order  to  conceal  unskilful  angling : 
It.,  pescar  col  hamo  ffargenta 
(1670). 

Silver  -  laced.  Lousy  :  e.g.  The 
cove's  kicksies  are  silver-laced,  The 
fellow's  breeches  are  covered  with 
lice  (1785). 

Silver  -  spoon.  Born  with  a  silver 
spoon  in  one's  mouth,  born  rich:  It., 
aver  la  pera  monda  (to  have  his  pear 
ready  pared)  (1670). 

Silver  State  (The).    Nevada. 

Sim  (Cambridge  University).  A 
Simeonite,  or  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical section  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land ;  a  Low  Churchman.  The 
modern  equivalent  is  Pi-man.  [The 
Rev.  Charles  Simeon  (1759-1836)  was 
64  years  Vicar  of  Holy  Trinity,  Cam- 
bridge]. 

Simkin.     See  Simpkin  and  Simple. 

'Simmon.     See  Persimmon. 

Simon.  1.  Sixpence :  see  Rhino. 
2.  A  trained  horse.  3.  (King  Edward's 
School,  Birmingham).  A  cane :  ob- 
solete. [See  Acts  ix.  43.] 

Simon  Pure.  The  genuine  article  : 
also  as  adj.  (1717). 

Simpkin  (or  Simkin).  1.  Cham- 
pagne :  a  native  pronunciation. 
2.  The  fool  in  comic  ballets.  See 
Simple. 

Simple.  In  pi.,  folly  ;  hence,  as 
in  proverb,  To  go  to  Battersea  to  be 
cut  for  the  simples,  to  take  means  to 
cure  of  foolishness  (Battersea  was 
famous  for  its  herb  gardens).  Also 
Simpleton  (Simkin  or  Simple  Simon), 
a  credulous  person :  Simple  Simon 
Suck-egg  Sold  his  wife  for  an  addled 
duck-egg  (1670). 

Simple  Arithmetic.  See  Arith- 
metic. 

Simpson  (or  Simson).  1.  Water  : 
spec,  when  used  for  diluting  milk ; 
hence,  Mrs.  Simpson  (or  Simpson's 
cow),  the  pump,  the  cow  with  the  iron 
tail.  2.  Poor  milk  :  see  Sky-blue  and 
Chalkers  (1860). 


S  i  n.  The  Devil :  aa  the  incarna- 
tion of  evil. 

Sinbad.     An  old  sailor. 

Sines  (Winchester).  Bread ;  a 
sines,  a  small  loaf. 

Sinews  of  War.  Money:  generic: 
see  Rhino  (1626). 

Sing.  To  cry  :  usually  as  a  threat 
to  a  crying  child,  I'll  give  you  some- 
thing to  sing  for.  Phrases:  To  sing 
out,  (1)  to  raise  the  voice  ;  (2)  to  cry, 
or  call  out,  from  excess  of  emotion; 
and  (3)  to  inform,  peach  (q.v.);  to 
sing  small,  to  lessen  one's  pretensions, 
to  eat  humble  pie  (1785) ;  to  sing  (or 
pipe)  another  song  (or  tune),  to  modify 
one's  conduct,  manner,  etc.  ;  to  sing 
the  same  song,  to  repeat  the  weakness  ; 
to  sing  it,  to  exaggerate,  to  swagger,  to 
chant  the  poker ;  to  sing  out  beef 
(thieves'),  to  call  out  stop  thief  !  Also 
proverb,  He  could  have  sung  well 
before  he  broke  bis  left  shoulder  with 
whistling.  See  Black  Psalm,  Placebo, 
Te  Deum. 

Singed-cat.  An  epithet  applied  to 
a  person  whose  appearance  does  him 
injustice. 

Single  -  broth  (or  tiff).  Small 
beer  :  see  Screwed  (1635). 

Single-peeper.  A  one-eyed  person 
(1785). 

Single-pennif.  A  five-pound  note  : 
see  Finnup. 

Single-soldier.     A  private. 

Singleton.  1.  A  very  silly,  foolish 
fellow  (B.  E.).  2.  A  corkscrew : 
from  the  name  of  a  Dublin  cutler 
famous  for  his  tempering  (Orose).  3. 
A  single  card  of  any  suit  in  a  hand  : 
whist :  also  a  hand  containing  such  a 
card. 

Sing  -  song.  1.  (old),  a  poem  ;  2. 
(common),  a  convivial  meeting  at  a 
public  house  at  which  each  person 
is  expected  to  contribute  a  song,  a 
free-and-easy  (q.v.);  3.  (nautical),  a 
Chinese  theatre  ;  and  4.  (colloquial), 
crooning.  As  adj.,  musical  (1656). 

Sink.  1.  A  slum,  a  rookery :  also 
sink-hole.  2.  A  centre  of  anything 
disreputable  (1565).  3.  A  confirmed 
tippler.  4.  The  throat:  see  Sewer; 
hence  to  fall  down  the  sink,  to  take 
a  drink.  5.  (The  Leys  School).  A 
heavy  feed ;  a  stodge  (q.v.).  6.  A 
glutton.  Phrases  :  To  sink  the  noble- 
man (lover,  etc.),  to  suppress,  to  keep 
in  the  background  :  cf.  Shop  ;  sink  me  ! 
a  mild  imprecation  (1772). 


413 


Sinb-r. 


Sixer. 


Sinker.  1.  In  pi.,  base  money 
(Snouvlen,  1857).  2.  A  dollar. 

Sinner.      1.   A  publican  :   cf.  Luke 
xviii.     2.    A    harlot.     Old    tinner,    a 
jesting  reproach. 
Sipper.     Gravy. 

Si  quis.  1.  A  public  notice  of 
ordination.  [These  commenced  Si 
quis,  If  any].  2.  A  candidate  for 
holy  orders.  3.  Any  public  announce- 
ment. As  verb,  to  make  hue  and  cry 
(1599). 

Sir  (Sir  John  or  Mass  -  John). 
A  parson ;  spec,  a  country  parson 
or  vicar  (B.  E. ) :  see  Sky  -  pilot 
(1380). 

Sir  Garnet.  All  right,  as  it  should 
be.  [An  echo  of  the  days  when 
Sir  Garnet  (now  Viscount)  Wolseley 
was  in  the  forefront  of  military 
matters.] 

Sir  Harry.  A  jakes :  see  Mrs. 
Jones.  To  visit  (or  go  to)  Sir  Harry, 
to  evacuate  the  bowels. 

Sir  Hugh's  bones.     See  Bones. 
Sir    Jack's    Sauce.       See     Jack 
Sauce  and  Sauce. 

Sir  John  Barleycorn.  See 
Barleycorn. 

Sir  John  Lack-Latin.  See  Lack- 
Latin. 

Sir  Oliver.    See  Oliver. 
Sir  Petronel  Flash.    See  Petronel. 
Sirrah  !      An    angry,    contemptu- 
ous, or  jesting  address  :  also  (modern) 
sirree  I  (or  sirree,  bob  /)  (1526). 
Sirretch.     A  cherry. 
Sir-    (or    save-)    reverence.     1. 
An  apology :   the  commonest  of  ex- 
pressions, tor  nearly  six  centuries,  on 
mentioning  anything  likely  to  offend, 
or  for  which  an  excuse  was  thought 
necessary.     Whence,    2.    excrement; 
and   as  verb,   (1)   to   evacuate,   and 
(2)   to   excuse    oneself.      [Lat.,  salvd 
reverentid,   whence    sa'reverence,   sur- 
reverence,  and  sir-reverence]  (1356). 

Sir  Sauce.  See  Jack  Sauce  and 
Sauce. 

Sir  Sydney.     A  clasp  knife. 
Sir    Thomas    Gresham.     To   sup 
with    Sir    Thomas    Oresham,    to    go 
hungry :  see  Duke  Humphrey  (1628). 
See  Perthshire  Greybreeks. 

Sir  Timothy.  One  that  treats 
everybody,  and  pays  the  reckonings 
•verywhere  (B.  E.). 

Sir  Tristam's  Knot  The 
hangman's  noose :  see  Ladder  and 
Horsecollar. 


Sir  Walter  Scott.     A  pot  of  beer. 

Siserara  (Sarsara,  Siserara, 
Sasarara,  etc.).  1.  A  writ  of  removal 
from  a  lower  to  a  higher  Court.  2.  A 
blow,  a  scolding,  an  outburst ;  with  a 
sarsara,  with  a  vengeance,  suddenly 
(1607). 

Sister.  A  disguised  prostitute.  See 
Brother  Smut. 

Sisterhood.     Harlotry  in  general. 

Sit.  Situation  :  e.g.  out  of  a  sit, 
out  of  a  job.  Phrases  :  To  sit  on  one's 
knees,  to  kneel ;  to  sit  under,  to  attend 
the  ministry  of  some  particular  divine  ; 
to  sit  a  woman,  to  keep  the  night- 
courtship  (q.v.) :  cf.  Bundle ;  to  sit 
on  (or  upon),  (1)  to  take  to  task,  to 
snub — in  anger,  contempt,  or  jest ; 
also  sat  -  upon,  adj.,  reprimanded, 
snubbed  ;  and  (2)  to  allow  milk  to  bum 
in  the  pan  ;  to  sit  eggs,  to  outstay  one's 
welcome ;  to  sit  in,  to  adhere  firmly ; 
to  sit  up,  to  pull  oneself  together  ;  to 
make  one  sit  up,  to  astonish,  dis- 
concert, or  get  an  advantage.  See  also 
Bodkin,  Skirts. 

Sith-nom.     A  month. 

Sit-on-a-rock.       Rye  whisky. 

Sit-still-nest.  A  cow-shard, 
quaker  (q.v.),  pancake  (q.v.). 

Sitter.  A  sitting  room ;  cf.  Brek- 
ker, Footer,  Saccer,  etc. 

Sitting-breeches.  To  wear  one's 
sitting  breeches,  To  stay  long  in  com- 
pany (Orose) :  also  to  sit  longer  than  a 
Ken  :  cf.  To  sit  eggs. 

Situation.     A  place. 

Sit-upons.     Trousers  :  see  Kicks. 

Siwy.  Word  of  honour,  assevera- 
tion :  e.g.  'pon  my  siwy,  It's  true, 
Honour  bright !  cf.  Davy. 

Six.  1.  Beer  sold  at  6s.  a  barrel ; 
small  beer  :  cf.  Four-half  and  (modern) 
Six  ale  ( 163 1 ).  2.  (Oxford  Univ. ).  A 
privy.  At  sixes  and  sevens,  in  con- 
fusion, at  loggerheads :  also  to  set  on 
sewn,  to  confuse,  to  disarray  (1340). 
Six  of  one  and  half  a  dozen  of  the  other, 
much  alike,  not  a  pin  to  choose 
between  them,  never  a  barrel  the 
better  herring. 

Six-and-eightpence.  1.  A  soli- 
citor: see  Green-bag  (1756).  2. 
usual  fee  given,  to  carry  back  the 
body  of  the  executed  malefactor,  to 
give  it  Christian  burial  (B.  E.). 

Six-and-tips.  Whisky  and  small 
beer  (1785). 

Sixer.  1.  Six  months'  hard  laboui 
2.  (prison).  A  six-ounce  loaf. 


414 


Six-footer. 


Skew-the-dew. 


Six-footer.  A  person  six-feet  (or 
more)  in  height. 

Sixpence.     See  Spit. 

Sixpenny  (Eton).  A  playing  field. 
As  adj.,  cheap,  mean,  worthless : 
generic  :  hence  sixpenny  strikers,  petty 
footpads  (1598). 

Six-shooter.  A  six  chambered 
revolver.  Six-shooter  horse,  a  swift 
horse. 

Sixty.  Generic  for  magnitude  ; 
like  sixty,  brisk,  rapid. 

Sixty-per-cent.  A  usurer :  also 
cent-per-cent  (1616). 

Six-upon-four.  The  rations  of 
four  men  served  out  amongst  six. 

Six-water  grog.  Six  of  water  to 
one  of  spirit. 

Size  (and  Sizar)  (Cambridge  Univ. 
and  Trin.  Coll.,  Dublin).  1. '  A  portion 
of  bread  or  drinke,  i.  is  a  farthing, 
which  Schollers  in  Cambridge  haue  at 
the  butterie ;  it  is  noted  with  the 
letter  S.,  as  in  Oxeford  with  the  letter 
Q.  for  halfe  a  farthing  and  q/u.  for 
a  farthing  ;  and  whereas  they  say  in 
Oxford  to  Battle  in  the  butterie  booke, 
i.  to  set  downe  on  their  names  what 
they  take  in  Bread,  Drinke,  Butter, 
Cheese,  etc.  so  in  Cambridge  they  say 
to  size,  i.  to  set  downe  their  quantum, 

1.  how  much  they  take  on  their  names 
in  the'Butterie  booke '  ( Minsheu,  1617); 
To  sup  at  one's  own  expense  :  if  a  man 
asks  you  to  sup,  he  treats  you  :  if  to 
size,  you  pay  for  what  you  eat,  liquor 
only  being  provided  by  the  inviter : 
sizing -party,    a   number   of   students 
who    contribute    each    his    part    to- 
wards  a  supper   (Orose) ;   the  sizers 
paid  nothing  for  food  and  tuition,  and 
very  little  for  lodging ;  but  they  had 
to  perform  some  menial  services  from 
which  they  have  long  been  relieved. 
They  swept  the  court ;  they  carved  up 
the  dinner  to  the  fellows'  table,  and 
changed  the  plates,  and  poured  out 
the  ale  of  the  rulers  of  the  society 
(Macaulay).     The    grade    no    longer 
exists :    practically   speaking,   it   has 
ceased  to  exist  for  a  century  (1592). 

2.  Half-a-pint    (1785).     3.    Result, 
state,  fact.     As  verb,  to  measure,  to 
gauge,  to  reckon  up :  also  to  size  up 
(1380). 

Skary.     See  Skeer. 

Skedaddle.  Hasty  flight:  also 
skedaddling.  As  verb,  to  scamper 
off,  to  scatter,  to  spill. 

Skeer.     To   scare.     Hence   skeery 


(skary,  scary),  (1)  dreadful;  (2) 
frightened,  nervous  (1582). 

Skeesicks.  1.  A  good-for-nothing; 
also  like  dog,  rogue,  rascal,  in  playful 
address.  2.  A  fidgety,  fussy,  little 
fellow. 

Skeet.  A  variant  of  scoot  (q.v.), 
to  run,  decamp.  As  adj.  and  adv., 
swift,  fleet  (1360). 

Skeeter.     A  mosquito. 

Skelder.  A  rogue,  a  sponge  (q.v.) : 
as  verb,  to  cheat,  to  play  the  sponge : 
cf.  Skellum.  Hence  skeldering, 
swindling,  sponging. 

Skeleton.  A  skeleton  in  the  cup- 
board (locker,  closet,  house),  a  secret 
source  of  trouble,  fear,  or  annoyance 
Fr.,  un  cadavre. 

Skellum  (or  Scellu m).  A 
rascal,  a  vagabond  :  cf.  Skelder  (1611). 

Skelper.  Anything  big  or  strik- 
ing :  see  Spanker  and  Whopper. 

Skelter.     See  Helter-skelter. 

Skensmadam.  A  show  dish,  some- 
times real,  sometimes  sham. 

Skerfer.     A  blow  on  the  neck. 

Sket.     A  skeleton-key. 

Skevington  's  daughter  (or 
irons).  See  Scavenger's-daughter. 

Skew.  1.  A  beggar's  wooden  dish 
or  cup  (B.  E.).  2.  (Harrow).  An 
entrance  examination  at  the  end  of 
term  :  that  at  the  commencement  is 
the  dab,  after  which  there  is  no  further 
chance ;  a  shaky  candidate  tries  the 
dab  first :  as  verb,  to  turn  back,  to  fail. 

Skewer.  1.  A  sword.  As  verb, 
(a)  to  run  through  ;  and  (b)  to  impose 
on.  2.  A  pen :  Fr.,  griffarde  (or 
griffonante). 

Skew  -  fisted.  Awkward,  ungainly 
(B.  E.). 

Skew  -  gee.  A  squint :  as  adj., 
crooked,  skew'd,  squinting. 

Skewgy-mewgy.  A  certain 
caustic  composition,  known  to  yachts- 
men by  the  mysterious  name  of 
skewgy  -  mewgy,  damp  and  active 
under  the  scrubbing  -  brushes  and 
holystones  of  her  crew. 

Skewing.  In  pi.,  perquisites, 
makings  (q.v.).  [Properly  skew 
(gilders'),  to  remove  superfluous  gold 
leaf,  and  to  make  good  defects.] 
Analogous  terms  are  cabbage  (tailors') ; 
blue  -  pigeon  (plumbers') ;  menavel- 
ings  (beggars') ;  fluff  (railway  clerks'); 
pudding,  or  jam  (common). 

Skew  -  the  -  dew.  A  splay-footed 
person,  a  bumble-foot  (q.v.). 


415 


Skewvow 


Mink. 


Skewvow.  Crooked,  inclining  to 
one  side  (Grose) :  also  all  askew. 

Skid  (or  Skiv).     1.  A  sovereign:  see 
Rhino.       2.   A  volunteer,   a  militia- 
man.    To  put  on  the  skid,  to  speak 
or  act  with  caution. 
Skiff.     A  leg  [?]. 

Skiffle.     A  great  hurry  :  cf.  Scuffle. 
Skill.      A  goal   kicked   between 
posts. 

Skillet     A  ship's  cook. 
Skillingers  (The).     The  6th  (Innis- 
killing)     Dragoons :     also    The     Old 
Inniskillings. 

Skilly    (or   Skilligolee).      1.    A 
thin  broth  or  soup  of  oatmeal  and 
water.     2.  Anything  of  little  or  no 
value.     Skilly  and  tolce,  prison  fare. 
Skilt.     In  pL,  trousers :  see  Kicks. 
Skim.       Money :    generic :    see 
Rhino. 

Skimble  -  skamble.  Rigmarole, 
nonsense ;  as  adj.,  wandering,  con- 
fused, incoherently  (1598). 

Skimmery  (Oxford  Univ.).  St. 
Mary's  Hall. 

Skimmington.  1.  A  ludicrous 
cavalcade,  in  ridicule  of  a  man  beaten 
by  his  wife.  A  man  behind  a  woman, 
face  to  horse's  tail,  distaff  in  hand, 
which  he  seems  to  work,  the  woman 
beating  him  with  a  ladle  ;  a  smock  on 
a  staff  is  carried  before  them  denoting 
female  superiority.  They  are  ac- 
companied by  rough  music,  frying 
pans,  bulls'  horns,  marrowbones  and 
cleavers,  etc.  (Grose).  Also  to  ride 
the  skimmington  (or  [Scots']  the  stang). 
[For  a  long  description  see  Butler, 
Hudibras,  n.  ii.  585.]  Hence,  2.  a 
row,  a  quarrel  (1562). 

Skimp.  To  stint,  to  scamp  (q.v.). 
As  adj.,  insufficient,  meagre  ;  skimp- 
ing (or  skimpy),  scanty,  carelessly 
made,  slightly  treated. 

Skimshander.  See  Scrimshaw. 
Skin.  1.  A  purse,  a  pocket-book — 
any  receptacle  for  money :  thus  a 
queer  skin,  an  empty  purse ;  frisk  the 
skin,  clean  him  out  2.  A  sovereign, 
20s.  :  see  Rhino.  3.  In  pi.,  a  tanner 
(1785).  4.  See  Skinner.  5.  A  trans- 
lation, a  crib  (q.v.),  a  Bohn  (q.v.); 
also  as  verb,  to  copy  a  solution  ;  and 
skinner,  one  using  an  irregular  aid  to 
study.  6.  Punch  made  in  the  glass : 
as  a  whisky -skin,  a  rum -skin,  etc. 
7.  See  Skinflint  As  verb,  (1)  to  rob, 
to  strip,  to  clean  out  (q.v.):  spec, 
(racing)  to  win  all  one's  bets ;  (book- 

416 


makers')   skin   the   lamb    (or   have   a 
skinner,  (a)  to  win  with  an  unbacked 
horse  ;  (6)  to  swindle ;  and  (c)  to  take 
toll    (q.v.):    hence    skin-game    (e.g. 
skin-faro),   a   swindle :   skin-house,   a 
gambling  den  ;  skinner,  (a)  a  sharping 
cheat,   a  thief :   spec.    (American)  a 
looter  infesting  both  camps ;    (6)   a 
pirate ;  and  (c)  a  race,  which  being 
won  by  a  rank  outsider,  skins  the  ring 
(1821);   (2)  to  shadow  (q.v.):   spec, 
when  previous  to  arrest ;  (3)  to  strip, 
to    peel    (q.v.) :    whence    skinner,    a 
woman  who  strips  children  of  their 
clothes  ;  (4)  to  plant  a  deck  (q.v.) :  see 
Concave,  Broads,  and  Reflector ;  (5) 
to  abate  a  price,  to  lower  a  value  : 
cf.  Shaving  the  ladies  ;  (6)  to  thrash  : 
also  to  skin  alive.     Other  colloquial- 
isms and  phrases :  By  the  skin  of  one's 
teeth,  a  narrow  escape,  the  closest  of 
close  shaves  ;  to  skin  out,  to  decamp  ; 
to  skin  the  cat  (gymnasts'),  to  grasp  the 
bar  with  both  hands,  raise  the  feet 
and  so  draw  the  body,  between  the 
arms,  over  the  bar ;  like  eels,  used  to 
skinning,  of  good  heart ;   to  skin  the 
eyes  (see  Keep) ;  all  skin  and  whip- 
cord, well-trussed  ;  in  good  condition  ; 
in  (or  with)  a  whole  skin,  uninjured, 
with  impunity ;  to  save  one's  skin,  to 
escape  unhurt :  see  Bacon ;  to  skin  a 
flint  (see  Skin-flint) ;   honest  as  the 
skin  between  his  brows  (or  horns) :  see 
Brow ;  to  skin  a  razor,  to  drive  a  hard- 
and-fast  bargain  ;  to  skin  one's  skunk, 
to  do  one's  own  dirty  work ;  in  a  bad 
skin,  angry ;  clean-skin  (Australian), 
an  unbranded  beast :   cf.   Maverick ; 
to  leap  (or  jump)  out  of  one's  skin,  to 
be  startled  or  pleased  ;  in  her  (or  his) 
skin,  evasive  as  to  a  person's  where- 
abouts. 

Skin  -  coat  To  curry  one's  skin- 
coat,  to  thrash. 

Skin-disease.     Fourpenny  ale. 

Skinflint  (or  Skin).  A  griping, 
sharping,  close-fisted  fellow  (B.  E.). 
As  verb  (or  to  skin,  or  flay,  a  flint,  fly, 
stone,  etc.),  to  pinch,  to  screw,  to 
starve:  cf.  (proverbial)  to  skin  a  flea, 
and  bleed  a  cabbage ;  skinny,  mean, 
stingy ;  the  skinflinteries.  The  Museum 
of  Economic  [now  Practical]  Geology, 
Jermyn  St,  W.  See  File,  Flay,  Flea, 
and  Flint  (1761). 

Skinful.  A  bellyful  —  liquor  or 
food  (1600). 

Skink.  Primarily  to  draw,  serve, 
or  offer  drink.  Whence  as  subs., 


Skin-merchant. 


Skunk. 


drink  or  lap  (q.v.);  and  skinker,  (I) 
a  tapster,  or  waiter ;  (2)  a  landlord, 
and  (3)  one  who  waits  on  the  company, 
rings  the  bell,  stirs  the  fire,  and  snuffs 
the  candles  ;  the  duty  of  the  youngest 
officer  in  the  military  mess  (Grose) ; 
in  a  family  the  person  latest  at  break- 
fast, on  whom  some  domestic  duty  is 
imposed  or  threatened  for  the  day, 
such  as  ringing  the  bell,  putting  coal 
on  the  fire,  or  in  other  cases,  drawing 
the  beer  for  the  family  (Hattiwett) 
(1200). 

Skin-  merchant.      A    recruiting 
officer  (1783). 

Skinned  -  rabbit.     A    very    spare 
person. 

Skinner.      1.  See  Skin.      2.  A  bird 
fat  enough  to  burst  its  skin  when  shot. 
Skin-of-the-creature  (or 
crater).     A  bottle  :  see  Creature. 

Skin-the-lamb.  Lansquenet :  see 
also  Skin. 

Skintight.  A  sausage. 
Skintling.  At  right  angles. 
Skip.  1.  A  footman,  a  grass- 
hopper (q.v.) :  whence  spec.  2.  (Trin. 
Coll.,  Dublin),  a  college  servant :  cf. 
Gyp  and  Scout :  also  skipkennel  (1672). 
As  verb,  ( 1 )  to  decamp :  also  to  skip 
out  (or  off),  and  to  do  a  skip  ;  (2)  to  die  : 
see  Hop  the  twig  ;  (3)  to  read  hastily, 
picking  out  passages  here  and  there ; 
(4.  University),  to  shirk  work :  also 
skipper,  a  hasty  reader ;  and  skipp- 
able,  easily  and  quickly  read. 

Skip-brain.  Flighty,  volatile, 
fickle  (1603). 

Skipjack.  LA  horse-dealer's 
jockey  ( 1568).  2.  A  nobody,  a  trifler : 
also  skipper  (1580). 

Skipper.  1.  A  barn :  whence  as 
verb  (or  to  skipper  it),  to  sleep  in  the 
straw  or  in  Hedge  Square  (q.v.)  ; 
skipper-bird,  a  barn-rooster  or  hedge- 
tramp  (1567).  2.  The  Devil.  3.  'A 
Dutch  Master  of  a  Ship  or  Vessell' 
(B.  E.) ;  in  modern  use  any  ship's 
captain.  4.  A  leader  or  chief  in  any 
enterprise,  adventure,  or  business. 
6.  A  master,  boss  (q.v.),  governor 
(q.v.)  (1483).  6.  The  cheese-hopper: 
hence  skippery,  full  of  mites.  See 
Skip  and  Skipjack. 

Skipper's  -  daughter.  A  crested 
wave,  a  white-cap  (or  horse). 

Skipping.  Light,  giddy,  volatile 
(1594). 

Skirry.  A  run :  also  as  verb,  to 
Bcurry  (Parker,  1781). 


Skirt.  In  pi.,  women  (generic) : 
cf.  Petticoat,  Muslin,  etc.  To  sit 
upon  one's  skirts,  to  pursue  ( 1525). 

Skirter.  1.  A  hound  running  wide 
of  the  pack.  2.  A  hunter  who  does 
not  ride  straight  to  hounds,  but  makea 
short  cuts  :  cf.  Shirker. 

Skirt-foist.     A  general  amorist. 
Skit.     1.   A  jest,  a  satire  :   also  as 
verb,  to  wheedle  (Grose)  (1779).     2. 
A  wanton  (1583). 

Skitter-brain    (or    wit).       A 
flighty  person  :  also  Skitterbrained,  etc. 
Skitting-dealer.     A  sham  dumby. 
Skittles.     Nonsense !      Other     col- 
loquialisms are — All  beer  and  skittles, 
everything  easy  or  to  one's  liking ; 
all  up,  as  skittles  when  down,  a  difficulty, 
something  to  tackle  or  do  again. 

Skiv  (or  Sciv).  A  sovereign,  20s.  : 
see  Rhino. 

Skowbanker.     A  loafer,  a  hanger- 
on:  also  showbanker. 
Skower.     See  Secure. 
Skrimp    (or    Skrump).     To    steal 
apples. 

Skrimshanker.     See  Scrimshanker. 
Skrunt.     A  prostitute. 
Skue.     The  rump. 
Skug.     See  Scug. 

Skulker.  A  soldier  who  .... 
evades  his  duty ;  a  sailor  who  keeps 
below  in  time  of  danger ;  one  who 
keeps  out  of  the  way  when  work  is  to 
be  done  ;  to  skulk,  to  hide  oneself ;  to 
avoid  labour  or  duty  (Grose). 

Skull.  1.  The  head  of  a  college: 
see  Golgotha  ;  whence  skuU-race,  a 
university  examination.  2.  Any  chief, 
as  the  President,  the  head  of  a  busi- 
ness, the  captain  of  a  vessel,  etc.  My 
skull's  afly,  awake  (q.v.),  fly  (q.v.). 

Skull  and  Crossbones  (The). 
The  17th  (The  Duke  of  Cambridge's 
Own)  Lancers.  [The  Regimental 
Badge.]  Also  The  Death  or  Glory 
Boys ;  Bingham's  Dandies ;  The 
Gentlemen  Dragoons  ;  and  The  Horse 
Marines. 

Skullduggery.     See  Scullduddery. 
Skull-t hatcher.     1.  A   straw- 
bonnet  maker.     2.   A  hatter.     3.   A 
wig-maker.     Skull-thatch,  a  hat  or  wig. 
Skungle.     A  generic  verb  of  action : 
to  decamp,  to  steal  a  watch,  to  gobble 
up  food,  etc.  :  cf.  Skyugle. 

Skunk.  1.  A  mean,  paltry  wretch ; 
a  stinkard  (q.v.)  (1841).  2.  Utter 
defeat :  as  verb,  (1)  to  disgrace :  cf. 
Slam.  (2)  To  neglect  to  pay. 


417 


Sky. 


Slampam. 


Sky  (or  Ski)  (Westminster).  1. 
Any  one  not  of  the  school :  an  ab- 
breviation or  corruption  of  Volsci : 
the  Westminster  boys  being  Romans. 
2.  See  Skyrocket.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
bane,  throw,  or  hit  high  (e.g.  a  picture 
at  the  Royal  Academy  :  whence  the 
sky,  the  upper  rows  of  exhibitors ;  a 
ball  at  cricket :  hence  skyer  (or  sky- 
scraper a  high  hit) ;  (2)  to  spend 
freely  till  all's  blued  (q.v.);  to  sky  a 
copper,  to  spin  a  coin  (1800);  (3) 
(Harrow),  to  charge,  knock  down  :  at 
football :  also  to  throw  away.  //  the 
sky  falls  we  shall  catch  larks,  a  retort  to 
a  wild  hypothesis :  cf.  if  pigs  had 
wings  they  d  be  likely  birds  to  fly. 

Sky-blue.  1.  Gin  (1755).  2. 
Diluted  or  separated  milk  (1800). 

Sky-farmers.    People  that  go  about 
the  country  with  a  false  pass,  signed 
by  the  Church  Wardens  and  Over- 
seers of  the  parish  or  place  that  they 
lived   in,    and   some   Justice   of   the 
Peace,  but  the  names  are  all  forged ; 
in  this  manner  they  extort  money, 
under  pretence  of  sustaining  loss  by 
fire,  or   the   distemper   amongst   the 
horned  cattle  (Poutter). 
Skygazer.     A  skysail. 
Sky-godlin.     Obliquely,  askew. 
Sky-lantern.     The  moon :  see 
Oliver. 

Skylark.  Originally  tricks  in  the 
rigging  of  H.M.  Navy ;  hence  any 
rough  -  and  -  tumble  horseplay.  As 
verb,  to  frolic,  to  play  the  fool ;  sky- 
larking, boisterous  merriment  or  fool- 
ing ;  and  skylarker,  a  practical  joker. 
Skylarker.  1.  A  housebreaker  fol- 
lowing brick-laying  as  a  blind.  2. 
See  Skylark. 

Skylight.     The  eye. 
Sky-parlour.     A  garret  (1807). 
Sky-pilot.      A    clergyman,    bible- 
pounder. 

Skyrocket.  1.  A  pocket:  also 
Sky.  2.  Eccentricity. 

Skyscraper.  Generic  for  height : 
e.g.  (1)  a  very  tall  man ;  (2)  a  very 
lotty  building :  spec.  (American)  erec- 
tions sometimes  twenty  stories  high  ; 
(3)  a  triangular  sail  set  above  the 
royals,  a  sky-sail,  sky-gazer,  or  angel's 
footstool  (q.v.) ;  and  (4)  a  skied  ball : 
hence  skyscraping  and  other  deriva- 
tives. (5)  A  cocked  hat. 
Skypper.  See  Skipper. 
Skyte  (Shrewsbury).  A  day  boy 
who  lives  or  lodges  in  the  town.  As 


verb,  (1)  ski  to  (q.v.) ;  and  (2)  squitter 
(q.v.).  On  the  skyte,  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Skyugle.S  (At'corps  staff  officer 
informed  me  that  he  had  been  out  on 
a  general  scyugle ;  that  he  had 
scyugled  along  the  front,  when  the 
rebels  scyugled  a  bullet  through  his 
clothes ;  that  he  should  scyugle  his 
servant ;  who,  by  the  way,  had 
scyugled  three  fat  chickens ;  that 
after  he  had  scyugled  his  dinner,  he 
proposed  to  scyugle  a  nap  (Army 
and  Navy  Journal). 

S k y-w annocking.  A  drunken 
frolic. 

Slab.  1.  A  milestone.  2.  A  brick- 
layer's boy  (HaUiwdl).  3.  A  thick 
slice  of  bread  and  butter :  cf.  Door- 
step. 4.  In  pi.,  a  flat  cake.  To  slab  off, 
to  reject. 

Slabber  ing-bit.  A  neck- band  : 
clerical  or  legal. 

Slabberdegullion.  See  Slabber- 
degullion. 

Slab-sided.  Tall,  lank,  up  and 
down  in  figure  :  also  slap-sided. 

Slack.     1.  In  pi.,  overall  trousers. 

2.  A  smashing  or  knock-down  blow. 
Jack   Slack,   champion    1750-60,  was 
known  for  his  powerful  delivery  :  also 
slack-' un  :  cf.  Auctioneer  and  Mendoza, 

3.  A  slack  time.     To  hold  on  the  slack  : 
to  skulk,  to  loaf. 

Slack- jaw.     Impertinence. 

Slag.  A  slack-mettled  fellow,  one 
not  ready  to  resent  an  affront  (Grose). 

Slake.     To  kiss. 

Slam.  1.  A  trick.  2.  At  whist  a 
game  lost  without  scoring :  also  as 
verb,  to  take  every  trick :  cf.  Skunk. 
3.  A  sloven :  also  slamkin,  one  whose 
clothes  seem  hung  on  with  a  pitch- 
fork (Grose).  4.  Any  ill-made,  awk- 
ward, ungainly  wretch  { 1 697 ).  As  verb, 
(1)  to  brag;  spec,  (military)  to  feign 
drunkenness  and  boast  of  many 
drinks  :  cf.  Slum  ;  (2)  to  patter  (q.v.), 
to  talk  in  the  way  of  trade. 

Slam-bang.     See  Slap. 

Slamkin  (Slammocks,  or  Slam- 
merkin).  A  slut  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to 
slouch. 

Slammer.  Anything  exceptional. 
Hence  slamming,  large,  exceptional. 

Slampam  ( Slampaine.  Slam- 
pambes,  or  Slampant).  A  blow. 
To  cut  off  (or  give  the)  slampambes, 
to  circumvent,  to  get  the  better  of 
(1563). 


418 


Slamtrash. 


Slate. 


Slamtrash.    A  sloven. 

Slaney.     A  theatre. 

Slang.  1.  To  speak  slang.  2.  To 
scold  or  abuse.  3.  As  adj . ,  ( 1 )  relating 
to  slang ;  (2)  low,  unrefined ;  and  (3) 
angry :  also  slangy  and  slangular. 
Slanginess,  the  state  of  being  slangy ; 
slang-boys  (or  boys  of  the  slang),  those 
who  speak  slang ;  slangster,  a  master 
of  flash  (q.v.) ;  slangwhanger,  a  speaker 
addicted  to  slang :  whence  slang- 
whanging,  and  slangwhang,  to  scold ; 
alangander  (American),  to  backbite ; 
slangoosing  (American),  tittle-tattle, 
back -biting,  esp.  of  women  (1743). 
4.  A  leg  iron,  a  fetter  (1785) ;  formerly 
about  three  feet  long,  the  slang  being 
attached  to  an  iron  anklet  riveted  on 
the  leg:  the  slack  (q.v.)  was  slung  to 
the  waistbelt.  5.  A  watch-chain :  in 
Dutch  slang,  slang,  (a)  a  snake,  and 
(b)  a  chain.  6.  False  weights  and 
measures  (e.g.  a  slang  quart,  1£  pts.) ; 
as  verb,  to  cheat  by  short  weight  or 
measure  :  also  to  defraud  a  person  of 
any  part  of  his  due.  7.  A  beggar's 
pass,  a  hawker's  license :  any  official 
instrument ;  on  the  slang,  begging  or 
peddling :  hence,  8.  a  pursuit ;  a  lay 
(q.v.) ;  a  lurk  (q.v.).  9.  (showmen's), 
(a)  A  travelling  show,  a  cheap-jack's 
van  :  and  (b)  a  performance ;  a  turn 
(q.v.) :  e.g.  the  first,  second,  or  third 
slang  (q.v.),  when  more  than  one 
performance  is  given  during  the 
evening  :  also  the  slangs,  (a)  a  collec- 
tion of  shows,  and  (b)  the  showman's 
profession  ;  slanging  and  slang-evil,  to 
exhibit  anything  in  a  fair  or  market, 
such  as  a  tall  man,  or  a  cow  with  two 
heads ;  slang-and-pitcher  shop,  (a)  a 
cheap-jack's  van,  an  (6)  a  wholesale 
dealer  in  cheap- jack  wares ;  slang- 
tree,  (a)  a  stage,  and  (b)  a  trapeze  : 
hence  to  climb  up  the  slang  tree,  (a)  to 
perform,  and  (b)  to  make  an  exhibition 
of  oneself.  To  slang  the  mauleys,  to 
shake  hands. 

Slangrill    (or    Slangam).     A   lout 
(1592). 

Slant.  1.  An  opportunity,  a 
chance  :  originally  nautical,  a  favour- 
able wind  :  e.g.  a  slant  across  the  bay. 
2.  A  side-blow.  As  verb,  (1)  to  run 
away ;  (2)  to  exaggerate,  to  draw  the 
bow  (q.v.);  (3)  to  wager:  see 


asri 


ilantendicul  ar  (or  Slanting- 
dicular). Indirect;  a  slant  (q.v.). 
Also  as  adv. 


Slap.  1.  Booty,  plunder.  2. 
Make-up :  also  as  verb.  As  adj., 
first-rate,  smart  (q.v.),  prime  (q.v.): 
also  slap-up ;  cf.  Bang-up ;  whence 
slapper,  anything  exceptional ;  slap- 
ping, very- big,  excellent  (1851).  As 
adv.,  violently,  plump,  off-hand;  also 
slap-bang,  slam-bang,  and  slap-dash ; 
as  subs.,  (a)  careless  work,  and  (b)  in- 
discriminate action ;  as  verb,  to  go 
recklessly  to  work  (1671).  A  slap  (or 
slat)  in  the  face,  a  rebuff,  a  reproach. 
See  Slop  up. 

Slap  -  bang  Shop.  1.  A  petty 
cook's  shop,  where  there  is  no  credit 
given,  but  what  is  had  must  be  paid 
for,  down  with  the  ready  slap-bang, 
i.e.  immediately.  This  is  a  common 
appellation  for  a  night  cellar  fre- 
quented by  thieves  (Grose).  Also 
Slam-bang  shop.  2.  A  stage  coach,  or 
caravan  (1785).  See  Slap. 
Slap-jack.  See  Flap-jack. 
Slappaty-pouch  (or  Slatter-pouch). 
Beating  the  arms  on  the  chest  to 
keep  warm  (1654). 

Slap-sauce.     A    hanger-on,   a 
toady.   As  adj.,  to  sponge  (q.v.)  (1557). 
Slap-sided.     See  Slab-sided. 
Slash.     An  outside  pocket.     As 
verb,  to  criticise  severely,  sarcastic- 
ally, or  at  random,  to  cut  up  (q.v.) : 
also    to    slash    in.     Hence    slashing, 
damning  criticism  ;  as  adj.,  trenchant, 
harsh  ;  slasher,  &  vigorous  critic. 

Slasher.  1.  A  bully,  a  bravo :  see 
Furioso.  2.  A  pounding  pugilist,  a 
Hittite  (q.v.).  3.  See  Slash  (1593). 
4.  A  sword.  5.  Anything  exceptional : 
hence  slashing,  exceptionally  brilliant, 
vigorous,  successful,  expert,  etc.  :  also 
as  adv.,  as  a  slashing  fine  woman  ;  a 
slashing  good  race ;  and  so  forth. 
The  Slashers,  the  1st  Batt.  Gloucester- 
shire Regiment,  formerly  The  28th 
Foot :  also  The  Old  Braggs  and  The 
Rightabouts. 

Slat.  Half-a-crown :  2s.  6d.  ;  see 
Rhino  ;  also  slate.  As  verb,  to  throw, 
beat,  or  move  with  violence  (1604). 

Slate.  1.  A  sheet :  also  slat  (1567). 
2.  A  preliminary  list  of  candidates 
recommended  to  office  ;  a  party  pro- 
gramme ;  in  practice  a  secret  under- 
standing between  leaders  as  to  the 
candidates  they  desire  the  nominating 
Convention  to  adopt :  to  smash  (or 
break)  the  slate,  to  defeat  the  wire- 
pullers ;  to  slate,  (a)  to  prepare,  and 
(b)  to  be  included  in  such  a  list : 


419 


Slater's  Pan. 


Slid.-. 


date  -  smasher,  a  leader  who  ignores 
the  wishes  of  his  party.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  reprimand  or  criticise,  to  cut  up 
(q.v.) :  hence  dating  (or  a  slate),  a 
blowing  up,  severe  censure,  unsparing 
criticism  (1300) ;  (2)  a  woman  is  said 
to  be  slated  when  her  petticoat  falls 
below  her  gown  (HalliweU) ;  (3)  to  bash 
a  man's  hat  over  the  eyes,  to  bonnet 
(q.v.) ;  (4)  to  bet  heavily  against  an 
entry.  A  elate  off  (loose),  etc.,  crazy, 
a  tile  loose  (q.v.). 

Slater's  Pan.  The  gaol  of  Kings- 
ton in  Jamaica ;  Slater  is  the  deputy 
provost- marshal  (Grose). 

Slathers.  Abundance, ' lashin's 
an'  lavin's.' 

Slaughter.  1.  To  sell  at  a  sacri- 
fice (q.v.) :  hence  slaughter-house,  a 
shop  or  auction-room  where  goods  are 
bought  or  sold  for  what  they  will 
bring ;  slaughterer,  ( 1 )  a  vendor  at 
cost,  and  (2)  a  buyer  for  re-manu- 
facture :  as  books  for  pulp,  cloth  for 
shoddy,  etc.  (1851).  Slaughter  of  the 
Innocents :  see  Innocent. 

Slave-driver.  1.  A  harsh  task- 
master, a  strict  master.  2.  (Harrow 
cricket).  The  upper  ground  on  these 
days  is  given  up  to  practice  at  the 
nets  for  the  eleven  and  the  Sixth  Form 
game,  and  to  practise  in  fielding  and 
catching ;  boys  below  the  Removes 
have  to  fag  for  them,  and  these  fags 
are  managed  by  slave-drivers,  three 
or  four  boys  appointed  for  the  purpose 
(Oreat  Public  Schools). 

Slavey.  A  drudge  —  male  or 
female,  a  servant  of  either  sex  (Orose). 
Also  (old)  slaving  gloke  (1821). 

Sledge-hammer.  To  hit  bard,  to 
batter. 

Sleek.     See  Slick. 
Sleek-and-slum  Shop.     A   public- 
house  or  tavern  where  single  men  and 
their  wives  resort  (Bee). 

Sleep.  To  provide  sleeping  ac- 
commodation :  cf.  Room.  To  sleep 
on  bones,  to  sleep  in  a  lap :  e.g.  Let 
not  the  child  sleep  on  bones,  i.e.  in 
the  nurse's  lap  (1670).  To  sleep  on 
both  ears,  to  sleep  soundly,  without  a 
care  (1633). 

Sleep-drunk.  Drowsy,  confused : 
as  on  waking  from  heavy  sleep. 

Sleeper.  1.  A  sleeping-car.  2.  Un- 
claimed money. 

Sleeping-house.  '  Sleepinge  House, 
without  Shop,  Ware-House,  or  Cellar, 
only  for  a  private  Family '  (B.  E.). 


Sleeping-partner.  1 .  A  partner  in  a 
trade,  or  shop,  who  lends  his  name  and 
money,  for  which  he  receives  a  share 
of  the  profit,  without  doing  any  part 
of  the  business  (Orose).  2.  A  bed- 
fellow. 

Sleepy.     Much  worn,   threadbare : 
e.g.  a  sleepy  pear,  a  pear  beginning  to 
decay  ;  a  sleepless-hat,  shabby  head- 
gear with  nap  worn  off  (Grose). 
Sleepy-head.     A  dullard. 
Sleepy,      Queen's    (The).    The 
Queen's    Royal    Regiment,    late   the 
2nd  Foot. 

Sleepy-seed.  In  pi.,  the  mucous 
secretion  about  the  eyelids  during 
sleep :  cf.  Sand-man. 

Sleeve.  Here  occur  one  or  two 
phrases  and  colloquialisms :  To  hang 
on  (or  upon)  a  sleeve,  to  be  dependent ; 
to  laugh  in  one's  sleeves,  to  deride  or 
exult  in  secret ;  to  wear  one's  heart 
upon  one's  sleeve,  to  make  no  mystery, 
to  be  artless ;  in  (or  up)  one's  sleeve, 
hidden,  in  reserve,  ready  for  use ;  to 
pin  to  one's  sleeve,  to  flaunt ;  to  hang 
on  another's  sleeve,  to  accept  another's 
authority. 

Sleeveboard.  A  hard  word  to 
pronounce,  a  jaw-breaker  (q.v.). 

Sleeveless.  Fruitless,  inadequate, 
wanting  a  cover  or  excuse,  impertinent 
or  trifling :  now  only  in  phrase,  a 
sleeveless  errand,  a  fool  s  errand  (1400) 
Slewed.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed : 
also  slued  (1845). 

Slewer.  A  servant-girl:  cf.  Dutch 
slang  sluer  (or  door),  a  poor,  common 
woman. 

Slibber-slabber.  Careless. 
Slick.  1.  Quick,  bold,  direct, 
perfect :  whence,  2.  clever,  plausible, 
expert,  smart  (q.v.) :  also  sleek  (1605). 
To  dick  up,  to  tittivate  (q.v.),  to 
smarten,  to  put  in  order. 

Slick-a-die.  A  pocket-book:  see 
Dee. 

Slicker,  subs.  (Western  American). 
An  overcoat :  spec,  a  waterproof :  also 
sleeker. 

Slide.  1.  To  decamp;  to  skip 
(q.v.):  also  to  slide  out,  (I)  to  leave 
stealthily ;  and  (2)  to  shirk :  by 
artifice.  2.  To  backslide  ;  to  weaken 
(q.v.) :  e.g.  from  a  resolution,  attitude, 
or  promise.  As  subs.,  an  error,  * 
falling  away ;  sliding,  transgression 
(1603).  To  let  slide,  to  let  go  ;  to 
allow  things  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves (1369). 


420 


Slide-groat. 


Slog. 


Slide-groat.  Shove-halfpenny  (q.v.). 

Slider.     In  pi.,  drawers. 

Slide-thrift.     See  Shovel-board. 

Slim.  Delicate,  feeble.  As  adv., 
resourceful,  smart  (q.v.). 

Slime  (Durham  School).  1.  To 
cut  games.  2.  To  lounge,  to  loaf : 
e.g.  slimeing  down  town.  3  (Felsted), 
To  sneak  along ;  to  do  a  slime,  to  take 
a  crafty  advantage.  4  (Harrow).  To 
go  round  quietly.  5  (Harrow).  To 
make  drops  at  rackets. 

Sling.  A  generic  verb  of  action. 
Thus  (1),  to  throw  away  or  pass  to  a 
confederate ;  and  (2)  to  do  easily ; 
to  sling  a  pot,  to  drink ;  to  sling  the 
booze,  to  stand  treat ;  to  sling  a  bob 
(a  tanner  —  anything),  to  give;  to. 
sling  one's  hook  (bunk,  or  daniel),  to 
decamp ;  to  sling  a  doddle,  to  shake 
hands :  to  sling  a  cat,  to  vomit ;  to 
sling  a  tinkler,  to  ring  the  bell ;  to 
sling  a  poem,  article,  or  book,  to  write  ; 
to  sling  a  hat,  to  wave  one  in  applause  ; 
to  sling  the  smash,  to  smuggle  tobacco 
to  prisoners  ;  to  sling  about,  to  loaf ; 
to  sling  ink  (or  a  pen),  to  write  :  hence 
inkslinger,  &  clerk  or  author ;  to  sling 
a  foot,  to  dance  ;  to  sling  one  in  the 
eye,  to  blacken  it ;  to  kill  a  crow  with 
an  empty  sling,  to  gain  without  effort ; 
to  sling  off  (patter,  or  jaw),  to  talk, 
to  abuse,  to  insinuate :  cf.  Slang ;  to 
sling  a  snot,  to  blow  one's  nose  with 
the  fingers :  also  to  sling ;  to  sling  (or 
jerk)  a  part,  to  undertake  a  r6le  :  to 
sling  a  nasty  part,  to  play  so  well  that 
another  would  find  it  difficult  to  rival 
it ;  to  sling  round  on  the  loose,  to  act 
recklessly  ;  sling  yourself  (let  her  sling!) 
Bestir  yourself. 

Slinger.  A  piece  of  bread  floating 
in  tea. 

Slinging.  Covering,  indefatigable, 
effortless. 

Slink.  1.  A  sneak.  2.  A  greedy 
starveling.  3.  A  cheat :  hence  as 
adj.  (or  slinky),  (1)  sneaky,  mean  ;  and 
(2)  thin,  lank.  4.  A  bastard :  cf. 
slink,  to  miscarry  (of  beasts). 

Slip.  1.  A  counterfeit  coin :  also 
slip-coin :  whence  to  be  nailed  up  for 
slips,  to  be  tried  and  found  wanting 
(1592).  2.  A  miscarriage ;  an  abortion : 
also  as  verb,  to  miscarry.  Phrases : 
To  slip  one's  cable  (breath,  or  wind), 
to  die :  see  Aloft ;  to  give  the  slip,  to 
escape  unobserved  ;  a  slip  (or  fall) 
'twixt  cup  and  lip,  a  thing  not  done 
may  spoil  in  the  doing  ;  to  slip  into,  (1) 


to  attack,  and  (2)  to  execute  with 
vigour ;  to  slip  up,  to  err,  to  trip ; 
a  slip  of  the  tongue,  an  inadvertency 
in  speech  ;  to  make  a  slip,  to  give 
chastity  the  go-by :  whence  see  Slip. 

Slip-along.     See  Slipshod. 

Slip-gibbet  (halter,  rope,  string, 
or  thrift).  A  prodigal,  one  deserving 
of  (or  who  has  cheated)  the  gallows 
(1590). 

Slippery.  Soap :  Fr.,  gli&sant.  As 
adj.  and  adv.,  (1)  untrustworthy, 
false,  wanton :  also  slipper,  slippy,  and 
slip  skin :  whence  slippery- fellow  (or 
trick),  deceitful  (B.  E.) :  one  on  whom 
there  can  be  no  dependence  (Grose) 
(1553);  (2)  quick. 

Slip  -  shod.  Careless,  slovenly  : 
that  is  slipper-shod  :  also  slip-along, 
slip-slop  (1605). 

Slip-slop.  1.  A  blunder  :  as  adj., 
slovenly,  inaccurate :  cf.  Slipshod 
(1797).  2.  In  pi.,  shoes  (or  slippers) 
down  at  the  heels :  also  (Norfolk) 
slip-shoe.  As  adj.,  here  and  there, 
all  over  the  shop :  also  slip-slap  and 
verb  (1721).  See  Slop. 

Slip-thrift.     See  Slip-gibbet. 

Slit.     A  pocket. 

Slither.  1.  To  slip,  to  make  away, 
to  smooth.  2.  To  hurry.  Also 
slithery,  slippery  (q.v.). 

Slive.  To  sneak  or  lounge  away, 
to  idle.  Slive  •  Andrew,  good  -  for- 
nothing  ;  sliverly,  artful ;  sliving,  idle. 
To  let  dive,  to  let  fly  (1707). 

Slobber.  Badly  distributed  ink. 
As  verb,  ( 1 )  to  kiss  effusively  :  also  as 
subs,  and  slabbering  (1583);  (2)  to 
scamp  work  :  also  to  slobber  over. 

Slobberdegullion.  SeeSlub- 
berdegullion. 

Slobberer.  (1)  A  slovenly  farmer ; 
and  (2)  a  jobbing  tailor  (Halliwett). 

Slobgollion.  Whaleman's  term  for 
an  oozy  stringy  substance  found  in 
sperm  oil  (C.  Russell). 

Slog.  1.  A  blow.  2.  A  bout  of 
fisticuffs.  3.  A  large  portion,  spec, 
a  big  slice  of  cake.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
hit,  or  work  hard ;  (2)  to  punish 
(q.v.),  to  pound  (pugilists'),  and  (3) 
to  tackle  a  matter  seriously.  Whence 
slogging -match,  a  hard  fight  or  tussle  ; 
slogger,  (I)  a  pugilist  given  to  hard 
hitting,  and  (2)  a  steady  worker ; 
slogging,  a  beating,  a  fight ;  and  to 
have  a  slog  on,  to  put  on  a  spurt :  in 
America  the  spelling  slug,  slugger, 
etc.,  is  accepted. 


421 


Slogger. 


Slumgullion. 


Slogger  (Camb.  Univ.).  1.  A  boat 
in  the  second  division  :  corresponding 
to  the  Oxford  Torpids.  See  Slog. 

Slop.  1.  In  pL,  liquid  food  :  spec, 
weak  tea  :  or  any  thin  beverage  taken 
medicinally  (Orose):  also  slip -slop: 
as  adj.,  feeble,  poor,  weak  ;  as  verb,  to 
eat  or  drink  greedily,  to  mop  up  (q.v.) : 
also  to  slop  (or  slap)  up,  or  to  slop  it ; 
flopping  •  up,  a  drinking  bout ;  slop- 
feeder,  a  tea-spoon ;  slop-tubs,  tea- 
things  ;  slip-sloppy,  slushy,  watery 
(1515).  2.  In  pi..  Wearing  apparel 
and  bedding  used  by  seamen  (Orose) : 
hence  ready  -  made  clothing  ;  slop- 
seller,  a  dealer  in  ready-made  clothes  ; 
slop-chest,  a  ship's  supply  of  clothes 
and  bedding :  usually  doled  out  at 
cost  price ;  slop-book,  the  register  of 
supplies  ;  slop-work,  (1)  the  cheapest : 
hence  (2)  any  work  poorly  done ; 
sloppy,  ill-fitting  (originally  an  outer 
garment  made  of  linen).  3.  A  tailor. 
4.  A  policeman :  a  corruption  of 
esclop  (1851).  5.  (Christ's  Hospital). 
A  term  of  contempt.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
make  a  mess  ;  (2)  to  walk  or  work  in 
the  wet.  To  slop  over,  to  enter  into 
with  enthusiasm  and  speak  (write,  or 
act)  like  a  fool,  to  put  on  side  (q.v.), 
to  make  a  mistake  (1859). 

Slope.  1.  To  run  away,  to  bunk 
(q.v.) :  as  subs.,  an  escape  :  e.g.  to  do 
a  slope  (1840).  2.  To  sleep  (1610). 

Sloper's  Island.  A  weekly  tene- 
ment neighbourhood :  spec.  c.  1870 
the  Artizan's  Village  near  Lough- 
borough  Junction,  originally  in  the 
midst  of  fields ;  now  in  the  centre  of 
a  densely  populated  neighbourhood. 

Slopper  (The  Leys  School).  A 
slop  basin  :  cf .  Footer,  Brekker,  etc. 

Sloppy.     Loose,  slovenly. 

Slosh.  A  drink.  As  verb,  to  go 
here  and  there,  to  knock  about  (q.v.) 
(1854). 

Slosher  (Cheltenham  College).  A 
boarding-house  assistant :  they  are 
charged  with  superintending  dormi- 
tories, the  evening  work,  etc. 

Slouch.  1.  A  clumsy  lout,  an  idler. 
2.  Anything  indifferent :  usually  in 
phrase  no  slouch.  3.  An  awkward 
lumpish  gait :  as  verb,  to  walk  lump- 
iahly  or  sullenly ;  slouching  (or  slouchy), 
awkward,  ungainly,  heavy  (Orose) 
(1570).  4.  A  slouch -hat  (i.e.  a  hat 
with  a  broad  and  drooping  brim) 
(1818). 

Slow.     To  lock  up,  to  fasten,  to 


button   up  one's  coat,   to   make  all 
secure  (Orose). 

Slow.  A  sluggard,  a  lazybones. 
As  adv.,  (1)  stupid  ;  spiritless,  tedious 
(1855);  (2)  (Winchester).  Ignorant 
of  Winchester  notions  (q.v.). 

Slow-back.     A  loafer  (1619). 

Slowcoach.  1.  A  dullard,  a  lout 
2.  A  dawdler.  3.  An  antique,  a  fossil 
(1857). 

Slow-up.  A  slackening  of  speed. 
Also  as  verb,  to  go  easy. 

Slubberdegulhon.  A  slovenly, 
dirty,  nasty  fellow  (B.  E.).  Also 
SlabberdeguUion.  As  adj.,  paltry, 
dirty  (1619). 

Slued.     See  Slewed. 

Slug.  Generic  for  sloth.  1.  A 
drone,  a  lazybones :  also  dug-a-bed, 
and  (now  accepted)  sluggard.  2.  A 
hindrance.  3.  A  slow-paced  boat, 
horse,  etc.,  or  (B.  E.)  &  dull-edged 
tool ;  as  adj.  (also  sluggish  and  duggy), 
lazy,  slow ;  as  verb,  ( 1 )  to  laze,  and 
(2)  to  hinder  (1383).  4.  A  dram: 
hence  to  fire  (or  cant)  a  slug,  to  drink 
(Orose)  (1762).  5.  An  ingot  of  gold  ; 
a  twenty-dollar  piece  (Ency.  Diet.), 
but  in  Century  Diet,  a  gold  coin  of  the 
value  of  fifty  dollars  privately  issued 
in  San  Francisco  during  the  mining 
excitement  of  1849. 

Slugger.     See  Slogger. 

Sluice.  The  mouth :  also  sluice- 
house.  As  verb,  to  paddle,  to  bathe 
(or  wet)  freely  (1859).  To  sluice  the 
bolt  (dominoes,  gob,  or  ivories),  to 
drink  heartily :  see  Dominoes  (Orose) : 
sluicery,  a  public-house  (Grose).  To 
sluice  off,  to  divert,  to  lay  aside  (1862). 

Slum.  1.  Nonsense,  a  trick,  a 
swindle :  e.g.  a  sham  begging  letter, 
a  roll  of  snide  notes,  etc.  :  hence  up 
to  slum,  knowing,  not  to  be  had  (q.v. ) ; 
to  fake  the  slum,  to  do  the  trick.  2. 
Idle  talk;  as  verb,  (1)  to  trick,  to 
cheat ;  and  (2)  to  talk  idly,  or  to 
speak  slang  (1821).  3.  A  room.  4.  A 
squalid  street  or  neighbourhood,  a 
rookery  (q.v.) :  usually  in  pi.,  with 
back :  as  verb,  (a)  to  explore  poor 
quarters  out  of  curiosity  or  charity ; 
(b)  to  keep  to  back  streets  to  avoid 
observation ;  and  (c)  to  keep  in  the 
background.  5.  A  letter,  a  package : 
anything  in  hand.  f>.  The  call ;  slum- 
fake,  the  coffin ;  slumming,  acting 
(1872). 

Slumgullion.  A  representative, 
a  servant  (Bartlett). 


422 


Slumguzzle. 


Smart. 


Slumguzzle.  To  deceive.  Hence 
slumguzzling,  humbuggery  (Barttett). 

Slummy.     A  servant  girl. 

Slump.  1.  A  sudden  fall :  of 
prices;  an  ignominious  failure:  e.g. 
a  slump  in  Kaffirs  :  as  verb,  to  fall 
heavily  (Scots')  slump,  all  of  a  piece, 
to  come  down  with  a  rush.  2.  A 
gross  amount ;  the  whole :  e.g.  a 
slump  sum :  as  verb,  to  lump,  group 
together  (1856).  3.  To  recite  badly, 
fail,  bungle. 

Slung.  Slung  out  on  hands  and 
knees,  instantly  dismissed. 

Slur.  1.  A  cheat  at  dice ;  also  a 
slight  scandal  or  affront  (B.  E.).  2. 
To  cheat  (1664). 

Slush.  1.  Food.  2.  A  foul  feeder  : 
also  slush-bucket ;  slusher  (or  slushy). 
3.  A  drunkard.  4.  Indifferent  matter, 
padding  (q.v.). 

Slut.  1.  A  dirty  housewife.  2.  An 
awkward  person  or  thing.  3.  A 
wench  (q.v.) :  cf.  Quean.  4.  A  bitch. 
As  verb,  to  befoul ;  sluttery  (also 
sluttishness),  neglect;  sluttish,  (1) 
wanton  ;  and  (2)  untidy  (1400). 

Sly.  1.  Under  the  rose ;  trans- 
acting business  privately  is  frequently 
said  to  be  done  upon  the  sly  (Grose). 

2.  Illicit :  also  by  the  sly ;  to  run  sly, 
to  escape,  to  evade  (1787). 

Slyboots.  A  seemingly  simple  but 
really  clever  and  designing  fellow 
(B.  E.)  (1680). 

Smabbled  (or  Snabbled). 
Killed  in  battle. 

Smack.  1.  A  twang  or  ill  taste 
(B.  E.).  2.  A  liking,  a  fancy:  e.g. 
He  had  a  real  smack  for  the  old  'un : 
cf.  smackering,  a  longing  for  (Bailey). 

3.  A    kiss :    also    smacker :    whence 
to    smack   calfs   skin,    to   take   oath 
(1786).    Smack  -  smooth,  level  with  the 
surface,  everything  cut  away  (Grose) 
(1790). 

Smacking-cove.  A  coachman 
(B.  E.). 

Small.  1.  In  pi.,  breeches  :  spec, 
the  close  -  fitting  knee  -  breeches  of 
the  18th  and  early  19th  centuries : 
also  small-clothes  (Grose  :  A  gird  at  the 
affected  delicacy  of  the  present  age  ;  a 
suit  being  called  coat,  waistcoat,  and 
— articles  or  small  clothes).  2.  In  pi., 
Greats,  so  far  as  the  name  existed  in 
my  time,  meant  the  Public  Examina- 
tion, as  distinguished  from  Respon- 
sions,  Little-go,  or  smalls  (FreenMn). 
pi.,  Little-go  is  the  Cambridge  equi- 


valent :  properly  Responsions.  3.  A 
one-night  performance  in  a  small  town 
or  village  by  a  minor  company  carry- 
ing its  own  fit  -  up.  As  adv.,  timidly, 
humbly :  e.g.  to  sing  (or  speak) 
small  (q.v.). 

Small  -  and  -  early.  An  evening 
party  :  informal  and  breaking  up  at 
an  early  hour  (1865). 

Small  beer.  1.  Weak  beer.  2. 
trifles;  to  chronicle  small  beer,  (1)  to 
engage  in  trivial  occupations,  and  (2) 
to  retail  petty  scandal ;  to  think  small 
beer  of  anything,  to  have  a  poor  opinion 
of  it.  Also  small  things.  As  adj., 
petty  (1604). 

Small  cap.  O.  A  second  or  inferior 
in  command,  an  under  overseer. 

Small  cheque.  A  dram,  a  drink. 
To  knock  down  a  cheque,  to  spend  all 
in  drink. 

Small  Fry.  Generic  (1)  for  things 
little ;  and  (2)  for  things  trifling  or 
valueless. 

Small  Hours.  The  first  three  or 
four  hours  after  midnight :  usually 
the  small  hours  of  the  morning.  Also 
short  hours  (1796). 

Small  Potatoes.     See  Potato. 

Small  pill  (The  Leys  School). 
A  diminutive  football  used  on 
runs. 

Smart.  Generic  for  superior,  out 
of  the  common,  distinguished.  [In 
senses  1,  2,  and  3  there  is  often,  but 
not  necessarily,  an  implied  suspicion 
of  something  questionable.  1.  Lively, 
witty,  pert  (B.  E.):  e.g.  a  smart 
(clever)  book ;  a  smart  (ready)  reply ;  a 
smart  (bright)  saying  ;  a  smart  (spark- 
ling) speech;  a  smart  (brisk)  lad,  etc. 
2.  Well-dressed,  fashionable,  brilliant 
e.g.  a  smart  (elegant  and  modish) 
frock  ;  a  smart  (attractive  and  amusing) 
show ;  smart  (fashionable)  societi/ : 
hence  smart,  subs.,  (1)  a  dandy  (old), 
and  (2)  one  in  advance  of  the  prevailing 
standard  of  good  taste.  3.  Quick, 
expert,  shrewd :  e.g.  a  smart  (pre- 
cocious) child ;  a  smart  (clever)  work- 
man ;  a  smart  (enterprising)  trades- 
man ;  a  smart  (capable,  active,  and 
neat)  soldier,  sailor,  hand,  etc.  4. 
(American),  clever,  knavish,  and  un- 
scrupulous. 5.  (Prov.),  Cold:  e.g.  a 
smart  ( biting)  morning.  6.  (colloquial) 
Uncommon  :  e.g.  smart  (hard)  going  ; 
smart  (resolute  and  lively)  hitting ; 
smart  (capable)  work.  As  adv.,  very, 
large,  considerable,  vigorously  :  with 


423 


Smart-money. 


Smith  field-bargain. 


such  derivatives  and  combinations  aa 
smarty  (subs.),  smartness  (subs.),  and 
smartish  (adj.)  (1383).  See  Smart- 
money. 

Smart-money.  (1)  Given  by  the 
King,  when  a  man  in  land  or  sea- 
service  has  a  leg  shot  or  cut  otl,  or  is 
disabled  (B.  E.) ;  hence  (2)  a  fine; 
and  (3)  vindictive  damages :  also 
smart. 

Smash.  1.  Iced  brandy  and  water. 
2.  Mashed  vegetables :  potatoes,  tur- 
nips, and  the  like  (Grose)  (1851).  3. 
Tobacco :  hence  to  sling  the  smash,  to 
pass  tobacco  to  a  prisoner.  As  verb, 

( 1 )  to  utter  base  coin :  hence  smasher, 
(a)  base  coin  or  paper ;  and  (6)  one  who 
passes  base  money  into  circulation ; 

(2)  to  give  change :   as  subs.,   loose 
change  ;  (1823) ;  (3)  to  ruinate,  to  go 
bankrupt :     also     (military)     to     be 
reduced  or  broke :  aa  subs,  (or  smash- 
up),   ruin,   destruction,    bankruptcy; 
all  to  smash,  all  to  pieces,  completely 
(1847);  (4)  to  beat  badly;  to  double 
up ;  hence  smasher,  a  settling  blow  ; 
(1832);   (5)  to  kick  downstairs:   e.g. 
The  chubbs  touto  the  blesses,   they 
Hinash,   and  make  them  brush,   The 
sharpen  catch  their  mistresses  on  the 
hop,  kick  them  downstairs,  and  make 
them  clear  out  (B.  E.). 

Smasher.  1.  Anything  exceptional, 
a  settler :  whence  smashing,  crushing 
(1854).  2.  See  Smash.  3.  A  north 
country  seaman  (Clark  Russell). 

Smash-feeder.  A  Britannia- metal 
spoon. 

Smatterer.  One  half-learned.  A 
Smattering,  a  slight  tincture  in  any 
skill  or  learning  (B.  E.). 

Smear.  1.  A  plasterer  (Grose).  2. 
Food,  hash,  grub :  espec.  a  society 
spread  or  supper  (Bartiett). 

Smear-gelt     A  bribe  (Grose). 

Smectymnus.  A  word  made  out 
of  the  first  letters  of  the  names  of  five 
Presbyterian  ministers,  viz.  Stephen 
Marshall,  Edmund  Culamy,  Thomas 
Young,  Mathew  Newcomen,  and 
'William  Spurstow,  who  wrote  a  book 
against  Episcopacy,  and  the  Common 
Prayer,  A.D.  1641,  whence  they  and 
their  followers  were  called  Smectym- 
nians. 

Smeekit.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Smell.  To  investigate,  to  search  ; 
to  nose  (q.v.):  also  to  smell  out. 
Hence  smelling  committee,  an  in- 
vestigating committee.  [Bartiett : 


the  phrase  originated  in  the  examina- 
tion of  a  convent  in  Massachusetts 
by  legislative  order J  (1555).  See 
Smeller,  Cork,  Elbow-grease,  Foot- 
lights, Grease,  Ink-horn,  Lamp,  Rat, 
Roast 

Smeller.  1.  The  nose:  see  Conk 
(1678) :  in  pi.,  nostrils.  2.  A  blow  on 
the  nose,  a  nosender.  3.  In  pi.,  a 
cat's  whiskers  (Grose).  4.  A  spy ;  a 
Paul  Pry  (q.v.). 

Smell-feast  1 .  A  parasitic  glutton ; 
as  adj.,  sharking  for  victuals.  2.  A 
point  (q.v.)  feast  (1599). 

Smelling-cheat  1.  The  nose  :  see 
Cheat  and  Smeller  (1567).  2.  An 
orchard,  garden,  or  nosegay  (Har- 
man). 

Smell-smock.    See  Smock. 

Smelly.  Offensively  odorous 
(1863). 

Smell-powder.     A  duellist  (Bee). 

Smelt  1.  A  fool,  gull;  hence 
(proverbial),  Westward  for  smelts ! 
(old  colloquial),  on  the  spree  (Le.  in 
search  of  conies,  male  or  female  (1600). 
2.  Half-a-guinea  (B.  E.). 

Smicker.  To  look  wantonly :  as 
adj.,  amorous ;  smickering,  amorous 
inclination ;  smicldy,  amorously  (1606). 

Smicket     A  smock  or  shift  (1719). 

Smiggins.     Hulk  soup. 

Smile.  A  drink  :  as  verb,  to  drink, 
spec,  in  company  :  cf.  Shout  (1855). 

Smiling.  To  come  up  smiling,  to 
rise  superior  to  the  moment. 

Smirk.  A  finical  spruce  fellow. 
To  smirk,  to  smile  or  look  pleasantly 
(B.  E.). 

Smish.  A  chemise,  a  shirt :  cf. 
Caniesa  and  Mish  (Grose). 

Smite.  To  get  money,  to  rush 
(q.v.) :  acamedic  term  (Grose). 

Smiter.  1.  A  sword  (1591).  2.  An 
arm  (B.  E.). 

Smithereens  (or  Smithers). 
Small  fragments.  All  to  smithereens, 
all  to  smash  (q.v.)  (1855). 

Smithfield  -  bargain.  A  bargain 
whereby  the  purchaser  is  taken  in. 
This  is  likewise  frequently  used  to 
express  matches,  or  marriages,  con- 
tracted solely  on  the  score  of  interest, 
on  one  or  both  sides,  where  the  fair 
sex  are  bought  and  sold  like  cattle 
in  Smithfield  (Grose).  A  marriage  of 
interest,  where  money  is  the  chief 
consideration :  the  allusion  is  to  buy- 
ing a  wife  in  Smithfield.  Cf.  Breton, 
Olde  Man's  Lesson  (1605),  p.  7  :  Fie  on 


424 


Smock. 


Snack. 


these  market  matches,  where  marriages 
are  made  without  affection  (Dairies) 
(1598). 

Smock.  A  woman  :  cf.  Petticoat, 
Placket,  Skirt,  Muslin,  etc.  Hence, 
in  combination,  pertaining  to,  or 
connected  with  women.  Thus  smock- 
face,  an  effeminate  ;  smock  -  faced, 
snout-fair  (B.  E.),  fair- faced  (Grose), 
smooth-faced ;  smock-vermin,  a  con- 
temptuous address  ;  smock  -  hold, 
tenure  during  a  wife's  lifetime ; 
smock  -  government  (or  smock  -  led), 
petticoat  rule. 

Smoke.  1.  A  chimney  ;  hence 
(modern)  the  smoke,  any  large  city : 
spec.  London :  also  the  great  smoke 
(1687).  2.  A  cigar:  also  the  act  of 
smoking ;  dry-smoke,  an  unlighted 
cigar  or  pipe  between  the  lips.  3. 
Idle  talk,  vanity,  anything  of  little 
or  no  value  ;  to  end  in  smoke,  to  serve 
or  come  to  no  useful  end  (1594).  As 
verb,  (1)  to  examine,  to  suspect,  to 
observe,  to  discover,  to  understand, 
to  twig  (q.v.):  cf.  Smell,  Nose,  etc.  : 
whence  smoky,  (a)  suspicious,  in- 
quisitive ;  and  (6)  jealous  (B.  E. ) 
(1280) ;  (2)  to  blush  ;  (3)  to  ridicule  ; 
to  quiz  (q.v.) :  whence  smoker,  a 
mocker,  a  practical  joker ;  smoking, 
bantering  (1698) ;  (4)  To  affront  a 
stranger  at  his  coming  in  (B.  E.) ; 
(5)  to  raise  a  dust  by  beating :  cf. 
to  dust  one's  jacket  (1596);  (6)  to 
decamp.  Phrases :  Like  smoke, 
rapidly  :  see  Like  ;  all  smoke,  gammon, 
and  spinnach,  all  nothing ;  No  smoke, 
but  there's  fire  (or,  where  there's 
smoke  there's  fire),  of  a  thing  that 
will  out  (B.  E.).  See  Knock,  Pipe, 
Take  (1851). 

Smoker  (or  Smoke-shell).  1. 
A  chamber-pot :  see  It.  2.  A  vessel 
to  blind  the  enemies,  to  make  way 
for  the  machine  to  play  (B.  E.)  3. 
A  smoking-carriage  :  see  Smoke.  4. 
A  tobacconist  (B.  E.).  5.  At  Preston, 
before  the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill 
in  1832,  every  person  who  had  a 
cottage  with  a  chimney  and  used  the 
latter  had  a  vote,  and  was  called  a 
smoker  (Hattiwdl). 

Smoke-stack.     A  steamboat. 

Smooth.  A  meadow,  a  grass- 
plot,  a  lawn. 

Smoother.  A  parasite,  sponger 
(1653). 

Smotheration.  1.  Suffocation.  2. 
A  dish  (pork  or  beef)  smothered  with 


potatoes  (cf.  smother,  an  old  cookery 
term — rabbits  smothered  in  onions). 

Smouch.  1.  A  low-crowned  hat 
(HaUiwett).  2.  See  Smous.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  kiss :  as  subs,  (or  smoucher),  a 
kiss  (1578) ;  (2)  to  chouse,  to  trick,  to 
take  an  unfair  advantage. 

Smous  (or  Smouch).  (1)  A  Jew 
(Grose) ;  also  (2)  a  sharper  (1705). 

Smouting.  By-work,  odd  jobs 
done  by  printers  (1688) :  now  grass- 
ing (q.v.). 

Smouze.  To  demolish:  as  with  a 
blow. 

Smug.  1.  A  blacksmith  (B.  E.) 
(1611).  2.  An  affectedly  proper  or 
self-satisfied  person ;  hence  as  adj., 
neat  and  spruce  (B.  E.).  3.  A  hard- 
reading  student.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to  work 
or  study  hard  ;  (2)  to  pilfer,  to  snatch, 
to  sneak  into  favour :  hence  smug- 
gings.  Games  had  .  .  .  times  or  seasons 
.  .  .  when  any  game  was  out,  as  it  was 
termed,  it  was  lawful  to  steal  the  thing 
played  with  .  .  .  Tops  are  in,  spin 
'em  again,  Tops  are  out,  smugging's 
about.  Smug-lay,  Persons  who  pre- 
tend to  be  smugglers  of  lace  and 
valuable  articles ;  these  men  borrow 
money  of  publicans  by  depositing 
their  goods  in  then"  hands ;  they 
shortly  afterwards  decamp,  and  the 
publican  discovers  too  late  that  he 
has  been  duped,  and  on  opening  the 
pretended  treasure  he  finds  trifling 
articles  of  no  value  (Grose) :  also 
smuggler.  4.  To  hush  up.  5.  To 
steal.  6.  To  apprehend  (1857). 

Smuggle.  1.  To  cuddle,  to  fondle, 
cf.  Snuggle  (1698).  2.  To  sharpen  a 
pencil  at  both  ends.  Smuggler,  a 
pencil  thus  sharpened. 

Smuggling-ken.  A  bawdy  house 
(Grose). 

S  m  u  1  k  i  n.  A  brass  farthing 
(Irish) :  temp.  Eliz. 

S  m  u  s  a.  To  snatch  or  seize 
suddenly  (Grose). 

Smut.  1.  Obscenity ;  ribaldry 
(1698).  Hence  smutty,  lewd,  obscene  ; 
smuttiness,  bawdry.  2.  A  copper 
boiler.  3.  A  grate.  4.  Old  iron. 
See  Brother  Smut. 

S  n  a  b  b  1  e.  Generic  for  force  : 
e.g.  to  rifle,  plunder,  arrest,  kill,  eat 
greedily  (1724). 

Snabby  (or  Snab).  Stylish,  taste- 
ful, good-looking  [Bartlett :  a  college 
word]. 

Snack.      1.  A  share,  a  portion: 


425 


to  go  snacks  (or  to  mack),  to  share  ;  to 
divide  (1675).  2.  A  hasty  meal,  a 
bite  (q.v.)  (1763).  3.  An  innuendo, 
a  jibe :  e.g.  That's  a  nasty  snack  for 
you :  as  verb,  to  quiz,  to  roast  (q.v.). 
4.  (Winchester  College).  A  racket 
ball. 

Snaffle.  Talk  :  spec,  conversation 
uninteresting  or  unintelligible  to 
those  present :  cf .  Shop.  As  verb,  ( 1 ) 
to  steal ;  whence  snaffle  (or  snaffler),  a 
thief :  spec,  a  highwayman  ;  snaffling- 
lay,  highway  robbery;  snaffled,  arrested 
(1724) ;  (2)  to  arrest,  to  pull  up  (q.v.). 

Snag.  1.  A  tooth :  spec,  a  long 
irregular  tooth :  also  snaggler :  see 
Grinders  :  whence  snag  -  catcher,  a 
dentist  (1717).  2.  An  unsuspected 
hindrance  or  set-back :  orig.  American 
a  half  sunken  tree  impeding  river 
navigation :  hence,  as  verb,  to  em- 
barrass ;  to  catch  a  snag,  to  get  a 
rebuff,  to  get  snubbed  :  cf.  Snack.  3. 
A  snail  (B.  E.).  To  snag  on,  to  attach 
oneself  to  another. 

Snaggle.     To  angle  for  poultry. 

Snail.  A  drone:  cf.  slug.  Hence 
as  verb  (or  to  go  at  a  snail's  pace  or 
gallop)  to  move  very  slowly  (1582). 

Snake.  1.  A  term  of  contempt, 
2.  A  secret  plotter,  a  hidden  foe: 
e.g.  a  snake  in  the  grass  (1600).  3. 
A  skein  of  silk.  As  verb,  (1)  to  steal 
warily :  cf.  Sneak ;  (2)  to  beat,  to 
thrash.  Phrases :  To  snake  out  (along 
or  up),  to  drag  or  worm  out ;  to  snake 
in,  to  steal  in,  to  draw  in  ;  to  give  one 
a  snake,  to  vex ;  to  snake  the  pool,  to 
take  the  pool  (billiards) ;  a  caution 
to  snakes,  a  matter  of  surprise,  some- 
thing singular,  a  revelation  (q.v.) ; 
snakes  in  the  boots,  delirium  tremens  : 
also  to  see  snakes ;  As  sure  as  there's 
snakes  in  Virginny,  as  sure  as  may  be. 

Snake-in-  the-grass.  A  glass. 
See  Snake. 

Snakesman.     See  Sneak. 

Snam.  To  steal :  spec,  to  snatch 
from  the  person  :  also  on  the  snam. 

Snap.  1.  A  sharper,  a  pilferer,  a 
cheat :  spec,  a  thief  claiming  a  share 
of  booty ;  occasionally  a  sharking 
lawyer  :  also  snapper  and  snapper-up  : 
as  verb,  to  claim  a  share,  to  nap  the 
regulars  (q.v.) ;  on  the  snap,  (a)  waiting 
a  chance  of  robbery  ;  and  (6)  looking 
out  for  odd  jobs  (1604).  2.  A  scrap, 
a  portion,  a  share  :  cf.  Snack  ;  hence  a 
small  standard  of  value :  e.g.  not  a 
snap,  nothing ;  not  worth  a  snap, 


worthier  (1661).  3.  A  project,  a 
business  —  any  happening  :  e.g.  a 
cold  snap,  a  sudden  spell  of  cold 
weather ;  a  soft  snap,  a  pleasant  time, 
a  profitable  affair ;  to  give  the  snap 
away,  to  discover :  also  snap  (thea- 
trical), a  short  engagement.  4.  A 
hasty  meal,  a  snack  (q.v.).  5.  Know- 
ledge, energy,  go  (q.v.),  snappy, 
lively,  amusing.  As  adj.,  on  the  spur 
of  the  moment,  without  preparation  : 
as  subs.,  a  chance  (or  scratch)  comer, 
player,  crew,  team,  etc. ;  thus,  a 
snap-division,  an  unexpected  vote ; 
snap-judgment,  a  verdict  hastily  got 
or  given  ;  snap-shot,  (a)  a  shot  fired 
without  deliberate  aim,  and  (6)  a 
photograph  taken  unawares  ;  as  verb, 
to  take  an  instantaneous  photograph 
with  a  hand  camera  :  also  to  snap-shot. 
Phrases :  To  snap  the  glaze,  to  smash 
shop  windows  (Grose) ;  to  snap  the  eye, 
to  wink ;  on  the  snap,  on  the  look-out, 
on  the  mouch  (q.v.). 

Snapped.  1.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed 
( 1844).  2.  Taken,  caught  (B.  E. ). 

Snapper.  1.  A  pistol  (1587).  2.  A 
Castanet.  3.  A  cracker  bonbon  ( 1 837 ). 
4.  A  braggart :  also  snapperhead. 
The  Snappers,  The  East  Yorkshire 
Regiment,  formerly  The  15th  Foot : 
also  The  Poona  Guards. 

Snappish.  Peevish,  quarrelsome 
(a  man) ;  apt  to  bite  (a  dog)  (B.  E.). 

Snap-shot.     See  Snap. 

Snarler.     A  dog. 

Snatch.  1.  A  shuffling  answer,  an 
evasive  reply  (1603).  2.  A  hasty 
meal ;  a  snack  (q.v.) ;  also  snatch  and 
away  (1573).  In  (or  by)  snatches,  by 
fits  and  starts,  spasmodically :  also 
snatchy  (1573). 

Snatcher.  A  thief  :  spec,  a  camp- 
follower  (1599).  Snatrh-cly,  a  pick- 
pocket (Grose).  See  Bodysnatcher. 

Snatch-pastry.     A  greedy  fellow. 

Snavel.  To  steal :  spec,  by  snatch- 
ing or  picking  (q.v.) :  cf.  Snabble  and 
see  Running  snabble. 

Sneak.  A  petty  thief  :  also  sneak- 
thief,  sneaking-budge,  sneaksman,  and 
area-sneak,  and  cf.  Ramp  and  Rush ; 
The  sneak  is  the  practice  of  robbing 
houses  or  shops,  by  slipping  in  un- 
perccived,  and  taking  whatever  may 
lay  most  convenient ;  this  is  commonly 
the  first  branch  of  thieving,  in  which 
young  boys  are  initiated,  who,  from 
their  size  and  activity,  appear  well 
adapted  for  it ;  to  sneak  a  place  is  to 


426 


Sneakbill. 


Snip-snap. 


rob  it  upon  the  sneak ;  a  sneak  is  a 
robbery  effected  in  the  above  manner  ; 
one  or  more  prisoners  having  escaped 
from  their  confinement  by  stealth, 
without  using  any  violence,  or  alarm- 
ing their  keepers,  are  said  to  have 
sneak'd  'em,  or  given  it  to  'em  upon  the 
sneak  ( Vaux) :  hence  morning-sneak, 
an  early  bird  (q.v.) ;  evening-sneak,  a 
night  thief ;  upright  sneak,  a  thief 
preying  on  potboys  (B.  E.) ;  as  verb, 
to  pilfer,  to  steal :  spec,  to  walk  about 
undefinedly,  to  see  what  may  be 
picked  up ;  sneaking  on  the  lurk  (or 
on  the  sneak),  prowling  for  booty.  2. 
In  pi.,  shoes  with  canvas  tops  and 
india-rubber  soles.  3.  A  ground  ball 
having  no  pitch  whatever ;  a  daisy- 
trimmer  (or  cutter),  grub,  or  under- 
grounder  (q.v.). 

Sneakbill.     See  Sneaksby. 
Sneak- cup.      One    who    shies    his 
drink :   hence,   a   paltry   fellow,   also 
sneak-up  (1598). 

Sneaker.  1.  A  small  bowl: 
e.g.  a  sneaker  of  punch.  2.  A 
sneak. 

Sneaking.  Unavowed,  undemon- 
strative ;  e.g.  a  sneaking  kindness 
(liking,  or  preference)  (1753). 

Sneaksby  (Sneakbill,  or  Sneaks- 
fa  i  1 1).  A  sneak :  cf.  Idlesby, 
Suresby,  Rudesby,  Lewdsby,  Wigsby, 
etc.  (Grose).  Also  sneaking,  sheepish 
or  mean  spirited  (B.  E.);  sneakbill, 
sneaking  (1577). 

Sneck- drawer.  A  latchlifter,  a 
slyboots.  Sneck  -  draining,  crafty, 
cheating  (1401). 

Sneck  up!  Go  hang !  Also 
snick  up  (1599). 

Snee.     See  Snick-and-snee. 
Sneerg.     Greens. 

Sneering.  Jeering,  flickering, 
laughing  in  scorn  (B.  E.). 

Sneeze.  1.  Snuff :  also  snish.  2. 
The  nose  :  see  Sneezer.  To  sneeze  at, 
to  despise,  to  scorn  :  usually  in  phrase 
not  to  be  sneezed  at,  worth  having  or 
considering  (1820). 

Sneeze-  (or  Snuff-)  lurker.  A 
thief  working  with  snuff,  pepper, 
and  the  like.  To  give  on  the  sneeze  (or 
snuff)  racket,  to  dose  a  man  in  the 
eyes,  and  then  rob  him  (Grose). 

Sneezer.  1.  Severe  weather  :  as  a 
hard  frost  or  a  violent  gale.  2.  Any- 
thing exceptional — a  stiff  glass,  a 
knock-out  blow.  3.  A  martinet.  4. 
The  nose  :  also  sneeve  :  see  Conk.  5. 


A  pocket-handkerchief.     6.  A  snuff- 
box :  also  sneezing  coffer. 
.    S  n  e  e  z  y.     The    second    month 
(Brumaire,  foggy)  of  the  French  Re- 
publican Calendar. 

S  n  e  1 1.  A  needle.  Hence  snett- 
fencer,  a  needle-hawker. 

Snib.     A  prig  ( q.  v. ). 

Snicker.  1.  A  drinking  cup ; 
horn-snicker,  a  drinking-horn.  2.  A 
glandered  horse. 

Snickersnee.  1.  A  knife.  2.  A 
combat  with  knives :  also  snick-and- 
snee  (1617). 

Snick-fadge.     A  petty  thief. 

S  n  i  c  k  1  e.  To  inform,  to  peach 
(q.v.)  (1859). 

Snicktog.     To  go  shares. 

Snide  (or  Snid.)  1.  Sixpence :  see 
Rhino.  2.  Anything  mean  or  spuri- 
ous :  as  a  contemptible  wretch,  coun- 
terfeit coin,  etc.  As  adj.  (also  sniddy 
or  snidey),  bad,  wretched,  contempt- 
ible, or  (army)  dirty.  Snide-pitching, 
passing  base  coin. 

Sniffy.     Disdainful. 

Snifter.  1.  A  long-drawn  breath. 
2.  A  dram,  a  go  (q.v.).  3.  A  blizzard. 

Snifty.     Pleasant  smelling. 

Snigger  (or  Snicker).  To  laugh 
privately  or  in  one's  sleeve  (B.  E. ) ; 
ill  suppressed  laughter  (Bee). 

Snilch  [sic.].  To  see,  to  watch 
closely  (B.E.). 

Snip.  1.  A  share,  a  piece,  a  snack 
(q.v.);  to  go  snips,  to  share.  2.  A 
good  tip :  also  snippet,  a  small  piece ; 
snippy  (or  snippety),  fragmentary, 
absurdly  small  (1621).  3.  A  tailor  : 
also  snipper,  snip-cabbage,  and  snip- 
louse  ;  snipes,  scissors  ( Vaux). 

Snipe.  1.  A  thin  thing,  male  or 
female :  in  America,  a  small  child. 
2.  A  simpleton ;  snipe-knave  (Cot- 
grave)  :  so  called  because  two  of  them 
are  worth  but  one  snipe  (1602).  3. 
A  lawyer.  4.  A  long  bill.  5.  In 
pi.,  the  fingers  (1834).  6.  Scissors 
(Grose).  7.  A  half-smoked  cigar.  8. 
A  curbstone  broker,  a  gutter-snipe 
(q.v.)  (1870).  As  verb,  to  fire  at 
random  into  a  camp. 

Snipper-  snapper.  An  insignifi- 
cant person,  a  whipper-snapper  (q.v.) 
(1677). 

Snippy  (Snipenny,  Sniptious,  or 
Snippish).  Vain,  conceited,  pert. 

Snip-snap.  A  neat  verbal  effect. 
As  adj.,  quick,  sharp,  smart  (q.v.) 
(1594). 


427 


(Snirp, 


Snuff. 


Snirp.  An  undersized  contempt- 
ible wretch. 

Snitch.  1.  In  pL,  handcuffs :  also 
anitchera.  2.  A  fillip  on  the  nose 
(B.  E.):  also  snitchd.  3.  The  nose. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  inform  ;  hence  gnitcher, 
an  informer  ;  (2)  to  nark  (q.v.)  (1812). 

Snitched.     Glandered. 

Snite.  To  wipe  ;  to  snite  a  candle, 
to  snuff  it ;  mite  hit  snitch,  wipe  his 
nose  or  give  him  a  good  flap  on  the 
face  (B.  E.)  (1400). 

S  n  i  v.  1.  To  hold  one's  tongue : 
e.g.  Sniv  that  I  2.  Bender  !  (q.v.). 

Snivel.  Hypocrisy,  cant  (q.v.): 
as  verb,  to  complain,  to  bleat  (q.v.). 
Hence  sniveller  (or  snivdard),  a 
whining  malcontent ;  snivelling,  hypo- 
critical repentance  (1440). 

Snivel-nose.     A  niggard  (Hattiwdl). 

Snoach.  To  speak  through  the 
nose,  to  snuffle  (1785). 

Snob.  1.  A  shoemaker  (Grose) ; 
spec,  a  journeyman  cobbler  (Hallitcell) 
2.  An  inferior.  3.  A  toadying  or 
blatant  vulgarian  :  also  as  adj.  with 
numerous  derivatives :  e.g.  snobbery, 
snobbishness,  and  snobbism,  snobbess, 
snobbish,  snobbishly,  and  snobby,  snob- 
ling,  snoboeraey,  snobographer,  and 
snobography.  4.  A  blackleg,  knobstick, 
rat,  scab  (q.v.).  5.  Mucus,  snot  (q.v.). 
As  verb,  to  sloven  one's  work :  cf. 
Snobbery. 

Snobbery.  Bad  work,  slack  trade, 
etc.  :  cf.  Snob.  To  hide  the  snobbery, 
to  conceal  imperfections  or  cover  up 
inferior  work. 

Snob  's-boot.     Sixpence :  see  Rhino. 

Snob's-duck.  A  leg  of  mutton, 
stuffed  with  sage  and  onions. 

Snpbstick.  A  black-leg,  rat, 
knobstick  (q.v.) :  also  snob. 

Snock.  To  land  a  blow :  e.g.  to 
snock  on  the  gob,  to  punch  one  in  the 
mouth. 

Snoddy.     A  soldier. 

Snook.  In  pi.,  the  imaginary 
name  of  a  practical  joker ;  also  a 
derisive  retort  on  an  idle  question — 
Snooks  I  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to  pry,  to  watch, 
to  dog  (q.v.) :  also  snoop  ;  (2)  to  pick 
(q.v.) :  hence  snook  (snoop,  snooker,  or 
snooper),  a  spy,  a  sneak,  a  Paul  Pry 
(q.v.)  (1653).  To  cut  (or  cock)  snooks, 
see  Sight 

Snooker  (Royal  Military  Academy). 
A  cadet-student  of  the  fourth  class,  a 
freshman. 

Snooze.       1.    Sleep :    spec,  a  nap 


(q.v.) :  also  snoozem.  2.  A  bed  :  see 
Kip.  As  verb  (or  snoozle),  to  nestle  ; 
snoozer,  (a)  a  sleepy-head,  and  (6)  a 
domiciled  boarding  -  house  or  hotel 
thief  ;  snoozing,  sleep ;  snooze  -  ken 
(or  snoozing -ken),  (a)  a  bed,  (6)  a  bed- 
room, (c)  a  lodging-house,  (d)  a  brothel ; 
snooze-case,  a  pillow-slip ;  snooty,  a 
night  watchman  or  constable  (Grose). 

Snopsy  (Snops,  or  Snaps).  Gin 
(i.e.  Schnaps). 

S  n  o  r  k  (Shrewsbury  School).  To 
excel,  to  surpass  :  e.g.  to  do  the  whole 
of  an  examination  paper,  or  to  cap 
another  in  argument  or  repartee. 

Snort.     To  laugh  in  derision  (1835). 

Snorter.  1.  Anything  large  or 
exceptional :  spec,  a  gale  of  wind,  a 
heavy  snow-storm  :  cf.  Sneezer  (1830). 
2.  The  nose  :  see  Conk. 

Snot.  1.  Nasal  mucus.  2.  A 
contemptible  wretch  :  also  snotter  and 
snottie,  a  midshipman.  As  verb,  ( 1 )  to 
blow  the  nose ;  (2)  to  act  scurvily  ; 
snottery,  filth  (1598);  snotty,  running 
at  the  nose,  mean,  dirty ;  snotty- 
nosed,  contemptible,  filthy ;  snot- 
gall  (or  anotter),  the  nose ;  snot- 
rag  (snottinger,  or  snotter),  (1)  a 
pocket-handkerchief  ;  and  (2)  the  nose 
(also  snot-  and  snottle-box) :  snotter  also, 
a  handkerchief  thief:  snotter -hauling, 
sneaking  of  wipes  (q.v.) ;  snotted,  re- 
primanded :  Fr.,  moucht. 

Snout.  1.  The  nose  :  in  contempt. 
2.  The  face:  also  snout-piece  (1785) ; 
snout- fair,  pretty,  comely  (1567).  3. 
Tobacco  :  see  Wright  and  Trafficking  ; 
also  (itinerants')  a  cigar. 

Snow.  Linen :  spec,  linen  hung 
out  to  dry  :  also  snowy.  Hence  snow- 
gatherer  (or  dropper),  a  hedge-thief. 

Snowball.  A  negro  (Grose) :  Fr., 
boidede  neige. 

Snow-broth.  1.  Snow-water 
(B.  E.).  2.  Cold  lap  (q.v.)  (1603). 

Snub.  To  check,  to  rebuke.  See 
Snob. 

Snub-devil.    A  parson. 

Snub-nose.  A  short  noee  turned 
up  at  the  end  (Gro*e). 

Snudge.  1.  A  miser,  a  curmudgeon 
hence  as  adj.  (snudge-like  (or  snudging, 
miserly,  mean,  crabby ;  as  verb,  to 
grasp,  to  screw  ;  snudgery,  meanness 
(1531).  2.  A  thief  concealing  himself 
under  a  bed  (B.  E.). 

Snudge -snout  A  dirty  fellow 
(1606). 

Snuff.      The  drainings  of  a  glass, 


Snuffle. 


Sodger. 


heel-taps  (q.v.)  (1641).  As  verb,  to 
be  testy,  easily  offended :  also  to  take 
snuff,  or  to  snuff  pepper  :  see  Pepper. 
Whence  in  snuff,  in  dudgeon  :  to  give 
snuff,  to  reprimand,  to  rebuke,  to 
scold;  snuffy,  (1)  offended,  and  (2) 
drunk;  snuff,  a  pet  (q.v.)  (1584). 
Phrases :  Up  to  snuff,  not  to  be  de- 
ceived, wideawake  (q.v.),  knowing 
(q.v.) ;  to  snuff  out,  to  silence,  settle, 
annihilate ;  to  snuff  it,  to  die :  see 
Sneezelurk  (1785). 

Snuffle.  In  pi.,  a  cold  in  the  head : 
as  verb,  to  speak  gruffly  or  through 
the  nose  (1789). 

S  n  u  ffl  e  r.  A  preacher.  Hence 
snuffling,  canting  (1861). 

Snuffy.  Tipsy :  see  Screwed.  As 
adj.,  drunk :  see  Screwed.  All  snug, 
All's  quiet.  See  Bug. 

Snuggery.  A  comfortable  privacy  : 
as  a  woman's  boudoir,  a  man's  smoking 
den,  a  bar- parlour  (1837). 

Snyder  (or  Snider).    A  tailor  ( 1600). 

So.  1.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed  :  also 
so  -  so  (1809).  2.  Pregnant,  lumpy 
(q.v.).  3.  In  courses.  As  intj.,  a 
questioning  reply  to  a  positive  state- 
ment :  e.g.  The  King  returns  to  town 
to-day.  So  ?  So-and-so,  ( I )  somebody 
or  something  indefinite ;  and  (2)  in 
place  of  a  thing  forgotten,  or  which  it 
is  not  desired  to  mention  :  e.g.  Mr. 
So-and-so.  So  long  I  Good-bye  !  So- 
so,  ordinary,  mediocre,  nothing  to 
speak  of  (1530). 

Soak.  1.  A  drinking  bout.  2.  A 
hard  drinker  :  also  soaker  :  as  verb,  to 
steep  oneself  in  drink,  to  booze  (q.v.) : 
whence  soaking,  hard  drinking ; 
soaked,  drunk :  see  Screwed :  to  set 
soaking,  to  ply  the  pot  (1700).  As 
verb,  (1)  to  pawn  :  also  to  put  in  soak  ; 
(2)  to  be  lavish  of  bait;  (3)  to  sit 
lazily  over  the  fire  (HaUiwett). 

Soaker.  A  heavy  rain.  See  Soak 
(1851). 

Soap.  1.  Flattery  :  also  soft-soap  : 
cf.  Soft-sawder  :  as  verb,  to  flatter,  to 
carney  (q.v.) :  soapy,  smooth-tongued 
(1840).  2.  Money:  generic:  spec, 
secret  service  money :  as  verb,  to 
bribe  (1834).  3.  (Royal  Military 
Academy).  Cheese. 

Soap  -  and  -  bullion.  Soup  -  and- 
bouilli.  Jack  calls  it  soap-and-bullion  : 
one  onion  to  a  gallon  of  water,  and  this 
fairly  expresses  the  character  of  the 
nauseous  compound. 

Soap-crawler.    A  toady. 


Soap-lock  (or  curl).  1.  A  soaped 
lock  of  hair  on  the  temple  (1844).  2. 
A  rowdy  (BartleU). 

Soap-suds.  Gin  and  water,  hot, 
with  lemon  and  lump  sugar  (Bee). 

Soap-trick.  A  variety  of  the  well- 
known  purse  swindle.  A  cake  of  soap 
is  sold  for  a  dollar  to  a  gull  who  thinks 
he  has  that  one  he  has  wrapped  a 
five-dollar  bill  in,  and  marked  himself. 
Hence,  soaper,  a  soap-trick  swindler. 

Soary.  Inclined  to  draw  the  long 
bow,  high-falutin'  (q.v.). 

Sobersides.    A  sedate  person  (1852). 

Sober-water.     Soda-water. 

Soc.  Society  :  non-Soc-man,  a  rat 
(q.v.),  a  blackleg,  a  non- Union-man. 

Socius  (Winchester).  A  chum,  a 
companion :  as  verb,  to  accompany. 
[The  School  precept  is  Sociati  omnes 
incedunto.'] 

Sock.  1.  A  pocket :  Not  a  rag  in 
my  sock,  penniless  (B.  E.).  2  (Eton 
College).  Edibles  of  any  kind  :  spec, 
dainties,  tuck  (q.v.) :  as  verb,  (a)  to 
eat  outside  regular  meals :  (b)  to 
treat  (q.v.) ;  whence  (c)  to  give  (1550) 
3.  Credit,  jaw-bone  (q.v.) :  also  as 
verb,  (a)  to  get  credit,  and  (b)  to  pay  : 
also  to  sock  down.  4.  An  over-grown 
baby  (Ency.  Diet.).  5.  A  comedy : 
the  sock,  an  ancient  ensign  of  comedy  ; 
the  buskin,  tragedy :  whence  sock- 
and  -  buskin,  the  profession  (q.v.) 
(1590).  As  verb,  (1)  to  beat,  to  drub 
( B.  E. ),  to  press  hardly  :  also  as  subs.  : 
e.g.  sock  it  him,  or  give  him  sock  (or 
socks),  Pitch  into  him,  dress  him  down; 
whence  socker,  a  heavy  blow ;  (2)  to 
smash  a  hat  over  head  and  ears,  to 
bonnet  (q.v.) ;  (3)  to  hit  hard  :  spec, 
at  cricket :  also  to  defeat ;  (4)  to  sew 
up  (1584). 

Sockdologer  (Socdologer,  Stock- 
dologer,  Slogdologer,  or  Sogdologer). 
Anything  overwhelming  or  excep- 
tional :  from  a  repartee  to  an  earth- 
quake :  generic:  also  as  verb  (1824). 

Socker.  1.  A  fool,  sloven,  lout :  a 
general  term  of  contempt :  also  sockie 
and  sockhead  (1772).  2.  Association 
Football :  cf .  Rugger  :  also  soccer. 

Socket.  Burnt  to  the  socket,  dying 
(Bay). 

Socket- money.  1.  Demanded  and 
spent  upon  marriage  (B.  E.).  2. 
Money  paid  by  a  married  man  caught 
in  an  intrigue  (Grose).  Hence  socketer, 
a  blackmailer  (1772). 

Sodger.     See  Soger. 


429 


, 


Sodom. 


Son. 


Sodom.  1.  Wadham  College, 
Oxford.  2.  London  :  cf.  Babylon. 
£.  Soft.  Bank  notes  :  generic  :  also 
soft- flimsy.  To  do  soft,  to  utter  coun- 
terfeit notes.  As  adj.,  (1)  foolish, 
easy  going ;  and  (2)  choice,  exquis- 
ite :  originally  effeminate.  As  subs. 
(softy,  or  soft  -  horn),  a  simpleton  ; 
softish  (or  soft-headed),  weak-minded, 
aillv  (1536).  Phrases:  Soft-hearted, 
yielding,  piteous,  tender ;  soft-food, 
pap  ;  soft,  hash  ;  soft  is  your  horn,  you 
make  a  mistake ;  a  soft  thing,  (I)  an 
easy  or  pleasant  task,  and  (2)  a  facile 
simpleton  ;  soft  down  on,  in  love  with. 
See  Hard-shell,  Hard-tack,  Sawder, 
Snap,  Soap,  Spots,  Tack. 

Soft-ball  (Royal  Military  Aca- 
demy). Tennis. 

Soft-horn.  An  ass,  whether  quad- 
ruped or  biped. 

Soft-horse.  A  horse  lacking  stamina. 

Sof tling.     A  voluptuary  ( 1 576). 

Soft-soap.     See  Soap. 

Soft-shell.  In  U.S.  Politics :  (a)  a 
member  or  an  adherent  of  that  one  of 
the  two  factions  into  which  in  1852  and 
succeeding  years  the  Democratic  party 
in  the  state  of  New  York  was  divided 
which  was  less  favourable  to  the  ex- 
tension of  slavery  ;  (6)  a  member  of  the 
pro-slavery  wing  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  Missouri  about  1850  (Century); 
see  Hard  shell :  also  Softs  and  Soft- 
shell  democrats. 

Soft-  tack  (or  tommy).  Bread  : 
as  distinguished  from  biscuit,  which 
is  '  ship's  bread.' 

Sog.  1.  A  sovereign ;  20s.  :  see 
Rhino.  2.  A  swoon,  lethargy. 

Soger  (Sojer,  or  Sodger).  1.  A 
Soldier.  2.  The  worst  term  of  re- 
proach that  can  be  applied  to  a  sailor. 
It  signifies  a  skulk,  a  shirk— one  who 
is  always  trying  to  get  clear  of  work, 
and  is  out  of  the  way,  or  hanging  back, 
when  duty  is  to  be  done.  Marine  is 
applied  more  particularly  to  a  man 
ignorant  and  clumsy  about  seaman's 
work  —  a  green -horn,  a  land-lubber. 
To  make  a  sailor  shoulder  a  hand- 
spike, and  walk  fore  and  aft  the  deck, 
like  a  sentry,  is  the  most  ignominious 
punishment  that  could  be  put  on  him  ; 
inflicted  upon  an  able  seaman  in  a 
vessel  of  war,  would  break  his  spirit 
down  more  than  a  flogging  (Dana). 
3  (Winchester).  A  cross  marked  on 
the  margin  of  an  exercise  :  see  Percher. 

Soiled-dove.     A  prostitute. 

430 


Solace.  A  penalty,  a  fine  (Moxon, 
1683). 

Sold.     See  Sell 

Soldier.  1.  A  red  herring.  2.  A 
boiled  lobster.  As  verb,  (1)  to  make 
temporary  use  of  (another  man's 
horse) :  thus  a  man  wanting  a  mount 
catches  the  first  horse  he  can,  rides  it 
to  his  destination,  and  then  lets  it  go 
(Century);  (2)  to  bully,  to  hector 
(Halliioett) ;  (3)  to  do  routine  work, 
as  cleaning  accoutrements,  fatigue 
duty,  anything  irksome  in  a  soldier's 
life.  Phrases  and  combinations : 
Soldier' s  bottle,  a  large  bottle  ;  soldier's 
mawnd,  (1)  a  counterfeit  sore  or 
wound  in  the  left  arm  (B.  E.),  and 
(2)  a  pretended  soldier,  begging  with 
a  counterfeit  wound,  which  he  pre- 
tends to  have  received  at  some 
famous  siege  or  battle  (Grose) ; 
soldier's  pomatum,  a  piece  of  tallow ; 
soldier's  thigh,  an  empty  pocket ;  a 
soldier's  wind,  a  fair  wind  either  way, 
consequently,  a  beam  wind ;  old 
soldier,  ( 1 )  an  empty  bottle:  cf.  Marine ; 
and  (2)  see  Old  Soldier.  See  Come, 
and  Fresh-water  Soldier. 

Solemncholy.  Seriousness,  gravity : 
cf.  melancholy. 

Sole-slogger.     A  shoemaker. 

Sol-fa.     A  parish  clerk  ( 1 785). 

Solid.  United,  unanimous.  Thus 
a  solid  vote,  a  unanimous  vote ;  the 
solid  South,  the  Southern  States  during 
reconstruction :  from  their  uniform 
support  of  the  Democratic  party ; 
a  solid  party,  a  united  party ;  to  make 
oneself  solid  with,  to  come  to  an  agree- 
ment with,  etc. 

Solitary.     Solitary  confinement. 

Solo  (Winchester).  A  solitary 
walk,  without  a  socius  (q.v.). 

Solomon  (or  Sollomon).  See 
Salmon. 

Some.  Somewhat,  a  certain 
amount,  a  great  deal :  cf.  Few,  and 
see  Pumpkin  (1598). 

Something.     See  Damp  and  Short. 

Somewheres.  Somewhere,  about : 
e.g.  Somewheres  along  of  fifty  quid. 

Son.  In  combination,  thus — Son 
of  Apollo,  a  scholar ;  son  of  a  bitch 
(sow,  whore,  etc.),  a  term  of  violent 
abuse ;  son  of  a  bachelor,  a  bastard  ; 
son  of  a  gun  (or  sea-cook),  ( 1 )  a  soldier's 
bastard,  and  (2)  a  term  of  contempt ; 
aon  of  Mars,  a  soldier  ;  son  of  Mercury, 
a  wit ;  son  of  parchment,  a  lawyer ; 
son  of  prattlement,  an  advocate ;  son 


Song. 


Sow. 


of  wax,  a  cobbler  ;  every  mother's  son, 
everybody ;  son  of  Venus,  a  wencher. 
Song.  A  trifle,  a  nominal  sum  or 
price :  also  an  old  (or  mere)  song 
(1698).  To  change  one's  song  (or  sing 
another  song),  to  tell  a  different  tale : 
see  Sing.  His  morning  and  evening 
song  do  not  agree,  He  tells  another 
yarn  at  night  to  the  one  in  the  morning. 
Sonkey.  A  clumsy  fellow,  a  lout : 
also  sank,  sonky,  and  sonkie. 

Sonnie  (Sonny,  or  Sonnikin).  An 
affectionate  or  familiar  address :  with 
no  necessary  reference  to  age  or 
relationship  :  also  sonniwax  or  sonny- 
wax  (1542). 

Sool.     1.    To   excite  a  dog,  to  set 
him  on.     2.  To  worry,  as  a  dog  a  cat. 
Soot-bag.     A  reticule. 
Sooterkin.     1.  A  kind  of  false  birth 
fabled    to    be    produced    by    Dutch 
women  from  sitting  over  their  stoves 
(Johnson).     2.    An  abortive  proposal 
or  scheme. 

Sop.  1.  A  bribe ;  e.g.  a  sop  to 
Cerberus,  a  doorkeeper's  or  porter's 
tip  (q.v.)  (1513).  2.  A  small  piece, 
a  thing  or  matter  of  little  value  (1362). 
3.  A  simpleton,  a  milk-sop.  A  sop  in 
the  pan,  (1)  a  dainty  ;  and  (2)  a  favour 
(1621). 

Soph  (Cambridge  Univ.).  A  sophis- 
ter  :  in  U.S.A.  sophomore  ;  a  student 
beyond  his  first  year  (Grose).  The 
terms  are  1st  year,  Freshman ;  2nd 
year,  Junior  Soph ;  3rd  year,  Senior 
Soph.  See  Harry  Soph  (1719). 

Sore-fist.  A  bad  workman :  cf. 
to  write  a  poor  hand,  to  sew  badly. 

Sore  Leg.     1.  German  sausage.    2. 
A  plum-pudding ;  spotted-dog  (q.v.). 
Sorrel-pate.      A    red-haired   man, 
carrots  (q.v.). 

Sorrowful  Tale.  Three  months  in 
jail. 

Sorry.  Vile,  mean,  worthless :  a 
sorry  fellow  or  hussy,  a  worthless  man 
or  woman  (Grose).  As  intj.,  I  beg 
your  pardon. 

Sort.  Sort  (kind)  in  its  colloquial 
usages  is  frequently  elliptical.  Thus, 
That's  your  sort  (of  method,  fancy, 
thing,  etc.) ;  after  a  sort  (of  fashion — 
well  enough  of  its  kind) ;  a  good  (or 
bad)  sort  (of  man,  fellow,  lot,  etc.). 
Out  of  sorts,  (1)  seedy  (q.v.) ;  (2) 
cross,  depressed ;  and  (3)  old,  destitute. 
Sorter,  sort  of. 
So-so.  See  So. 
Soss,  Sossle,  etc.  See  Sozzle. 


Sotweed.  Tobacco  (1704).  Hence 
eotweed-dealer  and  sotweed-planter. 

Sou.  Not  a  sou  (or  souse), 
nothing  (1761). 

Soul.  Soul  in  soak,  drunk :  see 
Screwed. 

Soul-case.     The  body. 
Soul-driver.     A  parson  (B.  E.). 
Sound.     To  examine,  to  try  (q.v.), 
to   extract   information   artfully,    to 
pump  (q.v.).     To  sound  a  cly,  to  try 
a  pocket  (1597).     Sound  as  a  roach 
(trout,    bell,    etc.),    perfectly    sound. 
[Roche,  rock]  (1697).     See  Goose. 

Soup.  1.  A  brief  for  the  defence 
given  to  a  junior  in  court  by  the 
Clerk  of  the  Peace  or  Arraigns.  2. 
Bad  ink.  3.  Melted  plate :  also 
white  soup  :  whence  soup-shop,  a  fence 
(q.v.) ;  melting  pots  are  kept  going, 
no  money  passing  from  fence  to  thief 
until  identification  is  impossible.  In 
the  soup,  in  a  pickle  (or  difficulty), 
left  (q.v.). 

Souper.  1.  A  cadger  for  soup- 
tickets.  2.  A  super  (q.v.). 

Sour.  1.  Base  silver  money ;  to 
plant  the  sour,  to  utter  snide  (q.v.) 
silver ;  whence  sour  -  planter,  see 
Shover.  2.  An  acid  punch :  thus 
whisky-sour,  whisky  and  lemon.  As 
adj.,  crabbed,  surly,  ill  -  conditioned 
(B.  E.).  To  sour  on,  to  treat  un- 
kindly. 

Sour-ale.  To  mend  like  sour-ale 
in  summer,  to  get  worse. 

Sour  -  cudgel.  A  severe  beating 
(1608). 

Souse-crown.     A  fool. 
Southerly  Buster.     A  sudden  gale 
from  the  southward :  cf.  Brick-fielder. 
South  Jeopardy.     Terrors    of    in- 
solvency.    Oxf.  Univ.  Cant  (Grose). 

Sov.  A  sovereign ;  20s.  :  see 
Rhino. 

Sow.  1.  A  fat  woman.  2.  A 
general  term  of  abuse :  cf.  Bitch. 
Sow-child,  a  girl  baby ;  sow's-baby, 
a  sucking  pig  (1702).  Phrases  and 
proverbs :  To  grease  a  fat  sow  on  the 
tail,  to  be  insensible  to  kindness ;  to 
come  sailing  in  a  sow's  ear  (Ray) ;  to 
get  the  right  (or  wrong)  sow  by  the  ear, 
to  make  a  right  (or  wrong)  conclusion, 
You  cannot  make  a  silk  purse  of 
a  sow's  ear,  a  retort  on  the  impossible  : 
cf.  You  cannot  make  a  horn  of  a  pig's 
tail,  and  An  ass's  tail  will  not  make  a 
sieve.  See  David's  sow,  Hempseed, 
Saddle,  Wild  Oats. 


431 


Sow'a-baby. 


Sparrow. 


Sow's-baby.  Sixpence  :  see  Rhino : 
cf.  Hog,  Is. 

Sow-belly.     Salt-pork. 
Sow-drunk.     Beastly    drunk :    see 
Drunk  as  David's  BOW  (1857). 

Sozzle  (Sossle,  Soss,  or  Sozz). 
Generic  for  lumpish  ness.  Thus  (1), 
a  lout :  also  soss-belly ;  (2)  a  heavy 
fall ;  a  flop-down  ;  (3)  a  muddle  ;  a 
mess.  As  verb,  (1)  to  flop ;  (2)  to  toss  at 
random ;  and  (3)  to  slush  about.  Aa 
adj.  (or  BOSS  -  bellied),  ponderously 
fat ;  8088  •  brangle,  a  slattern  ;  sossly 
(or  tozzly),  wet,  sloppy :  sossled, 
drunk  (1549). 

Spade.  A  eunuch :  also  epado 
(q.v.).  Hence  as  verb,  to  unsex 
(1612).  To  call  a  spade  a  spade,  to 
speak  plainly,  to  eschew  paraphrasis 
and  ambiguity  (1588).  See  Shovel. 

Spadge  (Christ's  Hospital).  An 
affected  walk :  formerly  merely,  to 
walk. 

Spadger.  A  sparrow. 
Spado.  1.  A  sword :  that  is 
spadone  (1711).  2.  An  eunuch. 
Hence,  spadonic,  eunuchistic ;  and 
spadonism,  eunuchry.  In  civil  law 
(modern),  an  impotent:  also  (pro- 
vincial), a  gelding. 

Spain.  A  cattle  in  Spain,  a  day- 
dream, idle  fancies.  Thus  to  build  a 
castle  in  Spain  (in  the  air,  the  skies,  or 
to  build  a  castle),  to  indulge  in  visionary 
projects  or  schemes,  to  romance  :  FT., 
chateau  en  Espagne,  en  Asie,  en 
AJbanie,  etc.  (1400). 

Spalpeen.  A  generic  term  of 
contempt  (1809). 

Span-  (Spandy-  or  Spanfire-)  new. 
See  Spick-and-shan. 

Spange  (Royal  Military  Academy). 
New,  dressy,  smart  (q.v.) :  e.g.  a 
spange  uniform,  a  new  outfit ;  or  You 
look  spange  enough. 

Spangle.  A  seven-shilling  piece  : 
see  Rhino. 

Spangle  -  shaker  (or  guts).  A 
harlequin. 

Spaniel.  A  parasite :  as  adj., 
servile :  as  verb,  to  fawn,  to  be 
obsequious  (1601). 

Spanish.  Spanish,  like  Dutch 
(q.v.),  Irish  (q.v.),  etc.,  contributes 
to  colloquial  English.  Thus  Spanish, 
(1)  money,  spec,  ready  money:  in 
America  silver  only ;  and  (2)  fair 
words  and  compliments.  Spanish- 
fagot,  the  sun  ;  Spanish-pike,  a  needle  ; 
Spanish  -  plague,  building  (Ray) ; 


Spanish-trumpeter  (or  King  of  Spain's 
trumpeter,  i.e.  Don  Key),  a  braying 
ass ;  to  walk  Spanish,  to  be  seized  by 
the  scruff  and  the  seat,  and  thus 
forced  along :  hence,  to  act  under 
compulsion  ;  to  ride  the  Spanish  mare, 
a  punishment  in  which  the  offender 
was  set  astride  a  beam  with  the  guys 
loosed,  when  the  vessel  was  in  a  sea- 
way. 

Spank.  A  sounding  thwack :  spec, 
on  the  buttocks :  also  spanker.  As 
verb,  (1)  to  strike,  whence  spanking, 
a  beating  (1772);  (2)  to  run  neatly 
along  between  a  trot  and  a  gallop 
(Grose),  to  move  quickly  and  briskly  : 
usually  with  along ;  (3)  to  break,  to 
smash :  e.g.  to  spank  the  glaze,  to 
break  a  pane  in  a  shop  window  and  to 
snatch  some  article,  having  tied  the 
shop  door  to  prevent  pursuit ;  also 
on  the  spank.  Spanking,  (1)  big, 
jolly,  sprightly  :  as  a  spanking  lass  ; 
(2)  large,  Dig,  stunning  (q.v.),  whop- 
ping (q.v.) ;  and  (3)  dashing,  free- 
going  ;  spanker,  anything  of  excep- 
tional size,  pace,  figure,  merit :  cf. 
Skelp,  He's  a  spanker  to  go  ;  spanky, 
showy,  smart  (q.v.). 

Spanker.  1.  In  pi.,  money : 
generic  :  spec.  gold.  2.  A  fore-and- 
aft  gaff  sail  on  the  mizzen  mast  of 
a  ship  or  barque :  hence  spanking, 
sailing  swiftly  along  with  the  wind 
so  quartered  as  to  keep  the  spankers 
full.  See  Spank. 

Spark.  1.  A  dandy :  masc.  or  fern. : 
also  sparkle.  2.  A  lover,  and  spec. 
(American)  a  sweetheart.  3.  A  man 
or  woman  of  pluck  and  parts  :  as  verb, 
to  court,  to  gallant,  e.g.  to  spark  a 
girl  or  to  spark  a  girl  home  ;  sparkish, 
( 1 )  spirited  :  also  sparkful  and  sparky  ; 
and  (2)  showy,  dandified,  gay  (1362). 
4.  A  diamond  :  also  sparkle ;  spark- 
prop,  a  diamond  breast-pin.  As  verb, 
to  watch  closely.  A  spark  in  the 
throat,  chronic  thirst  (1785). 

Sparkler.  Anybody  or  anything 
brilliant,  gay,  or  lively :  see  Spark 
(1713). 

Sparrow.  Mumbling  a  sparrow, 
A  cruel  sport  practised  at  wakes  and 
fairs  :  a  booby,  hands  tied  behind,  has 
the  wing  of  a  cock-sparrow  put  into 
his  mouth  ;  without  any  other  assist- 
ance than  the  motion  of  his  lips  he  is 
to  get  the  sparrow's  head  into  his 
mouth ;  the  bird  defends  itself  sur- 
prisingly, pecking  the  mumbler  til]  his 


432 


Sparrowgrass. 


Spider-catcher. 


lips  are  covered  with  blood  and  he  is 
obliged  to  desist ;  to  prevent  the  bird 
getting  away  he  is  fastened  to  the 
booby's  coat  (Grose). 

Sparrowgrass  (or  Sparagras). 
Asparagus  :  polite  in  the  18th  century ; 
now  vulgar  (1649). 

Sparrow-mouth.  One  whose  mouth 
cannot  be  enlarged  without  removing 
the  ears  ;  such  persons  do  not  hold 
their  mouths  by  lease  but  have  it 
from  (y)ear  to  (y)ear  (Grose) ;  as  adj., 
wide-mouthed  (1621). 

Sparrow  -  tail.  A  dress  -  coat ;  a 
swallow-tail,  clawhammer  (q.v.). 

Spat.  1.  A  slap,  a  light  blow,  and 
2.  a  petty  quarrel,  a  snarling-match  ; 
also  as  verb,  (1)  to  slap;  and  (2)  to 
dispute,  to  quarrel :  A  low  word 
(Webster). 

Spatch-cock.  A  fowl  killed, 
dressed,  and  broiled  at  short  notice 
(Grose) ;  sudden  death  (West  Indies). 
As  verb,  to  insert  hurriedly,  to  sand- 
wich (q.v.). 

Speak.  To  steal :  also  to  speak 
with :  see  Prig.  To  make  a  good  (or 
rum)  speak,  to  make  a  good  (or  bad) 
haul ;  spoken  to,  robbed  :  also  spoke 
to  on  the  screw,  crack,  sneak,  hoist, 
big,  etc.  (see  the  nouns).  Phrases : 
Spoken  to  (thieves'),  dying ;  to  speak 
to,  to  admonish  ;  to  speak  at  the  mouth, 
to  talk  freely,  to  say  one's  say ;  to 
speak  daggers  (see  Dagger) ;  ale  that 
would  make  a  cat  speak,  strong  ale ; 
speaks  the  parrot,  a  taunting  reply ; 
to  speak  (or  talk)  big,  to  boast,  to  talk 
loudly ;  to  speak  fair,  to  use  soft 
words  (1581). 

Spearmen.  The  Delhi  Spearmen, 
the  9th  Lancers. 

Spec.  1.  Speculation  :  hence  on 
spec.,  on  chance,  on  the  hazard  of  the 
die  (1834).  2.  In  pi.,  spectacles 
(1837).  3.  A  lottery.  4.  (Winchester 
College).  Anything  enjoyable  or  plea- 
sant, a  good  thing  :  on  spec,  in  conse- 
quence. 5.  (Edinburgh  Advocates'). 
The  Speculative  Society. 

Special.  1.  A  paramour,  male  or 
female:  cf.  Particular  (1350).  2.  By 
ellipsis  a  particular  person  or  thing : 
e.g.  a  special  train,  special  Scotch,  a 
special  constable,  a  special  edition,  etc. 

Speck.     In  pi.,  damaged  oranges. 

Specklebelly.     A  dissenter. 

Speech.  Information :  spec,  a 
tip  (q.v.) :  e.g.  to  give  (or  get)  the 
speech :  Fr,,  tuyau. 


Speecher  (Harrow).  Speech- 
day  :  usually  the  first  Thursday  in 
July.  The  Speecher,  The  Speech-room 
built  1871. 

Speedyman  (Winchester:  ob- 
solete). The  herald  of  news  of  a 
vacancy  at  New  College,  Oxford. 
Whence  sped  to  New  College,  elected  to 
a  scholarship. 

Speel.  To  decamp.  To  sped  the 
drum,  to  make  off  to  the  highway. 

Speeler.     A  gambler  :  also  sped. 

S  p  e  g  (Winchester  :  obsolete). 
Smart. 

Spell.  1.  A  turn  of  work.  2.  A 
turn  of  rest.  3.  A  period  of  love, 
weather,  adventure,  sickness,  luck, 
temper,  and  so  forth.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  relieve;  (2)  to  rest  (1586);  (3)  to 
advertise :  spelt  in  the  lear,  wanted 
(q.v.).  To  spell  for  (or  at),  to  desire, 
to  hanker  after :  indirectly  (1821). 
See  Baker,  Backward,  Spellken. 

Spell  -  binder.  A  speaker  who 
holds  (or  thinks  he  holds)  his  hearers 
spell-bound. 

Spell  -  ken  (Spell,  or  Speelken). 
A  theatre  (1800). 

Spend.  To  spend  the  mouth,  to 
give  voice,  to  talk,  and  (of  dogs)  to 
bark  (1593). 

Spend-all.  A  prodigal,  a  spend- 
thrift (1591). 

Spess  (Felsted  School).    A  specimen. 

Spew.  To  spew  oakum,  a  ship 
spews  oakum  when  the  seams  start. 

Spew  Alley.  The  throat :  see 
Gutter  Lane. 

Sphere.     A  football. 

Spice.  To  rob  :  hence,  the  spice 
(or  high  toby  spice),  highway  robbery  ; 
spicer  (or  spice-gloak),  a  footpad  (1800). 

Spick-and-span  new.  Quite 
fresh,  brand  new :  as  a  spike  and  chip 
from  the  workman's  hands.  Also, 
spick-and-span,  spick-span  new,  span- 
new,  and  span-fire  new.  Also  spick- 
and-span  (span,  or  spandy),  quite, 
wholly  (1369). 

Spicy.  1.  Racy,  full-flavoured 
(q.v.) ;  nutty  (q.v.).  2.  Showy,  hand- 
some, smart  (q.v.)  (1844). 

Spiddock-pot  Legs.  Large 
awkward  legs. 

Spider.  Claret  and  lemonade.  To 
swattow  a  spider,  to  go  bankrupt 
(1670). 

Spider  -  catcher.  A  spindle  of  a 
man  (B.  E.):  also  (Hattiwett),  a 
monkey. 


433 


Spider -shanked. 


Spitfire. 


Spider-shanked.  Long  legged.  Also 
spider-shanks,  a  lanky  fellow :  tee 
Lamp-post  (1827). 

Spider-web.  The  subtilties  of 
logic,  which,  though  artificial  to  sight 
were  yet  of  no  use  (B.  E. ). 

Spidireen.  An  imaginary  vessel 
figuring  in  an  unwilling  reply:  What 
ship  do  you  belong  to  T  The  spidireen 
frigate,  with  nine  decks,  and  ne'er  a 
bottom. 

Spiel.     See  Spieler. 

Spierize  (Oxf.  Univ.  Cant).  To 
have  one's  hair  cut  and  dressed. 
[Spiers  was  a  barber  in  The  High.] 

Spiffing.  1.  A  generic  intensitive: 
of  pleasure  or  admiration :  used  for 
anything  or  anybody  out  of  the 
common  :  e.g.  a  spiffing  time  or  girl ; 
awfully  spiff ;  How  spiff  you  look ; 
How  are  you  T  Pretty  spiff ;  and  so 
forth:  also  spiff,  a  swell.  2.  In  pi.,  a 
percentage  on  the  sale  of  old  or  dead 
stock. 

Spiffed.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Spiflicate  (Spifflicate,  or 
Smifligate).  To  confound,  to  crush, 
to  smash  (q.v.).  Hence  spiftication, 
confusion,  annihilation  (1783). 

Spigot  -  sucker.  A  tippler,  pot- 
companion  :  see  Lushington  and 
Knight. 

Spike.  A  casual  ward.  Spike- 
ranger,  a  tramper  from  ward  to  ward 
(1866). 

Spike-park.  The  Queen's  Bench 
prison. 

Spill.  1.  A  small  fee,  reward,  or 
gift  of  money  (B.  E.).  2.  A  fall,  a 
tumble :  as  verb,  to  throw,  to  fall, 
to  overturn,  to  betray.  To  spitt 
stock,  to  throw  great  quantities  upon 
the  market,  sometimes  from  necessity 
but  often  in  order  to  break  the  price, 
i  Spill-good.  A  spendthrift  (Min- 
sheu). 

Spillsbury.  Failure  :  e.g.  to  come 
by  Spillsbury :  cf.  Bedfordshire, 
Peckham,  Clapham,  etc.  (1692). 

Spill-time.     An  idler  (1362). 

Spilt  -  milk.  To  cry  over  spUt- 
milk,  to  lament  what  is  past  recovery 
or  mending. 

Spin.  A  brisk  run,  a  smart  canter, 
a  spurt :  as  verb,  to  go  quickly : 
usually  to  spin  along  (1854).  As  verb, 
(Royal  Military  Academy),  to  reject, 
to  plough  ;  to  pluck  (q.v.) :  also  to 
get  a  spin  ( 1868).  Phrases :  To  spin  a 
yarn,  to  tell  a  story :  originally 


nautical ;  to  spin  street-yam,  to  gad, 
to  loaf  (q.v.) ;  to  spin  a  fair  thread,  to 
busy  oneself  about  trifles  ;  to  spin  out, 
to  prolong  unreasonably  ;  She'd  rather 
kiss  than  spin  (of  a  wanton)  (1704). 

Spindle-legs  (or  shanks).  1. 
Long,  thin  legs.  2.  A  tall,  slender 
person,  a  lamp-post  (q.v.).  Also  as 
adj.,  (or  spindly),  thin,  slim  (1570). 

Spink  (Royal  Military  Academy). 
Milk  :  new  or  condensed. 

Spinning  (or  Spin-)  house.  A 
house  of  correction  or  Bridewell  for 
loose  women.  [The  task  work  con- 
sisted of  spinning  or  beating  hemp.] 
Hence  spinster,  a  harlot.  [The  term 
is  still  applied  to  the  prison  for  dis- 
orderly women  attached  to  the  Vice- 
Chancellor's  Court  at  the  University 
of  Cambridge.]  (1622). 

Spinniken.  St.  Giles'  Workhouse, 
large  house  (q.v.). 

Spinsrap.     A  parsnip. 
Spintext.        A    parson ;     spec,    a 
prosy  preacher  (1693). 

Spirit.  To  spirit  away,  to  kidnap 
(B.  E.).  Hence  spiriter,  an  abductor 
(1675). 

Spiritual  flesh-broker.  A  parson. 
Spit.  1.  A  speaking  likeness  ;  orig. 
as  like  as  if  he'd  spit  it ;  usually  in 
phrase  the  spit  of  (some  one  named) : 
Fr.,  (Test  son  pert  tout  crocA/ (1602). 
2.  A  sword  (1613).  3.  An  obelisk  or 
dagger,  t :  used  as  a  reference  mark 
(1656).  As  verb,  to  show  signs  of 
rain :  also  as  subs.,  drops  of  rain 
(1818).  Phrases:  A  spit  and  astride, 
a  very  short  distance ;  to  spit  at  one, 
to  insult ;  to  spit  it  out,  to  speak 
plainly ;  to  spit  white  (white  broth,  or 
sixpences),  to  expectorate  from  a  dry 
but  healthy  mouth :  Fr.,  cracher  des 
pieces  de  dix  sous. 

Spitalfields  Breakfast  No 
breakfast  at  all,  a  tight  necktie  and  a 
short  pipe :  cf.  Irishman's  dinner, 
Duke  Humphrey,  etc. 

Spit-curl.  A  curl  lying  Sat  on  the 
temple,  a  soap-curl  (q.v.) :  see  Aggera- 
vators. 

Spite  (Winchester).  The  word  in 
Wykehamical  usage  generally  con- 
noted the  frame  of  mind  rather  than 
the  acts  in  which  it  finds  expression. 
But  the  phrase  to  spite  GabeU,  describes 
the  act  popularly  known  as  cutting  off 
your  nose  to  spite  your  face  ( Wrench). 
Spitfire.  A  hot  tempered  person  : 
see  Furioso(  1623). 


434 


Spit-frog. 


Spondulics. 


Spit-frog.    A  small  sword  ( 1630). 

Spithead- nightingale.  A  bo' sun 
or  bo'sun's  mate. 

Spitter.     Slight  rain  :  see  Spit. 

Spittle  (or  Spital).  A  hospital  or 
lazar-house.  Hence,  spittle-whore  (or 
sinner),  a  foundered  harlot ;  a  spittle- 
(ogue  (or  man),  (1)  a  gaol-bird  ;  and 
2r)  a  diseased  outcast :  whence  a 
general  term  of  contempt  (1580). 

Spittoon.  An  utensil  mostly  used 
in  public-houses  for  the  reception 
of  smokers'  expectorations  (Bee). 

Splash.  1.  Face  powder,  slap 
(q.v.) :  as  verb,  to  make  up  (q.v.).  2. 
Display,  exertion,  effort :  hence, 
splash  up,  in  good  style,  quick  time, 
bang-up  (q.v.). 

Splashers.  The  Wiltshire  Regi- 
ment, late  The  62nd  Foot. 

Splathers.  Hold  your  splathers, 
Hold  your  tongue !  Splathever,  a 
braggart,  a  great  talker. 

Splatterdash.     A  bustle,  an  uproar. 

Splatter-face.  A  broad-faced  man 
or  woman  :  also  as  adj.  (1861). 

Splay-foot.  A  person  with  flat, 
awkward,  or  spreading  feet:  splay- 
footed, awkward  in  gait,  heavy-footed. 
Splay-mouth,  (1)  a  large,  wide,  grin- 
ningmouth;  hence (2)  a  grimace  (1588). 

Splendiferous.  Splendid.  Also 
splendacious,  splendidous ;  and  splen- 
didious  (1538). 

Splice.  1.  To  marry  :  of  the  agent ; 
to  be  spliced,  to  get  married :  also 
splice,  a  wife  (1751).  2.  To  throw,  to 
fling.  To  splice  the  main  brace,  to 
drink :  orig.  to  serve  out  extra  grog. 
With  main  brace  well  spliced,  drunk : 
see  Screwed. 

Split.  1.  A  detective,  police  spy  : 
also  as  verb,  (or  to  turn  split),  to  in- 
form, to  nose,  to  snitch  (q.v.) :  see 
Nark.  2.  In  pi.,  a  sitting  posture,  the 
legs  extended  laterally  on  the  ground  : 
whence  well-split  up,  long  in  limb ; 
split-up,  a  lanky  fellow :  see  Lamp- 
post (1851).  3.  (a)  A  small  bottle  of 
aerated  water  ;  also  as  adv.,  divided  : 
e.g.  two  Scotches  and  a  soda  (or 
small  soda)  split ;  (b)  a  half  glass  of 
spirits ;  a  dram.  Phrases :  To  make  all 
split,  to  make  a  disturbance  or  com- 
motion ;  to  split  along  (or  go  like  split), 
(1)  to  stride,  to  run  quickly ;  and  (2) 
to  move  or  work  with  vigour ;  at  full 
split,  as  hard  as  may  be  ;  to  split  one's 
sides  (or  to  split),  to  burst  with  laugh- 
ter ;  to  split  the  ears,  to  deafen  ;  to  split 


hairs,  to  cavil  about  trifles,  to  be 
over-nice  in  argument :  hence  hair- 
splitter  (or  splitter),  a  precisian  (q.v.), 
the  reverse  of  lumper  (q.v. ) ;  to  split 
on  a  rock,  to  fail,  to  come  to  grief ;  to 
split  on  one  (or  to  split),  to  betray  con- 
fidence ;  to  split  fair,  to  tell  the  truth ; 
to  split  out  (thieves'),  to  separate; 
to  split  with  one,  to  quarrel ;  Split  my 
windpipe  !  a  foolish  kind  of  a  curse 
among  the  beaux  (B.  E.,  1592). 

Split-asunder.     A  costermonger. 

Split-cause.  A  lawyer :  also 
splitter  of  causes. 

Split-fig.    A  grocer. 

Split  foot  (or  Old  Split  Foot). 
The  Devil. 

Splitting.  Extreme,  severe :  e.g. 
a  splitting  (very  quick)  pace,  a  splitting 
(painfully  throbbing)  head-ache,  etc. 

Splodger.  A  lout.  Slodgy,  awk- 
ward (in  gait),  coarse  (in  complexion). 

Splosh.  Money:  generic:  see 
Rhino.  As  adv.,  Plump. 

Splurge.  Generic  for  effort  and 
effect.  As  verb,  to  make  the  most 
and  do  the  showiest ;  splurgy,  on  it 
(q.v.). 

Spoffle.  To  fuss,  to  bustle.  Spof- 
fish  (or  spoffy),  fussy,  bustling,  smart. 
Also  spoffy,  a  busybody  (1836). 

Spoffskins.     A  prostitute. 

Spoil.  In  addition  to  the  sense 
(now  accepted)  given  by  Grose  (to 
mar,  to  place  obstacles  in  the  way) 
there  are  colloq.  usages  as  follows : — 
To  spoil  for,  to  be  eager  for :  as 
spoiling  for. a  fight,  and  spoiling  to  be 
invited  ;  to  spoil  one's  shape,  to  be  got 
with  child ;  to  spoil  one's  mouth,  to 
damage  the  face.  Also  in  sarcastic 
combination,  spoil  -  bread,  a  baker  ; 
spoil  -  broth,  a  cook  ;  spoil  -  iron,  a 
smith  ;  spoil  -  paper,  a  scribbler  ; 
spoil-pudding,  a  long-winded  preacher ; 
spoil-sport,  an  unfriendly  or  dispirited 
associate  or  intruder :  hence  to  spoil 
sport,  (1)  to  dishearten,  and  (2)  to 
prevent ;  spoil-trade,  an  unscrupulous 
competitor ;  spoil-temper,  an  exacting 
superior  (1280). 

Spoke.  To  put  a  spoke  in  one's 
wheel  (or  cart),  to  do  an  ill  turn. 
Occasionally  (by  an  unwarrantable 
inversion),  to  assist  (1661). 

Spoke-box.     The  mouth. 

Spondulics  (Spondoolicks,  or 
Spondulacks).  Money :  generic : 
originally  (Century)  paper  money 
(1863). 


436 


Sponge. 


Sprat. 


Sponge  (Sponger,  or  Sponge). 
1.  A  parasite.  2.  A  thirsty  fellow 
(B.  £.).  As  verb,  to  take  kicks  and 
lick  dishes  for  a  living.  Whence 
sponging,  (I)  cadging  (q.v.) ;  and  (2) 
extortion :  e.g.  a  sponging-house,  a 
bailiff's  pound  in  which  arrested 
debtors  were  squeezed  (q.v.)  pending 
transfer  to  a  regular  prison  (1598). 
To  throw  up  the  sponge,  to  acknow- 
ledge defeat. 

Sponge-wit    A  plagiarist. 

Spoof.  Deception,  a  swindle  :  also 
the  spoof-game :  also  as  verb  (or  to 
play  spoof). 

Spook.  A  ghost.  Whence  spook- 
ish  (or  spooky),  ghostly. 

Spoon.  1.  A  simpleton :  spec, 
an  absurd  whole-hearted  lover  :  also 
spooney ;  a  rank  spoon,  a  prating 
shallow  fellow  ( Faux).  2.  Calf-love  : 
e.g.  a  case  of  spoons ;  to  come  the 
spoon,  or  be  spoons  on,  to  make  love 
openly,  innocently,  and  ridiculously  : 
also  spoony,  stupidly  fond  ;  spooniness, 
foolish  fondness  (1837).  As  verb,  to 
hit  with  a  slack  and  horizontal  bat, 
causing  the  ball  to  rise  in  the  air. 
Phrases,  To  stick  one's  spoon  in  the 
watt,  to  die  ;  see  Hop  the  twig  ;  to  fill 
the  mouth  with  empty  spoons,  to  go 
hungry ;  to  take  with  a  big  (or  little) 
spoon,  to  take  in  large  (or  small) 
quantities :  see  Silver  Spoon,  and 
Wooden  Spoon. 

Spoonage.  Liquid  food,  pap  (q.v.) 
(1586). 

Spoony  Drunk.  Sentimentally 
drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Spoops  (or  Spoopsie).  A  simpleton. 
Spoopy,  silly,  foolish. 

Sport.  1.  A  professional  sports- 
man :  a  pugilist,  book-maker,  jockey, 
etc.  :  also  sporting  -  man ;  whence 
sporting-house,  a  public-house  fre- 
quented by  sportsmen.  2.  Mischief, 
horseplay.  As  verb,  generic  for  dis- 
play :  the  word  .  .  .  was  in  great 
vogue  in  ...  1783  and  1784  (Orose) ; 
now-a-days  still  general,  but  spec,  a 
public  school  and  university  usage  : 
thus  to  sport  (or  baulk)  a  report,  to 
publish  far  and  wide  ;  to  sport  (drive) 
a  gig ;  to  sport  (wear)  new  togs ;  to 
sport  ivory,  to  grin ;  to  sport  (exhibit) 
temper ;  to  sport  oak  (timber,  or  to 
sport  in),  to  deny  oneself  to  callers  by 
closing  an  outer  door :  see  Oak ;  to 
sport  an  aegrotat  (see  ./Egrotat) ;  to 
sport  off,  to  do  with  ease ;  to  sport 


(provide)  a  dinner ;  to  sport  literature, 
to  write  a  book ;  to  sport  (spend) 
money,  one's  salary,  etc.  ;  to  sport 
(express)  an  opinion  ;  to  sport  a  nescio 
(see  Nescio) ;  to  sport  silk  (racing),  to 
ride  a  race ;  to  sport  (indulge  or  en- 
gage in)  smoking,  walking,  etc.  Also 
(Winchester),  a  sporting  action,  an 
affected  manner,  gesture,  or  gait, 
or  a  betrayal  of  emotion.  Sportings 
(Charterhouse),  clothes  worn  at  the 
exeat  (q.v.). 

Spot.  1.  Shares  (or  goods)  ready  for 
delivery :  that  is  on  the  spot.  2.  A 
dollar :  e.g.  five-spot,  five  dollars,  $5. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  recognise,  to  take  note 
of,  to  discover  ;  (2)  to  detect,  to  come 
upon  :  hence  spotter,  a  detective  :  Fr., 
indicateur ;  spotted,  known  to  the 
police  ;  and  (3)  o  tpick  out,  to  choose, 
to  chance  upon :  e.g.  to  spot  the 
winner.  4.  To  gamble.  Phrases  and 
combinations:  A  soft  spot,  an  easy, 
comfortable,  or  desirable  berth,  thing, 
or  circumstance :  see  Hunt ;  to 
knock  spots  out  of  (see  Knock) ;  on  (or 
off)  the  spot,  alert,  dead  certain ;  in 
spots,  by  snatches ;  to  have  a  vacant 
spot,  to  be  crazy. 

Spotted-dog.  1.  A  plum  or  currant 
dumpling :  spotted  donkey,  plum 
pudding  ;  and  2.  (military)  a  sausage 
or  saveloy. 

Spotted  Mystery.    Tinned  beef. 

Spout.  1.  A  pawnbroker's  shoot 
or  lift  from  shop  to  store-room.  2. 
A  pawnbroker's :  as  verb,  to  pawn ; 
up  the  spout  (or  spouted),  pawned  :  in 
America  gone  where  the  woodbine 
(q.v.)  twineth :  also  up  the  spout,  im- 
prisoned, in  hospital  (Bee).  English 
synonyms :  To  blue,  to  bullock' s-horn 
(rhyming),  to  flue  (or  put  up  the  flue), 
to  lay  up  in  lavender,  to  lug,  to  lumber, 
to  moskeneer,  (q.v.),  to  put  away,  to 
send  to  uncle's,  to  soak,  to  spout,  to 
sweat,  to  vamp,  to  warehouse.  As 
verb,  to  talk,  speechify,  or  declaim  for 
effect.  Hence  spouter,  (1)  a  mouthing 
talker ;  (2)  a  fourth-rate  speaker  or 
actor.  To  spout  billy,  to  earn  a  living 
by  reciting  Shakespeare  in  tap-rooms  ; 
spouting -dub,  a  rehearsal  club  (Grose) ; 
in  great  spout,  noisy,  in  high  spirits ; 
to  spout  ink,  to  write :  cf.  Sling  ink 
(1599). 

Spouter.     A  whaling  vessel. 

Sprat  1.  Sixpence,  6d. :  see 
Rhino.  2.  A  sweetheart :  cf.  Bloater, 
Duck,  Pippin,  etc.  3.  In  pi.,  furniture, 


436 


Spread. 


Squab. 


effects :  cf.  Marbles,  Sticks,  etc.  4.  An 
undersized  or  mean-looking  man  or 
boy,  a  scarecrow  (q.v.) :  also  Jack 
Sprat  (q.v.)  (1598). 

Spread.  1.  A  meal,  a  feast  (1827). 
2.  Butter :  cf.  Scrape.  3.  An  um- 
brella (Grose).  4.  A  lady's  shawl.  6. 
A  saddle  (1798).  6.  An  option,  a 
straddle  (q.v.).  To  spread  oneself,  to 
push,  to  come  out  strong,  to  swagger 
(q.v.)  (1832). 

Spread-eagle.  1.  A  posture  :  arms 
(wings,  or  fins)  and  legs  extended  : 
e.g.  a  soldier  lashed  to  the  halberts 
(Grose),  or  a  sailor  to  the  rigging ;  a 
fowl  split  down  the  back  for  broiling  ; 
fish  split  and  laid  out  to  dry ;  and 
a  figure  in  skating  imitating  the 
heraldic  eagle  displayed  [i.e.  with 
wings  and  legs  extended  on  each  side 
of  the  body] :  as  verb,  (a)  to  tie  up  for 
punishment:  (6)  to  prepare  poultry  or 
fish  for  broiling  or  drying ;  and  (c)  in 
racing,  to  scatter  the  field  (q.v.). 
(1701).  2.  This  term  [spread  eagle] 
is  frequently  used  among  stock  specu- 
lators :  a  broker,  satisfied  with  small 
profits  . . .  sells  say  one  hundred  shares 
Erie  Railroad  stock  at  fifty-eight, 
buyer  sixty  days,  and  at  the  same  time 
buys  the  same  quantity  at  fifty-seven, 
seller  sixty-days :  the  difference  is 
.  .  .  one  per  cent,  which  would  be  so 
much  profit,  without  any  outlay  of 
capital,  provided  both  contracts  run 
their  full  time ;  having  sold  buyer's 
option  sixty  days,  and  bought  sellers' 
option  sixty  days,  the  time  is  equal, 
but ...  he  does  not  control  the  option 
in  either  case ;  the  buyer  can  call 
when  he  pleases,  which  will  compel  the 
spread-eagle  operator  to  deliver  ;  and 
the  seller  way  deliver  any  time,  which 
would  compel  the  broker  to  receive. 
As  adj.,  bombastic  ;  espec.  in  reference 
to  national  vanity :  whence  spread- 
eagleism,  patriotic  brag :  as  verb,  to 
play  the  good  American  till  all  is  split 
(1858). 

Spree.  A  frolic.  As  verb,  to 
carouse ;  spreeish,  drunkish :  see 
Screwed  ( 1 82 1 ).  As  adj .  (Winchester) 

( 1 )  conceited,  stuck-up  :    of  persons  ; 

(2)  smart,  stylish,  befitting  a  Wyke- 
hamist. Spree-mess,  '  at  the  end  of  the 
half-year    we    used    to    have    large 
entertainments     called     spree-messes, 
between  Toy-time   and   Chapel,  con- 
sisting of  tea,  coffee,  muffins,  cakes, 
etc.,  the  funds  for  which  were  generally 


provided  by  fines  inflicted  during  Toy- 
time  for  talking  loud,  slamming  the 
door,  coming  in  without  whistling  (to 
show  that  it  was  not  a  Master  enter- 
ing), improper  language,  etc.  Some- 
times a  spree-mess  was  given  by  boys 
about  to  leave  that  Half.  (Mansfield). 

Sprig.  A  young  dandy,  any  well- 
groomed  youngster  (1637). 

Spring.  (1)  To  bring  to  notice 
suddenly ;  (2)  to  pay  out,  to  give 
alms ;  (3)  to  provide ;  and  (4)  to 
extort.  To  spring  to,  to  be  able  to 
accomplish,  pay,  give,  etc.,  etc.  (1614). 

Springal  (Spring,  or  Springer).  A 
youth  (1535). 

Spring-ankle  Warehouse.  A 
prison  :  spec.  Newgate  (Grose). 

Springers  (The).  The  Lincoln- 
shire Regiment,  formerly  The  10th 
Foot :  the  nickname  is  also  borne  by 
the  late  62nd  Foot. 

Springer-up.  A  slop-tailor. 
Sprung-up  clothes,  garments  blown 
together. 

Sprinkle.     To  christen. 

Sprout.  1.  A  course  of  severe  dis- 
cipline ;  a  birching.  Also  2.  (Yale), 
a  department  of  study  —  classics, 
mathematics,  etc.  ;  and  3.  (in  pi.,)  a 
bunch  of  twigs.  A  bunch  of  sprouts, 
( 1 )  the  closed  fist,  and  (2)  the  chambers 
of  a  revolver. 

Sprug.  To  sprug  up,  to  dress 
neatly,  to  spruce. 

Sprung.  Drunk :  see  Screwed 
(1856). 

Sprunt.  To  spnint  up,  to  bristle 
up,  to  resent  suddenly. 

Sprusado.     A  dandy  (1665). 

Spry.     Active,  lively,  smart  (q.v.). 

Spud.  1.  A  potato  :  see  Murphy  : 
hence  spuddy,  a  baked-potato  man. 

2.  A  dwarf,  a  short  thickset  person. 

3.  A  baby's  hand.     4.  In  pi.,  money  : 
see  Rhino.     5.  A  spade. 

Spudgel.    To  decamp. 

Spunk.  1.  Mettle,  spirit,  pluck 
(Grose) :  hence  spunkie  (Scots'),  (a) 
a  plucky  fellow,  a  lad  of  mettle ; 
and  (b)  a  will-o'-the-wisp ;  spunky, 
spirited  ;  to  spunk  up,  to  show  fight 
(1772).  2.  In  pi.,  matches.  Spunk- 
fencer,  match  -  vendor.  Hence,  a 
spark  (1815). 

Spur.  To  annoy.  To  get  the  spur, 
to  be  annoyed  :  see  Needle. 

Spy.     The  eye  (1590). 

Squab.  1.  Anything  fat,  short, 
and  dumpy  :  henco  a  fat  sofa  or  well- 


437 


Squabash. 


Squarson. 


filled  bed;  as  adj.  (squabby,  squaddy, 
squatty,  squabbish,  etc.),  fat  and 
abort,  heavy,  bulky,  short,  abrupt ;  aa 
verb,  to  fall  heavily,  to  plump  down 
(1593).  2.  An  inexperienced  person, 
a  fledgeling:  aa  adj.,  callow  (Q.V.),  coy, 
quiet  (1635).  As  verb  (King  Ed  ward's 
School,  Birmingham),  to  squeeze  by  : 
also  squab  :  with  foot  on  wall  or  desk, 
and  back  against  the  victim  who  is 
similarly  treated  on  the  other  side,  or 
pressed  against  the  opposite  wall ; 
squab-up,  to  push. 

Squabash.  To  crush.  As  subs., 
a  flattening  out,  spiflication  (q.v.) 
(1827). 

Squabbled.  Broken :  of  type 
which,  after  setting,  has  been  knocked 
so  much  awry  that  it  is  a  painstaking 
job  to  prevent  it  going  to  pi  (q.v.). 

Squaddie.     To  decamp. 

Squail  (Squailer).  To  throw  sticks 
at  cocks ;  the  stick  thrown.  Mr. 
Akerman  says  sqwoiling  is  used  for 
throwing,  but  the  thing  thrown  must 
be  some  material  not  easily  managed  ; 
with  a  stick  sometimes  made  un- 
equally heavy  by  being  loaded  with 
lead  at  one  end.  Squalling  is  often 
very  awkwardly  performed,  because 
the  thing  thrown  cannot  be  well 
directed ;  hence  the  word  squalling  is 
often  used  in  ridicule  of  what  is  done 
awkwardly,  untowardly  or  irregu- 
larly shaped.  '  She  went  up  the  street 
squailing  her  arms  about,  you  never 
saw  the  like ' :  an  ill  shaped  loaf  is  a 
squalling  loaf ;  Brentford  is  a  long 
squalling  town ;  and,  in  Wiltshire, 
Smithfield  Market  would  be  called  a 
squalling  sort  of  a  place  (Hnttiwdl). 
Also  Squawl. 

Squall.  A  girl  (1593).  As  verb, 
to  cry  aloud  (B.  E.).  To  look  out 
for  squalls,  to  be  on  guard. 

Squantum.  1.  The  imaginary 
name  of  a  place  a  very  far  way  back, 
from  whence  rustics  and  hayseeds 
(q.v.)  come.  Also,  2.  a  picnic. 

Square.  Square,  like  round  (q.v.), 
has  lived  many  lives  in  slang  :  in  fact, 
it  has  boxed  the  compass,  and  now 
means  the  antipodes  of  what  it  meant 
in  Shakespeare's  time.  1.  To  dis- 
agree, to  quarrel  or  be  at  variance: 
hence  squarer,  a  quarreller ;  while 
out  of  square,  (a)  at  variance,  and  (6) 
dishonest ;  to  break  (or  breed)  squares, 
to  give  offence ;  at  square,  angry,  at 
enmity  ;  to  square  up  to,  to  assume  a 


fighting  attitude ;  to  square  up  and 
down,  to  strut ;  to  see  how  squares  go, 
to  watch  event*,  to  see  how  the  cat 
will  jump  (1551).  2.  To  be  entirely 
in  agreement,  to  arrange,  to  accom- 
modate ;  whence  on  (or  upon)  the 
square  (or  squarely),  absolutely  de- 
pendable ;  all  square  (or  squares),  all 
right ;  square  to  (by  the  square,  or  in 
square),  suitable,  exact,  in  amity  or 
agreement ;  to  keep  square,  to  lead  a 
straight  life ;  also  in  combination : 
amongst  others,  square  backdown,  a 
palpable  retreat ;  square  piece,  a  decent 
girl ;  square  answer,  an  unmistakable 
reply ;  square  clobber,  respectable 
clothes ;  square  crib,  a  house  of  good 
repute ;  square  tats,  honest  dice ; 
square  drinker,  a  steady  toper  ;  square 
eater,  a  hearty  feeder ;  square  thing, 
the  truth  :  also  square  head  (thieves'), 
an  honest  man ;  square  meal,  a  sub- 
stantial repast ;  square  play,  fair  play ; 
square  rigged,  well-dressed  etc.,  etc. 
(1689).  3.  To  bribe;  to  pay;  thus 
to  square  matters,  to  pay  off :  also  to 
square  the  yards  (nautical) ;  to  square 
up,  to  settle  a  bill  (1835).  4.  To 
assume  a  rigid  or  set  attitude :  as  to 
square  one's  shoulders,  (a)  to  stand 
(or  sit)  bolt  upright,  and  (6)  to  show 
disgust ;  to  square  one's  elbows,  to  give 
free  play  in  driving ;  to  sit  square,  to 
sit  straight ;  to  square  out,  to  lay  out ; 
to  square  round,  to  make  room.  5. 
Miscellaneous  phrases:  To  square  the 
circle,  to  achieve  the  impossible ; 
How  go  squares  ?  How  do  you  do  ?  ; 
a  square  peg  in  a  round  hole,  anything 
misplaced  or  incongruous ;  straight 
down  the  crooked  lane  and  all  round 
the  square,  a  humorous  way  of  setting 
a  man  on  his  word ;  aU  fair  and 
square,  above  board,  dependable. 

Square-cap.  A  London  apprentice 
(1651). 

Square-face.  An  inferior  gin  made 
chiefly  in  Germany,  for  barter  with 
and  consumption  by  savages. 

Squarehead.  1.  Formerly  a  free 
emigrant ;  now  2.  a  German  or  Scandi- 
navian. See  Square. 

Square-toes.  An  old  man ;  a 
fogey  (q.v.),  a  precisian  (q.v.);  also 
Old  Squaretoes.  Hence  square-toed, 
formal,  prim,  testy  (1771). 

Squarson.  A  landed  proprietor  in 
holy  orders :  cf.  Squishop,  and  Port- 
manteau -  word.  Whence  squarton- 
age,  a  parsonage. 


438 


Squarum. 


Squireen. 


Squarum.     A  lapstone. 

Squash.  1.  A  smash,  a  soft  or  flat 
mass ;  and  2.  a  me!  lay :  spec,  in 
Harrow  football  the  Rugby  scrim- 
mage or  Eton  rouge  ;  as  verb,  (a)  to 
crush  or  smash  :  also  to  go  squash,  to 
collapse,  and  (b)  to  silence  by  word 
or  deed  ;  hence  squasher,  squashinti-s, 
and  squashy  (1726).  3.  (Harrow). 
Racquet  played  with  a  soft  india- 
rubber  ball :  the  ball  is  also  known  as 
a  squash. 

Squat.  1.  A  short  thick  -  set 
person  ;  squatty  (or  squaddy),  lumpish, 
dumpy.  As  verb  (American  Stock 
Exchange),  to  dishonour  one's  own 
contracts. 

Squatter.  1.  A  settler  on  public 
land  without  title  or  license.  2.  Any 
domiciliary  usurper.  3.  In  Australia, 
a  pastoral  tenant  of  the  Crown. 
Whence  squat,  (1)  to  settle  on  land 
without  title  :  e.g.  on  a  common,  and 
(2)  as  in  subs,  senses  2  and  3.  Deriva- 
tives are  numerous  :  e.g.  squattage,  a 
squatter's  station  ;  squattocracy  (squat- 
terarchy  or  squatterdom),  the  world  of 
squatters:  spec,  rich  landowners  in 
pastoral  districts :  cf.  Mobocracy, 
Cottonocracy,  Slaveocracy,  etc.,  etc. 
( 1829).  As  verb,  also  to  move  briskly  or 
noisily  through  mud  and  water  (1598). 

Squattez-vous.     Sit  down  ! 

Squattle.     To  decamp. 

Squawk.  1.  A  harsh  noise  or  voice : 
also  as  verb  (1856).  2.  A  bad  failure. 

Squeak.  A  narrow  escape ;  a 
close  shave  (q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
talk ;  (2)  to  betray  confidence,  to 
squeal,  to  peach  (q.v.) ;  hence  squeaker, 
(a)  a  blab  (q.v.),  and  (b)  an  informer  ; 
to  squeak  beef,  to  cry  Stop  thief :  see 
Beef  (1690) ;  (3)  to  shirk :  an  obliga- 
tion, debt,  etc. 

Squeaker.  1.  A  child :  spec,  a 
bye- blow  (q.v.);  also  squealer.  2.  In 
pi.,  organ  pipes  (1785).  3.  A  pig.  4. 
A  young  bird  ;  a  chirper,  a  peeper,  a 
squealer  (q.v.). 

Squeal.  To  inform,  to  peach,  to 
squeak  (q.v.).  Hence  squealer,  an 
informer  :  see  Nark  (1785). 

Squealer.  1.  A  young  pigeon.  2. 
A  squeaker  (q.v.).  3.  (Wellington 
School).  A  small  boy. 

Squeemish.     Nice*  (B.  E.). 

Squeeze.  1.  Silk.  2.  A  crowd  ;  a 
push  (q.v.),  crowding.  3.  See 
Squeezer.  As  verb,  (1)  to  gripe,  or  screw 
hard  (B.  E.):  also  (colloquial),  (2)  to 


extort,  to  coerce,  to  best(q.v.);  as  subs., 
( 1 )  a  hard  bargain ;  (2)  Hobson's  choice; 
(q.v.);  and  (3)  a  rise  (q.v.);  whence 
squeezable,  squeezability,  etc.  (1670). 

Squeezer  (Squeeze).  1.  The 
neck.  2.  The  hangman's  noose  (1811). 
3.  In  pi.,  playing  cards  with  the 
values  marked  in  the  top  left  hand 
margins.  Squeeze,  to  arrange  cards 
so  that  only  the  indicators  at  the 
corners  are  visible. 

Squeeze-wax.     A  surety  (B.  E.). 

Squelch  (or  Squelsh).  *A  hard  hit, 
a  heavy  fall ;  espec.  one  under  some- 
thing or  somebody:  also  squelcher.  As 
verb,  to  crush,  to  squash  (q.v.)  (1624). 

Squench.     To  quench  (1600). 

Squib.  1.  A  small  satirical  or 
political  temporary  jeu  d'esprit, 
which,  like  the  firework  of  that  deno- 
mination, sparkles,  bounces,  stinks, 
and  vanishes  (Grose).  2.  A  brush.  3. 
See  Puff.  4.  In  pi.,  asparagus.  As 
verb,  to  lampoon. 

Squibob.  A  finicking,  fussy 
person :  in  contempt. 

Squiffed.  Drunk :  also  squiffy : 
see  Screwed. 

Squiggle.  To  evade,  to  wriggle, 
to  squirm  (q.v.). 

Squinny-eyes.  A  squinting  man 
or  woman :  also  squin-eyes,  squint-a- 
pipes,  and  squint-a-fuego.  As  adj., 
squinting ;  to  squinny  (or  squin),  to 
squint ;  and  (American)  to  laugh, 
wink,  or  smile  (1602). 

S  quinsy.  Hempen  squinsy,  & 
hanging :  see  Hempen  fever,  and 
Ladder. 

Squint.  To  lack  :  food,  material, 
money,  anything. 

Squinter.  In  pi.,  the  eyes :  see 
Glim. 

Squint-minded.  Deceitful ; 
crooked ;  with  twisted  vision  (q.v.) 
(1653). 

Squire.  1.  A  gallant ;  a  servant 
(q.v.):  also  squire  of  dames.  2.  A 
magistrate  (New  England).  3.  Squire 
of  Alsatia, '  a  Man  of  Fortune,  drawn  in, 
cheated,  and  ruin'd  by  a  pack  of 
poor,  lowsy,  sponging,  bold  Fellows 
that  liv'd  (formerly)  in  White- Fryers  ; 
the  Squire,  a  Sir  Timothy  Treat-all ; 
also  a  Sap- pate  ;  squirish,  foolish,  also 
one  that  pretends  to  Pay  all  Reckon- 
ings, and  is  not  strong  enough  in  the 
Pocket ;  a  fat  Squire,  a  rich  fool '  ( B.  E. ) 
Squireen.  A  term  of  contempt : 
Squireens  are  persons  who,  with  good 


439 


Squires*. 


long  leases  or  valuable  farms,  possess 
incomes  of  from  three  to  eight  hundred 
a  year,  who  keep  a  pack  of  hounds, 
take  out  a  commission  of  the  peace, 
sometimes  before  they  can  spell  .  .  . 
and  almost  always  before  they  know 
anything  of  law  or  justice  (Edge- 
worth)  :  also  (general)  squirelet  (1812). 

Squiress.     A  squire's  wife  (1827). 

Squirish.     Foolish. 

Squirm.  A  small  obnoxious  boy : 
cf.  Squirt.  As  verb,  to  wriggle  ;  to 
shudder :  mentally  or  physically. 
Whence  to  get  a  squirm  on,  to  bestir 
oneself ;  and  squirmy,  (a)  crooked,  de- 
ceitful ;  and  (b)  all  overish  (q.v.)  (1859). 

Squirrel.     A  harlot. 

Squirt.  1.  A  dandified  puppy 
(q.v.),  an  upstart,  a  cad:  whence 
squirtish,  dandified,  self  -  assertive, 
caddish:  in  contempt  (1844).  2.  An 
obnoxious  boy :  cf.  Squirm.  3.  A 
spurt  (1759).  4.  In  pi.,  (a)  diarrhoea  : 
of.  Squitters ;  and  (6)  a  chemist  or 
apothecary  (1551).  5.  (Harvard),  a 
showy  recitation  (Hall).  As  verb,  to 
blab  (q.v.).  To  squirt  one's  dye,  to 
seize  an  opportunity. 

Squish.  1.  Marmalade.  2.  Weak 
tea  (Winchester). 

Squishop.  A  bishop  who  is  also  a 
landed  proprietor :  cf.  Squarson. 

Squit.  A  young  woman  not  over 
pleasing  and  small  (Halliwell). 

Squitters.  Looseness  of  the 
bowels :  cf.  Squirt. 

Squo  (Charterhouse).  Racquets 
played  with  a  soft  ball :  e.g.  squo- 
court,  squo-baU,  etc.  :  cf.  Squash.  • 

Sres-wort.     Trousers. 

Sret-sio.     Oysters. 

'Stab.  Establishment:  e.g.  on 
the  'stab,  in  regular  work  at  fixed 
wages :  as  opposed  to  piece  -  work. 
To  stab  the  dice, '  having  a  smooth  box 
and  small  in  the  bottom,  you  drop  in 
both  your  dice  in  such  manner  as 
you  would  have  them  sticking  therein 
.  .  .  the  dice  lying  one  upon  another  ; 
so  that,  turning  up  the  box,  the  dice 
never  tumble  ...  by  which  means  you 
have  bottoms  according  to  the  tops 
you  put  in :  for  example,  if  you  put 
in  your  dice  so  that  two  fives  or  two 
fours  lie  a  top,  you  have  in  the  bottom 
turn'd  up  two  twos,  or  two  treys ;  so 
if  six  and  an  ace  a  top,  a  six  and  an  ace 
at  bottom*  (Cotton).  To  stab  oneself 
and  pass  the  dagger,  to  help  oneself  and 
send  the  bottle  round. 


Stable.  I.  Tn  pi.,  routine  duty  at 
the  stables.  2.  The  horses  in  a  racing 
establishment.  To  shut  tht  stable  door 
when  the  steed  is  stolen,  to  set  a  guard 
after  a  mischief  is  done  (1500). 

Stab-rag.  A  tailor:  also  rag- 
stabber  (q.v.). 

Stab-shot.  A  stroke  where  the  ball 
stops  dead  (or  nearly  so)  on  the  spot 
occupied  by  the  object  ball. 

S  t  a  c  i  a.  Like  staeia,  a  term  of 
comparison  :  e.g.  to  do  it  like  staeia  ; 
as  drunk  as  stacia,  etc.  (HattitceU). 

Stack.  A  large  quantity:  e.g. 
stacks  of  the  ready,  plenty  of  money, 
As  verb,  to  make  cards  in  a  pre- 
arranged manner  for  a  crooked  game, 
to  pack  (q.v.),  to  stock  (q.v.). 

Staff.  Phrases :  To  put  down  (or  set 
up)  one's  staff,  to  rest ;  to  take  up  resi- 
dence ;  to  keep  staff  in  hand,  to  retain 
possession ;  to  part  with  one's  etaff,  to 
get  rid  of  one's  substance ;  to  argue  from 
staff  to  corner,  to  raise  a  question  other 
than  that  under  discussion,  to  draw  a 
red  herring  across  the  trail ;  to  have  the 
better  (or  worse)  end  of  the  staff,  to  get 
the  best  (or  worst)  of  a  matter :  see 
Stick  (1564). 

Staff  of  Life.  Bread.  English 
synonyms  (see  also  Grub),  Melton 
(q.v.),"  penny-starver  (penny  roll), 
soft-tack  (or  tommy),  tack,  toke, 
tommy,  pannum. 

Stafford  Court.  To  be  tried  in 
Stafford  Court,  to  be  beaten  or  ill- 
treated.  Hence  Stafford  law,  violence, 
lynch  law  (1598). 

Staffordshire  Knots  (The).  The 
2nd  Batt.  of  The  South  Stafford- 
shire Regiment,  formerly  The  81st 
Foot.  [The  regimental  badge  is  a 
knotted  cable.] 

Staff-striker.  A  sturdy  beggar,  a 
tramp. 

Stag.  1.  An  informer,  a  snitch 
(q.v.):  also  stagger.  2.  (Stock  Ex- 
change). An  applicant  for  shares  in 
new  issues,  who  has  no  intention  of 
holding,  but  prefers  to  forfeit  the 
deposit  money  if  unable  to  sell  at  a 
premium  on  allotment ;  hence,  3.  any 
irregular  outside  dealer:  also  as  verb. 
4.  A  professional  bailsman  or  alibi 
(Bee).  5.  A  shilling :  see  Rhino. 
6.  A  romping  girL  7.  A  male  ;  whence 
stag-dance,  a  man's  dance ;  a  bull- 
dance  (q.v.):  also  stag-party;  stag- 
month,  the  month  of  a  woman's  lying 
in  ;  stag-widow,  a  man  whose  wife  is 


440 


Stage-fever. 


Stand. 


in  childbed.  As  adj.,  naked,  in  buff 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  to  find,  to  watch 
closely,  to  dog  (q.v.) :  e.g.  to  stag  a 
thief,  to  look  on  and  spoil  his  game; 
to  stag  the  push,  to  watch  the  crowd  ; 
Who's  that  slagging  ?  Who's  following  ; 
also  stagger,  a  spy  (1827) ;  (2)  to  dun  ? 
to  beg. 

Stage-fever.  A  craze  for  the 
boards  :  hence  stage-struck  (1710). 

Stager  (or  Old  Stager).  1.  A 
person  of  experience :  cf.  Stager,  a 
player ;  whence,  2.  anything  long  in 
use  or  evidence. 

Stagger.  In  pi.,  a  drunken  fit. 
See  Stag. 

Staggerer.  Anything  overwhelm- 
ing, a  poser. 

Staggering  Bob.  1.  A  newly 
dropped  calf  (Hattiwett) ;  and  2. 
meat  unfit  for  human  food  because  the 
knife  has  only  anticipated  death  from 
accident  or  disease  ;  also  Staggering 
Bob  with  his  yellow  pumps. 

Stag  -  mag.  A  stage  manager. 
Also  as  verb,  to  stage  manage. 

Staines.  At  Staines,  in  pecuniary 
difficulties,  hard  up,  at  the  Bush, 
alluding  to  the  Bush  Inn  at  that  town 
(Grose). 

Stairs.  The  stairs  without  a 
landing,  the  treadmill :  see  Everlasting 
staircase. 

Stake.  A  booty  acquired  by  rob- 
bery .  .  .  ;  and,  if  considerable,  a  prime 
stake,  or  a  heavy  stake.  A  person 
alluding  to  anything  .  .  .  compara- 
tively .  .  .  invaluable,  would  say, 
consider  it  a  stake  ...  a  valuable  or 
acceptable  acquisition  of  any  kind  is 
emphatically  called  a  stake,  meaning 
a  great  prize  (Grose).  As  verb,  to 
provide  for. 

Stale.  1.  A  pretence,  a  fraud,  a 
theft ;  as  verb,  to  deceive,  to  rob 
(1033).  2.  Any  object  of  contempt, 
deception,  or  ridicule ;  as  verb,  to 
ridicule  or  abuse  (1400).  3.  A  decoy, 
a  stalking  horse  :  hence  ambush  :  as 
verb,  to  hide,  to  lie  in  wait,  to  en- 
snare (1530).  4.  A  common  pro- 
stitute ( 1 600).  5.  An  accomplice :  a 
stale  for  a  foist  or  pickpocket :  now 
(also  stall)  a  confederate  working 
either  before  (front-stall  or  fore-stall) 
or  behind  (back-stall)  the  actual  thief, 
to  cover  his  movements,  and  assist  in 
his  escape  :  also  stallsman  ;  as  verb,  to 
screen  :  also  to  chuck  a  stall,  and  to 
stall  off;  also  to  fence  (q.v.):  whence 


statting-ken,  a  mart  for  stolen  goods 
(15(57);  also  (Barman),  a  tippling- 
house  ;  to  stall  off,  to  excuse  plausibly, 
to  escape  wilily.  To  stall  one's  mug, 
to  be  off.  To  stall  a  debt,  to  forbear 
it.  See  Stall. 

Stale  Bear  (or  Bull).  (Stock 
Exchange).  A  bear  (or  bull)  (q.v.) 
who  has  long  been  short  of  (or  has  long 
held)  stock. 

Stale-drunk.  A  man  is  said  to  be 
stale-drunk  when  again  in  liquor 
before  complete  recovery  from  a 
previous  bout :  see  Screwed. 

Stalk  (The).  (Punch  and  Judy). 
The  gallows  :  see  Nubbing  cheat. 

Stall.  1.  To  install,  to  initiate 
(1567).  2.  To  take  a  part.  3.  To 
lodge,  or  put  up  at  a  public  house. 
See  Stale. 

Stall  -  whimper.  A  bastard  :  see 
Bye-blow. 

Stam-bang.     Plump  down. 

Stam  flash.     To  cant  (B.  E.). 

S  t  a  m  m  e  1  (or  Strammel).  A 
brawny,  lusty, strapping  wench  (B.  E.). 

Stammer.     An  indictment  (Grose). 

Stamp.  (1)  In  pi.,  the  legs;  (2) 
shoes ;  and  (3)  carriers  (B.  E.) :  also 
stampers  ;  whence  stamp  -  drawers, 
stockings  (1620).  4.  A  coin  of  small 
value :  spec,  a  halfpenny :  in  pi. , 
(American),  paper  money  ;  shinplaster 
(q.v.) :  also  generic  for  money  (1628). 
5.  In  pi.,  type  (1563).  As  verb,  to 
throw  dice  out  of  the  box,  by  striking 
violently  against  the  table. 

Stamp-crab.  A  lumpish  walker,  a 
beetle-crusher  (q.v.). 

Stamp  -  in  -  the  -  ashes.  A  mixed 
drink  of  some  kind  (1515). 

Stancheous.  Strong,  durable 
(1844). 

Stand  (or  Standing).  1.  A  thieves* 
station.  2.  A  cheap- jack's,  costers', 
or  street- vendor's  pitch  (q.v.) :  also 
(colloquially)  a  shop  (q.v.),  a  show 
(q.v.).  4.  A  visit,  a  run  (q.v.).  5. 
situation :  e.g.  The  Astor  House  is 
a  good  stand  for  a  hotel.  As  verb, 
to  endure,  put  up  with,  forbear  (1383). 
Phrases:  Stand  is  frequently  col- 
loquial: thus  to  stand  ready  at  the 
door,  to  be  handy  for  use ;  to  stand  to 
a  child,  to  act  as  sponsor ;  to  stand 
buff  (or  bluff),  to  swear  to,  to  outface, 
to  take  the  consequences  ;  not  a  foot  (or 
leg)  to  stand  on,  at  the  end  of  one's 
resources,  or  one's  repute  ;  to  stand  in, 
(1)  to  take  side  (or  lot)  with,  to  share, 


441 


Slander. 


Stare. 


and  (2)  to  cost ;  to  stand  on  one's  hind 
legs,  to  show  temper  or  take  in  bad 
part ;  to  stand  on  one's  head  (ears,  etc.), 
to  be  in  good  spirits ;  to  stand  up  to 
the  rack,  to  take  rough  and  smooth ; 
to  stand  up  to,  to  put  oneself  in  fighting 
attitude  (Bee) :  whence  a  stand  •  up 
fight,  a  bout  where  the  contestants 
manfully  face  each  other  ;  to  stand  up 
with,  (1)  to  dance,  and  (2)  to  act  as 
bridesmaid  or  groomsman ;  to  stand 
holes,  to  hold  to  a  bargain ;  Also 
see  Pad,  Patter,  Racket,  Sam,  Treat, 
Velvet 

Stander.     A  sentinel  (1607). 

Stander-up.  A  thief  whose 
speciality  is  robbing  drunken  men 
under  pretence  of  helping  them  home. 

Stand  -  far  -  off  (or  Stand-further- 
off).  'In  my  childhood  there 
was  one  [cloth]  called  Stand-far-off 
(the  embleme  of  Hypocrisie),  which 
seemed  pretty  at  competent  distance, 
but  discovered  its  coarseness  when 
nearer  to  the  eye  (Fuller). 

Stand  -  further.  A  quarrel,  tiff, 
disagreement :  e.g.  There's  quite  a 
stand-further  between  them. 

Standing.  See  Stand.  To  take 
standing,  to  accept  or  endure  with 
composure  [as  one  would  take  a  high 
jump  without  a  run  in] :  hence,  with- 
out ado. 

Standing  -  dish.  Any  person  or 
thing  making  a  frequent  appearance  : 
e.g.  a  sponging  diner-out ;  a  stock 
play,  etc.,  etc. 

Standing-patter er.  A  street- vendor 
who,  taking  a  stand  (q.v.),  slings  the 
patter  to  sell  his  wares :  almost 
obsolete  since  police  control  under 
the  Metropolitan  Streets'  Act,  1867  : 
cf.  Running  Patterer. 

Stand-off.  Polarity,  a  holding  off. 
As  adj.,  distant,  reserved  ;  also  stand- 
offish, and  stand-offishness. 

Stand-up.  A  meal  or  snack  (q.v.) 
taken  standing,  a  perpendicular  (q.v.). 

Stang.  Ruling  the  stang,  still  used 
in  some  colleges  in  the  University 
of  Cambridge:  to  stang  scholars  in 
Christmas  being  to  cause  them  to  ride 
on  a  coltstaff  or  pole  for  missing  of 
chapel  (Ray,  1674) ;  a  custom  [is] 
still  prevalent  among  the  country 
people  of  Scotland :  who  oblige  any 
man,  who  is  so  unmanly  as  to  beat 
his  wife,  to  ride  astride  on  a  long  pole, 
borne  .by  two  men,  through  the  village, 
as  a  mark  of  the  highest  infamy  ;  this 


they  call  riding  the  stang ;  and  the 
person  who  has  been  thus  treated 
seldom  recovers  his  honour  in  the 
opinion  of  his  neighbours  ;  when  they 
cannot  lay  hold  of  the  culprit  himself, 
they  put  some  young  fellow  on  the 
stang  or  pole,  who  proclaims  that  it  is 
not  on  his  own  account  that  he  is  thus 
treated,  but  on  that  of  another  person 
whom  he  names  (Callander) :  see  Skim- 
mington.  Hence  stangey,  a  hen- 
pecked husband. 

Stangey.  1.  A  tailor.  2.  See 
Stang. 

Star.  1.  A  white  blaze  on  a  horse's 
forehead  (1845).  2.  An  asterisk: 
cf.  Dagger,  Spear,  etc.  :  French  stars, 
%* :  a  mark  of  division  between 
paragraphs,  etc.  3.  An  article  intro- 
duced into  a  sale  after  the  catalogue 
has  been  printed :  marked  in  the 
official  copy  by  a  star.  4.  A  distin- 
guished singer  or  player  :  hence  to  star 
the  provinces  (or  the  halls),  to  go  on 
tour  (or  make  the  round  of  the  music 
halls)  as  the  chief  attraction  (or  as 
an  important  turn  (q.v.);  star-en- 
gagement, an  important  or  chief  part ; 
star-quetter,  a  player  whose  bad  business 
spoils  the  efforts  of  better  players. 
As  verb,  to  strike  a  window,  mirror, 
etc.,  so  that  cracks  radiate  from  a 
common  centre :  also  (thieves'),  to 
smash  a  window  and  rob  its  contents  : 
spec,  by  cracking  a  pane  in  a  shop- 
front  and  passing  the  wet  thumb 
along,  directing  the  crack  as  they 
please,  then  removing  the  glass, 
removing  the  goods  ;  or  by  striking  a 
dab  of  putty  with  a  life-preserver : 
also  to  star  the  glaze  ;  hence  done  for  a 
star,  convicted  for  window  smashing  ; 
the  star  -  lay,  window  robbery.  To 
bless  (or  thank)  one's  stars,  to  thank 
for  one's  good  fortune  (1633).  My 
stars !  An  exclamation  of  surprise : 
also  My  star  and  garter  !  (1726). 

Star-bason.  An  impudent-looking 
fellow  (Hattiwell). 

Starch.  To  take  the  starch  out  of, 
to  mortify,  to  humiliate,  to  abase 
another's  honour  or  dignity. 

Starched.  Affected,  proud,  stiff  : 
also  starchy ;  hence  starch,  a  stiff, 
formal  manner  (1599). 

Starcher.     A  stiff  white  tie. 

Starchy.  Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 
Also  see  Starched. 

Stare.  To  swagger,  to  bully 
(HaUiwell :  a  cant  term). 


442 


Stare-cat. 


State  Nicknames. 


Stare  -  cat.  A  meddlesome  or  in- 
quisitive neighbour. 

S  t  a  r  f .  Starf  take  you  !  an  impre- 
cation ;  the  devil  take  you. 

Star  -  gazer.  1.  A  hedge  whore. 
2.  A  horse  holding  its  head  well  up 
while  trotting  (Grose).  3.  An  im- 
aginary sail,  a  skyscraper  (q.v.).  4. 
An  astrologer  :  also  an  astronomer  : 
in  contempt  or  jest ;  also  star  -  clerk, 
star-conner,  star-divine,  star-shooter, 
and  star  -  monger  ;  hence  star  -  craft, 
astrology  (1572). 

Staring  Quarter.  An  ox  cheek 
(Grose). 

Stark -naked.  Neat  (q.v.)  gin: 
orig.  Strip-me-naked :  also  as  adj., 
unadulterated  (1830). 

Starling.  1.  A  penny:  'because  in 
the  ring  or  border  of  the  peny,  there 
was  a  starre  stamped'  (1100).  2.  A 
marked  or  starred  man. 

Star  of  the  Line  (The).  The 
2nd  Batt.  Worcestershire  Regiment, 
late  the  36th  Foot. 

Star-pitch.  Sleeping  in  the  open, 
a  doss  in  Hedge  Square  (q.v.). 

Starps.     In  pi.,  sprats. 

Stars  -  and  -  stripes.  The  United 
States  flag :  the  Gridiron,  the  Star- 
spangled  banner.  Stars  -  and  -  Bars, 
the  flag  of  the  Southern  Confederacy 
1861-65  (1777). 

Start  (The).  (1)  London;  (2)  the 
Old  Bailey  (also  The  Old  Start) ;  (3)  a 
happening  :  e.g.  a  rum  start,  an  odd 
occurrence.  Phrases  :  To  start  in  (or 
up),  to  begin  ;  to  start  a  vessel  from  the 
stump,  to  outfit  completely ;  to  start  on, 
to  beat,  bully,  quiz,  or  take  in  hand. 

Starter.  1.  A  question  (1696). 
2.  A  milksop,  a  poltroon,  a  white- 
liver  (q.v.) :  I'm  no  starter,  I  shan't 
flinch  (1604). 

Startler.  Generic  for  intensive 
surprise. 

Start  -  up.  1.  An  upstart,  no-one 
knows-who :  also  as  adj.,  obscure ; 
mushroom  (1600).  2.  In  pi.,  high 
shoes. 

Starvation.  An  epithet  applied 
to  Mr.  Dundas,  the  word  being,  for  the 
first  time,  introduced  into  our  language 
by  him,  in  a  speech  in  1775  in  an 
American  debate,  and  thenceforward 
became  a  nickname  (Mitford) ;  the 
word  is  noted  as  one  of  the  first 
(flirtation  being  another)  to  be  formed 
directly  from  a  native  English  verb 
with  the  Latin  termination — ation . . 


first  used  or  brought  into  notice  by 
Henry  Dundas,  first  Viscount  Melville 
(Century).  [Latham's  edition  (1866) 
of  Todd's  Johnson  was  the  first 
English  Dictionary  to  include  this 
word.] 

Starve  'em,  Rob  'em,  and  Cheat 
'em.  Stroud,  Rochester,  and  Chat- 
ham :  cf.  The  London  Smash  'em  and 
Do-for-'em  Ry.,  The  L.C.D.R. 

Stash.  To  desist,  to  set  aside,  to 
stow  it :  e.g.  to  stash  prigging,  to  turn 
honest ;  to  stash  one's  patter,  to  hold 
one's  tongue  ;  to  stash  the  lush,  to  stop 
boozing  (q.v.)  (1785). 

State  Nicknames.  The  colloquial 
designation  of  various  States  and 
peoples  of  the  American  Union  is  as 
follows  : — Badger  State,  Wisconsin  ; 
Bay  State,  Massachusetts ;  Bayou 
State,  Mississippi ;  Bear  State,  (1)  Ar- 
kansas, (2)  California  (Century),  and 
(3)  Kentucky  (Century) ;  Big  Bend 
State,  Tennessee  :  people,  Mudheads  ; 
Blue  Hen  State,  Delaware :  people, 
Blue  Hen's  Chickens ;  Blue  Law 
State,  Connecticut :  also  infra ;  Buck  eye 
State,  Ohio ;  Buttion  State,  Missouri : 
people,  Pukes ;  Centennial  State, 
Colorado  :  people,  Centennials  ;  Corn- 
cracker  State,  Kentucky :  people, 
Corncrackers  ;  Cracker  State,  Georgia  : 
people,  Crackers ;  Creole  State,  Louis- 
iana :  also  infra  ;  The  Dark  and  Bloody 
Ground,  Kentucky:  also  supra;  Dia- 
mond State,  Delaware  :  also  supra  ; 
Empire  State,  New  York  :  also  infra  : 
people,  Knickerbockers  ;  Empire  State 
of  the  Smith,  Georgia :  people,  Crackers ; 
Excelsior  State,  New  York  :  also  supra  ; 
Freestone  State,  Connecticut :  also 
supra  and  infra ;  Garden  State, 
Kansas,  also  infra ;  Golden  State,  Cali- 
fornia :  also  supra ;  Gopher  State, 
Minnesota ;  Granite  State,  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  Green  Mountain  State,  Vermont ; 
Gulf  State,  Florida  :  also  infra  ;  Hawk- 
eye  State,  Iowa  :  people,  Hawkeyes  ; 
Hoosier  State,  Indiana :  people, 
Hoosiers ;  Keystone  State,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  Lake  State,  Michigan :  people, 
Wolverines  ;  Land  of  Steady  Habits 
Connecticut :  also  supra ;  Little 
Khody,  Rhode  Island ;  Lone  Star 
State,  Texas :  people,  Beefheads ; 
Lumber  State,  Maine :  also  infra ; 
Mother  of  Presidents  (or  States),  Vir- 
ginia :  also  infra ;  Mudcat  State,  Mis- 
sissippi :  also  supra  ;  New  England  of 
the  West,  Minnesota :  also^a-apra , 


443 


State*  nf  Independency. 


Steeple-fair. 


Old  Colony,  Massachusetts:  also 
supra ;  Old  Dominion,  Virginia :  also 
gupra ;  Old  Line  State,  Maryland ; 
Old  North  State,  North  Carolina :  also 
infra ;  Palmetto  State,  South  Carolina ; 
Pan  Handle  State,  West  Virginia; 
Pelican  State,  Louisiana  :  also  supra ; 
Peninsular  State,  Florida  :  also  supra  ; 
Pine  Tree  State,  Maine :  also  supra ; 
Prairie  State,  Illinois :  also  infra ; 
Sage-hen  State  (or  Silver  State), 
Nevada  ;  Squatter  State,  Kansas  :  also 
supra ;  Sucker  State,  Illinois :  also 
supra  ;  Turpentine  State.  North  Caro- 
lina :  people,  Tarheels :  also  supra ; 
Web-foot  State,  Oregon;  Wolverine 
State,  Michigan  :  people,  Wolverines  ; 
Wooden  Nutmeg  State,  Connecticut : 
also  supra.  Also  see  Nature's  Garb, 
and  Elevation. 

States  of  Independency.  Frontiers 
of  Extravagance.  Oxf.  Univ.  Cant 
(Grose). 

Stationery.  Free  passes,  paper 
(q.v.). 

Stave.  To  press  onwards  regard- 
less of  everything :  generic  for  vigor- 
ous action.  Hence  staving,  (I)  dashing, 
active,  and  (2)  great,  strong,  etc. — a 
general  intensive.  Staver,  anybody 
or  anything  exceptionally  active, 
brilliant,  or  dashing:  a  rouser  (q.v.). 
Also  to  rip  (q.v.)  and  stave  (1842). 

Stay.  1.  A  cuckold.  2.  Half  a 
meal :  also  stay-belly :  also  as  verb 
(or  to  stay  the  stomach)  (1610).  As 
verb,  to  endure,  last  out,  or  persevere  : 
as  an  athlete  in  exercise,  a  horse  in 
racing,  an  author  in  public  favour ; 
hence  stayer,  anybody  or  anything 
capable  of  holding  on  for  a  long  tune  ; 
staying  power,  capacity  for  endurance. 
Phrases,  etc. :  To  stay  put,  to  remain 
as  placed ;  to  stay  with,  to  court ;  to 
stay  out,  to  remain  in  school ;  come  to 
stay,  said  of  anything  meeting  a 
public  need,  or  with  approval  or 
favour. 

Stay-at-home.  A  person  of  dom- 
estic tastes,  a  home-bird  (q.v.) ;  a 
house-dove  (q.v.);  as  adj.,  fond  of 
remaining  at  home ;  the  reverse  of 
gad-about  (q.v.)  (1814). 

Stay-tape.  A  tailor:  from  that 
article  and  its  coadjutor  buckram, 
which  formerly  made  no  small  figure 
in  the  bills  of  these  knights  of  the 
needle  (Orose). 

Steady  Habits.  The  Land  of 
Steady  Habits,  Connecticut ;  see  State 


Nicknames.  [Bartlett :  On  account 
of  the  staid  deportment  and  excellent 
morals  of  the  people.] 

Steal.  See  Brewer's-basket,  and 
Stale. 

Steam.     Force,  energy,  go  ( q.  v. ). 

Steam  -  engine  (Manchester). 
Potato-pie  (Hotten). 

Steamer.  A  pipe  :  a  swell-steamer, 
a  long  pipe  (1783). 

Steaming.     A  steamed  pudding. 

Steam-packet     A  jacket. 

Steel.  The  House  of  Correction, 
Coldbath  Fields,  London  (1785): 
latterly,  any  prison  or  lock  -  up : 
originally  The  Bastille. 

Steelbacks  (The).  1.  The  1st  Batt. 
Northamptonshire  Regiment,  the 
late  48th  Foot ;  and  (2)  The  1st  Batt 
Middlesex  Regiment,  the  late  57th 
Foot 

Steel-bar.  A  needle.  Hence  steel- 
bar  driver  (or  ftinger),  a  needle-man 
(or  woman) :  spec,  a  journeyman 
tailor. 

Steel-boy.  The  kingdom  of  Ire- 
land was  (e.  1772)  ravaged  by 
various  parties  of  banditti ;  who, 
under  the  name  of  Whiteboys,  Oak- 
boys,  Steelboys,  with  captains  at 
their  head,  killed  proctors,  fired  stacks, 
houghed  and  maimed  cattle,  and 
took  the  law  into  their  own  hands 
(Thackeray). 

Steel -pen  Coat  A  dress  coat, 
a  swallow-tail  (q.v.). 

Steenkirk.  A  Muslin  neckcloth 
carelessly  put  on,  from  the  manner  in 
which  the  French  officers  wore  their 
cravats  when  they  returned  from  the 
Battle  of  Steenkirk,  afterwards  a 
fashion  for  both  sexes  (R.  E.).  Like- 
wise applied  to  other  articles  of  drew 
as  wigs,  buckles,  etc. 

Steep.  A  general  intensive :  cf. 
TalL  Thus  a  steep  (high)  price; 
steep  (excessive)  damages ;  a  steep 
(a  difficult  or  forlorn)  undertaking; 
steep  (heavy)  tax,  etc.  Too  steep,  too 
absurd  (bad,  idiotic,  or  impudent)  for 
acceptance.  Hence,  in  the  same 
sense  precipitous  (q.v.)  Fr.,  raide. 

Steeple.  A  woman's  head-dress 
14th  century.  Also,  later,  a  steeple- 
crowned  hat  for  either  sex  (1583). 

Steeple-fair.  The  simoniacal  mart : 
spec.  St  Paul's.  [Formerly  church 
doors  were  plastered  with  all  kinds  of 
miscellaneous  advertisements :  si 
Siquis]  (1599). 


444 


Steeple-house. 


Stick. 


Steeple-house.     A  church  (1690). 

Steer.  Steer  has  furnished  one  or 
two  colloquialisms :  thus  to  steer  a  trick, 
to  take  a  turn  at  the  wheel ;  to  steer 
small,  to  exercise  care  or  skill ;  to 
give  a  steer,  to  give  a  tip  (q.v.). 

Steerer.     See  Bunco-steerer. 

Steering-committee.  A  committee 
of  direction,  wirepullers  (q.v.). 

Steever.     See  Stiver. 

Stem.     In  pi.,  the  legs. 

Stem-winder.  Anything  well- 
finished  :  hence,  the  best  of  its  kind. 
[Stem- winder,  keyless  watch:  at  the 
time  a  new  and  exquisite  improve- 
ment.] 

Step.  To  make  off  :  also  to  step  it. 
Also  (military),  to  desert.  To  step 
out,  to  die.  Step  down  and  out  I  Shut 
up  !  Stow  it !  You're  done  ! 

Stephen  (or  Steven) .  Money : 
generic.  Stephen's  at  home,  He's 
got  'em  (1785).  St.  Stephen's  loaf, 
a  stone. 

Stepmother.  A  horny  filament 
growing  up  the  side  of  the  finger-nail. 
Stepmother's  blessing,  a  hang-nail. 

Stepper.  1.  The  treadmill.  The 
everlasting  staircase  (q.v.).  2.  High- 
spirited  or  full  -  actioned  horse :  also 
regular  stepper  and  high-stepper  ;  hence 
anybody  or  anything  more  than  usu- 
ally good  of  its  kind :  cf.  Highflyer. 

Stepping  -  ken.  Dancing  rooms  : 
espec.  such  as  are  frequented  by 
sailors. 

Stereo.  Stale  news:  see  George 
Home. 

Sterling.     See  Starling. 

Stern.  The  backside;  stern-fore- 
most, backwards ;  astern,  behind ; 
stern-uppermost,  on  one's  face  ;  stern- 
chase,  a  pursuit.  To  bring  a  ship 
down  by  the  stern,  to  over  officer 
(1835). 

Steven.     See  Stephen. 

Stever.     See  Stiver. 

Stew.  1.  A  fish-pond.  2.  Worry, 
fuss,  mental  disturbance  (1837).  As 
verb  (Stonyhurst  College).  To  study: 
hence  stew  -  pot,  a  hard  -  working 
student.  To  stew  (fry,  or  melt)  in 
one's  own  (or  another's)  juice  (grease, 
fat,  or  gravy),  to  be  left  vindictively  or 
resentfully  alone  (1383). 

Steward.     A  doctor. 

Stewed  Quaker.     See  Quaker. 

Stibber-gibber.  '  Proctour  is  he 
that  will  tary  long,  and  bring  a  lye, 
when  his  Maister  sendeth  him  on  his 


errand.  This  is  a  stibber  gibber  knauc, 
that  doth  fayne  tales '  (Awdeley). 

Stibbler.  A  clerical  probationer, 
a  guinea-pig  (q.v.)  (1815). 

Stichel.  A  term  of  contempt 
(1620). 

Stick.  1.  In  pi.,  furniture,  marbles 
(q.v.):  also  sticks  and  stones  (1785). 
2.  In  pi.,  pistols,  pops  (q.v.) ;  Stow 
your  sticks,  hide  your  pistols.  3. 
An  awkward,  dull,  or  stupid  person  : 
in  contempt :  usually  poor  stick ;  a 
rum  (or  odd)  stick,  an  oddity  (1803). 
4.  A  crowbar,  a  jemmy  (q.v.).  5. 
(a)  A  candlestick ;  and  (b)  a  candle. 
6.  In  pi.,  the  stumps.  7.  In  pi.,  the 
legs,  stumps  (q.v.).  8.  A  hard  or 
otherwise  badly  printing  ink-roller. 
9.  In  pi.,  hurdles ;  hence  stick-hopper, 
a  hurdle-racer.  10.  A  mast :  e.g. 
She  has  handsome  sticks,  She  is  finely 
sparred.  11.  Hesitation,  demur; 
hence  to  stick  at,  to  boggle  (q.v.) 
(1678).  As  verb,  to  kill :  spec.  (India) 
to  spear  wild  hogs.  Phrases  and 
colloquialisms  are  numerous,  thus 
To  be  stuck  on  the  deal,  to  pay  too 
much,  to  be  swindled;  to  stick  on  the 
price,  to  overcharge ;  to  stick  for 
drinks,  to  win  the  toss  ;  to  stick  it  up, 
to  get  credit ;  to  stick  up  (a  bank,  a 
train,  a  caravan),  to  rob ;  to  be  stuck 
on  one's  lines  (theatrical),  to  forget ; 
to  stick  up  tricks  (points,  runs,  goals, 
etc. ),  to  score ;  to  stick  up,  to  take 
one's  own  part,  or  another's ;  to  stick  in 
a  pin,  to  make  a  note  of,  to  take  heed  ; 
to  stick  to,  to  stand  by ;  to  stick  at,  to 
be  scrupulous  ;  to  stick  at  nothing,  to  be 
utterly  without  scruple ;  to  stick  in 
one's  stomach  (or  gizzard),  to  rankle ; 
to  stick  to,  to 'back  through  thick  and 
thin,  to  follow  closely ;  to  stick  one's 
spoon  in  the  wall,  to  die ;  to  cut  one's 
sticks,  to  decamp ;  to  have  the  fiddle 
but  not  the  stick,  to  have  the  means 
without  the  sense  to  use  them  ;  to  go 
to  sticks  and  staves  (or  noggin  staves), 
to  go  to  ruin ;  to  beat  all  to  sticks,  to 
vanquish  utterly ;  to  stick  a  point,  to 
settle  a  matter ;  to  stick  in  (cricket), 
to  play  carefully,  so  as  to  keep  up  the 
wicket ;  to  stick  oneself  up,  to  assert 
oneself,  to  spread  out  (q.v.) ;  to  stick 
to  one's  fingers,  to  remain  in  possession 
unlawfully  ;  to  stick  out  for,  to  contend 
obstinately ;  to  stick  and  lift,  to  live 
from  hand  to  mouth.  Also  stuck  on 
one's  shape,  pleased  with  one's  ap- 
pearance ;  stuck  in  the  mud,  cornered 


445 


Sticker. 


Stinger. 


(q.v.) ;  stuck  for  the  ready,  penniless  ; 
stuck  by  one's  pal,  deceived,  deserted, 
done  (q.v.);  stuck  in  one's  figures 
(facts,  or  calculations),  mistaken,  at 
a  loss ;  dead  stuck,  completely  dis- 
appointed, flabbergasted,  or  ruined; 
stuck  on  a  rude,  enamoured;  stuck 
up,  conceited,  proud.  Also  as  cross 
as  two  sticks,  fully  angered;  stick 
and  stone,  everything :  cf.  Root 
and  Branch,  Stock  and  Block ;  in 
quick  sticks  (or  chisel),  instantly ; 
wrong  end  of  the  stick,  (1)  the  worst 
of  a  position ;  and  (2)  the  false  of 
a  story.  Any  stick  (or  staff)  suffices 
to  beat  the  dog  (Ray). 

Sticker.  1.  A  pointed  question,  an 
apt  and  startling  comment  or  re- 
joinder, an  embarrassing  situation,  a 
stumper  (q.v.).  2.  A  gaff.  3.  A 
plodder.  4.  A  lingering  guest  (1712). 
5.  See  Stick-in-the-mud.  6.  An  article 
which  won't  sell,  a  shop-keeper  (q.v.). 
7.  An  office  beggar.  8.  A  knife. 

Stick-in-the-mud.  A  fogey,  a 
slowcoach  (1823) :  also  Sticker. 

Stick  flams.  A  pair  of  gloves 
(B.  E.). 

Sticking.  In  pi.,  coarse,  bruised, 
inferior  meat :  spec,  the  portions 
damaged  by  the  butcher's  knife. 

Sticking- place  (or  point). 
The  point  of  election :  usually  in 
phrase  to  come  to  the  sticking- point 
(1606). 

Stick  -  in  -  the  -  ribs.  Thick  soup, 
glue  (q.v.). 

Stickit  -  minister.  A  disqualified 
candidate  for  holy  orders :  spec,  a 
sucking-parson,  who,  breaking  down 
at  his  first  sermon,  never  attempts 
another. 

Stickler.  An  obstinate  or  trifling 
contender,  a  zealot,  a  precisian  (q.v.) : 
also  stiffler(  1575). 

Stick-slinger.  A  thief  who  robs  in 
company  with  low  women. 

Stick-up.  In  pL,  a  high-standing 
collar,  gills  (q.v.). 

Sticky.     Sealing-wax. 

Stiff.  1.  A  bill  of  exchange,  nego- 
tiable paper,  thick  (q.v.) :  to  take  (or 
give)  the  stiff,  to  receive  (or  pay)  in 
paper ;  to  do  a  bit  of  stiff,  to  accept  a 
bill.  2.  Forged  bank  notes.  3.  A 
corpse :  also  stiff  one  (1785).  4.  A 
horse  certain  not  to  win,  nor  if 
it  run,  to  win :  also  Dead-'un,  Safe- 
'up,  Stumer,  etc.  (q.v.) ;  bookmaker's 
stiff,  a  horse  nobbled  at  the  public 


cost  in  the  bookmaker's  interest ;  also 
as  adj.  (Australian),  dead  certain  to 
win ;  e.g.  Grand  Flaneur  is  stiff  for 
any  race  for  which  he  may  enter.  6. 
A  clandestine  letter.  As  adj.  and 
adv.,  a  general  intensive :  cf.  Steep, 
Tall,  Wide,  etc.  :  thus  a  stiff  (a  strong 
or  long)  drink;  a  stiff  (a  cramped) 
style ;  a  stiff  (formal)  manner :  also 
crusty,  whence  to  cut  up  stiff,  to  turn 
testy ;  a  stiff  (strong  and  steady) 
breeze ;  stiff  (incredible)  news ;  a  stiff 
(difficult)  examination ;  a  stiff  (high) 
price  :  cf.  Steep :  also,  a  price  (or  a 
market)  stiffens,  goes  higher :  to  pay 
stiffly,  to  pay  expensively ;  a  stiff 
(firm,  unyielding)  market ;  a  stiff  upper 
lip,  courageous ;  to  cut  up  stiff,  to 
leave  a  large  estate :  cf.  Warm  and 
supra  (1608). 

Stiffler.     See  Stickler. 

Stiff-fencer.  A  hawker  of  writing 
paper. 

Stiff -rumped.  Proud,  stately 
(B.  E.). 

Stiffy.  A  well-dressed  conceited 
boy. 

Stifler.  1.  The  gallows:  also 
stifles :  see  Ladder  and  Nubbing-cheat ; 
hence  to  nab  the  stifler,  to  be  hanged  ; 
to  queer  the  stifler,  to  escape  the  rope 
(1818).  2.  A  busybody.  3.  A  severe 
blow. 

Stigmatic.  ( 1 )  A  branded  criminal ; 
(2)  any  one  deformed ;  and  (3)  a 
contemptible  wretch  (1598). 

Stile.  To  help  a  lame  dog  over  a 
stile,  to  give  a  hand,  to  assist  in  a 
difficulty,  to  bunk  up :  FT.,  sauver  la 
mise  a  quelqu'un  (1546).  Let  the  best 
dog  leap  the  stUe  first,  let  the  best  take 
lead  (Ray). 

Still.  A  still-born  infant  Also 
(American  firemen's),  a  still  alarm  : 
i.e.  an  alarm  given  other  than  by  the 
regular  signal  service. 

Still-sow.     A  sly  knave  (1598). 

St  i  1 t  i  n  g.  Expert  thief :  spec, 
picking  pockets. 

Stilton  (The).  The  correct  thing  : 
a  variant  of  the  cheese  (q.v.). 

Stimble.    To  urinate. 

Sting.  To  rob,  to  trick.  That 
cove  is  fly ;  he  has  already  been  stung. 
The  man  is  on  his  guard  ;  he  has  been 
robbed  before. 

Sting-bum.     A  niggard  (1696). 

Stinger.  Generic  for  anything  ex- 
ceptional :  e.g.  a  heavy  blow,  a  sharp 
rebuke,  a  vexatious  occurrence,  etc. 


Stingo. 


Stock  Exchange. 


Hence  stinging,    keen,    sharp,  telling 
(1613). 

Stingo.  Strong  liquor :  spec, 
humming  ale  (q.V.). 

Stingy.  Covetous,  close  -  fisted, 
sneaking  (B.  E.). 

Stink.  1.  Any  disagreeable  ex- 
posure :  when  any  robbery  of  moment 
has  been  committed,  which  causes 
much  alarm,  or  of  which  much  is  said 
in  the  daily  papers,  the  family  people 
will  say  there  is  a  great  stink  about  it 
(Grose) ;  to  stir  up  a  stink,  to  expose  ; 
and  as  verb,  to  have  a  bad  reputation 
(1647).  2.  In  pi.,  (a)  chemistry: 
hence  stink-cupboard,  a  close  chamber 
for  evil-smelling  or  obnoxious  chemical 
experiments ;  and  (6)  a  lecturer  on 
chemistry  ;  to  go  out  in  stinks,  to  take 
a  degree  in  natural  science  (Cambridge). 
To  take  a  stink  for  a  nosegay,  to  be 
extremely  gullible,  to  mistake  egregi- 
ously. 

Stink-a-puss.     A  term  of  contempt. 

Stinkard.  A  mean  wretch :  also 
stinker  :  a  general  term  of  contempt. 
Hence  stinkardly,  mean  (1596). 

Stinker.  1.  A  black  eye  (1785). 
2.  Anything  offensive :  e.g.  a  stink- 
pot, a  filthy  person,  in  pL,  bad  coal ; 
spec,  (modern),  a  motor  car  :  also  stink- 
car  :  See  Stinkard. 

Stinkibus.  Bad  lap  (q.v.),  rot- 
gut  (q.v.)  (1706). 

Stinking  fish.  To  cry  stinking 
fish,  to  run  down  one's  own  affairs,  to 
foul  one's  own  nest. 

Stinkious.     Gin  :  18th  century. 

Stinkomalee.  A  name  given  to 
the  then  New  London  University  by 
Theodore  Hook.  Probably  because 
some  cow-houses  and  dunghills  stood 
on  the  original  site.  Some  question 
about  Trincomalee  was  agitated  at  the 
same  time.  It  is  still  applied  by  the 
students  of  the  old  Universities,  who 
regard  it  with  disfavour  from  its  ad- 
mitting all  denominations  (Hotten). 

Stinky.     A  farrier. 

Stipe.     A  stipendiary  magistrate. 

Stir.  1.  A  prison:  also  stiraben 
(gipsy)  (1851).  2.  A  crowd;  a 
push  (q.v.).  To  have  plenty  to  stir  on, 
to  be  wealthy.  See  stumps. 

Stirrup-oil.  A  sound  beating,  a 
drubbing  (1677). 

Stir  -  up  -  Sunday.  The  Sunday 
before  Advent.  [The  collect  for  the 
day  commences :  Stir  up,  we  beseech 
Thee,  O  Lord.] 


Stitch.  1.  A  tailor.  2.  Clothing: 
e.g.  not  a  dry  stitch  about  her. 
Phrases :  To  go  through  stitch,  to  ac- 
complish, to  bring  to  a  finish  ;  to  go  a 
good  stitch,  to  go  a  good  way  ;  stop 
stitch  while  I  put  a  needle  in,  a  pro- 
verbial phrase  applied  to  any  one 
when  one  wishes  him  to  do  anything 
more  slowly  (1611). 

Stitch  -  back.  Very  strong  ale, 
stingo  (q.v.). 

Stitch-louse.  A  tailor:  also 
prick-louse. 

Stive.  To  crowd,  to  make  hot  in 
a  sultry  atmosphere.  Stived  up, 
stifled  (1865).  As  verb,  to  run ;  to 
move  off  (Bartlett) :  a  low  word  used  in 
the  Northern  States).  See  Stew. 

Stiver  (Steever,  Stinner,  etc.). 
(1)  A  Dutch  coin  value  Id.  ;  hence  (2) 
a  small  standard  of  value,  a  straw,  a 
fig  (q.v.) ;  and  (3)  generic  for  money. 
Hence  stiver-cramped,  needy  (1535). 

Stizzle  (Tonbridge  School).  To 
hurt. 

Stock.  1.  Cheek,  impudence, 
brass  (q.v.).  As  adj.,  very,  com- 
pletely :  usually  in  combination : 
thus  stock-still,  entirely  at  rest ;  stock- 
blind,  absolutely  sightless,  etc.  :  cf. 
Stone  (1675).  2.  Anything  inert : 
hence,  (1)  a  fool,  a  blockhead  (q.v.), 
and  (2)  in  contempt :  spec,  in  com- 
pounds (mostly  recognised)  such  as 
laughing-stocfc,  jesting-stocJt,  courting- 
stock,  etc.  ;  whence  stoc-kish,  silly, 
lumpish ;  stockishness,  stupidity 
(1593).  Stock  and  block,  the  whole, 
completely ;  also  lock-stock-and-barrel, 
and  (American)  stock-and-ftute :  cf. 
Stick-and-stone,  Root  -  and  -  branch, 
etc.  (1725).  Phrases:  To  take  stock 
in,  to  have  faith  in ;  to  take  stock  of, 
to  scrutinize,  to  size  up  (q.v.) ;  on 
the  stocks,  in  hand,  in  preparation 
(1704).  See  Broad,  Water. 

Stock-blind.  Quite  blind,  blind 
as  a  stock  or  block :  cf.  Stone-blind 
(1675). 

Stockdollager.       See   Sockdolager. 

Stock  Drawers.     Stockings  (B.  E.). 

Stock  Exchange  Terms.  [The 
following  list  is  imperfect,  but  it 
contains  the  better  known  and  older 
colloquialisms.  The  Stock  Exchange, 
admittedly  a  close  corporation,  is,  in 
fact,  so  close  that  not  only  was  direct 
official  information  refused,  but  also 
an  appeal  to  be  put  into  communica- 
tion with  some  member  interested  in 


447 


Stock  Exchange.  Stock-jobber. 

Stock  Exchange  colloquialisms  was  see  Megs ;  Matches,  Bryant  and  May's 
declined.  Perhaps,  however,  sub-  shares ;  Megs,  Mexican  Railway  1st 
scribers  will  be  good  enough  to  help  Preference  shares :  see  Mails ;  Mete, 
to  a  supplementary  list  as  an  Appen-  Metropolitan  Railway  Co.  shares ; 
dix.] — Ales,  Messrs.  S.  Allsopp  and  Middies,  Midland  Railway  Ordinary 
Sons  shares ;  Apes,  The  Atlantic  and  stock ;  Monos,  The  Isle  of  Man  Rail- 
North  Eastern  Railway  first  mortgage  way  shares  ;  Muttons,  Turkish  Loans 
bonds  ;  Ayrshire*,  Glasgow  and  South-  of  1865  and  1873;  New  Billingsgate, 
Western  Railway  stock;  Baby  Wee-  The  House  (q.v.) ;  New  Plates,  English 
Wees,  Buenos  Ayres  Water  Works  Bank  of  the  River  Plate  shares :  see 
shares ;  Bays,  Hudson  Bay  Company  Old  Plates ;  Noras,  Great  Northern 
shares ;  Berthas,  London,  Brighton,  Railway  Deferred  Ordinary  stock ; 
and  South  Coast  Railway  stock ;  Nuts,  Barcelona  Tramway  shares ; 
Benmcks,  North  Eastern  Railway  Old  Plates,  London  and  River  Plate 
Ordinary  stock;  Bones,  (1)  North  Bank  shares;  Pigtails,  Chartered 
British  4  per  cent.  1st  Preference  Bank  of  India,  Australia,  and  China 
shares  :  see  Bonettas,  and  (2)  Wickens,  shares  ;  Pots,  Staffordshire  Railway 
Pease,  and  Company  shares  ;  Bonetas,  stock  ;  Sarahs,  Staffordshire  and 
North  British  4  per  cent.  2nd  Pro-  Lincoln  Railway  Deferred  stock ; 
ference  shares  ;  Bottles,  Barrett's  Sarah's  Boots,  Sierra  Buttes  Gold  Min- 
Brewery  and  Bottling  Company  ing  Company  shares ;  Sardines,  Royal 
shares ;  Brums,  London  and  North  Sardinian  Railway  shares ;  Sewers, 
Western  Railway  stock  (formerly  East  London  Railway  shares ;  Silvers, 
London  and  Birmingham  Railway);  India  Rubber,  GuttaPercha,  andTele- 
Bulgarian  Atrocities,  Varna  and  Rust-  graph  Company  shares ;  Sunshades, 
chuk  Railway  3  per  cent.  Obligations  ;  The  Sunhales  Extension  Buenos  Ayres 
Caleys,  Caledonian  Railway  Ordinary  and  Rosario  Railway  Company  shares ; 
stock  {  Cashda,  Great  Southern  and  Terrors,  Northern  Territories  Co. 
Western  of  Ireland  Railway  stock ;  shares ;  Vestas,  Railway  Investment 
Cats,  Atlantic  Cable  2nd  Preference  Company  Deferred  stock;  Virgins, 
stock ;  Chats,  London,  Chatham,  and  Virginia  New  Funded  Bonds ;  Whip- 
Dover  Railway  stock  ;  Chinas,  Eastern  sticks,  Dunaberg  and  Witepsk  Rail- 
Extension  Australian  and  China  Tele-  way  shares  ;  Westralians,] generic  for 
graph  shares ;  Claras,  Caledonian  Western  Australian  Mining  shares. 
Railway  Deferred  and  Ordinary  stock ;  Also  see  Bear,  Bucket  -  shop,  Bull, 
Coffins,  The  Funeral  Furnishing  Com-  Cocky,  Fiddle,  Fourteen- Hundred  ; 
pany  shares ;  Cottons,  Confederate  Futures ;  Guttersnipe ;  Hammer ; 
Bonds  ;  Creamjugs,  Charkoff  -  Kre-  House  ;  Jam-tart ;  Kerbstone- broker  ; 
menlsching  Railway  bonds  ;  Dinahs,  Kidney  ;  Lame-duck  ;  Let-up  ;  Load  ; 
Edinburgh  and  Glasgow  Railway  Long ;  Omnium ;  Orchid ;  Peg ; 
Ordinary  stock  ;  Dogs,  Newfoundland  Picker-up  ;  Put ;  Raid  ;  Rush  ;  Scalp  ; 
Land  Company  shares  ;  Doras,  South  Scoop  ;  Set  -  up ;  Shoot ;  Short ; 
Eastern  Railway  Ordinary  "  A "  Shunter ;  Stag ;  State ;  Sweater ; 
stock  ;  Dovers,  South  Eastern  Rail-  Swimming  ;  Tapes  ;  Tapeworm  ;  Ten- 
way  Ordinary  stock  ;  Ducks,  Ayles-  up  ;  Tight ;  Twist ;  Unload  ;  Waddle  ; 
bury  Dairy  Company  shares  ;  Floaters,  Water  ;  Wash-sale  ;  Wireworm. 
Exchequer  bills ;  Gorgonzola  Hall,  Stocking.  In  one's  stockings  (or 
The  House  (q.v.);  Ooschens,  The  2|  stocking-feet),  without  shoes  (1809). 
per  cent  Government  Stock ;  Guin-  Long-stocking,  means  in  plenty,  re- 
new'*, Guinness  and  Company  shares  ;  sources. 

Haddocks,  North  of  Scotland  Railway        Stock-jobber    (Stock- j obbing, 

Ordinary  stock ;  Kaffirs,  generic  for  etc.).      '  A    sharp,     cunning-cheating 

South  African  Mining  shares :  whence  Trade  of  Buying  and  Selling  shares  of 

Kaffir    Circus,    the    South     African  Stock  in  East  India,  Guinea,  and  other 

Market   in    a    state    of   excitement ;  Companies ;   also  in   the  Bank,   Ex- 

Kisses,  Hotchkiss  Ordnance  Company  chequer,  etc.'  (B.  E.);   persons  who 

shares;   Knackers,   Harrison,   Barber,  gamble  on  the  Stock  Exchange,  pre- 

and  Company  shares ;  Leeds,  Lanca-  tending  to  buy  and  sell  public  funds 

shire  and  Yorkshire  Railway  Ordinary  but  only  betting  that  they  will  be  at  a 

stock ;  Mails.  Mexican  Railway  shares ;  certain    price   at  a  particular  time ; 

448 


Stockport-coach. 


Storekeeper. 


possessing  neither  stock  to  be  sold, 
nor  money  to  make  good  the  pay- 
ments, known  [as]  bulls,  bears,  and 
lame  ducks  (Grose). 

Stockport  -  coach.  A  horse  with 
two  women  riding  sidewise. 

Stocky.  1.  Short  and  stout, 
lumpy,  stumpy  (q.v.)  (1712).  2. 
Irritable,  headstrong,  and  contrary, 
combined  (Hattiwett) :  also  3.  im- 
pudent, brassy  (q.v.)  (1856). 

Stodge.  (1)  Food;  (2)  a  heavy 
meal ;  and  (3)  the  crumb  of  new 
bread  (Charterhouse).  As  verb,  to 
gorge,  to  stuff  (q.v.).  Hence  stodgy 
(or  stodge  -  full),  distended,  lumpy, 
crammed  ;  stodger,  ( 1 )  a  gormandiser  ; 
and  (2)  a  penny  bun.  As  verb  (Ton- 
bridge  School),  to  hurt. 

Stogy.  Generic  for  coarseness: 
thus  stogy  shoes  (or  stogies),  heavy 
shoes ;  stogy-cigar,  a  rough  coarse 
cigar. 

Stoke.  To  eat:  spec.  (1)  to  eat 
without  appetite ;  and  (2)  to  wolf 
(q.v.). 

Stoll  (North  Country  Cant).  1.  To 
understand  (Hotten).  2.  To  tipple,  to 
booze  (q.v.).  Slotted,  drunk:  see 
Screwed. 

Stomach.  Generic  for  disposition  : 
e.g.  (a)  spirit,  compassion ;  (6) 
courage,  temper ;  and  (c)  pride. 
Hence  a  proved  stomach,  a  haughty 
disposition  ;  stomach  -  grief,  anger. 
As  verb,  (1)  to  endure,  to  encourage, 
(2)  to  resent,  to  disgust ;  to  stick  in 
the  stomach,  to  remember  with  anger 
or  disgust;  stonuichful,  (1)  stubborn, 
and  (2)  angry ;  stomachy,  proud, 
irritable  (1383). 

Stomach-timber.  Food  :  cf.  Belly- 
timber  (1820). 

S  t  o  m  a  c  h-worm.  Hunger  :  the 
stomach-worm  knaws,  I  am  hungry 
(Grose). 

Stone.  In  combination,  quite, 
wholly :  e.g.  stone-blind,  stone-cold, 
stone-dead,  stone-still,  etc.  :  cf.  Stock 
(B.  E.)  (1330).  Colloquialisms:  To 
kitt  two  birds  with  one  stone,  to  do  (or 
achieve)  a  double  purpose  :  cf.  To  stop 
two  gaps  with  one  bush ;  to  leave  no 
stone  unturned,  to  spare  no  endeavour  ; 
to  mark  with  a  white  stone,  to  single 
out  as  lucky  or  esteemed  ;  to  live  in  a 
glass  house  and  yet.  throw  stones,  to  lay 
oneself  open  to  blame  or  attack. 

Stone-bee.     See  Bee. 

Stone  -broke  (Stoney,  or  Stony- 


broke).  Penniless,  hard-up  (q.v.) 
pebble-beached  (q.v.). 

Stone-doublet  (jug,  pitcher, 
or  tavern).  A  prison :  spec.  New- 
gate (B.  E.) :  also  jug  (q.v.)  (1653). 

Stone  -  fence.  Brandy  and  ale, 
breaky-leg  (q.v.). 

Stone-wall.  (1)  Parliamentary 
obstruction :  also  as  verb,  (2)  to  ob- 
struct, hence  to  obstruct  business  at 
any  meeting,  chiefly  by  long-winded 
speeches  ;  and  (3)  to  play  a  slow  game 
at  cricket,  blocking  balls  rather  than 
making  runs.  Able  to  see  as  far 
through  a  stone  wall  as  any  one,  as 
capable  of  understanding — a  retort 
on  depreciation  or  doubt  of  one's 
abilities. 

Stoobs.     Boots. 

Stook.  A  pocket  -  handkerchief : 
stook-hauler,  a  handkerchief  thief. 

Stool.  A  decoy :  see  Stale  and 
Stall ;  also  (common)  stool-pigeon,  a 
cardsharper's  accomplice :  cf.  Pigeon 
and  Rook.  To  fall  between  two  stools, 
to  hesitate  between  alternatives  and 
lose  (or  be  disappointed  in)  both 
(1546).  To  lay  the  stool's  foot  in 
water,  to  make  much  preparation  to 
receive  a  guest. 

Stoop.  The  pillory.  The  cull 
was  served  for  macing  and  napped 
the  stoop  (or  was  set  on  the  stoop), 
The  swindler  was  convicted  and 
pilloried ;  stooping-match,  a  pillory 
exhibition ;  stoop-napper,  one  under 
punishment :  To  give  the  stoop,  to 
yield,  to  knock  under  (q.v.)  (1692). 

Stop.  To  ward  off,  to  parry. 
Colloquialisms :  To  stop  one's  mouth,  to 
silence :  spec,  with  a  sop  or  bribe ; 
to  stop  out,  to  cover  teeth  with  black 
wax  to  make  them  invisible  ;  to  stop 
off  (or  over),  to  make  a  break  in  a 
journey :  also  as  subs.,  e.g.  a  stop 
off,  in  Philadelphia  (American) ;  stop 
my  vitals,  A  silly  curse  in  use  among 
the  beaux  (B.  E.) ;  stop  thief,  beef  :  see 
Beef  it  (1628). 

Stop -dice.  A  kind  of  false  dice 
(Palsgrave)  1540. 

Stop-hole  Abbey.  The  Nick- 
name of  the  chief  rendezvous  of  the 
canting  crew  of  gypsies,  beggars, 
cheats,  thieves,  etc.  (B.  E.). 

Stopper.  A  finisher  (q.v.);  a 
settler  (q.v.)  (1836). 

Stopping  Oyster.     See  Oyster. 

Storrac.     Carrots. 

Storekeeper.    An    unsaleable 


449 


Story. 


Strapper. 


article  :     s    shop  -  keeper    (English), 
which  see. 

Story.  A  falsehood :  euphem- 
istic ;  whence  story-teller,  a  liar  (1840). 
Blind  story,  a  pointless  narrative 
(1699).  See  Upper  Story. 

Stoter  (or  Stotor).  A  violent 
blow :  e.g.  Tip  him  a  stoter  in  the 
haltering  place,  Give  it  him  under 
the  left  ear  (B.  E.).  Hence  a  settler 
(q.v.). 

Stoupe.  To  give  up  [UaUiweli :  A 
cant  term]. 

Stout.  1.  Very  strong  malt-drink 
(B.  E.).  2.  In  pL,  Guinness' B  shares. 
Stout  across  the  narrow,  full  bellied, 
corpulent. 

Stove-pipe  (or  Stove  -  pipe  -  hat). 
A  tall  hat ;  a  chimney  pot  (q.v.) :  FT., 
tuyau  de  poele. 

Stow.  To  hold  one's  tongue,  to 
keep  quiet,  to  leave  off  :  e.g.  Stow  it  I 
Be  quiet ;  Stow  your  whids  and  plant 
'em ;  for  the  Cove  of  the  ken  can  cant 
'em,  Take  care  what  you  say,  for  the 
master  of  the  house  understands  you 
(1567). 

Stozzle.  To  drink.  Hence 
stozzled,  drunk ;  see  Screwed. 

Strada  Reale  Highlanders.  The  1st 
Batt.  Gordon  Highlanders,  late  The 
75th  Foot.  [In  1 8 1 2  the  regiment  was 
detailed  for  Mediterranean  service, 
and  for  some  time  formed  the  Main 
guard  of  the  Governor's  residence  in 
the  Strada  Reale,  Valetta.] 

Straddle.  A  contract  in  which 
the  holder  can  call  for  (or  the  signatory 
can  deliver)  stock  at  a  fixed  price :  a 
speculation  covering  both  a  put  and 
a  call  (q.v.) :  cf.  Spread-eagle.  As 
verb,  to  adopt  a  non  -  committal 
attitude,  to  favour  both  sides,  to  sit 
on  the  fence  (q.v.) :  also  as  subs. 

Straights  (The).  A  nest  of  obscure 
courts,  alleys,  and  avenues,  running 
between  the  bottom  of  St.  Martin's 
Lane,  Half  Moon,  and  Chandos 
Street  (1614).  Straight,  generic  for 
honesty,  has,  like  round  (q.v.),  and 
square  (q.v.),  a  large  colloquial 
vogue.  Thus  a  straight  (an  exact) 
thinker ;  a  straight  (a  chaste)  piece 
(q.v.);  a  straight  (an  out-and-out) 
Tory :  hence  straight-out,  thorough- 
going ;  straight  (neat :  also  duty-paid) 
whisky ;  straight  (candid)  speech ; 
straight  (honest)  people,  living,  etc.  ; 
straight  (honestly  acquired)  goods : 
also  of  persons,  square  (q.v.) ;  a 


straight  (a  trustworthy)  tip,  griffint 
etc.  (q.v.) ;  a  straight  (an  unsmiling) 
face  ;  straight  (or  straight-out),  outright, 
thorough ;  straight  up  and  down  (in 
the  straight,  or  on  the  straight),  plain, 
honest,  free  from  crookedness  of  all 
kinds ;  out  of  the  straight,  dishonest, 
crooked.  In  the  straight,  nearing  the 
end,  within  sight  of  a  finish ;  orig.  a 
racing  term.  Straight  as  a  pound  of 
candles  (or  as  a  loon's  leg),  as  honest 
as  may  be ;  also  as  straight  as  the 
backbone  of  a  herring,  as  a  die,  arrow, 
etc.  (1670).  Straight/  Fact!  Honest 
Injun ! 

Straight-laced.  Precise,  squeam- 
ish, puritanical,  nice  (B.  E.). 

Strain.  To  strain  hard,  'To  ly 
heavily'  (B.  E.).  To  strain  oners 
taturs,  to  urinate. 

Stram.  A  walk :  spec,  a  society 
parade.  As  verb,  to  walk  stiffly  :  also 
(HalliweU),  to  dash  down  violently,  to 
beat, 

Stramash.  A  disturbance,  a  rough 
and  tumble  (q.v.).  As  verb,  to  beat, 
bang,  destroy  (1837). 

Strammel.     See  Strummel. 
Strammer.     Anything  exceptional, 
Stramming,  huge,  great. 

Stranded.  Penniless,  friendless. 
Stranger.  1.  A  sovereign  :  formerly 
a  guinea :  see  Rhino.  2.  A  visitor : 
cf.  the  folk-saying  of  a  badly  burning 
candle,  or  a  stalk  in  tea  :  A  stranger's 
coming. 

Strangle-goose.  A  poulterer  (1785). 
Strap.  1.  A  barber.  Strap,  a 
barber  in  Smollett's  Roderick  Random, 
1748.]  2.  Credit:  orig.  credit  for 
drink.  On  strap,  on  tick  (q.  v. );  strapped, 
penniless,  bankrupt  (1857).  As  verb, 
to  flog,  to  beat.  Hence  strapping 
(or  a  dose  of  strap-oil  or  oU  of  strap'em) 
a  thrashing ;  an  April  fool  joke  is  to 
send  a  lad  for  a  penn'orth  of  strap  oil : 
cf.  Stirrup-oil.  3.  To  hang  (1825). 
4.  To  work  (Grose).  See  Blackstrap. 

Strappado.  A  form  of  torture : 
the  culprit,  his  legs  tied,  was  hoisted 
by  a  rope  fastened  to  his  arms  behind 
his  back,  and  was  given  a  rapid  descent 
stopped  so  suddenly  that  the  jerk  often 
dislocated  the  joints  of  arms  and 
shoulders ;  this  was  repeated  once  or 
twice :  cf.  Scavenger's  daughter. 

Strapper.  A  swingeing  two- 
handed  woman  (B.  E.);  anvthing  big 
or  bulky.  Strapping,  tall,  robust, 
well-made  (1678). 


450 


Stravag. 


Stretcher. 


Stravag  (or  Stravaig).  To  tramp, 
to  loaf,  to  abscond.  Hence  stravaiger, 
a  vagabond. 

Straw.  1.  Generic  for  worthless- 
ness.  Thus,  not  worth  a  straw,  of  no 
appreciable  value  ;  to  care  not  a  straw, 
to  care  not  at  all ;  a  man  (or  face)  of 
straw,  a  man  of  no  standing  or  sub- 
stance, a  sham,  a  fumbler  ;  straw-bail, 
professional  security ;  straw  -  shoes 
(man  or  witness),  a  perjured  witness ; 
straw-bid,  a  fictitious  offer ;  straw- 
bidder,  a  buyer  who  cannot  fulfil  hia 
contract ;  straw-vote,  a  snatch  vote ; 
strawyarder  (nautical),  a  land-lubber 
playing  the  sailor ;  spec,  a  blackleg 
doing  shipboard  duty  during  a  strike. 

2.  A  long  clay  pipe,  a  churchwarden. 

3.  A  straw  hat ;  also  strawyard,  and 
(schools)    strawer.     Phrases :    In   the 
straw,  in  childbed  (Grose) ;  to  break  a 
straw,  to  quarrel ;  to  lay  a  straw,  to 
pause ;   to  draw  (or  pick)  straws,  to 
show  signs  of  sleep  ;  a  pad  in  the  straw, 
anything  amiss  ;  to  throw  straws  against 
the  wind  (Coles),  to  essay  the  impos- 
sible.    Also    (proverbial) :     A    straw 
shows  which  way  the  wind  blows  ;  He 
gives  straw  to  his  dog,  and  bones  to 
his  ass  (of  one  given  to  absurdities) ; 
To   make   a   block   of   a   straw ;   To 
stumble  at  a  straw  and  leap  over  a 
block,  etc.,  etc. 

Strawberry.  A  nevus,  a  birth- 
mark. To  cut  down  an  oak,  and  set  up 
a  strawberry,  to  waste  ;  cf.  Ital.,  cavar 
un  chiodo  e  piantar  una  caricchia  (to 
dig  up  a  nail  and  plant  a  pin). 

Strawberry-leaves.  A  dukedom : 
a  ducal  coronet  is  ornamented  with 
eight  strawberry-leaves. 

Strawberry  -  preacher.  A  non- 
resident, one  who  visited  his  cure 
only  once  a  year. 

Strawboots.  1.  The  7th  Dragoon 
Guards ;  also  Old  Strawboots,  and 
The  Straws.  2.  The  7th  Hussars. 
[Tradition  says  from  these  regiments 
having  been  employed  in  quelling 
agricultural  riots.] 

Straw  -  chipper.  A  barber :  cf. 
Strummel  -  faker  and  Nob  -  thatcher 
(1823). 

Strawing.  To  sell  straws  in  the 
street,  and  give  away  with  them  some- 
thing that  is  really  or  fictionally  for- 
bidden to  be  sold,  as  indecent  papers, 
political  songs,  and  the  like. 

Straw-ride.  A  driving  excursion  in 
a  strawed-down  van  or  sleigh. 

461 


Strawyard.  A  night  shelter, 
or  asylum,  or  refuge  for  the  destitute. 
See  Straw. 

Streak.  1.  A  mental  peculiarity : 
cf.  Twist,  Kink,  etc.  :  also  a  fit  of 
temper:  whence  streaky,  (1)  irritable, 
short-tempered,  (2)  mean  ;  (3)  flabber- 
gasted (q.v.);  and  (4)  variable:  also 
streaked  (1647).  2.  A  run  ;  a  sequence 
of  prosperities  or  adversities.  As 
verb,  to  decamp  swiftly,  to  go  with 
a  rush  :  also  to  make  streaks,  to  streak 
off  like  greased  lightning,  or  to  go  like 
a  streak  (1604). 

Streamers.  The  Aurora  Borealis ; 
Northern  Lights  (1805). 

Street.  1.  The  people  living  in  a 
street  (1594).  2.  A  capacity,  a 
method,  a  line  (q.v.) :  e.g.  That's  not 
in  my  street,  I  am  not  concerned,  or 
That's  not  my  way  of  doing,  etc.  :  in 
the  same  street,  (1)  on  (or  under)  the 
same  conditions ;  and  (2)  equal  with 
(1362).  The  Street,  a  centre  of  trade 
or  exchange  ;  spec.  (American)  Wall 
Street ;  cf.  House,  Lane,  etc.  (1612). 
See  Grub  Street,  Key,  Queer  Street, 
Spin. 

Street-ganger.     A  beggar. 

Street-hound.  A  rough,  bully,  or 
loafer. 

Street-pitcher.  Any  one  who 
stands,  or  takes  a  pitch  (q.v.),  in  the 
streets — vendor,  mendicant,  etc. 

Street-walker.  1.  A  prostitute, 
working  on  the  pavement ;  hence 
street-walking.  2.  A  jailer. 

Strength.  On  the  strength,  on  the 
muster  roll. 

Streperous.     See  Obstreperous. 

Stretch.  1.  A  yard  (1785).  2.  A 
year ;  three  stretch,  three  years'  im- 
prisonment (1877).  3.  A  walk ;  to 
stretch  a  leg  (or  one's  legs),  to  walk 
(1653).  As  verb,  (1)  to  hang,  to  swing 
(q.v.) :  see  Ladder  :  stretching  (stretch- 
ing-match, or  stretching-bee),  a  hang- 
ing (1623) ;  (2)  to  exaggerate,  to  lie  : 
He  stretched  hard,  He  told  a  whistling 
lie  (1696);  hence  stretcher,  an  ex- 
aggeration, a  falsehood.  On  (or  at) 
a  stretch,  continuously,  at  one  and  the 
same  time  (1832).  To  stretch  one's 
legs  according  to  the  coverlet,  to  adapt 
oneself  to  circumstances,  to  cut  one's 
coat  according  to  the  cloth  (1670). 
To  stretch  (or  strain)  a  point,  to 
exceed  a  limit :  see  Point. 

Stretcher.  1.  In  pi.,  braces  ;  hence 
stretcher-fencer,  a  vendor  of  braces. 


Stretch-halter. 


Strong. 


2.  A  University   Extension  student. 

3.  See    Stretch.     4.    The    piece    of 
wood  that  lies  across  the  boat  where- 
on   the     waterman     reste    hia     feet 
(B.  E.). 

Stretch  -  halter  (or  Hemp).  A 
scoundrel ;  one  who  badly  needs  a 
hanging :  cf.  Crack-rope,  Wag-halter, 
Scape-gallows,  etc.  (1604). 

Stretchy.  Sleepy,  languid,  in- 
clined to  stretch  and  yawn  (1872). 

'Strewth.     God's  truth ! 

Stride.  In  pi.,  trousers :  see 
Kicks.  To  take  in  one's  stride,  to  do 
easily,  and  without  an  effort,  as  a 
hunter  or  a  steeple-fencer  takes  a 
fence. 

Stride-wide.  Ale.  [Hattiwett: 
mentioned  in  Harrison's  England, 
202.] 

Strike.  1.  A  sovereign,  20s.  :  see 
Rhino.  2.  Any  unscrupulous  attempt 
to  extort  money  or  to  obtain  other 
personal  advantage  by  initiating  an 
attack  with  the  intention  of  being 
bought  off,  as  by  introducing  a  bill  into 
a  legislature  hostile  to  some  moneyed 
interest,  with  the  hope  of  being  paid 
to  let  the  matter  drop  (Century) : 
whence  striker,  a  blackmailer.  As 
verb,  generic  for  getting  money :  to 
steal  (1567),  to  beg,  to  borrow  (e.g. 
to  strike  (or  spring  (q.v.)  a  man  for  a 
quid),  to  get  into  debt  (cf.  to  strike 
a  light,  to  run  up  an  alehouse  score), 
to  rob ;  hence  striking,  a  robbery, 
swindle,  or  imposition ;  and  striker, 
a  robber  with  violence.  Strike  me 
blind  !  an  oath.  Strike  me  luck  (or 
lucky),  originally  used  in  clenching 
a  bargain :  the  hands  were  struck 
together,  and  the  buyer  left  a  luck- 
penny  in  the  hands  of  the  seller ; 
hence  an  oath  or  ejaculation  (1616). 
To  make  a  strike,  to  achieve,  succeed, 
or  be  lucky  :  at  ninepins  :  to  knock  all 
the  pins  down  with  one  ball.  See 
Bright,  Heap,  Jigger,  Oil,  Rich,  Rose. 

Strike-me-blind.     Rice. 

Strill.     A  cheating  lie  (Hotten). 

String.  A  hoax,  a  discredited  story : 
hence  as  verb,  ( 1 )  to  hoax,  to  deceive  ; 
also  on  a  string  (or  line),  hoaxed, 
bamboozled,  stuffed  (q.v.);  (2)  to 
cast  for  play :  each  player  to  the  top 
of  the  table  to  return  to  baulk  ;  the 
one  nearest  the  bottom  cushion  has 
then  the  choice.  In  a  string,  at 
command  (1706).  To  harp  upon  one 
string,  to  repeat  incessantly  (1546). 


To  fed  like  going  to  heaven  in  a  string, 
to  feel  blindly  and  confusedly  happy. 

Stringer.  1.  A  libertine  (1611). 
2.  A  difficult  ball  to  play  (cricket). 

Stringy-bark.  A  combination  of 
fusel  oil  and  turpentine,  labelled 
whisky.  As  adj.,  rough,  uncultered  ; 
hence  mean,  ne'er-do-weel :  equiva- 
lent to  bush  (q.v.),  and  usually  in 
contempt  (1833). 

Strip.  '  To  Rob  or  Gut  a  House,  to 
unrig  any  Body,  or  to  Bite  them  of 
their  Money.  Strip  the  ken,  c.  to 
Gut  the  House.  Strip  the  table,  c.  to 
Winn  all  the  Money  on  the  Place. 
Ibid,  Poor,  naked  :  e.g.  We  have  stript 
the  Cull,  We  have  got  all  the  Fool's 
Money ;  The  Cove's  stript,  the  Rogue 
has  not  a  Jack  left  to  help  himself ' 
(B.  E.). 

Stripe.  A  characteristic,  kind, 
kidney  (q.v.) ;  spec.  (American), 
persons  of  the  same  political  colour 
(1613).  The  Stripes,  short  for  Stars 
and  Stripes  (q.v.). 

Strip-me-naked.  Gin.  Also  stark- 
naked  (q.v.)  (1820). 

Stripped.  Unadulterated,  neat 
(q.v.). 

Stripper.  In  pi.,  high  cards  cut 
wedge-shape,  a  little  wider  than  the 
rest,  no  as  to  be  easily  drawn  in  a 
crooked  game  :  cf.  Concaves  and  con- 
vexes,  Longs  and  shorts,  etc. 

Strive  (Christ's  Hospital).  To 
write  with  care  :  cf.  Scrub. 

Stroker.  A  flatterer,  a  sycophant 
(1632). 

Stroller.  '  Strowlers,  c.  Vagabonds, 
Itinerants,  Men  of  no  settled  Abode, 
of  a  Precarious  Life,  Wanderers  of 
Fortune,  such  as,  Gypsies,  Beggers, 
Pedlers,  Hawkers,  Mountebanks, 
Fidlers,  Country  -  Players,  Rope- 
dancers,  Juglers,  Tumblers,  showers 
of  Tricks,  and  Raree-show-men '  (B.  E.) 

Strolling-mort.  '  Strowling-morta 
o.  pretending  to  be  Widows,  some- 
times Travel  the  Countries,  making 
Laces  upon  Ewes,  Beggars-tape,  etc. 
Are,  light  Finger'd,  Subtil,  Hypocriti- 
cal, Cruel,  and  often  dangerous  to  meet, 
especially  when  a  Ruffler  is  with  them 
(B.  E.)  (1567). 

Strommel.  1.  Straw  (1667) :  also, 
Strammel.  2.  Hair  (1785):  hence  to 
have  one's  strvmmel  faked  in  twig,  to 
have  it  dressed  in  style ;  xtrummel- 
faker,  a  barber :  cf.  Strawchipper. 

Strong.     See  Come-and  Go. 


452 


Strong  Man. 


Stun. 


Strong  Man.  To  play  the  part  of 
the  strong  man,  to  be  whipped  at  the 
cart's  tail ;  i.e.  to  push  the  cart  and 
horses  too  (Grose). 

Strue.     Construe. 

Strum.  1.  A  wig  (1696).  2.  See 
Strumpet.  As  verb,  To  play  badly 
on  the  harpsichord  or  any  other 
stringed  instrument.  A  strummer  of 
wire,  a  player  on  any  instrument 
strung  with  wire  (Gfrose). 

Strumpet  (or  Strum).  A  harlot 
(B.  E.).  As  adj.,  wanton;  as  verb, 
(1)  to  play  the  whore  ;  and  (2)  to  hold 
up  to  contempt  as  a  strumpet  (1593). 

Strunt.     Liquor  (1787). 

Strut-noddy.     A  mincing  fool. 

Stub.  LA  fool  (1632).  2.  A 
counterfoil  of  a  cheque  ;  hence  stub- 
book,  a  book  of  counterfoils  of  cheques 
or  other  duplicate  records  (1886).  As 
verb  (Felsted),  to  kick  a  football  about. 

Stubble.  To  stubble  one's  whids 
(or  to  stubble  it),  to  hold  one's  tongue 
(1567). 

Stubbs.     Nothing  (1785). 

Stub-faced.  Pitted  with  small-pox 
(Orose). 

Stuck.  See  Stick  in  various  senses  : 
also  Pig. 

Stuck-up.  Conceited,  purse-proud, 
assuming  airs  (dignity,  or  importance). 
Also  (rare)  as  subs.  (1830). 

Study.  A  closet  of  books  (B.  E.). 
See  Brown  Study. 

Stuff.  1.  Belongings:  furniture, 
goods,  utensils :  generic  :  the  literary 
usage  lingers  in  household-stuff,  and 
in  such  a  tributary  sense  as  food- 
stuffs, bread-stuffs  (raw  material) 
(1360).  2.  Money:  generic:  see 
Rhino  (1774).  3.  In  contempt  for 
anything  to  be  swallowed  :  spec, 
medicine  (1605).  4.  Twaddle,  fustian, 
trash — spoken,  or  written  ;  spec,  in 
such  phrases  as  Stuff !  Rubbish  ! 
Stuff  and  nonsense  !  What  rot  (q.v.) ! 
(1696) ;  as  verb,  to  gammon  (q.v.) :  to 
fill  full  of  lies,  prejudice,  statistics, 
victuals,  etc.  ;  whence  stuffing  (jour- 
nalists), superfluous  matter,  used  to  fill 
a  given  space,  padding  (q.v.)  (1579). 
5.  Tobacco.  6.  (a)  A  simpleton,  a 
weakling  ;  and  (b)  a  respectable  citizen 
(thieves').  7.  A  Junior  Counsel :  as 
distinguished  from  silk  (q.v.) :  also 
stuff-gown.  As  verb,  to  gorge,  to 
wolf  (q.v.)  (1809).  To  stuff  a  ballot- 
box,  to  tamper  with  returns  by  the 
surreptitious  introduction  into  the 

I 


ballot-box    of   bogus  voting  papers ; 
hence  stuffer,  a  cheating  teller. 

Stuffer.     See  Heeler,  and  Stuff. 

Stuffing.     See  Knock  and  Stuff. 

Stuffy.  1.  Angry,  sulky,  obstinate. 
2.  Close,  airless,  malodorous. 

Stuling-ken.     See  Stall. 

Stumble.     See  Truckle-bed. 

Stumer.  Generic  for  sham:  spec, 
a  worthless  cheque. 

Stump.  1.  In  pi.,  legs  ;  as  verb,  to 
walk  :  spec,  stiffly,  heavily,  or  noisily  ; 
whence  to  stir  one's  stumps,  to  bestir 
oneself,  to  increase  one's  speed  (1609). 
2.  Money  :  generic  :  also  stumpy  :  see 
Rhino  ;  hence  as  verb  (or  to  stump  up), 
to  pay  ;  stumped  (or  put  to  one's  stumps 
poor,  hard  -  up,  put  to  shift ;  to  pay 
on  the  stump,  to  disburse  readily  and 
promptly  (1785).  3.  A  blockhead, 
fool.  As  verb,  (1)  to  boast,  to 
swagger  (q.v.) ;  hence  stumper,  a 
braggart  (1748);  (2)  to  challenge, 
defy,  puzzle,  or  confound ;  and  (in 
an  absolute  sense)  to  ruin ;  as  subs., 
an  attempt  to  puzzle  or  confound  ; 
stumper,  a  puzzler ;  up  a  stump,  con- 
founded, up  a  tree  (q.v.)  (1837);  (3) 
to  travel  the  country  for  the  purpose 
of  making  partizan  or  personal 
speeches  from  stumps  or  other  im- 
provised platforms :  originally  back- 
woods electioneering,  and  spec,  on 
one's  own  account :  now  general ; 
frequently,  but  not  necessarily,  in  a 
derogatory  sense ;  also  to  go  on  the 
stump  (or  to  take  the  stump) ;  hence 
stumper  (stump  orator  or  stump- 
speaker),  (a)  an  electioneer ;  and  (b) 
a  bombastic  spouter  (q.v.),  with  such 
derivatives  as  stump-orator,  stump- 
speech,  etc.  ( Worcester  :  A  cant  phrase). 
Stump  and  rump,  completely :  cf. 
Stock  and  Block,  Root  and  Branch, 
Stick  and  Stone,  etc. 

Stumper  (Tonbridge  School).  1. 
Small  cricket :  played  with  a  stump  : 
at  Harrow,  stumps.  2.  A  wicket- 
keeper.  3.  Anything  that  bowls  out ; 
a  corker  (q.v.).  See  Stump. 

Stump  -  of  -  the  -  gutter.  A  term 
of  contempt ;  stumpy,  short,  squat, 
dumpy  (1764). 

Stump-tail  Currency.  Cur- 
rency  issued  by  certain  banks  of 
doubtful  credit  prior  to  the  Civil  War 
(Barttett). 

Stun.  To  cheat,  to  do  (q.v.).  To 
stun  out  of  the  regulars,  to  swindle  a 
man  of  his  share  of  booty. 


453 


Stunlaw. 


Suicide. 


Stunlaw.     Walnute. 

Stunner.  Generic  for  astonish- 
ment. Stunning,  amazing,  strikingly 
large,  good,  etc.  ;  to  put  the  stunners 
on,  to  perplex,  confound,  astonish 
(1848). 

Stupid  (or  Stupe).  A  blockhead 
(1762). 

Sturdy-beggar.  The  fifth  and  last 
of  the  most  ancient  order  of  canters 
(B.  E.) ;  beggars  that  rather  demand 
than  ask  (Grose). 

Sturiben  (or  Sturibin).  A 
prison ;  spec.  (American)  a  State 
prison  ;  also  Stir  :  see  Cage. 

Styx  (The  Leys  School).     A  urinal 

Sub.  (1)  A  subaltern;  (2)  a  sub- 
ordinate ;  (3)  a  subscription ;  (4)  a 
subject ;  and  (5)  money :  see  Sugar, 
Paint.  As  verb  (workmen's),  to  draw 
money  in  advance  (1838). 

Sub  -  beau  (or  Demi  -  beau).  A 
would-be-fine  (B.  E.). 

Sublime  Rascal.  A  lawyer :  see 
Greenbag. 

Sub  Rosa.    Secretly,  confidentially. 

Substance.     See  Shadow. 

Suburb.  Generic  for  disorder 
and  loose-living.  Thus  house  in  the 
suburbs,  a  brothel ;  suburb  -  wench 
(drab,  sinner,  etc.),  a  prostitute  ;  sub- 
urb (  wanton)  tricks  ;  suburb  (black- 
guard) humour ;  suburb-justice,  money 
is  right  (1583). 

Succuba.     A  mistress  (1610). 

Succubus.  A  thieving  hanger-on, 
a  scoundrel  (1700). 

Suck.  1.  Wine  or  strong  drink 
(B.  E.).  2.  A  small  draught:  hence 
rum  -  suck,  excellent  tipple  ;  sucky, 
drunkish ;  suck  -  spigot  (pint,  pot, 
bottle,  or  can),  a  confirmed  tippler : 
also  sucker ;  suckerdom,  the  world  of 
topers  ;  suck-casa,  a  public  house  ;  as 
verb,  to  tipple,  to  soak  (q.v.).  Also 
to  suck  one's  face,  to  delight  in  drink- 
ing (B.  E.) ;  suction,  booze  (q.v.): 
hence  to  live  on  suction,  to  drink  hard  ; 
power  of  suction,  capacity  for  boozing 
(1585).  3.  A  breast  pocket  (1625). 
4.  A  toady :  cf.  Sucker  :  whence  to  suck 
up  to,  to  insinuate  into  one's  good 
graces.  5.  A  cheat,  a  trick :  also 
suck-in  ;  to  suck  in,  to  take  in  (q.v.) ; 
and  sucker  (q.v.),  a  greenhorn,  a  dupe : 
see  Sucking  (1758).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
extract  ideas  or  money,  to  pump 
(q.v.):  e.g.  to  suck  ones  brains,  to 
find  out  all  one  knows  (1785);  (2) 
(American  University),  to  use  a  crib 


(q.v.) :  hence  sucker,  a  pony  (q.v.). 
To  teach  one's  grandma  (or  grannie), 
to  suck  eggs,  to  instruct  an  expert,  to 
talk  old  to  one's  elders :  see  Grand- 
mother, and  add  the  following  anal- 
ogous phrases  :  To  teach  one's  grannie 
to  grope  her  ducks,  to  sup  sour  milk, 
to  sard,  or  to  spin ;  to  teach  one's 
father  to  get  children ;  also  II  ne  faut 
pas  apprendre  aux  poissons  d  nager, 
You  must  not  teach  fish  to  swim. 
See  Monkey. 

Sucker.  1.  A  parasite,  a  sponger 
(q.v.) ;  spec.  (American  political),  a 
blackmailer ;  also  to  sponge  upon : 
whence  to  suck  dry,  to  exhaust :  cf. 
proverbial  saying,  Children  suck  the 
mother  when  young,  and  the  father 
when  old.  2.  A  sucking  pig ;  also 
any  youngling  :  e.g.  a  rabbit  -  sucker, 
a  young  rabbit,  etc.  (1591).  3.  A 
native  of  Illinois,  the  Sucker  State  ;  see 
State  (1848).  See  Suck  and  Sucking. 

Suck-fyst.     A  parasite  (1611). 

Sucking.  Young,  inexperienced, 
callow ;  cf.  sucker,  a  greenhorn,  and 
sucking-dove,  a  dupe  or  simpleton ; 
sucking- Nelson,  a  midshipmite  ;  poet- 
sucker,  a  budding  poet  (1680). 

Suction  (Winchester).  Sweet- 
meats :  cf.  (prov.)  Sucker  and  Sucket. 

Suction.     See  Suck. 

Sudden  Death.  1.  A  decision  based 
on  skying  a  coin  once  only  :  see  New- 
market. 2.  A  crumpet  or  Sally  Lunn. 
3.  See  Spatchcock. 

Suds.  In  the  suds,  troubled,  per- 
plexed, angry  (1617). 

Suetty  -  Isaac.  Suet  pudding  :  also 
Soapy -Isaac. 

Suffer.  In  mock  pity,  Do  you 
suffer  much  T 

Sufferer.     1.  A  tailor.     2.   A  loser. 

Sugar.  1.  Money :  generic :  see 
Rhino :  also  (rhyming)  sugar-and- 
honey.  2.  Flattery,  gammon  (q.v.): 
also  as  verb,  (1)  to  natter,  humbug 
(1596) ;  (2)  to  malinger  at  the  oars,  to 
shirk  while  pretending  to  row  hard. 
To  sugar  off,  to  amount  to :  in  speak- 
ing of  large  sums  of  money. 

Sugar-candy.     Brandy. 

Sugar-basin.     See  Sugar-stick. 

Sugared.  Astonished,  perplexed, 
gammoned  (q.v.). 

Sugar-loaf.  A  high-crowned  hat : 
conical  like  a  sugar-loaf. 

Sugar-stick  Brigade.  The 
Ordnance  Store  Corps. 

Suicide.     Four  horses  driven  in  a 


454 


Suit. 


Supe. 


line,  harum  -  scarum.  See  Tandem, 
Random,  Unicorn  (Grose). 

Suit.  1.  In  general  synonymous 
with  game  ;  as,  what  suit  did  you  give 
it  to  'em  upon  ?  in  what  manner  did 
you  rob  them,  or  upon  what  pretence, 
etc.,  did  you  defraud  them  ?  One 
species  of  imposition  is  said  to  be  a 
prime  suit,  another  a  queer  suit :  a 
man  describing  the  pretext  he  used  to 
obtain  money  from  another,  would 
say,  I  draw'd  him  of  a  quid  upon  the 
suit  of  so  and  so,  naming  the  ground 
of  his  application.  A  person  having 
engaged  with  another  on  very  ad- 
vantageous terms  to  serve  or  work 
for  him,  will  declare  that  he  is  upon 
a  good  suit ;  to  use  great  submission 
and  respect  in  asking  any  favour  of 
another,  is  called  giving  it  to  him 
upon  the  humble  suit  (Orose).  2. 
A  watch  and  seals  (1785).  3.  Generic 
for  completeness :  e.g.  a  suit  (full 
head)  of  hair ;  a  suit  (a  complete  set) 
of  teeth  ;  a  suit  of  mourning,  two  black 
eyes  (Grose). 

Suit  -  and  -  cloak.  Good  store  of 
brandy  or  any  agreeable  liquor,  let 
down  Gutter-lane  (B.  E.). 

Suit  to  a  Hair.    See  Hair. 

Sukey.  1.  A  kettle  (Bee).  2.  A 
common  name  for  a  general  servant 
or  slavey  (q.v.) :  cf.  Jeames,  foot- 
man. Sukey  -  tawdry,  a  slatternly 
female  in  fine  tawdry  (Grose). 

Sulky.  A  one  -  horse  chaise  or 
carriage,  capable  of  holding  but  one 
person :  called  by  the  French  a 
cMsoUigeante  (Grose). 

Sullen.  In  pi.,  the  sulks.  Sick 
of  the  suttens  (or  sullen  -  sick),  very 
gloomy  (1580). 

Sultry.  Lively,  exciting,  perhaps 
unpleasant :  cf.  Hot,  Warm,  etc. 

Summer-complaint.     Diarrhoea. 

Summer-bird.  A  cuckold, 
nckoo,  q.v.  Also  summer  -  cabbage, 

woman  (1560). 

Summer-game.     A    game  for 

lusement  only,  or  with  another's 
aoney. 

Summer 's-day.  As  nice  (proper, 
~*ly,  etc.)  as  one  can  see  in  a  sum- 

er' s-day,  as  nice  (proper,  etc.)  as 
mv  be  :  cf.  Day's-march  (1592). 

S'u'm  ph.  A  simpleton.  Hence 
'impish,  stupid  (1821). 

Sumpsimus.     See  Mumpsimus. 

Sumpsy.     An  action  of  assumpsit. 

Sun.    Been  in  the  sun  (or  sunshine, 


or  got  the  sun  in  one's  eyes),  drunk : 
see  Screwed  (1670).  To  make  hay 
while  the  sun  shines,  to  seize  an  oppor- 
tunity (1509).  To  get  the  sun  over 
the  foreyard,  to  drink  before  noon. 
See  Knight,  Shoot. 

Sunburnt.  1.  Superficial,  hack- 
neyed, unbeautiful  (1570).  2.  Having 
many  (male)  children  (B.  E.). 

Sunday.  See  Show  -  Sunday, 
Month  of  Sundays,  and  Queen  Dick. 

Sunday  -  best  (or  clothes).  Clothes 
kept  for  use  on  Sundays  and 
holidays;  best  clothes  (1838). 

Sunday  Face.     The  posteriors. 

Sunday-man.  1.  One  who  goes 
abroad  on  that  day  only,  for  fear  of 
arrests  (Grose).  2.  A  prostitute's 
bully  ;  also  Sunday  girl,  a  mistress. 

Sunday  -  saint.  One  who  roisters 
through  the  week  and  pulls  a  long  face 
on  Sunday. 

Sunday'  s  -  fellow.  '  One  asked 
Tarlton  why  Munday  was  called 
Sundaies  fettow  ?  Because  he  is  a 
sausie  fellow,  saies  Tarlton,  to  com- 
pare with  that  holy  day.  But  it 
may  be  Munday  thinkes  himselfe 
Sundayes  fellow  because  it  followes 
Sunday,  and  is  next  after ;  but  he 
comes  a  day  after  the  faire  for  that 
(Tarlton,  1611). 

Sunderland-fitter.  The  Knave  of 
Clubs  (HaUiwell). 

Sun-dodger.     A  heliographer. 

Sun-dog.     A  mock  sun. 

Sundowner.  One  of  a  class  of  men 
who  came  to  be  known  by  the  name 
of  sundowners,  from  their  habit  of 
straggling  up  to  an  upcountry  station 
at  fall  of  evening  with  the  stereotyped 
appeal  for  work ;  and  work  being  at 
that  hour  impossible,  they  were  sent 
to  the  travellers'  hut  for  shelter  and 
to  the  store  -  keeper  or  cook  for  the 
pannikin  of  flour,  the  bit  of  mutton, 
the  sufficiency  of  tea  for  a  brew, 
which  made  up  a  ration. 

Sunny  -  bank.  A  good  rousing 
winter  fire  (B.  E.). 

Sunny  South.     The  mouth. 

Sunshades.  The  Sunehales  Ex- 
tension of  the  Buenos  Ayres  and 
Rosario  Railway  Company  shares. 

Sunshine.     See  Sun. 

Supe  (or  Super).  1.  A  super- 
numerary :  whence  super-master,  the 
director  of  the  supernumeraries  :  also 
as  verb.  2.  The  superintendent  of  a 
station  (Australian).  3.  A  watch : 


455 


Superannuate. 


Swaddle. 


supe  and  dang,  watch  and  chain ;  super- 
screwing,  stealing  watches.  4.  A 
toady :  spec.,  one  who  lick-spittles 
(q.v.)  the  professors. 

Superannuate  (Winchester).  A 
boy  who  was  obliged  to  leave  at 
Election,  owing  to  his  being  past 
eighteen  years  of  age.  Founders 
were  not  superannuate  till  they  were 
twenty-five. 

Superfine  Review.  The  Satur- 
day Review.  [A  coinage  of  Thack- 
eray's (1860-63)  in  The  Roundabout 
Papers.] 

Supernaculum.  '  Drinking  super 
nagulum,  a  devise  of  drinking  new 
come  out  of  Fraunce :  which  is,  after 
a  man  hath  turned  up  the  bottom  of 
the  cup,  to  drop  it  on  his  naile,  and 
make  a  pearle  with  that  is  left ;  which 
if  it  slide,  and  he  cannot  make  it 
stand  on,  by  reason  ther's  too  much, 
he  must  drinke  againe  for  his  pen- 
ance' (Nashe) :  [Garden  Latin  :  super 
naculum,  on  the  nail.]  Whence  (2) 
right  liquor ;  and  (3)  good  liquor,  of 
which  there  is  not  even  a  drop  left 
sufficient  to  wet  one's  nail  (Grose). 

Superstitious  -  pie.  '  Minc'd,  or 
Christmas-Pies,  so  Nick-nam'd  by  the 
Puritans,  or  Precisians,  tho'  they  can 
Eat  'em,  but  affecting  to  be  singular, 
make  them  a  Month  or  six  Weeks 
before  Christmas,  or  the  Feast  of 
Christ'  (B.  E.). 

Supouch.  An  hostess  or  landlady 
(B.  E.). 

Supper.  To  set  one  his  supper,  to 
perform  a  feat  impossible  for  another 
to  imitate. 

Supple  Twelfth.  The  12th  Lancers. 
S  u  r  a  t.  An  adulterated  article  of 
inferior  quality.  Since  the  American 
Civil  War,  it  has  not  been  unusual 
for  manufacturers  to  mix  American 
cotton  with  surat,  and,  the  latter 
being  an  inferior  article,  the  people 
in  Lancashire  have  begun  to  apply 
the  term  surat  to  any  article  of  in- 
ferior or  adulterated  quality  (Batten). 
Sure.  To  make  (or  be)  sure  to,  to 
betroth,  to  be  engaged  to  marry 
(1535).  Sure  as  the  creed  (as  eggs, 
fate,  death,  a  gun,  etc.),  as  sure  as  may 
be,  of  a  certainty  (1393). 

Sure  Card  (or  Thing).  A  certainty, 
anything  entirely  trustworthy  (B.  E. ) 
(1537). 

Suresby.  A  dependable  person : 
cf.  Rudesby,  Wigsby,  etc.  (1586). 


Surf.  A  half-and-half  professional 
(q.v.)  player  or  musician:  combining 
some  daily  occupation  with  nightly 
duty  on  or  in  connection  with  the 
boards. 

Surly.  As  surly  as  a  butcher's  dog, 
very  surly  (1670). 

Surly-boots  (or  Surling).  A 
grumpy  morose  fellow :  cf.  Lazy- boots 
(1623). 

Surprisers  (The).  The  46th  Foot, 
now  the  2nd  Batt.  of  the  Duke  of 
Cornwall's  Light  Infantry. 

Surtout.  A  loose,  great,  or  riding 
Coat  (B.  E.). 

Surveyor  of  the  Highway.  A 
man  reeling  drunk :  see  Inspector. 

Surveyor  of  the  Pavement  A 
man  in  the  pillory. 

Suspense.  In  deadly  suspense, 
hanged  (Grose). 

Sus.  per  Coll.  Hanged  by  the 
neck  —  Lat.  suspensus  per  coUum. 
[Grose  :  persons  who  have  been  hanged 
are  thus  entered  in  the  jailer's 
books.] 

Suspicion.  A  very  small  quantity  : 
cf.  FT.,  souppm  (1863).  As  verb,  to 
suspect. 

Sut.     Satisfactory,  fortunate. 

Swab.  1.  See  Swabber.  2.  A 
naval  officer's  epaulet :  jocose  or  in 
contempt :  cf.  Swabber. 

Swabber.  1.  The  sorriest  sea- 
men put  to  wash  and  clean  the  ship 
(B.  E.) :  in  this  sense  good  Shake- 
spearean English.  2.  A  term  of 
contempt:  also  Swab  (1602).  3.  The 
ace  of  hearts,  knave  of  clubs,  ace  and 
deuce  of  trumps  at  whist  (B.  E.) :  the 
holder  was  entitled  to  a  portion  of  the 
stakes :  these  four  cards  were  only 
incident  to  betting  at  whist  (1700). 

Swack  (Christ's  Hospital).  De- 
ception. Hence  to  swack  up,  to 
deceive;  to  take  in  (q.v.).  Also 
swack-up.  a  falsehood. 

Swad.     1.   A  reproach:   generic: 
spec,  (a)  a  rustic  or  clodhopper ; 
(b)  a  disbanded  soldier  (Grose), 
a-days   a   militiaman :    also 
Hwadkin,  swadgiU,  and  swaddy  (It 
2.  A  lump,  bunch,  crowd,  mass : 
swod. 

Swadder.       1.    A    peddlar  (If 
2.  See  Swad. 

Swaddle.       To   cudgel,    to   roj 
end,  to  swathe  round  with  lash 
stick.     Hence     moodier,     the 
order  of  the  canting  tribe  (B.  B.) 


456 


Swaddler. 


Swash. 


not  only  rob,  but  beat  and  often 
murder  passengers  (Grose)  (1570). 

Swaddler.  (1)  A  Methodist  (Grose). 
Hence  spec.  (2)  those  who  in  winter 
play  the  Protestant,  for  the  sake  of 
the  blankets,  coals,  etc.,  given  by 
proselytisers.  Also  (3),  in  America, 
a  street  preacher,  spec.  (American 
thieves')  a  preaching  confederate. 
See  Swad  and  Swaddle. 

Swag.  1.  A  shop  :  spec,  a  mart  for 
stolen  goods.  Whence  a  rum-swag, 
a  shop  full  of  rich  goods  ( B.  E. ) ;  and 
swag  -  barrow,  a  coster's  cart.  2. 
Generic  for  property ;  spec,  booty ; 
swag-chovey  bloke,  a  marine  store 
dealer  ;  swagsman,  (a)  a  receiver  of 
stolen  goods,  and  (6)  a  miscellaneous 
dealer  in  City  penn'orths  and  other 
cheap  stuff,  wholesale  or  retail.  3. 
(Australian).  A  tramp's  bundle  in  a 
bluey  (q.v.) ;  hence  personal  luggage, 
traps  (q.v.) :  as  verb,  to  tramp  the 
bush  carrying  a  swag ;  swagman 
(swagger,  or  swaggie),  a  man  travelling 
in  search  of  work :  cf.  Sundowner 
(1853). 

Swag-belly.  A  very  fat  man  or 
woman,  a  swing  -  paunch.  Hence 
swaggy  (or  swag-bellied),  fat,  forty- 
gutted  (q.v.)  (1550). 

Swagger.  1.  Bluster,  bravado, 
roaring  insolence,  side  (q.v.) ;  as 
verb,  to  strut  defiantly,  to  boast,  to 
bluster,  to  affect  or  obtrude  superi- 
ority :  also  derivatives  such  as 
swaggerer  and  swaggering  (1598).  2. 
(Harrow).  The  rules  of  swagger  are 
most  complex ;  and  a  new  boy  is  apt 
to  find  himself  entangled  :  he  goes  out 
with  his  umbrella  rolled  up  ...  or 
carries  it  by  the  middle,  or  under  his 
arm,  or  he  walks  on  the  middle 
terrace  after  chapel,  or  he  innocently 
wears  his  blues  open  when  it  is  hot,  or 
turns  his  trousers  up  when  it  is  wet, 
and  ...  he  is  swaggering  ;  lady  visitors 
sometimes  think  small  boys  at 
Harrow  rude  ...  to  stick  close  to  the 
wall  .  .  .  and  shoulder  the  world  into 
the  gutter — it  is  modesty  ;  to  walk  in 
the  road  is  swagger ;  to  loiter  at  the 
house  door,  or  to  sing  or  whistle  in  the 
passages,  and  to  wear  a  hat  in  the 
house  are  also  forms  of  swagger 
(Warner).  As  adj.,  tip-top  (q.v.), 
swell  (q.v.),  extremely  new. 

Swaining.  Love-making,  spooning 
(q.v.)  (1839). 

Swallow.      (1)    The    throat:    also 


swallow-pipe  ;  (2)  the  act  of  swallow- 
ing ;  and  (3)  a  mouthful :  hence  (4) 
taste,  relish,  inclination,  or  capacity. 
As  verb,  to  receive,  endure,  or  em- 
brace credulously,  patiently,  without 
examination,  scruple  or  reserve ; 
occasionally  to  swallow  whole.  Hence 
swallowable,  credible  (1596).  Phrases : 
One  swallow  does  not  make  a  spring 
(1546) ;  to  swallow  a  spider,  to  become 
a  bankrupt  (1670);  You  say  true; 
will  you  swallow  my  knife  ?  (a  sarcastic 
retort  on  an  impossible  story) ;  to 
swallow  a  tavern  token,  to  get  drunk 
(1596) ;  to  swallow  the,  cackle,  to  learn 
a  part  (theatrical) ;  He  has  swallowed 
a  stake,  and  cannot  stoop  (of  a  very 
upright  unbending  person). 

Swallow-tail.  '  1.  An  arrow,  having 
two  points  or  barbs,  looking  backward 
to  the  stele  and  the  feathers,  which 
surely  we  call  in  English  a  broad  arrow 
head,  or  a  swallow-tail'  (Ascham). 
2.  The  points  of  a  burgee.  3.  A  dress 
coat,  a  steel-pen  coat  (q.v.).  4.  A 
tongue  always  wagging  (1690). 

Swan.  /  swan,  I  swear !  Also 
(more  emphatically),  /  swan  to  man  ! 
(1842). 

Swank.  To  work  hard  :  cf.  Swink. 
Swanker,  a  hard-working  student. 

Swankey.  Any  weak  tipple  :  spec, 
small  beer :  also  (fishermen's)  a 
mixture  of  water,  molasses,  and 
vinegar. 

Swannery.  To  keep  a  swannery,  to 
boast  of  one's  own  doings  (possessions, 
etc. ),  to  make  out  that  all  one's  geese 
are  swans  (Orose). 

Swan-slinger.  A  player  fond  of  or 
famous  for  spouting  Bill  (q.v.) ;  a 
Shakespearean  actor :  the  same  as 
slinging  the  Swan  of  Avon. 

Swap  (or  Swop).  An  act  of  barter, 
an  exchange  :  as  verb,  to  exchange,  to 
strike  a  bargain  (1360).  To  get  the 
swap  (or  swop),  to  be  dismissed.  To 
swap  off,  to  cheat,  to  sell  (q.v.). 

Swapper.  Anything  large  or  big. 
Hence  swapping,  huge,  strong;  Al 
(1589). 

Swarm.     To  climb,  to  shin  up. 

Swarry.  A  boiled  leg  of  mutton 
and  trimmings  (1837). 

Swartwout.  To  abscond.  [From 
the  name  of  a  public  defaulter  in  New 
York.] 

Swash.  To  make  a  noise  :  r:  a 
ruffian  is  the  same  with  a  swaggerer,  so 
called,  because  endeavouring  to  make 


467 


Svxufi  -bucket. 


Sweep. 


that  tide  to  swag  or  weigh  down 
whereon  he  ingagcth  ;  the  same  also 
with  swath-buckler,  from  swashing  or 
making  a  noise  on  bucklers  (F utter). 
Hence  awash-buckler  (swash,  swasher, 
or  twinge-buckler),  a  sworder  good  at 
a  lively  peal  on  his  opposite' s  target ; 
and,  therefore,  by  implication,  a 
ruffler,  bully,  Hector.  As  subs., 
bluster,  vapouring,  roaring ;  swashing 
(or  swash;/),  (1)  noisy  (a  swashing 
blow) ;  and  (2)  loud-mouthed  and 
quarrelsome  (1560). 

Swash-bucket     A  slattern. 

Swat.  1.  A  blow  :  as  verb,  (1)  to 
strike,  to  hit ;  (2)  to  work  hard,  to 
sweat  (q.v.).  Also  as  subs.,  2.  hard 
study :  spec.  (Royal  Military  Aca- 
demy), mathematics. 

Swatchel(  Punch  and  Judy).  Punch. 
Hence  swatchd-  (or  schwassle-)  box, 
the  Punch  and  Judy  show ;  swalchel- 
cove,  a  Punch  and  Judy  man :  spec, 
the  patterer.  The  other  terms  con- 
nected with  this  drama  of  the  streets 
are  : — Mozzy,  Judy  ;  darkey,  the 
negro ;  vampo,  the  clown ;  vampire, 
the  ghost ;  buffer,  the  dog ;  buffer- 
figure,  the  dog's  master ;  crocodile, 
the  demon  ;  filio,  the  baby  ;  the  frame, 
the  street  arrangement ;  peepsies, 
the  panpipes ;  nobbing-dum,  the  bag 
for  collecting  money ;  the  letter  doth, 
the  advertisement ;  tambour,  the 
drum  ;  the  stalk  (or  prop),  the  gallows  ; 
the  slum  fake,  the  coffin  ;  the  slum,  the 
call. 

Swattled.     Drunk ;  see  Screwed. 

Swear.  An  oath,  a  cuss  (q.v.):  also 
swear-word.  Also  (colloquial)  to  swear 
at  (said  of  anything  incongruous): 
e.g.  His  frock  coat  swore  at  his 
bowler  hat ;  to  swear  like  a  lord 
(trooper,  etc.),  to  volley  oaths,  to  make 
the  air  blue  (q.v.) ;  to  swear  through  a 
nine  inch  plank  (nautical),  to  back  up 
any  lie  (C.  Russell :  a  favourite  ex- 
pression of  Lord  Nelson  when  referring 
to  American  skippers)  (1531). 

Sweat.  1.  To  work  hard,  to  drudge, 
to  put  in  licks  (q.v.) ;  also  to  sweat 
ones  guts  out :  ct  modern  (public 
school)  swat  (or  swot),  fagging, 
hard  study,  especially  mathematics, 
whence  swot  also,  a  mathematician  ; 
and  as  verb,  to  fag,  or  study  hard  : 
this  word  (swot)  originated  at  the  Royal 
Military  College,  Sandhurst,  in  the 
broad  Scotch  pronunciation  of  Dr. 
Wallace,  one  of  the  Professors,  of  the 


word  sweat  (Hotten).  2.  To  suffer,  to 
pay  the  penalty  :  also  to  beat,  to  pay 
out  (1610).  3.  A  street  bully  ;  it  was 
their  practice  to  cut  off  a  small  portion 
of  the  scabbards  of  the  swords  which 
every  one  then  wore,  and  prick,  or 
pink,  the  persons  with  whom  they 
quarrelled  with  the  naked  points, 
which  were  sufficiently  protruded  to 
inflict  considerable  pain,  but  not 
sufficient  to  cause  death.  Sweating, 
a  diversion  practised  by  the  bloods  of 
the  last  century,  who  styled  themselves 
Mohocks :  these  gentlemen  lay  in 
wait  to  surprise  some  person  late  in 
the  night,  when  surrounding  him, 
they  with  their  swords  pricked  him  in 
the  posteriors,  which  obliged  him  to  be 
constantly  turning  round  :  this  they 
continued  till  they  thought  him 
sufficiently  sweated  (Orose).  4.  To 
extort,  lose,  or  squander  money  freely, 
to  fleece  (q.v.),  to  bleed  (q.v.);  to 
sweat  one's  purse,  to  cause  one  to 
spend  everything  (1784).  5.  To  work 
for  (or  employ  labour  at)  starvation 
wages;  to  submit  to  extortion  (or 
to  extort) ;  hence  sweater,  an  em- 
ployer of  underpaid  labour :  usually 
a  middleman  between  the  actual 
employer  and  employed  ;  a  grinding 
taskmaster;  whence  sweating-system, 
sweater,  sweated,  etc.  (1850).  6.  To 
pawn  (1811).  Phrases:  In  a  sweat,  (I) 
in  a  hurry,  and  (2)  in  a  state  of  terror, 
impatient ;  to  sweat  coins,  to  remove 
part  of  the  metal  from  coins  (chiefly 
gold)  by  friction  or  acids,  yet  in  such 
a  manner  that  the  depreciation  is 
imperceptible  (1785). 

Sweat-box.  The  cell  used  for 
prisoners  while  awaiting  appearance 
before  a  magistrate. 

Sweater  ( Winchester).  1 .  A  servant ; 
hence  sweat-gallery,  fagging  juniors. 
2.  A  thick  coat  (or  flannel  jersey)  worn 
by  contestants  after  a  finish  until  they 
can  be  rubbed  down.  3  (Stock 
Exchange).  A  broker  who  works  for 
such  small  commissions  as  to  prevent 
other  brokers  getting  the  business, 
whilst  hardly  being  profitable  to 
himself.  4.  See  Sweat. 

Sweat-pits.      The  arm- pita  (1709). 

Sweep.  1.  A  sweepstakes.  2. 
A  term  of  contempt:  e.g.  What  a 
sweep  the  man  is.  You  dirty  sweep. 
To  sweep  the  board,  to  take  every- 
thing, to  pocket  all  the  stakes ;  to 
make  a  dean  sweep,  to  clean  out  (q.v.), 


45S 


Sweep's-friU. 


Swdled-nose. 


to  remove  entirely ;  also  sweep,  at 
whist,  taking  all  the  tricks  in  the 
hand,  a  slam  (q.v.)  (1680).  The 
sweeps,  the  Rifle  Brigade.  Their 
facings  from  formation  (1800)  have 
been  black.] 

Sweep 's-f rill.  Beard  and  whiskers 
worn  round  the  chin,  the  rest  of  the 
face  being  clean  shaven. 

Sweet.  1.  Gullible,  easily  deceived. 
2.  Expert,  dexterous,  clever :  e.g. 
Sweet's  your  hand  (said  of  a  clever 
thief).  Hence  to  sweeten  a  victim,  to 
allay  his  suspicions  (Grose),  to  decoy, 
draw  in,  and  bite  (B.  E.) :  see  Sweet- 
ener. 

Sweetbread.  A  bribe,  a  tip  (q.v.) 
(1692). 

Sweeten.  A  beggar.  Also  as  verb, 
(1)  to  give  alms  (Grose);  (2)  to  con- 
tribute to  the  pool ;  hence  sweetening, 
money  paid  into  the  pool  or  kitty.  To 
sweeten  and  pinch,  a  main  part  of  his 
[a  bum-bailiff's]  office  is  to  swear  and 
bluster  .  .  .  and  cry  Confound  us,  why 
do  we  wait  ?  let  us  shop  him  ;  whilst 
the  other  meekly  replies,  Jack,  be 
patient,  it  is  a  civil  gentleman,  and  I 
know  will  consider  us ;  which  species 
of  wheedling,  in  terms  of  their  art,  is 
called  sweeten  and  pinch  (Harl.  Misc.). 

Sweetener.  1.  A  guinea-dropper 
(q.v.) :  a  coin  is  planted  (q.v.),  and  a 
likely  passer-by  is  offered  a  share 
because  present  at  the  discovery ;  to 
get  change,  drinks  are  suggested,  and 
the  victim  goes  out  fleeced  (1699).  2. 
A  runner-up  (q.v.)  of  prices  ;  a  bonnet 
(q.v.).  3.  In  pi.,  the  lips ;  to  fake  the 
sweeteners,  to  kiss.  4.  One  who 
decoys  persons  to  game  (Bailey) ;  also 
sweeten,  to  decoy,  to  draw  in. 

Sweetheart.  1.  A  mistress,  pour 
le  bon  motif ;  and  2.  a  wanton  term 
(Hiiloet).  Also  variants  :  sweet,  sweet- 
ing, sweetkins,  sweet-lips,  etc.  Also 
sweetkin,  adj.,  delicate,  dainty ;  and 
sweet  on,  in  love  with,  partial  to 
(1534). 

Sweeties.  Sweetmeats  also  sweet- 
stuff  (1758). 

Sweet  -  lips.  1.  An  epicure,  a 
glutton.  2.  See  Sweetheart. 

Sweetmeat.  After  sweet  meat 
comes  sour  sauce,  a  monition  to 
temperance  and  sobriety  (Bailey). 

Sweet -tooth.  A  liking  for  sweet 
things  or  sweetmeats. 

Swell.  1 .  A  gentleman  ;  but  any 
well-dressed  person  is  emphatically 


termed  a  swell,  or  a  rank  swell.  A 
family  man  who  appears  to  have 
plenty  of  money,  and  makes  a  genteel 
figure,  is  said  by  his  associates  to  be 
in  Swell  Street.  Anything  remark- 
able for  its  beauty  or  elegance,  is 
called  a  swell  article  ;  so  a  swell  crib  is 
a  genteel  house  ;  a  swell  mollisher,  an 
elegantly  dressed  woman,  etc.  Some- 
times in  alluding  to  a  particular 
gentleman,  whose  name  is  not  re- 
quisite, he  is  styled,  the  swell,  meaning 
the  person  who  is  the  object  of  your 
discourse  or  attention ;  and  whether 
he  is  called  the  swell,  the  cove,  or  the 
gory,  is  immaterial,  as  in  the  following 
(in  addition  to  many  other)  examples :  1 
was  turned  up  at  China-street,  because 
the  swell  would  not  appear  ;  meaning, 
of  course,  the  prosecutor:  again, 
speaking  of  a  person  whom  you  were 
on  the  point  of  robbing,  but  who  has 
taken  the  alarm,  and  is  therefore 
on  his  guard,  you  will  say  to  your 
pal,  It's  of  no  use,  the  cove  is  as  down 
as  a  hammer ;  or,  We  may  as  well  stow 
it,  the  gory's  leary  (Grose).  2.  It  is 
very  hard  to  define  exactly  what  is 
meant  by  a  swell  at  Eton  ;  but  it 
usually  implies  a  boy  who,  brought 
into  notice  either  by  athletic  prowess 
or  scholarship,  or  high  standing  in  the 
school,  by  this  means  becomes  ac- 
quainted with  the  leading  members 
of  the  school,  and  is  found  on  acquaint- 
ance to  develop  considerable  social 
qualities,  which  make  him  hand  and 
glove  with  all  the  Eton  magnates 
(Oliphant).  Hence,  as  adj.  (also 
swcttish),  (1)  elegant,  stylish,  dandified 
and  (2)  first -rate,  tip -top  (q.v.). 
Also  derivatives  and  combinations 
such  as  swelldom,  the  world  of  fashion  ; 
to  live  in  Swell-street,  to  reside  in  the 
West  End ;  a  swell  hung  in  chains,  a 
bejewelled  man  or  woman  ;  a  howling 
swell  (see  Howling) ;  swell-head  (or 
block),  a  vain  coxcomb  (Amer.).  3. 
(Winchester).  In  pi.,  Sunday  Ser- 
vices, Saints'  days,  etc. :  when  surplices 
are  worn.  As  verb  (Winchester),  to 
bathe,  to  swill. 

Swell-head.  1.  A  drunken  man  :  see 
Lushington.  2.  See  Swell  and  Swol- 
len head. 

Swell  -  mobsman.  A  well-dreseed 
pickpocket.  Hence  swell-mob  (1843). 

Swelled  -  nose.  Ill  temper.  Does 
your  nose  swell  (or  itch)  at  thai  t  Are 
you  riled  ? 


459 


Swipe. 


Swell -nose.  Strong  ale,  stingo 
(q.v.)  (1515). 

S'welp.  So  help:  usually  in  the 
adjurations,  S'welp  me  bob,  or 
S'welp  my  taters  (bob,  green*,  etc.) 
(1837). 

Swift.  A  quick  -  working  com- 
positor (1841). 

Swig.  A  deep  draught :  also  as 
verb,  to  drink  heartily,  to  pull  hard 
(q.v.).  Hence  sn-iggled,  drunk:  see 
Screwed  (1623). 

Swigman.     A  pedlar-thief  (1567). 

Swill.  To  drink  (and,  occasion- 
ally, to  eat)  piggishly  :  hence  as  subs., 
booze  (q.v.),  the  lap,  or  the  act:  in 
contempt.  Swill-bend  (swUler,  swill- 
pol,  swtll-tvb,  or  swill-belly),  a  heavy 
toper  (or  glutton) ;  swilled,  drunk : 
see  Screwed  (1530). 

Swim.  One's  particular  pursuits, 
pitch  (q.v.),  or  fancy.  Hence  in  a 
good  (or  bad)  swim,  lucky  (or  un- 
lucky). In  the  swim,  ( 1 )  participant  in 
the  times.  2.  In  the  inner  circle  or 
the  know  (q.v.).  3.  Associated  in 
any  undertaking.  4.  A  long  time  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  police  (thieves') : 
FT.,  dans  le  mouvement  (or  le  train). 
To  swim  in  golden  grease  (oU,  lard,  etc. ), 
to  roll  in  bribes:  see  Grease  (1605). 
To  make  a  man  swim  for  it,  to  cheat  a 
pal  out  of  his  share  of  booty.  How  we 
apples  swim :  see  Apples. 

Swimmer.  1.  '  A  Counterfeit  (old) 
Coyn'  (B.  E.).  2.  A  guard-ship,  or 
tender ;  a  thief  who  escapes  prosecution, 
when  before  a  magistrate,  on  condition 
of  being  sent  on  board  the  receiving- 
ship,  to  serve  His  Majesty,  is  said 
by  his  pals  to  be  swimmered  (Orote) : 
also  to  nave  a  swimmer. 

Swimming.  Generic  for  plenty : 
thus  a  swimming  (a  full  or  brisk) 
market :  cf.  Sick ;  a  swimming  (an 
overfull)  dish ;  a  swimming  (an  ex- 
tremely pleasant)  time,  etc.  Hence 
swimmingly,  successfully,  prosper- 
ously (1622). 

Swindle.  1.  Originally  (and  pro- 
perly) a  fraud  or  imposition  (in  which 
sense  see  Swindler).  2.  Loosely  and 
frequently,  any  speculation  or  matter 
of  chance :  e.g.  a  lottery,  a  toss  for 
drinks,  a  sweepstakes,  a  race,  etc.  ; 
also  (more  loosely  still)  any  transaction 
in  which  money  passes  :  e.g.  What's 
the  swindle,  What's  to  pay  (or  the 
damage)  ?  Why  don't  yon  pay  the 
man  his  swindle  ?  Why  don't  you 


give  the  price  ?  Swindler  (q.v.)  is 
quite  another  matter. 

Swindler.  A  cheat,  a  rogue  :  spec, 
one  who  employs  petty  or  mean  arti- 
fices, legal  or  illegal,  for  defrauding 
others.  Hence  swindle,  a  fraud,  a  de- 
ception, an  imposition  :  and  as  verb, 
to  cheat,  to  defraud.  Whence,  also, 
derivatives  such  as  swindleable,  swind- 
lery,  swindling,  etc.  [Orig.  used  of 
German  Jews  who  settled  in  London, 
circa  1762.  Also  by  soldiers  in  the 
Seven  Years'  War.] 

Swine.  A  term  of  the  utmost 
contempt.  Hence  swinish,  greedy, 
gluttonous,  covetous  (B.  E.)  (1597). 
Phrases  and  proverbial  sayings :  Like 
a  swine,  never  good  until  he  come 
to  the  knife  (of  a  covetous  perron) ; 
to  sing  like  a  bird  called  a  swine,  to 
grunt ;  to  cast  pearls  before  swine  (of 
unappreciated  action  or  effort). 

Swine-drunk.  Beastly  drunk  :  see 
Screwed  (1592). 

Swing.  Bent,  a  free  hand  or  course 
e.g.  to  have  (or  take)  one's  swing  (or 
full  swing),  to  do  as  one  likes ;  also 
to  swing  (a  matter)  over  one's  head, 
shoulders,  etc.,  to  manage  easily ;  to 
swing  a  business  (market,  prices,  etc.), 
to  control ;  to  manage  (1530).  As  verb, 
to  hang :  see  Ladder.  Hence,  the 
swing,  the  gallows :  see  Nubbing  cheat 
(1542).  To  swing  the  monkey,  to  strike 
with  knotted  handkerchiefs  a  man 
who  swings  to  a  rope  made  fast  aloft ; 
the  person  the  monkey  strikes  whilst 
swinging  takes  his  place. 

Swinge.  To  beat,  to  thrash,  to 
chastise,  to  punish  (1280).  Hence 
(Charterhouse)  swinger  (q.v.),  a  box 
on  the  ears.  Sunngeing,  a  thrashing  ; 
suringe-buckler  (see  Swash). 

Swinging  (Swindging,  or 
Swingeing).  Huge,  astonishing : 
generic  for  size  :  anything  that  beats 
all  else  :  see  Swinge.  Hence  swinger, 
anything  of  size,  a  whopper  (q.v.) : 
spec,  an  unblushing  falsehood  (1623). 

Swing-tail.     A  hog. 

Swinny.  Drunk :  see  Screwed : 
also  swinnied. 

Swipe.  1.  A  blow  delivered  with 
the  full  length  of  the  arm  ;  as  verb,  to 
drive  (q.v.),  to  bang :  hence  swiper, 
a  hard  hitter,  a  slogger  (q.v.),  a 
knocker-out  (q.v.) :  at  Harrow,  to 
birch  (1200).  2.  In  pi.,  thin,  washy 
beer,  small  beer :  also  (schools)  any 
poor  tipple  :  as  verb,  to  drink  ;  hence 


460 


Swish. 


Tack. 


swipey  (or  swiped),  drunk  ;  and  swipes 
a  potman  (1785) ;  also  see  Purser's 
swipes.  As  verb,  to  steal :  see 
Prig. 

Swish.  To  flog.  Hence  swishing,  a 
thrashing  (1855). 

Swished.     Married  (1785). 

Swish-swash.  Any  weak  bever- 
age, slops  (q.v.).  '  There  is  a  kind  of 
swish-swash  made  also  in  Essex,  and 
diverse  other  places,  with  honicombs 
and  water,  which  the  homelie  countre 
wives,  putting  some  pepper  and  a  little 
other  spice  among,  called  mead,  verie 
good  in  mine  opinion  for  such  as  love 
to  be  loose-bodied  at  large,  or  a  little 
eased  of  the  cough ;  otherwise  it 
differeth  so  much  from  the  true 
metheglin  as  chalke  from  cheese' 
(Holinshed). 

Swish-tail.  1.  A  pheasant.  2.  A 
horse  with  undocked  tail.  3.  A 
schoolmaster. 

Swiss  Admiral.  A  pretender  to 
naval  rank:  cf.  FT.,  amiral  suisse,  a 
n  aval  officer  solely  employed  on  shore, 
or  who  has  never  been  to  sea. 

Switch.  To  switch  in,  to  be  ex- 
peditious in  movement. 

Swivel  -  eyed.      Squinting    (Grose). 


Hence  swivel  •  eye,  a  squint  -  eye,  a 
boss-eye  (q.v.). 

Swivelly.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Swizzle  (or  S  w  i  z  z  y).  1. 
Generic  for  drink ;  also,  2.  various 
compounded  drinks — rum  and  water, 
ale  and  beer  mixed,  and  (West  Indies) 
what  is  known  in  America  as  a  cock- 
tail. As  verb,  to  tope,  to  swill  (q.v.) ; 
and  swizzled,  drunk  ;  also  see  Screwed 
(1850). 

Swobber.     See  Swabber. 

Swoddy.     See  Swad. 

Swollenhead.  To  have  a  swollen 
head,  (1)  to  put  on  airs,  to  be  filled 
with  a  violent  sense  of  one's  own 
importance :  also  (2)  to  be  drunk :  see 
Screwed :  also  Swetted-head. 

Swop.     See  Swap. 

Sword-racket.  Enlisting  in  differ- 
ent regiments,  and  deserting  after 
taking  the  bounty. 

Swot.  See  Sweat.  In  a  swot 
(Shrewsbury),  in  a  rage. 

Sydney-sider  (or  bird).  A 
convict.  [Sydney  was  originally  a 
convict  settlement.] 

S  y  e  b  u  c  k.  Sixpence  :  see  Rhino 
(1785). 

Syntax.     A  schoolmaster  (Grose). 


To  a  T.  Exactly,  to  a  nicety, 
as  true  as  an  angle  drawn  with  a 
T-square  (1698).  To  be  marked  with  a 
T,  known  as  a  thief :  formerly  con- 
victed thieves  were  branded  with  a  T  in 
the  hand.  T.  T.,  too  thin  or  too  trans- 
parent :  e.g.  the  story  is  T.  T. 

Tab.  1.  A  check,  an  account;  to 
keep  tab,  to  keep  watch.  2.  In  pi., 
the  ears.  To  drive  tab.  to  go  out  on 
a  party  of  pleasure  with  a  wife  and 
family  (Grose).  The  Tab,  the  Metro- 
politan Tabernacle  in  Newington 
Causeway. 

Tabarder.  A  scholar  on  the  foun- 
dation of  Queen's  College,  Oxford : 
the  original  dress  was  a  tabard ;  they 
are  part  of  the  foundation,  which 
consists  of  a  provost,  16  fellows,  2 
chaplains,  8  tabarders,  12  probation- 
ary scholars,  and  2  clerks, —  Oxf. 
Univ.  Col.  (1692). 

Tabby.  1.  An  old  maid  ;  hence  2. 
a  spiteful  tattler :  cf.  Cat.  Tabby- 
party,  a  gathering  of  women  (1761). 


Tabernacle.  The  shed  in  Moor" 
fields,  which  Whitefield  used  as  a 
temporary  chapel,  was  called  The 
Tabernacle  ;  and,  in  the  scornful  dia- 
lect of  certain  Church  of  England  men, 
Methodist  and  such  -  like  places  of 
worship  have,  since  then,  been  known 
as  Tabernacles.  See  Tin  Tabernacle 
and  Tab. 

Table.  To  turn  the  tables,  to  re- 
verse matters  (1692). 

Table-cloth  (The).  A  white  cloud 
covering  the  top  of  Table  Mountain. 

Tace.  Tace  is  Latin  for  a  candle,  a 
cant  phrase  in  the  18th  century 
suggesting  the  expediency  of  silence. 
[Latin,  tacere  (Grose).] 

Tach.     A  hat :  see  Golgotha. 

Tachs.  A  fad,  mental  eccentricity, 
blot,  spot,  stain,  vice,  quality,  disposi- 
tion, trick,  enterprise. 

Tack.  Generic  for  food :  specifically 
(1),  bad  food  or  bad  malt  liquor. 
Hence  (2),  in  combination  :  e.g.  hard- 
tack, coarse  fare  or  (army  and  navy) 


461 


Tnck-T. 


Tail. 


biscuit  as  distinguished  from  bread ; 
soft-tack,  (a)  good  fare,  and  (b)  bread  : 
also  tackle.  At  Sherborne  School,  tack, 
a  feast  in  one's  study.  To  tack  together, 
to  marry :  cf.  Hitch,  Splice,  Noose, 
etc.  (1754). 

Tacker.  A  great  falsehood  (Hatti- 
wett). 

Tackle.  1.  A  mistress  (1785)  (Grose). 
2.  Good  clothes  (B.  E.).  3.  A  watch 
chain  ;  a  red  tackle,  a  gold  chain.  As 
verb,  to  do  with  energy,  to  set  to 
work,  to  cope  with,  to  attack :  generic. 
Thus,  to  tackle  (to  attempt  the  solu- 
tion of)  a  problem ;  to  tackle  (to  close 
with)  a  burglar,  etc.  (1844). 

Tad.  Perhaps  an  abbreviation  of 
tadpole.  1.  A  very  small  boy,  especi- 
ally a  small  street- boy  (Century)  ;  little 
tads,  small  boys  ;  old  tads,  graybeards, 
old  men  (Barilett).  2.  Excrement 
(HaUiweU). 

Taf.  Fat ;  e.g.  taf  eno,  a  fat  man 
or  woman  (lit.  fat  one). 

Taff.  (Christ's  Hospital).  A 
potato. 

Taffy.  1.  A  Welshman  (1577); 
hence  Taffy's  Day,  St.  David's  Day, 
the  1st  March  :  a  Welsh  pronuncia- 
tion of  Davy.  2.  Flattery,  blarney 
(q.v.),  soft-soap  (q.v.):  as  verb,  to 
flatter. 

Tag  (Winchester  football).  An 
off-side  kick  :  also  as  verb.  When  a 
player  has  kicked  the  ball  well  forward, 
and  has  followed  it,  if  it  was  then 
kicked  back  again  behind  him  by  the 
other  side,  he  was  then  obliged  to 
return  to  his  original  position  with  bis 
own  side.  If  the  ball  had,  in  the 
meantime,  been  again  kicked  in  front 
of  him,  before  he  regained  his  position, 
and  he  was  to  kick  it,  it  would  be  con- 
sidered unfair,  and  he  would  be  said 
to  tag  (Mansfield).  Tag,  rag,  and  bob- 
tail: see  Rag. 

Tag-end.  The  fag-end,  the  con- 
cluding portion. 

Taglioni.  An  overcoat :  named 
after  the  dancer  (1837). 

Tagrhyme.     A  rhymester  (1698). 

Tagster.  A  scold,  a  virago  (Hatti- 
well). 

Tagtail.     A  parasite,  a  hanger-on. 

Tail.  1.  The  lower  or  latter 
end.  To  turn  tail,  1.  to  turn  one's 
back  on ;  2.  to  run  away,  to  shirk ; 
top  over  tail,  head  over  heels  ;  the  taii- 
end,  the  fag-end  (q.v.).  3.  A  woman's 
dress :  espec.  when  trailing  on  the 


ground  (1774).  4.  The  reverse  of  a 
coin  :  spec,  the  side  opposite  to  that 
bearing  a  head  (q.v.):  chiefly  in 
phrase  (heads  or  tails)  in  tossing ; 
hence  neither  head  nor  tail,  neither  one 
nor  the  other,  quite  different  (1774). 
5.  In  pi.,  a  tail-coat,  as  distinguished 
from  a  jacket;  charity-tails  (Harrow), 
a  tail-coat  worn  by  a  boy  in  the 
Lower  School  who  is  considered  by 
the  headmaster  to  be  tall  enough  to 
require  it.  6.  A  girl's  hair,  curled, 
plaited,  etc.,  and  allowed  to  hang 
down  the  back  in  a  single  strand. 
7.  A  line  of  persons  waiting  in  rank  ; 
a  queue :  as  outside  a  theatre, 
booking-office,  etc.  8.  A  band  of 
followers,  retinue,  henchmen.  9.  A 
sword ;  tail-drawer,  a  sword  stealer 
(B.  E.).  10.  The  last  two  or  three 
men  in  a  batting  eleven  to  go  to 
the  wickets.  As  verb,  to  tend  sheep, 
to  herd  cattle  (1844).  Phrases  and 
combinations :  tail  of  the  eye,  the  outer 
corner  of  the  eye  ;  cow's-tail,  a  frayed 
rope's-end,  one  not  properly  knotted : 
hence,  hanging  in  cow's  tails  (said  of  a 
badly  kept  ship) ;  tail-end,  the  latter 
part,  the  wind-up ;  with  one's  tail 
between  one's  legs,  cowed,  humiliated, 
conscious  of  defeat :  also  with  tail 
down,  with  tail  up,  in  good  form  or 
spirits  ;  with  tail  out,  angry  ;  with  tati 
in  the  water,  thriving ;  to  flee  the  tati, 
to  near  the  end  ;  to  twist  the  lion's  tati, 
to  gird  at  England  (or  the  English 
people)  ;  to  cast  (lay  or  throw)  salt  on 
the  tail -.see  Salt  (1678).  Also  proverbs 
and  proverbial  sayings :  the  devil 
wipes  his  tail  with  the  poor  man's 
pride  (Ray) ;  '  betweene  two  stools  my 
taile  goes  to  the  ground '  (Heywood)  ; 
to  make  a  rod  for  one  s  own  tail 
(Heywood) ;  like  lambs,  you  do 
nothing  but  suck  and  wag  your  tails  ; 
she  goes  as  if  she  cracked  nuts  with 
her  tail ;  to  look  like  a  dog  that  has 
lost  its  tail ;  she's  like  a  cat,  she'll 
play  with  her  own  tati ;  make  not  thy 
tati  broader  than  thy  wings  (keep  not 
too  many  attendants)  ;  his  tati  will 
catch  the  chin-cough  (said  of  one 
sitting  on  the  ground) ;  as  hasty  as  a 
sheep,  when  the  tati  is  up  ;  as  free  as 
an  ape  is  of  his  tati ;  he  that  aught 
the  cow  gangs  nearest  her  tati;  he 
holds  the  serpent  by  the  tail  (of  any- 
thing absurd  or  foolish)  ;  to  grow  like 
a  cow's  tail  (i.e.  downwards)  ;  lay 
the  head  of  the  sow  to  the  tail  of  the 


402 


Tail-block. 


Take. 


grice ;  to  have  a  slippery  eel  by  the 
tail  (of  anything  uncertain)  ;  it  melts 
like  butter  in  a  sow's  tail ;  to  swallow 
an  ox,  and  be  choked  with  the  tail; 
the  higher  the  ape  goes,  the  more  he 
shows  his  tail  ;  there  is  as  much  hold 
of  his  word  as  of  a  wet  eel  by  the  tail ; 
he  hath  eaten  a  horse  and  the  tail 
hangs  out  of  his  mouth. 

Tail-block.     A  watch. 

Tail-board.  The  back  flap  of  a 
little  girl's  breeches. 

Tail-buzzer.    A  pickpocket. 

Tailer  (or  Taylor) .  ( 1 )  A  fall  on  the 
breech ;  a  pratfall  (q.v.)  ;  and  (2)  an 
exclamation  on  falling,  or  unex- 
pectedly sitting  down  on  one's  tail 
(q.v.)  (1592). 

Tailor.  Nine  (ten,  or  three)  tailors 
make  a  man,  a  jesting  sarcasm  (1605). 
The  fag-end  of  a  tailor,  a  botcher 
(1608).  Phrases :  A  tailor's  shreds  are 
worth  the  cutting ;  lake  the  tailor 
who  sewed  for  nothing,  and  found 
the  thread  himself ;  thieving  and 
tailor  go  together;  put  a  taUor,  a 
miller,  and  a  weaver  into  a  sack,  shake 
them  well,  and  the  first  that  puts  out 
his  head  is  certainly  a  thief  (1600). 

Tail-pipe.  1.  To  fasten  anything  to 
the  tail  of  a  cat  or  dog ;  hence,  2.  to 
annoy  (1857). 

Tail-pulling.  The  publication  of 
books  of  little  or  no  merit,  the  whole 
cost  of  which  is  paid  by  the  author  : 
cf.  Barabbas. 

Take.  1.  To  please,  to  succeed. 
Hence,  taking  (or  taky),  attractive, 
captivating  :  also  to  take  to  (or  with), 
or  to  have  a  take  (1340).  2.  To  blight, 
to  injure  :  by  infection,  disease,  grief, 
etc. :  as  subs.,  a  witch's  charm  ;  hence 
taking,  infections  (still  colloquial  or 
provincial)  (1332).  3.  To  deliver  a 
blow,  to  strike  (1430).  Phrases  and 
colloquialisms :  take  has  been,  and 
still  is,  much  in  colloquial  use  ;  thus, 
to  take  back,  to  retract ;  to  take  a  breath, 
to  consider,  to  seek  advice ;  to  take 
after,  to  resemble;  to  take  about  the 
neck,  to  embrace  ;  to  take  any  one  forth, 
to  teach,  to  give  a  start ;  to  be  taken 
by  the  face,  to  be  put  to  the  blush  ;  to 
take  beef,  to  run  away ;  to  take  down, 
(1)  to  humiliate  (see  Peg)  ;  (2)  to 
best  (Australian)  ;  to  take  up,  to  re- 
prove (also  to  take  to  do,  to  task,  and 
a  talking  to)  ;  to  take  heart,  to  pluck 
up  courage ;  to  take  to  heart,  to  grieve ; 
to  take  it  out,  (1)  to  get  value,  to 


extort  or  compel  satisfaction  or  re- 
paration ;  and  (2)  to  exhaust ;  to  take, 
one  (or  it),  to  understand ;  to  take  in, 
(1)  to  deceive,  to  swindle  (whence  a 
take-in  (Bee),  fraud,  humbug) ;  (2),  to 
believe ;  (3)  to  capture,  subdue,  seize 
(B.  E.) ;  to  take  off,  (1)  to  kill  (taking- 
off,  death) ;  (2)  to  ridicule,  to  mimic 
(take-off,  a  caricature) ;  to  take  out,  to 
copy ;  to  take  on  or  by,  (1)  to  grieve, 
to  show  emotion  (hence  taking,  a  to- 
do)  ;  and  (2),  to  simulate  ;  to  take  one 
(or  a  matter)  on,  (1)  to  engage,  to 
accept  as  an  opponent ;  (2)  to  under- 
take; to  take  to  (or  up),  generic  for 
doing  (e.g.  to  take  to  gambling,  early 
rising,  etc.) ;  to  take  to  one's  legs  (a 
shute,  water,  etc.),  to  fly;  see  Heels, 
adding  quots.  infra;  to  take  up  (old, 
to  take),  (1)  to  arrest;  (2)  to  stop; 

(3)  to  reform  ;    (4)  to  clear  up  (prov. 
of  the  weather) ;    (5)  to   protect,  to 
defend;  (6)  to  borrow;   (7)  to  rally, 
to  snub;  and  (8)  to  understand;   to 
take  upon,  to  suspect;  to   take  upon 
oneself,  to  arrogate  authority,  dignity, 
etc. ;  to  take  up  with,  (1)  to  consort 
with;  (2)   to   court;  (3)   to  endure; 

(4)  to  adopt ;  to  take  the  gloss  off,  to 
detract  in  value ;  to  take  the  field,  to 
bet  against  the  favourite ;  to  take  up 
one's   connections    (Amer.   Univ.),   to 
leave  college ;  to  take  an  oath,  to  take 
a  drink;   to   take  one  along  (or  with 
one),   to   make   understand ;   to    take 
one's    teeth    to    anything,   to    set    to 
heartily ;  to  take  a  stick  to,  to  beat ;  to 
take  (or  sit  at)  one's  ease  in  one's  inn, 
to   enjoy  oneself:  as   if  one  were  at 
home  (hence,  taking  it  easy,  drunk) ; 
take  it  as  you  like,  be  angry  or  net- 
as  you  please  (Bee).    Also  (proverbial) 
to  take  from  one's  right  side  to  give 
to  one's  left;  to  take  one  up  before 
he  is  down,  to  take  the  bird  by  the 
feet ;  take  all,  and  pay  the  baker ;  to 
take  a  Burford  bait  (to  get  drunk); 
to  take  a  dagger  and  drown  oneself ; 
to  take  a  hair  (q.v.)  of  the  same  dog ; 
to  take  a   thing  in   snuff  (q.v.);   to 
take  a  wrong  sow  (q.v.)  by  the  ear; 
to  take  counsel   of  one's   pillow;   to 
take  heart  of  grace ;  to  take  Hector's 
cloak  (to  deceive  a  friend) ;    to   take 
one  a  peg  (q.v.)  lower ;  to  take  physic 
before  one  is  sick ;   who  takes  an  eel 
by  the  tail  and  a  woman  by  her  word, 
may  say  that  he  holds  nothing.     See 
Aback,   Back-seat,  Beard,   Beef,  Bit, 
Book,    Bosom,   Bull,  Bush,   Button- 


463 


Take-a-fright. 


Tame-army. 


hole,  Cake,  Earth  bath,  Ease,  French 
leave,  Grinder,  Ground  sweat,  Heels, 
Hook,  Huff,  Measure,  Napping,  Pee, 
Pepper,  Po thick,  Rag,  Rise,  Road, 
Running,  Shilling,  Shine,  Sight,  Silk, 
Snuff,  Starch,  Sun,  Tea,  Toll,  Turn, 
Vain,  Wind. 

Take-a-fright     Night 

Taker.  One  who  accepts  a  bet,  a 
bookie  (q.v.). 

Taking.     In  pi.,  receipts  (1851). 

Tale.  An  incredible  story,  a  mar- 
vellous narration :  also  old  wife's  (or 
old  man's)  tale:  see  Bull  and  Tub. 
Whence  tale-teller,  persons  said  to 
have  been  hired  to  tell  wonderful 
stories  of  giants  and  fairies,  to  lull 
hearers  to  sleep.  Also  to  tell  tales  out 
of  school,  (1)  to  romance,  and  (2)  to 
play  the  informer :  tell-tale  (or  tell- 
tale-tit), an  informer;  to  tell  a  tale,  to 
turn  a  matter  t  j  profit ;  his  tale  is 
told,  it  is  all  over  with  him;  to  be  in 
a  tale,  to  agree :  also  to  jump  in  one 
tale ;  thereby  hangs  a  tale,  or  tell  that 
for  a  tale  (the  retort  suggestive), 
that's  another  story ;  to  pitch  a  tale, 
to  spin  a  yarn  :  hence,  tale-pitcher,  a 
romancing  talker  or  chattering  mal- 
content 

Talesman.  The  author  of  a  story 
or  report:  I'll  tell  you  my  tale  and 
my  talesman  (B.  E.) 

Talent  (The).  In  sing.,  a  backer 
(q.v.) :  as  opposed  to  a  layer  or  book- 
maker. 

Talk.  To  roar  (q.v.):  of  horses; 
hence,  talker,  a  roarer.  Colloquial 
phrases  :  to  talk  one  down,  to  silence  ; 
to  talk  one  out  of,  to  dissuade ;  to  talk 
over,  (1)  to  persuade:  also  to  talk 
into ;  and  (2)  to  review ;  to  talk  round, 
to  review  a  subject ;  to  talk  up,  (1)  to 
speak  plainly  (or  defiantly) ;  and  (2) 
to  discuss  with  a  view  to  promotion  ; 
to  talk  one  up,  to  urge ;  to  talk  out,  to 
exhaust  patience,  time,  etc.  ;  to  talk 
to,  to  chide :  hence,  talking -to,  a  repri- 
mand ;  to  talk  at,  to  gird  or  chide 
covertly :  talking  of  a  person  who  is 
present  to  another;  to  talk  the  hind 
leg  off  a  jackass  (cow,  horse,  etc.),  to 
seduce,  to  wheedle,  to  charm ;  also  to 
talk  one  mad,  to  death,  into  a  thing, 
fever,  etc. ;  to  talk  Greek,  Dutch  (or 
Double  Dutch),  to  talk  nonsense;  to 
talk  through  one's  neck  (American),  to 
talk  foolishly ;  to  talk  Turkey,  to  say 
pleasant  things.  Also,  talk  of  the 
angels  (or  the  devil)  and  you'll  hear 


the  rustling  of  their  wingn  (or  see  his 
horns).  See  Big,  Dutch-uncle,  Shop, 
Tall-talk  (1600). 

Talkee-talkee.  1.  A  corrupt  dia- 
lect jargon.  Whence,  2.  chatter; 
verbiage.  Also  talky-talky  (1810), 

Talker.  (1)  Then  followed  solos 
from  those  who  could  sing,  and  those 
who  could  not — it  made  no  difference. 
The  latter  class  were  called  talkers,  and 
every  boy  was  encouraged  to  stand  up 
and  talk  it  out  (Howson).  (2)  See 
Talk 

Talking-iron.  A  gun,  rifle:  also 
Shooting-iron  (q.v.)  (1843). 

Tall.  1.  Generic  for  worth.  Thus, 
tall  (seemly)  prayers ;  a  tall  (valiant) 
man,  tall  (fine)  English;  a  tall  (cour- 
ageous) spirit ;  a  tall  (celebrated )  philo- 
sopher ;  to  stand  tall,  to  reply  boldly  ; 
tally  (becomingly  or  finely)  attired;  a 
tall  (great)  compliment,  etc.  [Century: 
The  word  tall  (high,  lofty),  as  applied 
to  a  man,  has  been  confused  with  tall 
fine,  brave,  excellent :  cf.  however, 
sense  2].  Whence  tall  for  his  inches, 
plucky  for  size  (1430).  2.  Anything 
out  of  the  common :  e.g.  a  tall  (severe) 
fight;  tall  (extravagant)  talk:  whence 
to  talk  tall,  to  gas  (q.v.);  atotf(agreat) 
pace,  etc.  Hence  as  adv.,  very,  ex- 
ceedingly. Also,  to  walk  tall,  to  carry 
one's  head  high;  to  put  on  side  (q.v.) 
(1704). 

Tall-boy.  1.  A  wine  glass :  large, 
high-stemmed,  and  showy ;  spec.  '  a 
Pottle  or  two  Quart-pot  full  of  Wine  ' 
(£..&)(  1694).  2.  A  very  tall  chimney, 
pot 

Tall-men.     Highmen  (q.v.). 

Tallow.  A  term  of  contempt ;  thus 
tallow  -  keech  (tallow  •  face,  or  tallow- 
breech),  a  very  fat  person:  whence 
tallow-faced,  sickly,  pale,  undermade ; 
tallow  -  gutted,  pot  -  bellied ;  tallow- 
breeched,  fat-breeched. 

Tally  (or  To  Live  Tally).  To  live  in 
concubinage :  chiefly  mining  Also 
to  make  a  tally-bargain. 

Tally-men.  Brokers  that  let  out 
clothes  at  moderate  rates  to  wear  per 
week,  month,  or  year  (B.  E.);  that 
let  out  clothes  to  the  women  of  the 
town  (Orose). 

Tame.  To  run  tame.  To  live 
familiarly  in  the  family  with  which 
one  is  upon  a  visit  (Grose). 

Tame-army.  The  London  Trained 
Bands  (Orose) :  [cf.  Foote's  description 
(Mayor  of  Garratt)  of  the  London 


464 


Tame-cat. 


Tar. 


regiments  as  holiday  soldiers, 
never  wet  to  the  skin  in  their  lives 
except  as  a  matter  of  accident. 

Tame-cat.  A  woman's  fetch-and- 
carry,  a  hearthrug  saint. 

Tame-goose.  A  foolish  fellow:  a 
simpleton;  also  tame-fellow,  tractable, 
easy,  manageable  (B.  E.)  (1598). 

Tamper.  To  practise  upon  any- 
one (B.  E.). 

Tan.  To  flog;  to  thrash.  Hence, 
tanning,  a  beating.  Also,  to  tan  one! a 
hide  (1600).  To  smell  of  the  tan,  to 
smack  of  the  ring,  to  be  circussy :  cf. 
lamp. 

Tandem.  1.  A  two -wheeled 
chaise,  buggy,  or  noddy,  drawn  by 
two  horses,  one  before  the  other ;  that 
is,  at  length  (Grose).  Hence,  2.  'a 
carriage  so  drawn  ;  and,  3.  a  bicycle 
for  two  riders. 

Tangierenes  (The).  1.  The  Queen's 
(Royal  West  Surrey  Regiment),  late 
the  2nd  Foot:  2.  The  King's  Own 
(Royal  Lancaster  Regiment),  late  the 
4th  Foot.  [Tangiers  formed  part  of 
the  dowry  of  Catherine  of  Braganza,  the 
Queen  of  Charles  II. :  the  regiments 
were  raised  for  the  defence  of  that 
possession.  ] 

Tangle.     A  tall,  lanky  person. 

Tanglefoot  (or  Tangleleg).  Any 
intoxicating  liquor.  Tanglefooted, 
drunk:  see  Screwed  (1862). 

Tank  (King  Edward's  School, 
Birm.)  To  cane,  to  cosh  (q.v.). 

Tankard.  Tears  of  the  tankard, 
drippings  of  liquor  on  the  waistcoat 
(1670). 

Tanner.  Sixpence :  6d. :  e.g.  The 
kiddy  tipt  the  rattling-cove  a  tanner 
for  luck,  the  lad  gave  the  coachman 
sixpence  for  drink :  see  Rhino.  Hence, 
tannergram,  a  telegram;  when  the 
minimum  cost  was  reduced  from  Is. 
to  6d.  (1843). 

Tannikin.  A  Dutch  placket ;  maid, 
wife,  or  widow  (1605). 

Tanquam.  A  Fellow's  fellow  in 
our  universities  (Blount,  1681). 

Tantadlin.     See  Tantoblin. 

Tantarabobs.  The  devil  (Hatti- 
well). 

Tantivy.  Primarily  a  hunting  call : 
a  note  on  the  horn.  As  subs.,  (1) 
full  chase;  (2)  violent  movement; 
(3)  a  fox-hunting  parson;  and  (4) 
temp.  Charles  II.,  a  High  Tory:  also 
Tantivy -boy.  As  adj.,  swift.  As  verb, 
to  racket,  to  gallop,  to  rush  (1602). 


Tantoblin.  Excrement:  also  tan- 
tadlin  and  tantadlin  tart  (1768). 

Tantony  (or  Tantony  Pig).  1.  The 
smallest  pig  in  a  litter :  hence  a 
favourite.  To  follow  like  a  tantony 
pig,  to  follow  closely.  Hence  tantony, 
2.  a  servile  follower,  a  petted  re- 
tainer. 3.  See  Saint. 

Tantrum.  Usually  in  pi.,  a  pet 
(q.v.),  the  sullens,  angry  whims 
(1754). 

Taoc.  A  coat.  Thus  Kool  the  delo 
taoc.  look  at  the  old  coat :  also  in  con- 
temptuous reference  to  the  wearer. 
Taoc  -  tisaw,  a  waistcoat ;  and  taoc- 
ittep,  petticoat. 

Tap.  1.  A  gentle  blow  (Grose) : 
whence  to  tap  (or  tap  on  the  shoulder), 
to  arrest;  tapper,  a  bailiff:  also 
shoulder -tapper.  2.  In  pi.,  the  ears: 
see  Hearing  cheats.  3.  (Eton  College). 
The  only  place,  recognised  by  the 
authorities,  where  a  boy  can  get 
beer.  As  verb,  to  broach;  also  to 
tap  one's  claret,  to  draw  blood  (see 
Claret) ;  to  tap  the  wires,  to  intercept 
a  telegram ;  to  tap  a  house,  to  burgle ; 
to  tap  the  admiral  (see  Admiral);  to 
tap  a  guinea,  to  change  it  (Grose).  To 
be  on  one's  taps,  on  the  alert,  on  one's 
feet,  ready  to  move.  To  get  the  tap, 
to  get  the  upper  hand.  On  tap,  avail- 
able, at  hand,  on  view. 

Tape.  Spirits :  hence  red-tape, 
brandy ;  white  (or  blue)  tape,  gin ;  cf. 
Ribbon  (1755). 

Tape-worm  (Stock  Exchange).  An 
official  who  collects  the  prices  of  stock 
for  transmission  on  the  tape. 

Taplash.  1.  Bad,  thick  beer :  cask- 
dregs  or  tap  -  droppings.  Hence,  as 
adj.,  poor,  washy,  trivial  (1630), 
Hence,  2.  a  publican :  in  contempt. 

Tappy.  On  the  tappy,  under  con- 
sideration, on  the  tapis  (1690). 

Tap-shackled.  Drunk :  see 
Screwed  (1610). 

Tap -tub  (The).  The  Morning 
Advertiser:  also  The  Gin  and  Gospel 
Gazette  (1823). 

Tar.  A  sailor:  also  tarpaulin  (of 
which  tar  is  an  abbreviation),  Jack 
Tar,  tarbreech  (or  tarrybreeks),  and 
tarbarrel :  hence  tar-terms,  proper  sea 
phrases  or  words  (B.  E.);  tar- hood, 
the  navy  (1582).  To  ta,r  out,  to 
punish,  to  serve  out;  to  tar  and 
feather,  a  practice  of  great  antiquity, 
but  rare  nowadays:  heated  tar  is 
poured  over  a  person,  who  is  then 


466 


Tar-box. 


Tavern. 


covered   with  feathers.     Tarred  vrith 
the  game  brush,  alike. 

Tar-box.  A  shepherd  :  in  con- 
tempt. Hence  the  proverbial  sayings, 
To  lose  a  sheep  (erron.  ship)  for  a 
ha'-porth  of  tar  (Grose);  ana,  to 
caper  like  a  fly  in  a  tar-box  (1672). 

Tar-brush.  Black  blood:  in  con- 
temptuous reference  to  colour ;  a  touch 
of  the  tar-brush,  a  dash  of  the  negro 
(1785). 

Tare-and-tret  City  bon-ton  for — 
a  Rowland  for  an  Oliver,  no  matter 
the  juxtaposition  of  the  two  matters. 
To  give  as  good  as  is  brought  (Bee). 

Tar-fingers.  A  petty  pilferer :  see 
Pitch-fingers.  Hence  tarry,  thievish 
(1822). 

Tarleather.  A  woman :  in  con- 
tempt (1551). 

Tardy  (Winchester  College).  Late : 
e.g.  I  was  tardy  task,  I  was  late  with 
my  work  (1803). 

Tarheel.  An  inhabitant  of  S. 
Carolina.  [Tar  is  one  of  the  chief 
products  of  the  State.] 

Tarnation  (and  Tarnal).  Damna- 
tion, eternal :  mild  oaths.  As  adj., 
great,  very,  etc. :  e.g.  tarnation  strange, 
a  tarnal  time,  etc. 

Tarpaulin.     See  Tar. 

Tarradiddle.  A  fib,  a  yarn.  As 
verb,  to  hoax  (Grose). 

Tart  Sharp,  quick  (B.  E.);  sour, 
sharp,  quick,  pert  (Grose). 

Tartar.  1.  A  bad  or  awkward 
tempered  person:  male  or  female. 
To  catch  a  tartar,  (1)  to  be  caught  in 
one's  own  trap ;  and  (2)  to  get  more 
than  one  bargained  for,  or  the  worst 
of  an  encounter  (B.  E.).  [Ency.  Diet. : 
Properly  Tatar.  The  r  was  inserted 
in  mediaeval  times  to  suggest  that  the 
Asiatic  hordes  who  occasioned  such 
anxiety  to  Europe  came  from  hell 
(Tartarus),  and  were  the  locusts  of 
Revelation  ix.]  Hence  2.  an  adept: 
e.g.  He  is  quite  a  tartar  at  cricket  or 
billiards  (1663).  3.  See  Tartarian. 

Tartarian  (or  tartar).  A  thief:  spec, 
a  strolling  vagabond,  a  sharper 
(B.  E.)  (1596). 

Tartuff  e.  A  hypocrite,  a  pretender. 
[From  the  character  in  Moliere's 
comedy.]  Hence  tartuffish,  hypo- 
critically precise ;  and  tartuffism,  hypo- 
crisy (1768). 

Tassy.     Tasmania. 
Taste.      Taste   of  the  creature,  a 
dram,  a  drink;  esp.  of  whisky  (1570); 


a  nasty  taste  in  one's  mouth,  an  unpleas- 
ant feeling :  regret,  loathing,  anxiety, 
etc. 

Taster.  A  small  quantity,  a  taste : 
in  quot.  a  small  glass  of  ice-cream. 

Tasty.  1.  Full-flavoured  (q.v.), 
nutty  (q.v.),  spicy  (q.v.),  thick  (q.v.). 
Hence,  2.  of  the  best,  ripping  (q.v.). 

Tat.  1.  In  pi.,  dice,  whence  to*  boar, 
a  dice  box ;  tot-monger  (or  tatogey),  a 
sharper  or  cheat  using  loaded  dice; 
tat's-man,  a  dicing  gambler ;  tot-shop, 
a  gambling  den  (B.  E.).  2.  A  rag: 
mUky  tats,  white  linen ;  also  as  verb, 
to  collect  rags;  and  tatter,  a  rag- 
gatherer  (1851).  3.  an  abbreviation 
of  tattoo,  tit  for  tat,  see  Tit. 

Ta-ta.     A  salutation,  Good-bye  1 

Taterwagges.     See  Tatters. 

Tater  (or  Tatur).  A  potato. 
Whence  tater-trap,  the  mouth;  later - 
and'point,  a  meal  of  potatoes:  see 
Point.  Also  as  noteworthy,  one  or  two 
phrases:  e.g.  to  settle  one's  taters,  to 
settle  one's  hash ;  s'toelp  my  taters  (see 
Swelp)  (1838). 

Tatol  (Westminster).  A  tutor  in 
Commoners. 

Taterdemalion.  A  ragged  wretch : 
a  general  term  of  contempt:  also 
tatter  and  rags-and-tatttrs.  Tatancaggs 
and  Tatterwallops,  ragged  clothes.  As 
adj.,  ragged  (1360)  ;  to  tatter  a  kip,  to 
wreck  a  brothel  (1766). 

Tattle-box.  A  chatterbox:  also 
tattler,  a  gossip :  see  Tittle  -  tattle 
(1709). 

Tattle-de-moy.  A  new  -  fashioned 
thing  in  ...  1676,  much  like  a  sara- 
band, only  it  had  in  it  more  of  con- 
ceit and  of  humour  ....  Thomas 
Mace  invented  it  ...  and  he  called 
it  a  tattle  -  de  -  may  because  it  tattles 
and  seems  to  speak  those  very  words 
or  syllables  (Southey). 

Tattler.  A  watch;  spec,  an  alarm, 
or  striking  watch,  or  (indeed)  any 
(B.  E.).  Hence,  to  flash  a  tattler,  to 
wear  a  watch ;  to  speak  to  a  tattler,  to 
steal  a  watch:  also  tattle  (1781). 

Tattling  fellow  (or  woman).  Prat- 
ing, impertinent  (B.  E.~). 

Tattoo.     See  Devil's  Tattoo. 

Taunton-turkey.  A  herring:  cf. 
Billingsgate-pheasant,  Glasgow-magis- 
trate, etc.  (1850). 

Taut  Severe.  Hence  taut  hand,  a 
disciplinarian. 

Tavern  (The).  New  Inn  Hall, 
Oxford.  [A  punning  allusion:  also 


466 


Tavistock. 


Teethward. 


because  the  buttery  is  open  all  day 
long]  (1853).  To  hunt  a  tavern  fox 
(or  to  swallow  a  tavern  token),  to  get 
drunk.  Hence,  the  tavern  bitch  has 
bit  him  in  the  head  (or  taverned), 
drunk:  see  Screwed.  Also  taverner, 
a  tippler  (1340). 

Tavistock  (or  Tawstock)  Grace. 
Finis. 

Taw.  A  marble.  Tawlings  (or  taw), 
the  line  from  which  the  marble  is 
shot:  hence  (American),  to  come  to  taw, 
to  come  to  scratch  (q.v.),  to  be  called 
to  account;  to  be  on  one's  taw,  a 
species  of  threat  (1764).  As  verb, 

(1)  to  beat,  to  scourge  (Grose);   and 

(2)  to  torment.    Also  taws  (or  tawse), 
a  leather  strap,  slit  or  fringed  at  one 
end,  used  by  schoolmasters  (1549). 

Tawdry.  (1)  Orig.  fine,  elegant, 
trim ;  whence  (2)  cheaply  showy,  ignor- 
antly  fine.  Also  derivations  such  as 
tawdered,  tawdrily,  tawdriness,  etc. 
Tawdry-lace  (or  tawdry),  a  rustic  neck- 
lace or  girdle ;  tawdrums,  fal  -  lals 
(1530). 

Tawny-coat.  An  ecclesiastical 
officer.  [From  the  livery.]  (1577). 

Tawny-moor.    A  mulatto  (1717). 

Tax-collector.     A  highwayman. 

T-beard.  A  fashion  in  trimming 
tbelbeard;  a  beard  cut  T-wise  (1618). 

Tea.  Urine:  see  Cold -tea,  Long- 
tea,  and  Tea- voider  (1712).  As  verb, 
(1)  to  take  tea:  cf.  dine,  lunch,  sup, 
etc.  (all  recognised)  (1837);  (2)  to 
engage  with,  encounter,  go  in  against. 

Teach.  See  Grandmother  and 
Suck.  To  teach  iron  to  swim,  to  achieve 
the  impossible. 

Teach-guy.     Eight  shillings. 

Teacup.  Storm  (or  tempest)  in  a 
teacup  (or  teapot),  much  ado  about 
nothing:  cf.  a  tide  and  flood  though 
it  be  but  in  a  basin  of  water  (1699). 

Tea-fight.  A  tea  party :  cf.  Muffin- 
worry,  Toffee-scramble,  etc. 

Tea  Party.  See  Boston  Tea- party 
and  Nice. 

Teague.  An  Irishman:  in  con- 
tempt. Hence  Teagueland,  Ireland 
(1661). 

Teaich-gir.  Right ;  pronounced 
tadger.  Hence  tadging,  tip-top  (q.v.). 

Team.  Two  or  more  persons  asso- 
ciated for  some  purpose:  e.g.  a  foot- 
ball side,  a  cricket  eleven,  a  coach's 
pupi's,  etc.  [Properly  of  animals 
harnessed  together.]  Hence  team- 
work, work  in  company  (1622). 


Tear.  A  boisterous  jollification,  a 
spree  (q.v.);  as  verb,  to  move,  speak, 
or  act  violently,  to  rant,  to  fume; 
hence  tearer  or  tear -cat  or  Timothy 
Tearcat  (1)  a  blusterer,  a  bully,  a 
roarer  (q.v. ) ;  and  (2)  anything  violent ; 
tearing,  violent,  raving,  etc. ;  tear- 
mouth  (or  tear-throat),  a  ranting  actor : 
and  as  adj.,  vociferous ;  to  tear  Christ's 
body,  to  blaspheme ;  to  tear  one's 
beard  (or  hair),  a  simile  of  violent 
emotion  (1383).  To  tear  one's  seat, 
to  attempt  too  much. 

Tear-pump.  To  work  the  tear-pump, 
to  weep,  to  turn  on  the  water- 
works. 

Tease.  On  the  tease,  uneasy,  fidgety 
(1706).  See  Teaser. 

Teaser.  1.  A  disturbing  blow;  to 
tease  (or  teaze),  to  flog;  to  nap  the 
teaze,  to  be  flogged  (1840).  2.  Any- 
thing difficult  or  perplexing  (1823). 
Teaser  of  the  catgut,  see  Catgut- 
scraper. 

Tea-voider.  A  chamber  pot 
(Grose). 

Tea-waggon.  An  East  Indiaman 
(1836). 

Tec.     A  defective :  see  Nark. 

Teddy.  Teddy  my  godson,  an 
address  to  a  simple  fellow  or  ninny 
(Grose). 

Teddy  Hall.  St.  Edmund's  Hall, 
Oxford. 

Te  Deum.     See  Backwards. 

Teejay  (Winchester  College).  A  new 
boy,  a  protegJ:  placed  for  a  time  under 
the  care  of  older  scholars ;  cf.  Shadow 
and  Substance. 

Teek  (or  Tique)  (Harrow  school). 
Mathematics. 

Teeny  (or  Teeny-weeny).     Tiny. 

Teeth.  In  spite  of  one's  teeth,  in 
defiance  of;  in  the  teeth,  to  one's 
face;  from  the  teeth,  apparently,  not 
seriously ;  to  cast  in  the  teeth,  to  taunt, 
to  reproach ;  tooth  and  nail,  whole- 
hearted, desperate,  thorough ;  to  show 
one's  teeth,  to  get  angry;  to  have  the 
teeth  well  afloat  (or  under),  to  be 
drunk ;  to  the  hard  teeth,  very  severely. 
He  ought  to  have  his  teeth  drawn,  He 
should  be  deprived  of  the  power  of 
doing  mischief;  to  go  to  grass  with 
teeth  upwards,  to  be  buried ;  to  draw 
teeth,  to  wrench  off  knockers  (old  : 
medical  students'). 

Teethward.  Clerk  to  the  teethward, 
he  hath  eaten  his  service  book ; 
spoken  in  mockage  by  such  as  maketh 


467 


Terra  filius. 


shew  of  learning  and  be  not  learned 
(HoUyband). 

Teetotal.  In  1818  a  temperance 
society  at  Hector,  New  York,  pledged 
themselves  to  abstain  from  distilled 
spirits  only,  but  in  Jan.  1827  another 
pledge  bound  all  signers  to  total 
abstinence.  The  two  classes  were 
distinguished  by  the  initials  O.P. 
(Old  Pledge)  and  T.  (Total) :  T  total 
became  a  familiar  allocution  (Cen- 
twry). 

Teetotal  Hotel  (The).     A  prison. 

Teignton-squash.     Perry  (1834). 

Teize.     See  Tease 

Tejus.  Tedious,  extremely,  weary  - 
ingly,  tiresomely:  e.g.  tejus  good, 
bad,  quick,  slow,  etc. 

Telegraph.  See  Milk  and  Under- 
ground. 

Telescope.    To  silence. 

Tell.  A  story;  a  bon  mot;  spec, 
one  worth  telling.  Also,  according  to 
their  tell,  upon  their  making  out 
(1743).  See  Marines,  Noses,  Tales. 

Tell-clock.     An  idler  ( 1 639 ). 

Teller.  1.  A  well -delivered  blow; 
anything  that  scores;  hence  telling, 
effective,  to  the  point  (1834).  2.  See 
Tailor. 

Tell-tale.  An  inverted  compass 
fixed  in  a  cabin.  Also  (general)  any 
recording  device:  usually  automatic: 
e.g.  a  turnstile,  an  organ  bellows- 
indicator,  etc. 

Telling.  That's  idling,  said  in 
reply  to  a  question  that  one  ought 
not,  or  that  one  does  not  wish,  to 
answer. 

Tell-truth.  A  plain  speaker,  one 
who  does  not  mince  matters  (1630). 

Tempest.  Drum  is  a  riotous 
assembly  of  fashionable  people,  of 
both  sexes,  at  a  private  house,  con- 
sisting of  some  hundreds ;  not  unaptly 
styled  a  drum,  from  the  noise  and 
emptiness  of  the  entertainment ;  there 
are  also  drum-major,  rout,  tempest, 
and  hurricane,  differing  only  in  degrees 
of  multitude  and  uproar  (Smollett). 
See  Tea  cup. 

Temple  of  Bacchus.  Merry- 
making after  getting  a  liceat.  Oxf. 
Univ.  Cant  (Grose). 

Temple-pickling.  '  The  Pumping  of 
Bailives,  Bumms,  Setters,  Pickpockets, 
etc.'  (B.  E.) 

Tenant  at  will.  One  whose  wife 
usually  fetches  him  from  the  ale- 
house (Grose). 


Tenant  for  life.  A  married  man; 
i.e.  possessed  of  a  woman  for  life 
(Grose). 

Tenant-in-tail.     See  Tail. 

Ten  Bones  (or  Commandments). 
The  ten  fingers :  spec,  of  a  woman. 
Also  by  these  ten  bone*  I  (once  a 
common  oath:  in  punning  reference 
to  the  Mosaic  Decalogue)  (1485). 

Tench.  1.  A  prison;  a  peni(fenfi)- 
ary.  At  one  time  applied  to  the 
Clerkenwell  House  of  Detention,  now 
the  Central  Depot  of  the  Parcels  Post. 

Tender.  Tender  Parnel.  1.  A 
mistress ;  also  parnd.  pernel.  Hence, 
2.  a  very  nicely  educated  creature, 
apt  to  catch  cold  upon  the  least  blast 
of  wind  (B.  E.).  As  tender  as  ParneU, 
who  broke  her  finger  in  a  poss*t  drink 
(Grose).  Also  as  tender  as  a  chicken 
(1362). 

Tenderfoot  Anew  comer:  as  adj., 
raw,  inexperienced  (1875). 

Ten-forty.  A  five  per  cent,  bond 
issued  in  1864  by  the  U.S.  Govern- 
ment, redeemable  at  any  time  after 
ten  years  and  payable  in  forty  years 
(Century). 

Ten-m-the-Hundred.  A  usurer,  a 
sixty-per-cent.  (q.v.).  [Nares:  from 
their  commonly  exacting  such  interest 
for  their  money,  before  the  legal 
limitation  to  five]  (1594). 

Tenner.  1.  A  ten  pound  note, 
£10:  cf.  Fiver.  2.  Ten  years'  im- 
prisonment. 

Tenpence.  Only  tenpence  in  the 
shilling,  a  description  of  weak  intellect. 
Also  tenpenny,  in  contempt  (1607). 

Tenterbelly.  A  glutton,  one  who 
distends  his  belly  by  gross  feeding 
(1621). 

Tenterhooks.  On  tenterhooks  (or 
tenters),  in  suspense,  anxious,  on  the 
rack  (or  stretch)  (1607). 

Tentoes.     See  Bayard. 

Tercel-gentle.  A  knight  or  gentle- 
man of  a  good  estate ;  also  any  rich 
man  (B.  E. ).  Also  Tassel-gentle  [Tercel, 
(Cotgrare  and  Handle  Holmes),  the 
male  of  the  peregrine  falcon}  Hence 
falcon  'gainst  tercel  (or  as  tercel),  one's 
as  good  as  t'other. 

Termer.  A  visitor  to  London  at 
term  time;  specifically  one  whose 
object  was  intrigue,  knavery,  or  sport. 
[The  law  terms  marked  the  fashionable 
seasons.]  Also  term  trotter  (1608). 

Terrs  filius.  1.  A  person  of  mean 
or  obscure  birth,  2.  A  scholar  whose 


468 


Terra  firma. 


Thief. 


special  duty  was  to  make  satirical 
speeches  at  the  Encaenia, :  full  advan- 
tage being  ever  taken  of  his  license  to 
satirize,  and  generally  rip  up,  autho- 
rity (1669). 

Terra  firma.  An  estate  in  land 
(1696). 

Terrible  Boy.  See  Roaring  boy 
(1609). 

Tertian  (Aberdeen  Univ.).  A 
student  of  the  third  year. 

Tester  (or  Teston).  1.  A  silver 
coin:  orig.  (a)  the  silver  currency  of 
Louis  XII.  of  France  (bearing  the 
head  of  that  prince,  and  worth  (Cot- 
grave)  18d.  sterling);  (b)  the  brass 
silvered  shilling  of  Henry  VIII.  (worth, 
temp.  Ed.  VI.,  9d.);  and  (c)  the 
Elizabeth  sixpence.  Hence,  2.  a  six- 
pence (Grose) :  see  Tizzy.  As  verb, 
to  fee  (1577). 

Teviss.     A  shilling :  see  Rhino. 

Texas.  The  upper  (or  third)  deck 
of  a  Mississippi  steamboat.  Hence 
texas-tender,  a  waiter  serving  on  the 
texas  (1875). 

Thames.  Setting  the  Thames  on 
fire,  a  simile  for  the  impossible  (1363). 

Tharborough.     See  Thirdborough. 

Thary.     To  speak. 

That.  At  that,  a  pleonastic  inten- 
sive (1855). 

Thatch.  Hair:  spec,  the  hair  of 
the  head  (1609j. 

Thatched-head.  An  Irishman:  in 
contempt.  [Nares:  one  wearing  the 
hair  matted  together,  as  the  native 
Irish  in  times  past.]  (1612). 

Thatch-gallows.  A  worthless  fellow 
(Grose). 

Theg  (or  Teaich)  gen.  Eight 
shillings;  theg  (or  teaitch)  yanneps, 
eightpence. 

There.  Colloquial  for  smart  (q.v.) : 
e.g.  all  there,  alert,  first-rate,  up  to 
the  mark,  nothing  wanting:  also  to 
get  there  (1)  to  achieve;  and  (2)  to 
make  one's  jack  (q.v.) :  also  to  get  there 
with  both  feet  (1821). 

Theta.  To  mark  with  Theta,  to 
condemn  to  death.  [The  first  letter 
(the  unlucky  letter)  of  Gr.  Qavaros  — 
death.] 

Thick.  1.  Generic  for  obtuseness  : 
e.g.  as  subs.,  stupid  fellow,  a  block- 
head :  also  thick  -  head,  thick  -  skull, 
thick-pate,  thick-sconce,  thick-skin, 
thick-wits,  etc. ;  the  corresponding 
adjectival  forms,  dull,  stupid,  hide- 
bound (1582).  2.  Porter:  ironically 


said  to  be  a  decoction  of  brewers' 
aprons.  3.  Cocoa.  As  adj.  (1)  inti- 
mate or  (Scots)  chief :  e.g.  As  thick  as 
thieves,  as  thick  as  inkle-weavers,  q.v. 
(1525).  As  adv.,  out  of  the  common, 
extraordinary,  solid:  a  general  inten- 
sive; hence  to  lay  it  on  thick,  to 
exaggerate,  to  surfeit  with  praise : 
also  to  lay  it  on  with  a  trowel:  cf. 
Wide ;  got  'em  thick,  very  drunk ;  see 
Screwed;  a  bit  thick,  rather  indecent 
(1563).  Through  thick  and  thin,  thor- 
oughly, steadily,  at  all  costs ;  hence 
thick-and-thin,  sincere,  out  -  and  -  out 
(q.v.).  [Orig.  over  rough  or  smooth 
places ;  i.e.  through  coppice  or  sparse 
land.]  (1359). 

Thicker  (Harrow).  Thucydides : 
the  translation  of  which  is  set  in  the 
Upper  School 

Thicklips.  A  negro.  Whence 
thick-lipped  (1593). 

Thick-'un.  A  sovereign ;  20s. : 
also  a  crown  piece ;  5s.  Hence  to 
smash  (change)  or  blue  a  thick  'tin 
(1863). 

Thief.  1.  A  term  of  reproach  :  not 
necessarily  a  robber:  thus  (Grose) 
you  are  a  murderer  and  a  thief,  you 
have  killed  a  baboon  and  stolen  his 
face ;  vulgar  abuse  (1440).  2.  A 
mushroom  growth  on  a  burning  wick 
which  makes  the  candle  gutter,  a 
waster  (1598):  Bishop  (Grose).  3.  A 
bramble :  cf .  bramble,  country  lawyer, 
keeping  in  mind  the  A.S.  thefethorn, 
bramble.  4.  Synonyms  for  thief  (a 
person  guilty  of  larceny,  robbery, 
swindling,  or  crookedness  of  any  kind : 
the  following  list  runs  up  and  down 
the  whole  gamut  of  roguery).  Aaron, 
abacter,  abaddon,  abandanad,  abra- 
ham-cove,  aok-man,  ack-pirate,  acqui- 
sitive cove,  Adam,  Adam  Filer,  adept, 
affidavit-man,  afflicke,  alsatian,  ambi- 
dexter, amuser,  anabaptist,  angler, 
angling  -  cove,  arch  -  cove,  arch  -  dell, 
arch-doxy  (Grose),  arch  gonuof,  arch- 
rogue,  area- sneak,  ark- pirate,  ark-ruff, 
artful  -  dodger,  autem  -  diver,  avoir- 
dupois -  man.  Babe,  back  -  jumper, 
back-stall,  badger,  baggage-smasher, 
baldover,  bank-sneak,  barabbas,  bar- 
nacle, baster,  beak,  beaker  -  hauler, 
beaker-hunter,  bearer-up,  beau-trap 
(Grose),  bene  -  feaker,  bene  -  gybe, 
bester,  bilk  (Sheridan),  bilker,  Billy 
Buzman,  billy-fencer,  bird-lime,  bite, 
bit-faker,  bit-make,  black-leg,  blasted- 
fellow,  bleating-cull,  blowed-in-the- 


469 


Thief. 


Thief. 


glass-stiff  (American  tramps'),  bludger, 
bludget,  blue  -  pigeon  nyer,  bluey- 
hunter,  bob,  bobby-twister,  bonnet, 
bpodler,  bookkeeper,  bouncer,  boung- 
nipper,  bowman,  bridle  -  cull,  brief- 
snatoher,  broad  cove,  broadsman, 
bubber,  bubble,  bubbler,  budge,  buffer, 
buffer  -  napper,  bugger,  bug  -  hunter, 
bulk,  bulk-and  file,  bull- trap,  bully- 
buck,  bully-cock,  bunco-steerer,  bunco- 
man,  bung,  bung  -  napper,  bunter, 
burner,  buster,  buttock  -  and  •  file, 
button,  buttoner,  buz- bloke,  buz- cove, 
buz- faker,  buzman,  buzzer,  buzlock. 
Canter  (canting  crew,  generic  for 
thieves,  rogues,  and  beggars),  Captain 
Sharp,  carrier  :  cat-ana-kitten  nipper, 
chariot  -  buzzer,  charley  -  pitcher, 
chaun ting-cove,  chive  or  (chiff)  thief, 
chouse,  chouser,  christener,  circling- 
boy,  clank  -  napper,  clicker,  clink- 
rigger,  cloak  -  twitcher,  clouter,  cloy, 
cloyer,  cly-filcher,  cogger,  collector, 
colt,  cork,  conveyancer,  conveyor, 
coney  -  catcher,  counterfeit  -  crank, 
cover,  coverer,  crack,  cracksman, 
crony,  crook,  cross-bite,  cross-biter, 
cross  -  famker,  crib  -  cracker,  cross, 
cross-cove,  crossman,  cross-mollisher, 
crow,  cruiser,  cunning-man,  curtail, 
cut-purse,  cutter.  Damber  (Grose), 
damned  soul,  dancer,  darkman's 
budge,  dead-nap,  deeker,  deep-one, 
diddler,  dimber-d  amber  (Grose),  ding- 
boy,  dinger,  dip,  dipper,  dipping-bloke, 
dive,  diver,  dog-buffer,  dragsman, 
drag-sneak,  draw-latch,  drop-cove, 
dropper,  dromedary,  drummer,  drun- 
ken tinker,  dubber,  dudder,  duffer, 
dummerer,  dummy  -  hunter,  dunaker. 
Eriflf,  eaves-dropper  (Grose).  Facer, 
f agger,  family  (generic),  father, 
fawney  -  rigger,  fence,  fencing  -  cully, 
ferret,  fiddle,  fidlara  -  bens,  figger, 
filcher,  filching  -  cove,  filching  -  mort, 
file,  finder,  finger-smith,  fire-prigger, 
fish-hook,  flash-cove,  fiashman  (Oroae), 
flash -gen try  (generic),  flat -catcher, 
fleecer,  flimper,  flying-cove,  fobber, 
fogle  -  hunter,  foist,  foot  -  pad,  fore- 
beggar,  fork,  forker,  frater,  free- 
booker,  free  -  booter,  freshwater- 
warmer,  frisker,  funker.  Gagger, 
gallows-bird,  gambler  (Oroae),  gar- 
reteer, garrotter,  geach,  gentleman  of 
the  road,  gentleman's  master,  gentry 
(generic),  gilt,  gin  -  spinner,  clasier, 
gleaner,  glimmerer,  gold  -  dropper, 
gonnof,  goodfellow,  grafter,  Greek, 
groaner,  gun,  gutter-prowler.  Hawk. 


heaver,  hedge-creeper,  highpad,  high- 
to  her  (or  toby),  hoist,  bolster  (or 
hoyster),  hook,  hooker,  hoveller,  Hugh 
Prowler.  Ingler.  innocent,  int,  Irish 
toyle  (B.  E.).  Jack-in-a-box,  Janus- 
mug,  jarkman,  jerry-sneak,  Jew,  jilter, 
jingler,  jockey,  jumper.  Ken-cracker, 
ken  -  miller,  kiddy  (Grose),  kiddy- 
nipper,  kidsman,  kinchin-cove,  kite, 
kirk-buzzer,  kitchener,  klep,  knap, 
knight,  knight  of  the  road,  knight  of 
St.  Nicholas,  knowing  one,  knuck, 
kmickler.  Ladrone,  lag,  landloper, 
landlubber,  landpirate,  landshark, 
lark,  latch  -  drawer,  leatherhead,  leg, 
legger,  lift,  lifter,  little  -  sneaksman, 
lob-crawler,  lob-sneak,  lully-prigger, 
lumberer,  lumper.  Mace-cove,  mags- 
man  (Mayhew,  MatteU,  Henley), 
maker,  mill  -  ben,  money  -  dropper, 
mounter,  mocher.  Nabber,  nabbler, 
nailer,  napper,  nasty-man,  natty-lad, 
needle,  needle-point,  Newgate-bird  (or 
nightingale),  Newmarket-heath  com- 
missioner, nibbler,  nibbling  -  cull, 
nicker,  nick-pot,  nickum,  night-bird 
(cap,  hawk,  hunter,  poacher,  snap, 
trader  or  walker),  nigler  (a  sweater  , 
nimmer,  nip,  nipping  Christian,  nob- 
bier, nob-pitcher,  nose  (Grose).  Office- 
sneak,  old  bird  (or  hand),  olli  compolli, 
ostler,  out-and-outer,  outrider.  Pad, 
pad-borrower,  padder,  paddist,  palmer, 
panel  dodger,  panel-thief,  pannyman, 
parlour-jumper,  pea-rigger,  pea-man, 
peter  (a  safe  thief),  peter-biter,  peter- 
claimer,peter-hunter,peterman,  picaro, 
picaroon,  picker,  picker- up,  pickereer, 
pick  -  penny,  pick  -  pocket,  pie  -  man, 
pigeon,  pinch  -  gloak,  pitch  -  fingers, 
poacher,  pocket-book  dropper,  poul- 
terer, practitioner,  prig,  prigger,  prig- 
man,  Prince  Prig,  prinado,  prowler 
(or  Hugh  Prowler),  propnailer, 
pudding-snammer,  puller-up,  purple 
dromedary,  puffer,  puggard,  push 
(generic),  pushing  tout.  Quarrel 
picker,  queer  bail  (or  bird),  queer- bit- 
maker,  queer  bluffer,  queer  cole  fencer, 
queer  cole  maker,  queer  plunger, 
queer-prancer,  queer  shover.  Ramper 
(ramp,  or  rampsman),  ranger,  rank- 
rider,  rapparee,  rascal  (Grose),  reader- 
hunter,  reader-merchant,  repeater  and 
revolver  (American  tramps'),  resurrec- 
tionist, ring  -  dropper,  ring  -  faller, 
river-rat,  road-agent,  roberd's  man 
(or  knave),  rob- thief,  rogue,  rook, 
rover,  royal  scamp,  royal  foot^scamp, 
nimbler,  runner,  running  glasier, 


470 


Thief-takers. 


Tiling. 


running  -  snavel.  Saint  Peter's  son, 
St  Nicholas's  clerk,  St  Nicholas's 
clergyman,  salter,  satyr  (cattle  thief), 
sawny  -  hunter,  scamp,  scampsman, 
screwsman,  scuffle  -  hunter,  setter, 
shark,  sharp,  sharper,  shaver,  sheep- 
biter,  sheep  -  napper,  sheep  -  shearer, 
she  -  napper,  shifter,  shoful  -  pitcher, 
shop-bouncer,  shop-lift,  shop-lifter, 
shoulderer,  shoulder  -  sham,  shover, 
shark,  shutter-racket  worker,  shyce, 
shyster,  silk-snatcher,  silver  cooper, 
skylarker,  slink,  smasher,  smugger, 
snabbler,  snaffle,  snaffler,  snaggler, 
snakesman,  snammer,  snap,  snapper, 
snapper  -  up,  snatch  -  cly,  snatcher, 
sneak,  sneak-thief,  sneaking-budge, 
sneaksman,  sneck  -  drawer,  sneeze- 
lurker,  snick  -  fudger,  snide  -  pitcher, 
snow-dropper,  snow-gatherer,  snudge, 
soaper,  sourplanter,  son  of  St  Peter, 
spice -gloak,  stall  (or  stale),  stallsman, 
stander  -  up,  standing  -  budge,  stock- 
hauler,  sutler,  swagsman,  sweetener, 
swigman,  swimmer,  swindler.  Tail- 
buzzer,  thimble  -  rigger,  thimble  - 
twister,  till-sneak,  tinny -hunter,  toby- 
gill,  toby  -  man,  tool,  tooler,  top- 
sawyer,  tosher,  toy-getter,  tradesman, 
traveller,  tripper-up,  Tyburn -blossom. 
Unicorn,  unregenerate,  upright-man. 
Vamper,  village  bustler,  voucher. 
Walking  poulterer,  watchmaker, 
waterpad,  water-sneak,  water-sneaks- 
man,  welcher,  wheedle,  whipster, 
whispering  dudder,  whyo,  wild  rogue, 
wipe-drawer,  workman,  wrong  'un, 
ziff. 

Thief- takers.  Fellows  who 
associate  with  all  kinds  of  villains,  in 
order  to  betray  them,  when  they  have 
committed  any  of  those  crimes  which 
entitle  the  persons  taking  them  to 
a  handsome  reward,  called  blood 
money.  It  is  the  business  of  these 
thief-takers  to  furnish  subjects  for  a 
handsome  execution  at  the  end  of 
every  sessions  (Grose).  Also,  who 
make  a  trade  of  helping  people  (for 
a  gratuity)  to  their  lost  goods,  and 
sometimes  for  interest  or  envy  snap- 
ping the  rogues  themselves;  being 
usually  in  fee  with  them  and  ac- 
quainted with  their  haunts  (B.  E. ). 

Thieves.  Thieves'  Latin.  The 
cant  terms  and  slang  used  by  thieves ; 
St  Giles'  Greek,  Pedlar's  French  (q.v.) 
etc.  (1855).  The  Murdering  Thieves, 
the  Military  Train ;  the  title  from 
1857  to  1860  of  The  Army  Service 


Corps.  Other  nicknames  ( also  derived 
from  the  initials)  are  The  London 
Thieving  Corps  (1855-57);  The  Moke 
Train  (1857-60),  etc.  Safe  as  a  thief 
in  a  mill,  very  secure  (1690). 

Thieving-irons.     Scissors. 

Thimble.  A  watch;  ayack(q.v.): 
hence  thimble-twister,  a  watch  thief; 
thimble  and  slang,  watch  and  chain 
(1785).  Knight  of  the  thimble,  a  tailor 
(1838). 

Thimbled.  Arrested,  laid  by  the 
heels  (Bee).  Thimble  and  bodkin 
army,  the  Parliamentary  Army :  in 
contempt.  The  nobles  were  profuse 
in  their  contributions  of  plate  for  the 
service  of  the  King  at  Oxford,  while 
on  the  parliamentary  side  the  sub- 
scriptions of  silver  offerings  included 
even  such  little  personal  articles  as 
those  that  suggested  the  term  the 
Thimble  and  Bodkin  army  (Dowell). 

Thimbleful.  A  small  quantity; 
as  much  as  may  be  contained  in  a 
thimble:  spec,  a  dram  of  spirits  (1690). 

Thimble-pie.  Rapping  the  head 
with  a  thimbled  finger. 

Thimble-rig.  '  sharping  trick :  a 
pea  placed  on  a  table  is  quickly 
covered,  in  irregular  succession,  by 
three  small  cups,  the  operator  betting 
against  the  discovery  of  the  pea ;  as 
this  is  easily  palmed  a  successful  guess 
is  at  the  option  of  the  sharper,  and 
only  allowed  for  the  due  landing  of 
the  victim.  Hence  such  derivatives 
&8tthimble-rig  (or -man),  thimble-rigging, 
and  as  verb  (1835). 

Thin.  One  or  two  modern  usages 
of  thin  verge  on  the  colloquial :  e.g. 
a  thin  (poor)  excuse ;  a  thin  (gutless) 
play ;  a  thin  (trashy)  novel ;  too  thin 
(or  T.  T.),  frivolous,  inadequate,  in- 
sufficient to  deceive,  etc.  Also  (pro- 
verbial), As  thin  as  a  lath ;  as  thin  as 
the  last  run  of  shad  (1601). 

Thin  Red  Line  (The).  The  Princess 
Louise's  (Argyll  and  Sutherland  High- 
landers): of  the  2nd  battalion,  late 
The  93rd  Foot. 

Thing.  1.  In  familiar  usage  (ad- 
miration, pity,  scorn,  or  endearment), 
a  living  creature,  male  or  female  :  e.g. 
sweet  thing  (an  old  endearment);  a 
poor  thing  (a  pitiful  object);  you 
thing;  a  thing  of  a  man  (contemptu- 
ously): also  a  thing  tq  thank  God  on 
(Shakespeare) ;  a  mere  thing  in  one's 
hands,  a  puppet,  a  nonentity  ;  att  that 
sort  of  thing,  hardly  worth  notice,  no 


471 


Thingumbob. 


Three  Ts. 


class  (q.v.),  etc.,  etc.  (1440).  2.  In 
pi.,  (a)  belongings,  sticks  (q.v.),  traps 
(q.v.);  and  (6)  clothes:  as  in  the 
phrase,  Put  on  your  things  (1383). 
The  thing.  I.  What  is  right,  proper, 
becoming,  fashionable,  etc.  (1759). 
2.  In  pi.,  base  coin.  See  Know,  Soft, 
Handsome,  and  Good  thing. 

Thingumbob.  1.  Used  for  the 
proper  name  of  a  person  or  thing,  (a) 
when  forgotten;  or  (b)  when  it  is  not 
desired  to  specifically  name.  Variants 
are  numerous  :  e.g.  thingumajig, 
thingum,  thingummy,  thingamy,  thing- 
umbee,  thing  •  a  •  merry,  thingummite, 
thingomightum  (1751). 

Thin-guts.     A  starveling  (1631). 

Think.     See  Penny,  Small  Beer. 

Thin-  'un.  A  half  sovereign,  10s. ; 
cf.  thick-'un. 

Thirding.  A  custom  practised  at 
the  Universities,  where  two -thirds 
of  the  original  price  allowed  by  the 
upholsterers  to  the  students  for  house- 
hold goods  returned  to  them  within 
the  year  (Gradus  ad  Cantab.,  1803). 

Thirteen  (or  Thirteener).  An  Irish 
shilling,  13d. :  also  thirteen  (1837). 

Thirteen  Clean  Shirts.  Three 
months'  imprisonment. 

Thirteen-pence  Halfpenny.  Hang- 
man's wages  (1602). 

Thirty- pound  Knight.  A  creation 
of  James  I.  [Narcs :  He  created  the 
order  of  baronet,  which  he  disposed 
of  for  a  sum  of  money ;  and  it  seems 
that  he  sold  common  knighthood  as 
low  as  thirty  pounds,  or  at  least  it 
was  so  reported  (1605). 

Thoke  (Winchester  College  and 
prov.).  Rest:  spec,  lying  in  bed. 
Hence,  as  verb,  to  lie  in  bed  late. 
Thokester,  an  idler;  thoky  (or  thokish), 
idle.  Also  to  thoke  upon,  to  antici- 
pate with  pleasure:  e.g.  I'm  thoking 
on  next  week ;  what  a  thoke  it  will  be, 
with  a  Leave-out  day,  a  h&tch-thoke, 
and  a  half  remedy  (Wrench). 

Thomas  Courteous.  A  churl  \Tyn- 
dale,  Works,  ii.  182]. 

Thornback.  An  old  maid ;  also  a 
well-known  fish,  said  to  be  exceed- 
ingly provocative  (B.  E. ). 

Thorns.  To  be  (or  sit)  upon  thorns, 
to  be  uneasy,  anxious,  impatient 
(1555). 

Thorough  Churchman.  A  person 
who  goes  in  at  one  door  of  a  church, 
and  out  at  the  other,  without  stopping 
(Qrose). 


Thorough-cough.  Coughing  and 
breaking  wind  backwards  at  the  same 
time  (B.  E.). 

Thorough-go-nimble.  An  attack 
of  the  squitters  (q.v.),  a  back-door 
trot  (q.v.).  Also  jerry  -  go  -  nimble 
(q.v.)  (1694). 

Thorough-passage.  In  at  one  ear, 
and  out  at  t'other  (B.  E.). 

Thorough-stitch.  See  Through- 
stitch. 

Thousand.  Another  thousand  a 
year,  a  pledge  in  drinking:  also 
another  ten  thousand  a  year — any  sum 
indeed.  See  Bricks,  and  Upper  Ten. 

Thrapple.  The  throat:  also 
thropple :  see  Gutter-alley. 

Thread.  To  spin  a  good  thread, 
to  succeed. 

Thread-and- thrum.  Everything, 
all :  even  to  the  fringe  of  threads  left 
on  the  loom  when  the  web  nas  been 
removed  (1592). 

Threadneedle  St.     See  Old  Lady. 

Thread-paper.     See  Hop- pole. 

Three.  One  (or  two's)  company — 
three's  none,  a  suggestion  to  a  second 
or  third  party  that  'their  room  is 
preferred  before  their  company' 
(1430).  Cube  of  Three,  'the  great 
health  now  is,  The  Cube  of  Three, 
which  is  the  number  27,  Le.  the 
number  of  the  protesting  lords' 
(Hearne).  Three  times  three,  three 
cheers,  thrice  repeated  (1850).  See 
Sheet 

Three  Balls.  The  sign  of  the  three 
balls  (brass,  golden  or  blue  balls),  a 
pawnbroker's:  see  Uncle  (1748). 

Three-by-nine  Smile.  A  broad 
laugh  (?  a  pun  on  '  benign'). 

Three  -  cornered  Scraper.  A 
cocked  hat. 

Three-decker.  (1)  A  man-of-war 
carrying  guns  on  three  decks: 
whence  (2)  a  piece  of  furniture, 
pulpit,  etc.,  in  three  tiers  (in  a  pulpit 
the  clerk's  place  was  at  the  bottom, 
the  reading-desk  on  the  second  stage, 
and  the  pulpit  highest  of  all);  (3) 
a  three-volume  novel,  or  three-act 
play;  and  (4)  a  coat  having  three 
capes  round  the  shoulders  (1814). 

Three  -  draws  -  and  -  a  -  spit  A 
cigarette. 

Three  F*s  (The).  The  demands  of 
the  Irish  Land  League:  Free  Sale, 
Fixity  of  Tenure,  and  Fair  Rent: 
practically  conceded  by  Mr  Gladstone's 
Land  Act  (1881). 


472 


Three-legged  Stool. 


Throw. 


Three-legged  Stool.  To  comb  one's 
head  with  a  three-legged,  stool  (or  joint- 
stool),  a  humorous  threat  of  punish- 
ment. 

Three  Trees  (The).  The  gallows 
(1582).  Also  three-legged  stool ;  three- 
cornered  tree ;  three-legged  mare  (also 
two-legged  mare,  and  mare  with  three 
legs),  the  Tyburn  tree,  and  triple  tree : 
see  Nubbing-cheat.  [Executions  at 
Tyburn  were  abandoned  in  1783,  and 
thenceforward  (in  London)  till  1868 
took  place  in  front  of  Newgate]. 
Three-out.  See  Out. 
Three  -  penny  (or  Three  -  half  - 
penny).  Common,  vulgar,  in  little 
esteem,  of  little  worth :  cf.  '  three- 
inch  fool '  (Shakespeare, '  Tarn.  Shrew,' 
IV.  i. ).  Hence  three-penny  planet,  an 
unpropitious  augury ;  three-half-penny- 
horse-loaf  (in  contempt  of  an  under- 
sized person)  (1555). 

Three-ply.  A  Mormon  having 
three  wives. 

Three-quarters  of  a  Peck.  The 
neck:  rhyming  slang :  amongst  experts 
three  quarters,  and  written  '  f .' 

Three  Stride  Business.  Three 
strides  between  each  hurdle:  the 
crack  style. 

Three  R's  (The).  Reading,  'riting, 
and  'rithmetic;  a  jesting  toast  pro- 
posed by  Sir  William  Curtis,  Lord 
Mayor  of  London  of  1795,  at  a  dinner 
given  by  the  Board  of  Education. 

Three  Tens  (The).  The  1st 
battalion  East  Lancashire  Regiment, 
late  The  30th  Foot.  Also  The  Triple 
X's. 

Three  Sheets.  See  Sheets. 
Threeswins.  Threepence. 
Three-threads  (or  thirds).  Half 
common  ale,  and  the  rest  stout  or 
double  beer  (B.  E.);  three  -  thirds, 
and  denoted  a  draught,  once  popular, 
made  up  of  a  third  each  of  ale,  beer, 
and  '  two-penny,'  in  contradistinction 
to  '  half-and-half ' ;  this  beverage  was 
superseded  in  1722  by  the  very  similar 
porter  or  '  entire '  (Chambers'). 

Three-up.  A  gambling  game. 
Three  half  -  pennies  are  skied  to  a 
call:  if  they  do  not  fall  alike,  the 
cry  is  void,  and  the  operation  is 
repeated.  When  the  three  coins 
come  off  (i.e.  fall  alike),  bets  are 
decided.  If  two  play,  it  is  'up  for 
up,'  i.e.  they  toss  and  cry  alter- 
nately :  if  three  or  more  join  in,  it  is 
a  school,  and  one,  a  '  pieman,'  cries 


to  the  halfpence  of  the  others  until 
he  loses,  when  the  winner  of  the  toss 
becomes  '  pieman '  in  turn. 

Three  X's  (The).  The  1st  battalion 
East  Lancashire  Regiment,  late  The 
30th  Foot. 

Threp  (Thrip,  or  Thrups).  Three- 
pence (1696). 

Thresher.  Captain  Thresher,  in 
1806  an  Irish  Catholic  organization 
was  formed  to  resist  the  payment  of 
tithes:  threats  and  warnings  were 
sent  out  signed  '  Captain  Thresher.' 

Throat.  Throat  occurs  in  a  few 
colloquialisms :  e.g.  To  lie  in  one's 
throat,  to  lie  flatly :  an  expression 
of  extreme  indignation ;  to  cut  one 
another's  throats,  to  engage  in  cut- 
throat (q.v.)  competition  or  conduct 
ruinous  to  either;  to  cut  one's  own 
throat  (or  to  cut  the  throat  of),  to  ruin 
oneself,  to  shipwreck  chances  or 
interests;  to  have  one's  throat  lined, 
to  be  void  of  taste;  to  wish  for  a 
throat  a  mile  long  and  a  palate  at  every 
inch  of  it,  a  modern  echo  of  Rabelais  : 
see  Bone,  Stick  (1637). 

Throttle  (or  Thropple).  To  strangle 
(Grose). 

Through.  Colloquialisms  range 
themselves  under  Through  as  follows : 
To  be  through,  (1)  to  have  finished:  as 
of  a  meal,  '  Are  you  through  ? '  (2) 
to  be  acquitted  (old  thieves ' :  Grose) ; 
(3)  to  complete  a  bargain;  to  have 
been  through  the  mill,  to  have  learned 
by  experience ;  also  see  Alphabet, 
Thick,  Water,  and  other  nouns. 

Through  shot  Spendthrift:  e.g.  a 
through  shot  sort  of  fellow. 

Through-stitch.  Thorough,  com- 
plete, '  over  shoes,  over  boots ' 
(B.  E.),  to  stick  at  nothing  (Grose): 
a  tailor's  expression.  Hence,  to  go 
through  stitch  (1611). 

Throw.  Among  slang  and  col- 
loquial usages  may  be  enumerated: 
To  throw  a  levant,  to  make  off:  see 
Bunk ;  to  throw  a  sop  to  Cerberus  (see 
Sop);  to  throw  cold  water,  to  dis- 
courage, to  damp;  to  throw  dust  (or 
pepper)  in  the  eyes,  to  mislead,  to 
dupe;  to  throw  off,  (I)  to  do  or  talk 
offhandedly:  spec,  to  convey  un- 
pleasant allusions  under  a  mask  of 
pleasantry  (Grose);  (2)  to  brag  of 
past  booty,  (thieves':  Grose) ;  (3) 
to  discard ;  and  (4)  to  start  the  pack 
(fox- hunters');  to  throw  oneself  into, 
to  do  zealously ;  to  throw  out,  to  expel 


473 


Throw-back. 


TiWt-eoc. 


with  violence ;  to  throw  over,  to  deeert ; 
to  throw  overboard,  to  abandon ;  to 
throw  together,  (I)  to  do  hastily,  and 
(2)  to  bring  together  frequently:  as 
their  marriage  came  about  through 
being  thrown  much  together  '  ;  to  throw 
up,  to  resign,  to  desist,  to  chuck  up 
(q.v.);  to  throw  up  the  sponge  (see 
Sponge) ;  to  throw  about,  to  seek  an 
opportunity,  to  try  expedients;  to 
throw  back,  to  revert ;  to  throw  in  for, 
to  enter :  as  for  a  race ;  to  throw  to  the 
dogs,  to  put  aside  as  valueless;  to 
throw  off  the  belt,  to  stop;  to  have  a 
throw  at,  to  attack;  to  throw  snot 
about,  to  weep;  to  throw  (or  throw 
down)  a  paper  (lesson,  examination, 
etc.),  to  floor  (q.v.);  to  throw  the  feet, 


limitation  practised  by  masters  on 
their  servants:  when  the  latter  are 
compelled  to  vote  as  their  employers 
please,  under  pain  of  losing  their 
situations  (HalliweU). 

Thump.  A  heavy  blow  with  club, 
fist,  or  anything  that  resounds :  also 
as  verb  (Grose).  [Century :  Not  found 
in  Middle  English;  apparently  a 
variant  of  dump."]  Hence  thumper. 
Also,  This  is  better  than  a  thump  on 
the  back  with  a  stone  (Grose:  said 
on  giving  a  drink  of  good  liquor  on 
a  cold  morning) ;  '  Thatch,  thistle, 
thunder,  and  thump'  (Grose:  words 
to  the  Irish,  like  the  Shibboleth  of 
the  Hebrews)  (1596). 

Thumper    (Thumping,    etc.).     1. 


to  beg,  hustle,  or  do  anything  that  Anything  impressive;  thumping,  un- 
usually large,  heavy,  etc.  (Grose) 
(1709).  2.  In  pL,  dominoes. 

Thumpkin.  A  barn  filled  with 
hay. 

Thunder  1  A  mild  oath :  also 
thunderation  !  thunder -and -lightning  I 
and  thunder  -  and  •  turf  !  By  thunder, 
By  God,  and  the  Devil,  and  what 
comes  between.  To  collar  (or  steal) 
one's  thunder,  to  appropriate  another's 
work,  ideas,  etc. 

Thunderbomb  (H.M.S.).  An  im- 
aginary ship  of  enormous  dimensions. 

Thunderer  (The).  The  Times 
newspaper. 

Thundering.  A  strong  intensive : 
great,  large,  tremendous,  etc.  (1597). 

Thunder-mug.     A  chamber-pot. 

Thusness.  Why  this  thusnessf  A 
pleonastic,  Why  ? 

Thwack.  To  beat  with  a  stick 
or  cudgel  (B.  E.),  a  great  blow  with 
a  stick  across  the  shoulders  (Grose) ; 
thick  thwack,  blow  after  blow  (1574). 

Thwacker.  Anything  very  much 
out  of  the  common ;  thwacking,  tre- 
mendous, great  (1620). 

Tib.  1.  A  woman :  generic  (cf. 
Tom,  man),  a  usage  that  long 
lingered ;  hence,  2.  a  term  of  en- 
dearment :  also  a  calf ;  and,  3.  con- 
temptuously, a  wanton.  Tib  of  the 
buttery,  goose  (sometimes,  an  endear- 
ment) (1582).  4.  The  anus.  5.  A 
bit:  hence  tib  fo  occabot,  a  bit  of 
tobacco.  To  tib  out  (Charterhouse), 
to  go  beyond  bounds  (1854). 

Tib-of- the- Buttery  (or  Tib).  A 
goose  (1567). 

Tibb's-eve.  An  indefinite  date 
(Grose:  'Irish'  .  .  .  'St  Tibb's 


involves  much  action. 

Throw-back.  A  set-back,  a  rever- 
sion ;  also  to  throw  back,  to  revert  to 
type. 

Thrum.  To  play  on  any  instru- 
ment stringed  with  wire,  to  strum. 
Hence  thrummer  (1550).  As  subs., 
in  pL,  threepence,  threps,  (q.v.): 
see  Rhino.  Also  thrunbuskins  and 
thrummop.  Thread  and  thrum,  see 
Thread. 

Thrum  -  cap.  Rough  headgear 
(1694). 

Thug.  I.  A  nickname  for  a 
member  of  the  native  American 
party ;  2.  a  cut-throat  ruffian. 

Thumb.  To  drain  a  glass  upon 
the  thumb-nail :  the  glass  must  be 
emptied  so  that  there  remains  only 
a  drop  that  will  not  run  off  the  nail : 
see  Supernaculum.  Among  colloquial 
phrases  are :  A  thumb  under  the  girdle, 
an  indication  of  gravity  or  sadness ; 
rule  of  thumb  (q.v.) ;  all  his  fingers 
are  thumbs  (of  a  clumsy  person :  also 
thumbless) ;  to  bite  the  thumb  (see 
Bite) ;  under  one's  thumb,  under  com- 
plete control,  subservient;  finger  and 
thumb,  inseparable.  Further,  a  well- 
thumbed  book,  a  rough-handled  book; 
one  thumbed  out  of  respectability; 
thumb-marked,  bearing  unmistakable 
traces  of  an  individual  artist,  reader, 
performer,  etc.  Also  proverbial.  If 
you  bite  your  thumb  there's  hell  to 
pay. 

Thumber.  (1)  A  sandwich ;  and 
(2)  a  slice  of  bread  and  meat  carved 
and  eaten  between  finger  and  thumb. 

Thumbing.  A  Nottingham  phrase, 
used  to  describe  that  species  of  in- 


474 


Ttiby. 


Tie. 


evening,  the  evening  of  the  last 
day  or  day  of  judgment ;  as  He 
wifi  pay  you  on  St  Tibb's  eve ') : 
see  Queen  Dick. 

Tibby.  1.  A  cat.  2.  The  head; 
to  drop  on  one's  tibby,  to  take 
unawares. 

Tichborne's  Own.  The  6th 
Dragoon  Guards  (Carabineers):  c. 
1871-74,  at  the  time  of  the  Tichborne 
trial,  Sir  Roger  Tichborne  having 
(1849)  served  in  the  regiment. 

Tick  (or  Ticket).  A  word  regarded 
as  slang  to-day  (or  verging  thereon) 
that  can  boast  of  considerable  (and, 
indeed,  honourable)  antiquity :  an  ab- 
breviation of  ticket,  a  tradesman's 
bill,  formerly  written  on  slips  of  paper 
or  cards.  Hence  tick  (or  ticket),  credit, 
a  debt ;  as  verb,  to  buy  or  take  on 
trust,  to  run  a  score ;  to  tick  up  (or  to 
have  the  run  of  the  ticket),  to  put  to 
account,  to  run  in  debt  (Fr.,  avoir 
l'ardoise  =  to  slate);  what's  the  ticket? 
what's  the  price  (Fr.,  quelle  est  le 
marche  du  bceuf  gras?)  (1609).  To 
tick  and  toy,  to  dally,  to  wanton 
(1550). 

Ticker.  1.  A  watch ;  also  tick : 
Fr.,tocante(1789).  2.  (Stock Exchange 
and  Post  Office).  An  automatic  tape- 
machine.  3.  An  ignoramus  who  talks 
for  talking's  sake.  4.  A  crib-biting 
horse  (1802). 

Ticket.  1.  An  account,  a  score: 
now  tick  (q.v.)  2.  A  pass,  a  licence: 
also  tickrum(B.E.):  cf.  approximation 
to  FT.,  Etiquette:  hence  3.  a  visiting 
card :  whence  (from  2  and  3)  the  ticket, 
the  correct  thing;  that's  the  ticket, 
that's  the  thing,  that's  ah1  right :  also 
that's  the  ticket  for  soup,  you've  got  it 
—be  off!  (1611).  4.  (a)  A  printed 
list  of  candidates  in  an  election;  (b) 
the  candidates ;  and  (c)  a  policy ;  a 
platform  (q.v.);  whence  straight  ticket, 
the  party  nominations,  representing 
the  official  programme;  split  ticket, 
a  divided  policy,  a  ticket  containing 
the  names  of  candidates  representing 
several  differing  interests  or  divisions ; 
scratched-ticket,  a  list  of  candidates 
from  which  names  have  been  erased ; 
mixed  ticket,  a  list  in  which  the  nomi- 
nations of  different  interests  or  parties 
have  been  blended;  to  run  ahead  of 
the  (or  one's)  ticket,  to  receive  a  larger 
vote  than  the  average  vote  polled  by 
one's  associates  on  the  same  electoral 
ticket.  Similarly  to  run  behind  the 


ticket  is  to  receive  less  than  such 
an  average  vote.  A  hard  ticket,  an 
unscrupulous  man;  a  hard  nut  to 
crack.  To  work  the  ticket,  to  procure 
discharge  by  being  pronounced  medi- 
cally unfit. 

Tickle.  See  Ticklish.  As  verb  (1) 
to  chastise :  frequently  (as  in  to  tickle 
one's  tail)  a  humorous  threat  of  punish- 
ment; hence  tickletail  (tickletoby,  or 
tickler),  (a)  a  schoolmaster's  rod;  (b) 
a  schoolmaster ;  (c)  a  whip  or  strap ; 
(d)  a  small  weapon  carried  on  the 
person:  a  knife  or  pistol  (1598);  (2) 
to  bribe,  to  fee :  also  to  tickle  one's 
palm  (or  hand). 

Tickle  -  brain.  1.  Strong  drink ; 
hence,  2.  a  taverner:  also  tickle- 
pitcher,  a  tosspot  (1598). 

Tickler.  1.  A  puzzler :  anything 
difficult  or  perplexing :  also  (Hattiwett) 
a  shrewd  cunning  person.  2.  A  small 
pocket-ledger;  also  a  banker's  register: 
of  bills  (of  exchange)  payable  and 
receivable,  and  daily  cash  balances. 
3.  A  dram :  also  (American)  a  half 
pint  flask  of  spirits  (1840).  4.  A  small 
poker  :  used  to  save  a  better  one :  cf. 
Curate.  5.  A  bowie  knife  (1843).  6. 
See  Tickle. 

Tickle-pitcher.     See  Tickle-brain. 

Tickle-text.  A  parson :  see  Bible- 
pounder. 

Tiddipol.  An  overdressed  fat  young 
woman  in  humble  life  (Hattiwett). 

T  i  d  d  1  e.  To  advance  by  slow 
degrees,  or  small  motions :  e.g.  to  tiddle 
a  ball,  a  marble,  a  wheelbarrow,  etc. 
Tiddling,  getting  on  bit  by  bit:  also 
to  potter,  to  fidget  (1748). 

Tiddlies.  To  run  tiddlies,  to  run 
over  unsafe  ice. 

Tiddlywink.  An  unlicensed  house : 
a  pawnbroker's  (also  leaving  •  shop, 
q.v.),  a  beershop,  a  brothel,  etc.  As 
verb,  to  spend  more  than  prudence  or 
custom  will  sanction. 

Tidy.  An  antimacassar.  As  adj., 
considerable,  pretty  large,  fine, 
healthy,  comfortable,  important,  etc. 
(1360).  As  verb,  to  put  (or  place)  in 
order,  to  make  neat :  usually  to  tidy 
up,  tidy,  neat  (Grose)  has  long  been 
recognised  (1853). 

Tie.  To  marry,  to  hitch  (q.v.),  to 
splice  (q.v.):  hence  a  knot  tied  with 
the  tongue  that  cannot  be  untied  with 
the  teeth,  matrimony  (1619).  Also 
phrases  and  colloquialisms:  To  tie 
one's  hair  (or  wool),  to  puzzle  (tailors' ) ; 


475 


Tie-up. 


Timbered. 


to  tie  up,  (1)  to  forswear:  e.g.  to  tie 
up  prigging,  to  lead  an  honest  life 
(thieves') ;  and  (2)  to  knock  out 
(pugilists')  ;  tied  up,  (1)  finished, 
settled  ;  (2)  costive.  See  Apron- 
strings,  Ride,  Saint 

Tie-up.  An  obstruction,  a  blockade, 
a  closure :  e.g.  a  strike,  a  blocked 
bill,  etc. 

Tiff.  1.  Small  beer,  swipes  (q.v.). 
Hence,  a  moderate  draught :  a  tiff 
of  punch,  a  small  bowl  of  punch ;  as 
verb,  to  drink:  tiffing,  eating  and 
drinking  out  of  meal  time  (Grose): 
also  tiffin  (Anglo  -  Indian),  a  meal 
between  breakfast  and  dinner  (1664). 
2.  A  slight  quarrel :  also  as  verb  (a) 
to  have  words,  and  (6)  to  go  peevishly  ; 
whilst  tiffy  (or  tiffish)  petulant,  easily 
riled  (q.v.) ;  tiffing,  disputing  or  falling 
out  (1700). 

Tiffity  -  taffetty  Girl  (or  Taffeta- 
punk).  A  courtesan.  [Tiffany,  Epi- 
phany :  whence  tiffany  silk,  a  silk  for 
holiday  wear :  a  gauze-like  material. 
Taffeta  also,  a  transparent  silk.  Hence, 
tiffity-taffety  girl,  one  who  discloses 
almost  as  much  as  she  dissembles : 
cf.  Loose-bodied  gown ;  tiff,  to  deck, 
to  array ;  tiffany  (or  taffety),  wanton, 
soft,  yielding  (1598). 

Tiger.  A  raff.  Tigrish,  dissolute. 
1.  A  smart  -  liveried  boy  -  groom ;  a 
show  servant:  whence  (loosely)  a 
man's  out-door  servant  in  contradis- 
tinction to  a  page,  a  ladies'  attendant 
(1827).  2.  An  intensive  form  of  ap- 
plause; an  addition  thought  to  em- 
bellish the  traditional  three  cheers: 
whence  three  cheers  and  a  tiger,  three 
cheers  wound  up  by  a  growl,  screech, 
or  howl  (new  in  1842).  3.  Streaky 
bacon.  To  fight  the  tiger,  to  gamble 
with  professionals ;  also  (loosely)  to 
play  cards.  Hence  tiger  •  hunter,  a 
gambler.  See  Bengal  Tigers. 

Tigerkin.     A  cat  (1849). 

Tight.  In  pi.,  closely  fitting  gar- 
ments; e.g.  (1)  small  clothes  (q.v.); 
and  (2)  a  garment  fitting  skin-tight  to 
the  legs  or  the  whole  body,  either  to 
display  the  form  or  for  freedom  of 
movement  (chiefly  theatrical).  As 
adj.,  1.  generic  for  merit;  thus  a 
tight  (strong  or  active)  lad;  a  tight 
(lively  or  pretty)  wench;  a  tight  (an 
adroit)  question  ;  a  tight  (well  -  built) 
ship ;  a  tight  (skilful)  workman  ;  a  tight 
(pleasant)  island,  etc. :  again,  all  tight, 
in  good  health  (or  form);  neat  and 


tight,  in  good  trim  (1280).  2.  Close, 
stingy,  dear,  hard-up;  hence  a  tight 
(straitened)  market;  tight  (scarce) 
money;  a  tight  (hard)  bargain;  a  tight 
(stingy)  man :  cf.  Easy :  hence  to 
tighten,  to  become  dear  (of  money). 
3.  Severe,  hard,  difficult :  e.g.  a  tight 
(a  straining)  pull;  a  tight  (barely 
possible)  squeeze ;  a  tight  (awkward) 
position  (corner,  place,  etc.);  a  tight 
(hacking)  cough.  4.  Drunk;  full  of 
liquor:  see  Screwed  (1867).  5.  (Win- 
chester College).  Fast,  hard  ;  a  tight 
bowler,  etc.  :  as  superlative  adverb 
now  only  used  in  tight-]unioT ;  tight- 
snob,  tight-rot,  and  other  such  uses  are 
obsolete.  Blow  me  tight :  see  Blow. 

Tight-cravat  The  hangman's 
noose:  see  Horse-collar. 

Tightener.  A  hearty  meal :  cf. 
Kaffir's  tightener.  To  do  a  tightener, 
to  eat  heartily. 

Tight-fit  (Vermont  Univ.).  A  good 
joke  :  the  teller  is  said  to  be  hard  up. 

Tike  (or  Tyke).  1.  A  dog !  spec, 
a  cur  (a  dog  with  a  docked  tail :  see 
Curtail) ;  a  mongrel.  Hence,  2.  a 
clodhopper,  a  churl,  a  mean  snarling 
rascal:  spec,  a  Yorkshireman  (q.v.) 
(1363). 

Tilbury.    Sixpence,  6d. ;  see  Rhino. 

Tile.  A  hat :  spec,  a  tall  silk-hat, 
or  chimney-pot  (q.v.):  see  Golgotha. 
Tile-frisking,  stealing  hats  from  halls 
and  lobbies  (Grose).  A  tile  loose,  silly, 
crazy.  On  the  tiles,  on  the  loose, 
caterwauling. 

Till-sneak.  A  thief  whose  speciality 
is  robbing  shop-tills. 

Tilly.     Easy  as  tilly,  very  easy. 

Tilly-vally.  Pish!  Nonsense! 
Bosh!  (1529). 

Tilter.  A  sword  :  also  to  tilt,  to 
fight  with  rapiers  (B.  E. ). 

Timber.  1.  The  stocks.  2.  In  pi., 
the  legs :  Shiver  (or  dash)  my  timbers  I 
(a  mock  oath),  plague  take  my  wooden 
legs :  see  Dash ;  also  timber  toes,  (a) 
a  wooden,- legged  man;  (6)  a  person 
wearing  clogs  (East  End).  3.  A  club- 
bing at  the  hands  of  the  toughs  of  a 
town  unfriendly  to  tramps. 

Timber-mare.     See  Horse. 

Timber  -  merchant  A  street 
match-seller,  a  spunk-fencer  (q.v.). 

Timbered.  Well  (or  clean) 
timbered,  well  made ;  timber,  strength 
might  Also,  Houfs  he  timbered  f  How's 
he  built  T  not  timbered  up  to  my  uxight, 
aot  my  style. 


476 


Timber-taster. 


Tip. 


Timber-taster.  A  dockyard  official 
who  examines  timber  and  decides  on 
quality  and  fitness. 

Timber  -  tuned.  Heavy  -  fingered, 
wooden. 

Timber-yard.     A  wicket. 

Timbrell.     The  pillory  (1593). 

Tim  doodle.  A  silly  fellow 
(Halliwett). 

Time.  Cabdrivers  to  express  9s.  9d. 
say  that  '  it  is  a  quarter  to  ten ' ;  if 
3s.  6d.,  half-past  three;  if  11s.  9d.,  a 
quarter  to  twelve;  they  can  hardly 
have  originated  a  system  which  has 
been  in  existence  as  long  as  the  adage, 
1  Time  is  money ' ;  they  have,  however, 
the  full  use  of  the  arrangement,  which 
is  perhaps  the  simplest  on  record. 
The  time  of  day,  (1)  the  immediate 
trick,  the  latest  dodge,  the  absolute 
aspect  of  affairs ;  thus,  to  put  up  to  the 
time  of  day,  to  initiate ;  to  know  the 
time  of  day,  to  be  fully  informed,  on 
the  spot  (q.v.),  to  know  what's 
o'clock  (q.v.);  that's  the  time  of  day, 
'That's  how  we  does  it!'  (1687);  (2) 
A  knock-out  blow ;  (3)  A  good  joke ; 
(4)  a  salutation,  a  greeting:  Good 
morning,  etc.  (1609).  To  do  (or  serve) 
time,  to  go  to  prison ;  hence  timer,  a 
convict:  e.g.  first,  second,  and  third 
timer,  a  prisoner  serving  for  a  first, 
second,  or  third  stretch.  To  knock  out 
of  time,  to  hit  out,  so  to  punish  an 
opponent  that  he  cannot  come  up 
to  the  call  of  time.  On  time  (1) 
punctual;  and  (2)  abreast  of  things. 
In  good  time,  Just  so!  Well  and 
good !  Fr.,  a  la  bonne  heure  (1603). 
See  Good  time,  High  old  time. 

Timothy  Tearcat.     See  Tear. 

Tim- whisky  (Timmy- whiskey  or 
Whiskey).  A  light  one-horse  chaise 
without  a  hood  (Grose). 

Tin.  Money;  generic:  see  Rhino. 
Hence  to  tin  out,  to  pay  (1836). 

Tin-bellies.  The  1st  and  2nd  Life 
Guards :  from  the  cuirass. 

Tinclad.  Agunboat:spec.amusket- 
proof  gunboat  such  as  were  used 
during  the  civil  war  on  the  western 
rivers:  the  armour  plating  of  these 
was  very  light.  Also  (general),  any 
ironclad,  a  tin-pot  (q.v.). 

Tinge.     A   commission  on  the   sale 
of  out-of-date  stock :  cf.  Spiffings. 

Tinger.     A  great  he  (Halliwett). 

Tingle- tangle.  The  ringing  of 
bells. 

Tin  -  gloves     (Winchester).     Other 


ordeals  .  .  .  were  not  quite  so  harm- 
less ...  a  pair  of  tin  gloves  which 
Bully  would  furnish  in  the  following 
manner.  Taking  a  half  -  consumed 
stick  from  the  fire,  he  would  draw 
the  red -hot  end  down  the  back  of 
Green's  hand  between  each  of  the 
knuckles  to  the  wrist,  and  having 
produced  three  lines  of  blisters,  would 
make  two  or  three  transverse  lines 
across.  A  scientifically  fitted  pair  of 
gloves  of  this  description  was  gener- 
ally, if  not  pleasant  wear,  of  great 
durability  (Mansfield). 

Tinkard.     A  begging  tinker  (1575). 

Tinker.  1.  An  unskilful  workman, 
a  botcher.  2.  A  makeshift ;  a  botch, 
a  bungle.  As  verb,  to  make  barely  or 
rudely  serviceable :  e.g.  to  tinker  up  a 
patient,  to  keep  Death  at  arm's  length ; 
to  tinker  a  fence,  to  stop  a  gap  here 
and  there;  to  tinker  a  bill,  to  make 
it  temporarily  workable  (1857).  To 
swill  like  a  tinker,  to  tipple  without 
stint  (1694).  See  Lazy. 

Tinker's- budget  (or  news).  Stale 
news,  piper's  news  (q.v.). 

Tinker's  Damn.  A  small  standard 
of  value  :  usually,  in  phrase,  Not 
worth  a  tinker's  damn  (or  curse). 

Tinkler.  1.  A  vagrant ;  whence,  2. 
a  runaway.  3.  A  bell  ( 1838). 

Tinny.  A  fire;  tinny  -  hunter,  a 
thief  working  at  a  conflagration. 

Tinpot  An  ironclad:  cf.  tin-clad. 
As  adj.,  generic  for  shoddy;  thus  a 
tin -pot  (poor  or  pretentious)  game; 
tin-pot  (shabby)  lot;  tin-pot  (mean) 
company ;  in  a  tin-pot  way,  in  poor  or 
worthless  fashion;  also  (American) 
tin-horn. 

T i  n  - 1  a  b  (Dulwich  College).  The 
carpenter's  shop. 

Tin  Tabernacle.  An  iron  -  built 
church. 

T  i  p.  1.  Special  information, 
private  knowledge;  specifically  an 
advice  concerning  betting  or  a  Stock- 
Exchange  speculation  intended  to 
benefit  the  recipient :  the  straight  tip, 
an  absolute  cert  (q.v.);  in  racing, 
direct  advice  from  owner  or  trainer; 
also  a  horse,  a  stock,  etc.,  specially 
recommended  as  a  sound  investment ; 
as  verb,  to  impart  exclusive  infor- 
mation; hence  tipster  and  tipper. 
That's  the  tip,  That's  the  right 
thing ;  to  miss  one's  tip,  to  fail  (1567). 
2.  A  gratuity,  a  vail :  spec,  money  in 
acknowledgment  of  service  rendered 


477 


Tipper. 


TitcJi. 


or  expected ;  also  (looeely),  any  gift 
of  money ;  likewise  tippery,  payment ; 
aa  verb,  (1)  to  give  tips;  and  (2) 
to  earn  money  (1610).  3.  (Felsted 
School),  (a)  A  false  report;  (b)  a 
foolish  blunder  in  translating.  4.  A 
draught  of  liquor;  an  abbreviation 
of  tipple  (q.v.);  to  tip  off,  to  drink. 
As  verb,  generic  for  doing:  a  verb  of 
general  application  (1567):  thus  to  tip 
the  lour  (cote,  brass,  rhino,  etc. ),  to  pay, 
give,  get,  or  lend  money;  to  tip  a 
sock,  to  land  a  blow;  to  tip  a  settler, 
to  knock  out ;  to  tip  to  Adam  Tiler,  to 
hand  the  swag  to  a  confederate;  to 
tip  a  mish,  to  put  on  a  shirt ;  to  tip  off, 
(1)  to  drink:  see  Tipple;  (2)  to  die; 
to  tip  the  lion,  to  flatten  one's  nose 
with  the  thumb  and  extend  the  mouth 
with  the  fingers ;  to  tip  a  doddle  (the 
fives,  or  the  gripes  in  a  tangle),  to  shake 
hands ;  to  tip  a  copper,  to  sky  a  coin ; 
to  tip  a  yarn,  to  tell  a  story;  to  tip 
the  traveller,  to  humbug,  to  romance ; 
to  tip  the  wink,  to  wink  (as  a  sign  of 
caution,  understanding,  etc.) ;  to  tip  the 
red  rag,  to  scold;  to  tip  the  rags  (or 
the  legs)  a  gallop,  or  the  double,  to 
decamp;  to  tip  all  nine,  to  knock  all 
the  skittles  down  at  once ;  to  tip  a  stave, 
to  sins;  to  tip  the  little  finger 
(Australian),  to  drink;  to  tip  the 
grampus,  to  duck  a  man:  a  penalty 
for  sleeping  on  watch  (nautical) ;  to 
tip  one's  boom  off,  to  hurry  away 
(nautical) ;  to  tip  a  stave,  to  sing  a 
song;  to  tip  a  nod,  to  recognise;  to 
tip  a  moral,  to  give  the  straight;  to 
tip  a  rise,  to  befool,  etc.  (1610).  On 
the  tip  of  the  tongue,  on  the  point  of 
speech,  about  to  be  said  (1843). 

Tipper.  1.  A  special  brew  of  ale : 
named  after  Mr.  Thomas  Tipper :  also 
Brighton  Tipper  (1843).  2.  See  Tip. 

Tipperary-Lawyer.  A  cudgel:  cf. 
Plymouth-cloak. 

Tippet  A  hangman's  rope:  also 
hempen  (St.  Johnstone's,  or  Tyburn) 
tippet  (1586).  To  turn  tippet,  to 
change  right-about :  cf.  Turncoat  and 
Turn  cat-in-the-pan  (1562). 

Tipping.     First-rate,  jolly. 

Tipple  (or  Tip).  1.  Drink;  2.  a 
drinking  bout:  also  tiplage,  and  as 
verb.  Whence  not  a  few  colloquial 
usages:  e.g.  on  the  tipple,  on  the 
booze  (q.v. ) ;  to  spoil  a  tip,  to  interrupt 
while  drinking;  tippler,  (1)  a  toper; 
a  fuddlecap,  Sots  who  are  continually 
sipping  (B.  E.);  and  (2)  a  publican 


(the  original  meaning);  tipsy,  fuddled, 
drunk,  boosy  (q.v.):  also  tippled  or 
tipt  (B.  E.  *  a' most  Drunk').  Also 
derivatives  such  as  tippling,  tippling- 
house,  tipsify,  tipsiness,  tipsy  •  cake, 
etc.  (1450). 

Tippybobs.     The  wealthy  classes. 

Tip-top.  The  best,  first-rate,  in 
the  highest  degree:  hence  tip  topper 
(Grose).  English  synonyms :  A  1, 
about  East,  about  right,  about  par, 
all  brandy,  all  there,  all  the  way,  as 
good  as  they  make  it,  as  good  as 
wheat,  at  par,  bang  up,  Bible; 
bobbish;  boiler-plated,  bona,  bully, 
cheery,  the  cheese,  cheesy,  chic,  clean 
potato,  clean  wheat,  clinking,  clipping, 
crack,  creamy,  crushing,  a  corker,  a 
daisy,  dossy,  downy,  down  to  the 
ground,  double  -  distilled,  first  chop, 
first  -  rate  -  and  -  a  -  half,  fizzing,  fly, 
gamey,  hunky,  jammy,  jonnick, 
lummy,  nap,  out  -  and  -  out,  pink, 
plummy,  proper,  pure  quill,  real  jam, 
right  as  ninepence,  ripping,  rooter, 
rum,  screaming,  scrumptious,  ship- 
shape, slap  -  up,  slick,  splash  up, 
splendacious,  splendiferous,  to  the 
knocker,  to  the  nines ;  to  rights,  true 
marmalade,  tsing-teing;  up  to  Dick. 
See  also  Whopper. 

Tique.  1.  Arithmetic ;  and  2. 
mathematics.  [Warner:  from  a 
Harrow  French  master's  peculiar 
English.] 

Tire.     To  alarm. 

Tired.  Born  tired,  an  excuse  for 
assumed  apathy  or  genuine  disinclina- 
tion. 

Tirrit     Fright,  terror  (1598). 

Tiry.     Tired  (1611). 

'Tiser.     The  Morning  Advertiser. 

Tish.     A  cubicle,  a  partition. 

Tisty-tosty.    Swaggering,  swashing. 

Tit.  Orig.  anything  small :  hence, 
1.  a  small  horse ;  and  2.  a  girl ;  a 
young  woman:  cf.  filly  and  titter 
( 1548).  3.  A  small  portion,  a  morsel ; 
whence  tit-bit,  a  choice  piece,  a  fine 
snack  (B.  E.)  anything  specially 
selected.  4.  See  Titmouse.  5.  (Dur- 
ham: local).  A  student  of  Durham 
University :  in  contempt ;  also  'varsity 
tit.  Tit  for  tat,  originally  tap  for  tap 
(or  tip  for  tap),  blow  for  blow,  an 
equivalent  (Orose),  tant  for  tant  (B.  E. ) 
tit  for  tit,  and  dash  for  dash;  hence, 
to  give  tit  for  tat,  to  give  as  good  as  one 
gets  (1577).  See  Tale. 

Titch  (Christ's  Hospital).     A  flog- 


478 


Titivate. 


Tod. 


ging:  also  as  verb.  [It  has  been 
suggested  that  titch  =  tight  breeches : 
a  portmanteau  word.] 

Titivate  (or  Tittivate).  To  spruce 
up,  to  put  finishing  touches  to  one's 
toilet  (1836). 

Titivil.  A  generic  reproach:  a 
knave,  a  jade.  [Tom  Titivil  in  old 
moralities,  the  Devil]  (1542). 

Titley.     Intoxicating  liquor. 

Titter.     A  girl  (Grose) :  cf.  Tit. 

Titter- tatter.  One  reeling  and 
ready  to  fall  at  the  least  touch :  also 
the  childish  amusement  of  riding  upon 
the  two  ends  of  a  plank,  poised  upon 
the  prop  underneath  its  centre ;  called 
also  a  see-saw  (Grose). 

Tittle-goose.     A  foolish  blab. 

Tittle-tattle.  1.  Chatter,  scandal, 
foolish  impertinent  talk  (B.  E.); 
women's  talk  (Grose);  and,  2.  a 
chatterbox,  a  gossip.  As  verb,  to 
gossip.  Hence  tittle-tattler  and  tittle- 
tattling.  Also  proverbial  saying,  Tittle 
tattle,  give  the  goose  more  hay  (1529). 

Tittup  (or  Titup).  1.  A  gentle 
hand-gallop  or  canter  (Grose);  hence 
titupping  (or  titupy),  (1)  lively,  gay, 
frisky;  and  (2)  shaky,  ticklish  (1704). 
2.  The  thing  (q.v.);  thus  that's  the 
tittup,  that's  the  thing;  the  correct 
tittup,  the  correct  thing. 

Titter y.     Gin;  see  Drinks  (1725). 

Tittery-tu  (or  Tityre-tu).  A  roar- 
ing boy,  a  street-ruffian,  a  Mohawk 
(q.v.).  {Century:  In  some  fanciful 
allusion  to  the  first  line  of  the  first 
Eclogue  pf  Virgil, — Tityre  tu  patulce 
recubans,  etc.]  (1616). 

Tivy.     Tantivy  (q.v.)!  (1669). 

Tizzy.  A  sixpence:  see  Rhino. 
Hence  tizzy-poole  (Winchester),  a  fives 
ball  (costing  6d.  and  formerly  sold  by 
a  head  porter  named  Poole) ;  tizzy-tick 
(Harrow),  an  order  on  a  tradesman  to 
the  extent  of  6d.  a  day  (1823). 

To.  At,  in  (of  places) :  thus  I  shall 
be  to  hum  (home) ;  He  lives  to  Boston 
(1837). 

Toad.  1.  A  term  of  contempt; 
and  2.  a  jocular  address:  e.g.  You 
little  toad,  cf.  Monkey,  rogue,  etc. 
also  toadling  (1621).  Phrases:  She 
sits  like  a  toad  on  a  chopping  block 
(of  a  horsewoman  with  a  bad  seat); 
As  much  need  of  it  as  a  toad  of  a  side- 
pocket,  no  need  at  all ;  As  full  of 
money  as  a  toad  is  of  feathers,  penni- 
less ;  Like  a  toad  under  a  harrow,  on 
the  rack. 


Toady.  1.  A  servile  dependant,  a 
lickspittle  (q.v.).  Also  toad-eater 
Hence  as  verb  (or  toad  -  eating),  to 
do  dirty  or  reptile  service,  to  fawn, 
to  lay  it  on  thick  (q.v.):  FT.,  avaler 
des  couleuvres.  As  adj.  (toadyish, 
hateful  or  ugly  as  a  toad),  repulsive, 
soapy  (q.v.),  blandiloquent ;  toadyism 
(or  toad-eating),  servile  adulation  or 
service,  snobbery  (q.v.),  turf -hunting 
(q.v.),  flunkyism  (q.v.).  2.  A  coarse 
peasant- woman. 

Toadskin.  A  five  cent  stamp.  His 
purse  is  made  of  toad's  skin  (of  a 
covetous  person)  (1670). 

Toad-sticker.  A  sword  :  almost 
universal  during  the  war  (1861-65) 
(Bartlett). 

Toast.  1.  Originally,  (1)  a  lady 
pledged  in  drinking ;  subsequently,  (2) 
any  person,  cause,  or  thing  to  which 
success  is  drunk;  (3)  a  call  to  drink, 
and  (4)  the  act  of  drinking ;  also  (Scots) 
toss,  and  as  verb;  hence  top-toast,  a 
reigning  belle :  cf.  top  (leading)  lady  ; 
toaster,  the  proposer  of  another's 
health  (1663).  2.  A  toper  :  see  Lush- 
ington ;  also  toast  and  butter :  in  con- 
tempt (1598).  On  toast,  (1)  cornered, 
swindled,  done  (q.v.);  (2)  nicely 
served :  of  food,  etc. 

Toasting-fork  (or  iron).  A  sword 
(1596);  also  cheese-toaster  (q.v.). 

Toasty.     Warmly  tinted. 

Tobaccanalian  (Tobacconer,  or 
Tobacchian).  A  smoker.  Also  to- 
bacconing,  smoking  (1615).  See  Pipe. 

Toby  (or  Tober).  1.  The  road,  the 
highway :  whence  high  -  toby,  a  main 
road ;  the  toby  (toby -lay,  or  toby-concern), 
highway  robbery,  The  toby  applies 
exclusively  to  robbing  on  horseback ; 
the  practice  of  footpad  robbery  being 
properly  called  the  spice,  though  it  is 
common  to  distinguish  the  former  by 
the  title  of  high-toby,  and  the  latter  of 
low-toby  (Grose).  Toby-gill  (or  toby- 
man),  a  road  thief;  hightobyman,  a 
mounted  highwayman,  lowtobyman,  a 
footpad ;  to  toby,  to  rob  on  the  high- 
way; and  done  /or  a  toby,  convicted 
for  highway  robbery :  cf.  gypsy  tober, 
road.  2.  A  pitch  for  a  travelling 
show.  3.  A  drinking  jug  or  mug : 
usually  a  grotesque  figure  of  an  old 
man  in  a  three-cornered  hat. 

Toby-trot.     A  simpleton. 

Toco  (or  Toko).  Chastisement: 
hence  to  give  toco,  to  thrash  (1823). 

Tod.     A  drink,  a  toddy  (1861). 


479 


To-day. 


Toll. 


To-day.    See  Baker. 

Toddle.  A  walk,  a  saunter:  also 
as  verb  (or  to  do  a  toddle),  (1 )  to  be  off, 
and  ('2)  to  totter  alone :  as  an  invalid 
or  child.  Hence  toddles  (toddlekins  or 
little  toddler),  an  endearment  to  a  little 
child  (1783). 

Toddy.  Originally,  the  juice  of  the 
cocoa  tree;  afterwards,  rum,  water, 
sugar,  and  nutmeg ;  now  generic  for 
a  hot  drink  of  any  kind  of  spirits,  aa 
whisky  -  toddy,  rum  -  toddy,  gin  -  toddy, 
etc. 

Toddy-blossom.  A  grog-blossom 
(q.v. );  a  rum-bud  (q.v.). 

Toddy-stick.     A  muddler. 

Todge.  Stodge :  as  verb,  to  smash, 
to  pulp. 

To-do.  Ado,  a  fuss,  a  commotion,  a 
set-out:  cf.  FT.,  affaire  (a  faire)  (1330). 

Toe.  1.  To  kick:  e.g.  I'll  toe  you.  2. 
To  reach  (or  touch)  with  the  toes  ;  e.g. 
to  toe  a  line  (a  mark,  or  the  scratch),  ( 1 ) 
to  stand  at  attention  (or  at  the  start); 
(2)  to  be  fully  prepared  for  a  struggle 
or  contest;  (3)  to  come  up  to  one's 
obligations;  and  (4)  to  border  on 
(1835).  Phrases:  To  turn  up  the  toes, 
to  die :  see  Hop  the  twig ;  to  tread  on 
one's  toes,  (1)  to  vex ;  and  (2)  to  inter- 
fere (1861). 

To-fit-tie  (Winchester  :  obsolete). 

It  was  that  brute  A who  to-fitti-ed 

me  last  night .  .  .  Let  me  explain  .  .  . 
it  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  the 
commencement  of  a  line  in  the  old, 
familiar,  As  in  prawenti  perfectum 
format  in  avi  .  .  .  to  fit-ti,  in  reference 
to  verbs  of  the  third  conjugation 
transferred  from  the  similarity  of  sound 
to  the  schoolboy's  toe ;  it  consisted  in 
tying  a  running  noose  on  a  piece  of 
string,  cunningly  turning  up  the  bed- 
clothes at  the  foot,  putting  it  round 
the  big  toe  of  an  unconscious  sleeper, 
running  the  noose  up  tight,  and  pull- 
ing till  the  victim  followed  the  direc- 
tion of  the  string  from  the  pain  getting 
farther  out  of  bed,  and  nearer  the  floor 
till  released  (Felstedian). 

Toe-ragger.  A  term  of  contempt : 
ct  Toey. 

Toey.  A  swell,  a  toff  (q.v.):  a  New 
South  Wales  localism. 

Toff.  1.  A  gentleman,  a  fop,  a 
swell  (q.v.) :  ct  Toft  and  Tuft.  2.  A 
superior,  a  man  of  grit.  Hence  toffer, 
a  fashionable  whore  ;  tofficky,  dressy, 
showy,  gritty  (q.v.):  toffishness,  side 
(q.v.). 


Toffee-scramble.  Toffee-making : 
cf.  Tea  -  fight,  Bun  -  worry,  Muffin- 
circus,  etc. 

Toft  A  showy  individual,  a  swell 
(Hotten) :  cf.  Tuft  and  Toff. 

Togger.     See  Torpid. 

Tog  (or  Togs).     See  Togman. 

Togman  (Toge,  Togemans,  or 
Tog).  A  coat,  a  cloak,  a  gown  (1567) : 
sometimes  togger,  toggy,  and  (Tufts) 
long  tog.  [Latin,  toga,  a  mantle ;  lit. 
a  covering.]  Abo  togs,  clothes;  see 
toggery,  infra;  Sunday  togs,  best 
clothes;  toged  (or  togged),  cloaked, 
gowned,  togated,  or  equipped ;  togged 
out,  carefully  dressed  ;  togged  up  to  the 
nines,  dressed  to  kill  (q.v.),  full- 
rigged;  toggery,  (1)  clothes  :  see  togs, 
supra;  (2)  harness,  equipment,  be- 
longings ;  (3)  worn-out  clothes  (Halli- 
wett) ;  long  -  togs  (nautical),  shore 
clothes ;  upper  tog  (or  upper  togger), 
an  overcoat.  As  verb,  to  dress,  to 
clothe,  to  equip. 

Toheno  (or  Tohereno).  Very  nice. 
[That  is  '  hot  one.'] 

Toke.  Generic  for  food,  grub 
(q.v.):  spec,  bread.  Also  (rare),  a 
piece,  lump,  portion.  As  verb  (The 
Leys  School),  to  loaf  (q.v.),  to  idle. 

Token.  1.  The  plague  (B.  E.): 
also  the  characteristic  spots  of  the 
disease  on  the  body.  2.  A  farthing: 
hence  a  small  standard  of  value 
(B.  E.).  [Properly  a  tradesman's 
small  change,  of  the  nominal  values 
of  Id.,  id.,  and  Jd.]  Tom-fool's  token, 
money  (B.  E.). 

Toko.  See  Toco.  See  Bullock's 
Heart. 

Tol.  Lot  of  stock,  share  (1851). 
See  Toledo. 

Told.  /  told  you  so,  the  retort 
provocant :  in  modern  phrase,  So 
like  a  woman  to  say,  'I  told  you 
so!'  (1412).  To  be  told  (Tonbridge 
School),  to  obtain  one's  colours  in  a 
school  team. 

Toledo  (or  Tol).  A  sword-blade: 
manufactured  at  Toledo  in  Spain, 
whence  in  fifteenth  and  sixteenth 
centuries  came  the  finest  tempered 
weapons :  cf.  Fox.  Hence  a  rum  tol, 
a  silver-hilted  sword;  a  queer  tol,  a 
very  ordinary  weapon  (1596). 

Tolerable.  In  fair  health,  pretty 
well:  ct  Toll-ollish  (1847). 

Toll.  To  take  toll,  to  pilfer,  to 
'  pick  and  steal ' :  ct  custom  of  millers 
taking  a  portion  of  grain  as  compen- 


480 


Tottiban  Rig. 


Tom-fool. 


sation  for  grinding.  Also  to  get  (or 
take)  more  than  a  proper  share  (1596). 

Tolliban  Rig.  A  species  of  cheat 
carried  on  by  a  woman,  assuming  the 
character  of  a  dumb  and  deaf  conjuror 
(Grose). 

Tol-loll  (orTol-lollish).  Tolerable, 
pretty  good,  nothing  to  grumble  at. 

Tolly.  1.  A  candle:  spec,  a  tallow 
candle ;  to  tolly  up  (Harrow),  to  light 
candles  surreptitiously  after  the  gas 
has  been  put  out:  cf.  Brolly,  Yotiy, 
etc.  2  (Stonyhurst).  The  instrument  in 
caning  the  hand :  also  taps ;  hence 
tolly -shop,  a  Prefect's  room  where 
corporal  punishment  is  administered ; 
and  tolly-ticket,  a  good-conduct  card, 
given  as  a  reward  for  specially  good 
work,  which,  presented  when  punish- 
ment is  ordered,  secures  immunity 
except  for  too  grave  an  offence :  this 
system  of  accumulated  merit,  now 
almost  obsolete,  is  precisely  similar 
to  one  described  by  Mr.  Kegan  Paul 
in  his  Memories  as  existent  at  Eton 
in  the  forties.  The  Totty  (Eugby), 
the  tapering  spire  at  the  back  of  the 
Close. 

Toloben  (Tollibon,  or  Tullibon). 
The  tongue :  hence  toloben-rig,  fortune 
telling. 

Tolsery.  A  penny  [Hattiwett : 
A  cant  term.]  See  Rhino. 

Tom.  1.  A  generic  slight:  e.g. 
Tomboy,  Tom- double,  Tom- farthing, 
Tom- fool,  Tom-noddy  (all  of  which 
see).  Tomring,  a  contemptuous  re- 
ference to  the  use  of  bells  in  the 
ceremonial  of  the  mass  (1648).  2.  A 
deep-toned  bell :  e.g.  Great  (or  Big) 
Tom  of  Oxford,  Lincoln,  Exeter : 
probably  onomatopoeia;  whence  after 
Tom,  after  9  p.m. :  at  that  hour  Big 
Tom  of  Christchurch,  Oxford,  strikes 
one  for  every  student  in  residence 
(101);  when  it  ceases  the  gates  are 
closed  and  late  comers  are  fined  on  a 
sliding  scale  up  to  midnight,  after 
which  delinquents  are  gated  (q.v.) 
(1630).  3.  A  close-stool  (HattiweU). 

Tomahawk.  To  bungle  the  shears 
in  fleecing  sheep  (1859).  To  bury  (or 
dig  up)  the  tomahawk,  to  make  peace 
(or  go  to  war),  to  settle  a  difference 
(or  to  dispute) :  it  was  the  custom  of 
the  North  American  Indians  to  bury 
the  tomahawk  during  time  of  peace : 
see  Hatchet. 

Tom-and- Jerry  Days.  The  period 
of  the  Regency  (1810-20):  also,  when 


George  IV.  was  king.  [An  allusion 
to  Pierce  Egan's  Life  in  London, 
published  in  1821 :  in  it  Corinthian 
Tom  and  Jerry  Hawthorn  see  life, 
much  of  it  of  a  low  or  fast  order. 

Tom  -  and  -  Jerry  -  Shop.  A  low 
drinking-shop :  see  previous  entry. 

Tom  Astoner.  A  dashing  fellow, 
a  bold  blade,  a  devil-may-care. 

Tom  -  a  -  Styles.  Anybody,  Mr. 
Thingamy  (q.v.):  cf.  John-a-Noakes 
(1772). 

Tom-a-Thrums.     See  Wise. 

Tomato  Can  Vag.  Draining  the 
dregs  of  an  empty  beer  -  barrel  into 
a  tomato  can. 

Tomboy.  1.  A  boisterous  boy :  see 
Tom ;  2.  a  romping  girl,  a  hoyden ; 
whence,  3.  a  strumpet:  also  torn-rig 
(B.  E.).  As  adj.,  rough,  boisterous, 
wanton  (1550). 

Tom  Bray's  Bilk.  Laying  out  ace 
and  deuce  at  cribbage  ( Vaux). 

Tom  Brown.  Twelve  in  hand,  or 
crib  (Vaux). 

Tombs  (The).  The  New  York 
city  prison :  its  style  of  architecture 
is  heavy  Egyptian.  Hence  tombs' 
lawyer,  a  thieves'  advocate :  cf.  Old 
Bailey  practitioner. 

Tombstone.  1.  A  projecting 
tooth,  a  snaggle-tooth  (q.v.):  see 
Grinders.  2.  A  pawn-ticket,  a  mort- 
gage deed  (q.v.) 

Tombstone  -  style.  A  fashion  in 
composition:  spec,  of  displayed  ad- 
vertisements, these  resembling  (or 
are  supposed  to  resemble)  monu- 
mental inscriptions. 

Tom  -Coney.  A  blundering  idiot, 
a  thundering  fool  (1696). 

Tom  Cox's  Traverse.  Three  turns 
round  the  long  boat,  and  a  pull  at 
the  scuttle  butt:  said  of  a  shirker 
feigning  busy  (1835). 

Tom,  Dick,  and  Harry  (or  Tom 
and  Dick).  Everybody  and  any. 
body :  cf.  all  the  world  and  his  wife. 
As  adj.,  commonplace  (1693). 

Tom-doodle.     A  simpleton  (1709). 

Tom-double.  A  double-dealer,  a 
shuffler  (1705). 

Tom  Drum.  See  Jack  Drum's 
entertainment. 

Tom-farthing.    A  fool. 

Tom-fool.  A  thundering  fool :  an 
intensive;  see  Tom  and  Jack-fool 
(Jack,  8).  Hence  torn -foolery  (torn- 
folly,  or  torn  -  foolishness),  nonsense, 
trash,  anything  ridiculous  or  trifling ; 


481 


Tom  Long. 


Tom  Tug. 


tomfooliah,  ridiculously  absurd  ;  Tom- 
fools colours,  scarlet  and  yellow  (the 
ancient  motley — Red  and  yellow,  Tom 
fool's  colour);  More  know  Tom  fool 
than  Tom  fool  knows  (a  sarcastic 
retort  on  failing  to  recognise,  or 
professing  to  be  unacquainted  with, 
a  person  saluting  (1565). 

Tom  Long.  A  prosy  talker,  a 
bore  (q.v.):  a  windbag  (q.v.).  Also 
to  wait  for  Tom  Long  the  carrier,  to 
wait  to  no  purpose ;  thafs  coming  by 
Tom  Long  the  carrier  (of  anything 
long  expected)  (1696). 

Tommy.  1.  Orig.  a  penny  roll; 
hence,  2.  bread,  food:  specifically  a 
workman's  daily  allowance  carried  in 
a  handkerchief ;  3.  goods  supplied  to 
a  workman  in  lieu  of  wages;  4.  the 
truck -system  (q.v.);  5.  a  shop  run 
on  truck  lines:  also  tommy-shop  (or 
store} ;  and  6.  a  baker's  shop ;  whence 
also  soft  (or  white)  tommy  (nautical), 
(1)  bread:  as  distinguished  from 
biscuit  or  hard -tack  (q.v.);  and  (2) 
soft  solder  (jewellers') ;  brown-tommy, 
ammunition  bread  for  soldiers,  or  that 
given  to  convicts  on  the  hulks ; 
tommy  bag,  a  workman's  scran  -  bag 
(or  handkerchief) ;  and  tommy  master, 
an  employer  who  pays  in  kind  or  by 
orders  on  tradesmen  with  whom  he 
shares  profits ;  as  verb,  to  enforce 
(or  defraud  by  means  of)  the  tommy- 
system  (1843).  7.  A  simpleton:  a 
Tom  -  fool  (q.v.).  8.  See  Tommy 
Atkins.  9.  (Dublin  University).  A 
sham  shirt-front,  a  dickey  (q.v.): 
Gr.  Tufii'i,  a  section.  10.  A  tomato : 
usually  in  plural. 

Tommy  Atkins  (Mr.  Atkins,  or 
Tommy.  (1)  A  soldier  (of  privates 
only);  and  (2)  among  soldiers  them- 
selves, a  private's  pocket  account- 
book.  [On  attestation  forms  and 
other  documents  occurs  the  sample 
name  Thomas  Atkins.  'I,  Thomas 
Atkins,  swear  to  do  so-and-so.'  The 
same  bogus  name  appears  in  the 
Mutiny  Act ;  it  is,  in  fact,  a  tradition 
of  a  century,  and  was  popularised  by 
Rudyard  Kipling  in  Barrack  -  room 
Ballads.]  FT.,  Dumanet. 

Tommy  -  axe.  A  corruption  of 
tomahawk :  an  instance  of  the  law 
of  Hobson-Jobson  (q.v.). 

Tommy  Dodd.  1.  The  odd  man : 
in  tossing,  either  winner  or  loser  of  a 
call,  according  to  agreement;  also 
2.  the  mode  of  tossing.  [It  was  the 


refrain  of  a  Music  Hall  song,  circa 
1866 — Heads  or  tails  are  sure  to  win. 
Tommy  Dodd,  Tommy  Dodd.] 

Tommy  o'  Rann.     Scran,  food. 

Tommy-rot.  Drivelling  nonsense, 
bosh  (q.v.);  gammon  (q.v.).  As  verb, 
to  fool,  to  humbug ;  tommy  -  rotics, 
obscenity,  erotic  balderdash. 

Tommy  Tripe.  To  observe,  to 
pipe  (q.v.):  also  Tommy.  Tommy 
his  plates,  look  at  his  feet. 

Tom-noddy  (or  Tommy-noddy). 
A  fool. 

Tom  o'  Bedlam.  See  Bedlam 
beggar  and  Abraham -man. 

To-morrow  Come  Never.  Never, 
at  the  Greek  calends:  see  Queen 
Dick  (1710). 

Tom-pat.  1.  A  shoe :  in  Gypsy, 
a  foot.  2.  A  parson;  a  patrico 
(q.v.) ;  rum  torn-pat,  a  clerk  in  holy 
orders :  patrico  (properly),  a  sham  or 
hedge-priest. 

Tom  Pepper.  A  liar  (Clark 
Russell). 

Tompion.  A  watch.  [Thomas 
Tompion,  a  celebrated  watchmaker, 
died  in  1669.] 

Tom- pi  per.  A  piper:  cf.  nursery 
rhyme,  Tom,  Tom,  the  piper's  son 
(1616). 

Tom-poker.     A  bugbear. 

Tom-rig.     See  Tomboy. 

Tom  Tell-truth  (or  Tom   Truth). 

1.  See  Tell-truth,     2.  An  honest  man, 
a   trusty  fellow.     3.    A  true  guesser 
(HattiweU). 

Tom  Thumb.  A  dwarf,  a  thumb- 
ling  (Fr.,  petit  poucet),  a  hop-o'-my- 
thumb  (q.v.)  (1592). 

Tom  Tiddler's  Ground.  Waste 
ground,  unsettled  acreage,  a  No- 
man's  Land:  properly  a  neutral  or 
barren  stretch  of  country  between 
two  kingdoms  or  provinces:  e.g.  the 
tract  between  Spain  and  the  lines  of 
Gibraltar. 

Tom-tiler.     A  henpecked  husband. 

Tom  Tit  A  dwarf,  an  insignificant 
fellow,  see  Hop-o'-my-thumb  (q.v.). 

Tom  Titivil.     See  TitiviL 

Tom- toe.     The  great  toe. 

Tom  Topper.  A  ferryman,  a  river 
hand  :  also  Tom  Tug. 

Tom  Towly.     A  simpleton  (1583). 

Tom-trot  A  sweetmeat:  sugar, 
butter,  and  treacle  melted  together 
(Hattiu>eU). 

Tom  Tug.     1.  A  fool,  a  mug  (q.v.). 

2.  See  Tom  Topper. 


482 


Tom-tumbler. 


Tooley-street  tailor. 


Tom-tumbler.  ?  The  name  of  a 
fiend.  See  Scot,  Discoverie  of  Witch- 
craft, 1584,  as  quoted  in  Ritson's 
Essay  on  Fairies,  p.  45  (Halliwell). 

Tom  Tyler.  A  common  fellow,  a 
Mr.  Nobody :  cf.  Smith  and  Jones 
(1583). 

Ton.     See  Bon-ton. 

Tone.     That  one :  see  Tother. 

Tong.  1.  In  pi.,  pantaloons,  over- 
alls: see  Kicks.  2.  In  pi.,  forceps: 
dental  or  midwifery.  Pair  of  tongs, 
a  lanky  person,  a  lamp -post  (q.v.): 
also  Tongs/  (a  sarcastic  address). 
Not  to  be  touched  without  a  pair  of 
tongs,  a  simile  of  disgust :  also,  except 
at  the  end  of  a  barge-pole  (1668). 
Hammer  and  tongs,  see  Hammer. 

Tongue.  Generic  for  speech  :.  esp. 
(1)  gabble;  (2)  abuse,  or  (3)  impu- 
dence. As  verb  (to  tongue  it.  or  to 
flash  the  tongue),  ( 1 )  to  talk  down ;  (2) 
to  talk  at,  to  chide;  (3)  to  mouth 
(q.v.);  and  (4)  to  sauce  (q.v.), 
Whence  numerous  derivatives  and 
combinations:  thus,  to  tongue-bang, 
to  scold  roundly,  to  rate :  tongue- 
banger,  a  scold ;  tongue  -  battery,  a 
torrent  of  words,  a  flood  of  talk; 
tongue  -  biter,  an  indistinct  speaker : 
also  to  bite  the  tongue,  to  keep  silence  ; 
tongue  -  doughty,  bragging,  word  - 
valiant ;  tongue  -  fence,  debate,  argu- 
ment :  tongue  fencer  ( 1 )  a  master  of 
words,  and  (2)  a  mouthing-speaker ; 
tongue-lashing,  wordy  abuse;  tongue- 
man  (1)  an  orator,  (2)  a  chatterbox, 
and  (3)  a  scold :  also  tongue-pad,  and 
tonguester ;  tongue-powder,  fluency  of 
phrase ;  tongue  -  shot,  as  far  as  the 
voice  will  reach :  cf.  ear  -  shot ; 
tongue-sore,  an  evil  tongue,  ill-speak- 
ing; tongue-valiant,  (1)  free  of  talk: 
hence  (2)  brave  in  word  but  cowardly 
in  deed  ;  tonguey,  voluble,  abusive,  to 
tongue  walk,  to  abuse  ;  tongue  warrior, 
a  boaster ;  to  tongue  whip,  to  lash  with 
scorn;  tongue  wagging,  speech-making, 
verbosity,  raillery :  cf.  He  can  wag 
his  tongue  better  than  he  can  wield 
his  sword,  pen,  etc.  (of  one  promising 
more  than  he  can  perform);  to  wag 
one's  tongue,  to  talk,  to  chatter; 
tongue  -  work,  chatter,  philological 
studies  ;  a  long  tongue,  so  full  of  talk 
that  one  can't  get  in  a  word  edge- 
ways ;  auld  wives'  tongues,  scandal. 
Also  phrases:  On  (or  at)  the  tip  (or 
end)  of  the  tongue,  on  the  point  of 
speech,  about  to  say  (or  tell) ;  to  give 


tongue,  to  blurt  out ;  to  keep  (or  hold) 
one's  tongue,  to  be  silent ;  to  wag  one's 
tongue,  to  speak  out  of  season ;  as  old 
as  my  tongue,  and  a  little  older  than  my 
teeth,  a  dovetail  to  How  old  are  you  ? 
a  tongue  too  long  for  one's  teeth  (or 
mouth),  indiscreet,  over  -  ready  of 
speech ;  to  find  one's  tongue,  to  break 
silence  ;  to  put  one's  tongue  in  another's 
purse,  to  silence ;  tongue  enough  for 
two  sets  of  teeth,  said  of  a  talkative 
person ;  the  tongue  of  the  trump,  the 
best,  the  most  important  thing  or 
person  :  see  Trump  ;  Mew  your  tongue 
(old),  Shut  your  mouth-!  The  Vulgar 
Tongue  (Grose),  cant,  slang,  heterodox 
speech,  etc. 

Tonic.  1.  A  drink:  spec,  an 
appetiser.  2.  A  halfpenny :  see  Rhino. 

Tonish  (Tony,  etc. ).     See  Bon  Ton. 

Tonkabout  (Charterhouse  and 
Durham).  Skying  a  ball;  to  tonk,  to 
drive  a  ball  into  the  air :  cricket. 

Tonner.  Usually  in  combination: 
e.g.  a  ten  -  tonner,  etc.  (of  floating 
bottoms) :  cf.  twenty-thousand  poun- 
der (an  heiress:  Farquhar,  Recruiting 
Officer). 

Tony.     A  simpleton  (1668). 

Too.  This  is  too  much,  the  retort 
sarcastic  or  jocose :  an  echo  of  Artemus 
Ward  among  the  Shakers.  See  Bag, 
Boots,  Thin,  Too-too. 

Tool.  1.  A  person  employed  by 
another  (in  reproach) — a  jackal,  satel- 
lite, dupe,  cat's-paw.  Hence,  a  poor 
tool,  a  clumsy  worker,  a  bad  hand  at 
anything;  a  mere  tod,  a  sycophant; 
also  tod,  a  useless,  shiftless  fellow 
(1650).  2.  A  weapon:  spec,  a  sword 
(1360).  3.  Usually  in  pi.,  (a)  pistols; 
(b)  housebreaking  implements ;  (c)  the 
hands,  the  forks  (q.v.);  and  (d)  in 
sing.,  a  small  boy  employed  to  creep 
through  windows,  etc.,  to  effect  entry; 
hence  to  tool,  to  burgle,  pick  pockets, 
steal ;  fixed  for  the  tods,  convicted  for 
possession  of  illegal  instruments;  toder, 
a  burglar  or  pickpocket;  mdl-toder, 
a  female  thief.  4.  Generic  for  equip- 
ment (cf.  all  senses):  spec,  (artists') 
brushes,  (authors'),  books,  especially 
works  of  reference,  (medical)  surgical 
instruments.  5.  A  whip;  hence  as 
verb,  to  handle  a  team  of  horses  skil- 
fully ;  also  (loosely),  to  drive ;  applied 
to  all  means  of  locomotion  —  engine, 
cart,  bicycle,  motor-car,  etc. ;  to  tod 
along,  to  go  quickly  (1849). 

Tooley-street  tailor.     A  conceited 


483 


Fool, 


Top. 


bumptious  fellow.  [Hotten :  The  three 
tailors  of  Tooley  Street  immortalised 
themselves  by  preparing  a  petition  for 
Parliament  and  presenting  it  with 
only  their  own  signatures  thereto, 
which  commenced, '  We,  the  people  of 
England' — BO  it  is  said.] 

Toot  1.  The  Devil;  and,  2.  a 
shiftless  fellow,  a  good-for-nothing. 
Whence  (American)  on  a  toot,  raising 
the  devil,  on  a  spree.  See  Tout. 

Tooth  (Teeth).  A  special  taste, 
palate,  or  relish ;  a  great  liking.  Hence 
toothy  (or  toothful),  palatable,  to  one's 
liking;  the  run  of  one's  teeth,  keep, 
maintenance;  something  for  the  tooth, 
(1)  food,  and  (2)  a  tit-bit;  to  love  the 
tooth,  to  gourmandise;  tooth -music, 
mastication  ( 1581 ).  Phrases  and  com- 
binations: Hen's  teeth,  anything  im- 
aginary or  rare,  a  rara  avis :  cf.  olack 
swan ;  in  spite  of  one's  teeth,  ( 1 )  in  face 
of  opposition ;  (2)  under  protest ;  in 
the  teeth.  (1)  with  difficulty  or  much 
ado  ;  (2)  at  long  odds,  or  against  the 
grain ;  and  (3)  to  one's  face ;  to  cast 
(or  throw)  in  the  teeth,  to  accuse,  blame, 
or  bring  home  to :  see  Matthew  xxvii. 
44;  to  grind  (or  show)  one's  teeth,  to 
take  amiss,  to  get  angry ;  to  set  one's 
teeth,  to  steel  oneself,  to  put  one's  foot 
down ;  to  one's  teeth,  resolutely,  boldly, 
openly;  from  one's  teeth,  reluctantly, 
as  a  matter  of  form,  not  seriously ;  to 
hit  in  the  teeth,  to  taunt,  to  twit;  to 
hide  one's  teeth,  to  dissemble,  to  feign 
friendship ;  to  lie  in  one's  teeth,  to  tell 
unblushing  falsehoods ;  with  teeth  and 
all  (see  Tooth-and-Nail) ;  between  the 
teeth,  in  a  whisper,  aside;  to  set  the 
teeth  on  edge,  to  repel,  offend,  or  shock ; 
to  take  the  bit  in  one's  teeth,  to  cast 
aside  restraint,  to  kick  over  the  traces ; 
to  have  cut  one'e  eye  (or  high)  teeth,  to 
be  cute  or  knowing,  to  know  what's 
what  (q.v.) ;  old  in  the  tooth,  advanced 
in  years:  spec,  in  contempt  of  old 
maids;  armed  to  the  teeth,  fully  pre- 
pared, alert,  awake  (q.v.);  by  the  skin 
of  the  teeth,  barely,  by  a  close  shave ; 
clean  as  a  hound's  tooth,  as  clean  as 
may  be,  highly  polished ;  to  carry  a 
bone  in  the  teeth  (see  Bone);  to  have 
the  teeth  well  afloat  (or  under),  to  be 
drunk ;  to  the  hard  teeth,  very  severely ; 
to  go  to  grass  with  teeth  upwards,  to 
be  buried ;  to  draw  teeth  (medical 
students':  obsolete),  to  wrench  off 
knockers ;  dog's-tooth,  a  snaggle  tooth, 
a  tombstone  (q.v.);  colts' -tooth  (see 


ante);  He  ought  to  have  his  teeth 
drawn,  he  should  be  curbed,  sat  upon 
(q.v.). 

Tooth-and-nail.  In  earnest,  to  the 
utmost :  i.e.  even  to  biting  and 
scratching.  Also  with  teeth  and  all. 

Tooth -carpenter.  A  dentist,  a 
snag-fencer  (q.v.). 

Tooth-drawer.  Like  a  tooth-drawer, 
thin,  meagre,  bald  (1393). 

Toother.     A  blow  on  the  mouth. 

Toothful.  A  dram,  a  nip:  cf. 
Thimbleful 

Toothpick.  1.  A  large  stick  (Orose). 
The  Crutch  and  Toothpick  Brigade, 
foppish  men  about  town:  spec.  (c. 
1884)  hangers-on  at  stage  doors  when 
burlesque  was  in  full  swing  at  the 
Gaiety :  they  affected,  as  the  badge  of 
their  tribe,  a  crutch- handled  stick  and 
a  toothpick.  2.  A  sword.  As  adj., 
narrow  and  pointed,  like  a  toothpick ; 
spec,  of  footgear.  See  Arkansas  tooth- 
pick. 

Tooth-rake  (or  scraper).  A  tooth- 
pick (1696). 

Toothy-peg.     A  tooth. 

Too  ting-tub.     A  church  organ. 

Tootle.  Trashy :  spec,  of  immature 
literary  effort. 

Tootledum-Pattick.     A  fool. 

Too-too.  An  intensive  form  of 
too  :  over  -  and  -  above,  more  than 
enough,  very  good,  extreme,  utter; 
spec,  (modern  but  obsolete)  of  ex- 
aggerated aestheticism  (1533). 

Tootsie.  A  foot:  spec,  of  women 
and  children. 

Top.  1.  The  head.  2,  The  hair, 
the  thatch  (q.v.):  also  top-dressing: 
spec,  the  forelock  or  top-knot ;  whence 
topper,  (a)  a  violent  blow  on  the  head, 
and  (b),  a  hat:  top  lights,  the  eyes; 
also  phrases :  tail  over  top,  headlong ; 
top  over  taU,  topsy-turvy  (q.v.),  rashly, 
hastily;  from  top  to  toe,  wholly;  top 
and  tail,  everything  (1360).  3.  "in  pi., 
top-boots:  cf.  Smalls  and  Trunks; 
also  (rarely)  upper  garments  (1707). 
As  verb,  (1)  to  behead  (the  usage  still 
lingers  in  agriculture),  to  hang ;  whence 
to  be  topped,  to  be  hung :  see  Ladder ; 
topping-cheat,  the  gallows :  see  Cheat ; 
topping-cove  (or  topsman),  Jack  Ketch 
(q.v.);  also  subs.,  a  dying  speech,  a 
croak  (B.  E.);  (2)  generic  for  superior- 
ity: to  excel,  surpass,  cap  (q.v.):  thus 
to  top  one's  part,  (a)  to  surpass  oneself, 
and  (b)  to  do  zealously  ,  as  adj.  (or 
topping),  prime,  first  -  class,  distin- 


484 


To-pan. 


Torch-race. 


guished,  thorough,  extreme:  e.g.  top 
(the  best)  ale ;  a  top  (a  principal) 
character,  or  part ;  the  top  of  the  tree, 
pre-eminent  socially,  in  wealth,  in  a 
profession,  etc. ;  a  top  (a  favourite) 
toast;  a  top  (a  titled  or  well-to-do) 
family;  top  (full)  speed;  and  so  forth; 
toppingest  (or  topless),  the  best, 
supreme  ;  and  toppingly,  fine,  very 
well;  also  (in  a  baser  sense)  arro- 
gantly, assumingly,  badly,  vilely;  topper 
(or  top-sawyer),  anybody  or  anything 
exceptional:  as  the  largest  and  best 
fruit :  usually  placed  on  top  in  pack- 
ing :  cf .  Humphrey  Toppers ;  an  expert 
thief;  a  famous  horse;  a  beautiful 
woman;  a  man  of  large  means,  ex- 
ceptional influence,  high  position,  or 
remarkable  genius :  also  (of  persons) 
topping  man  or  topping  fellow ;  to  come 
out  on  top,  to  be  successful,  to  get 
there  (q.v.) ;  a  little  bit  off  the  top,  some 
of  the  best ;  the  top  of  desire,  the  height 
of  ambition,  all  that  one  cares  for: 
cf .  tip-top ;  top  and  top-gallant,  in  full 
fig  (q.v.),  rig,  array,  or  force.  (3)  to 
put  in  a  finishing  touch,  to  conclude : 
spec,  to  drink  (or  toss  off)  a  bumper, 
or  to  wind  up  a  meal  by  a  special 
course:  also  to  top  up  (or  off)  (1614); 
(4)  to  snuff  (a  candle):  also  top  the 
glim :  amongst  work-people,  one  cried 
'  Top ! '  the  others  followed,  the  last 
having  to  do  duty:  long  obsolete 
(1607):  (5)  to  cheat,  to  trick,  to  insult 
(B.  E.),  to  get  the  better  of  (or  a  bulge 
on)  one  (q.v.):  spec,  to  cheat  with 
dice.  To  cry  in  top  of,  ( 1 )  to  overrule ; 
(2)  to  talk  down,  to  outspeak  (1596). 
To  top  a  clout,  to  draw  the  corner  or 
end  to  the  top  of  a  person's  pocket, 
in  readiness  for  shaking  or  drawing, 
that  is,  taking  out,  when  a  favourable 
moment  occurs,  which  latter  operation 
is  frequently  done  by  a  second  person 
( Vaux). 

To-pan  (Winchester).  A  large  basin 
of  red  earthenware  placed  hi  each 
chamber  for  washing  the  feet 
(Mansfield). 

Top-dressing.  An  introduction  to 
a  report:  usually  written  by  an  ex- 
perienced hand  and  set  in  larger  type. 

Tope.  To  drink:  spec,  to  drink 
hard.  Hence  toper,  a  confirmed  tip- 
pler, a  soaker  (q.v.);  to  tope  it  about, 
to  keep  the  bottle  going  briskly  (1675). 

Top-heavy.  Drunk:  see  Screwed 
(1670). 

Top-honours.    Topsails  (1700). 


Top-joint.     See  Top-o'-reeb. 

Toplights.     See  Top. 

Top-lofty.  Pretentious,  bombastic, 
high-falutin'  (q.v.):  also  top-loftical. 

Top-o'-reeb.  A  pot  of  beer.  Top- 
joint,  a  pint  of  beer. 

Top  of  the  Morning.  A  cheery 
greeting. 

Topper.  1.  A  cigar  stump;  and  2. 
a  plug  of  tobacco  at  the  bottom  of  a 
pipe ;  hence  topper-hunter,  a  scavenger 
of  half-smoked  and  refuse  tobacco.  3. 
A  lanky  person,  a  lamp-post  (q.v.). 
4.  See  Top. 

Topping-cheat.     See  Top. 

Top-ropes.  To  sway  away  on  all 
top-ropes,  to  live  riotously  or  extrava- 
gantly (Grose). 

Topsail  (or  topsails  over).  Topsy- 
turvy (q.v.),  heels  over  head  (1430). 
To  pay  one's  debts  with  the  topsail,  to 
go  to  sea  leaving  scores  unpaid ;  cf. 
(military)  to  pay  one's  score  with  the 
drum  (to  march  away). 

Top-sawyer.  1.  See  Top.  2.  A 
collar ;  also  the  front  of  a  garment. 

Top-shuffle.  To  shuffle  the  lower 
half  of  a  pack  over  the  upper  half 
without  disturbing  it.  The  cut,  of 
course,  buries  it,  but  by  a  very  simple 
movement  the  cards  are  forced  back 
to  their  original  condition.  This  is 
shifting  the  cut,  and  can  be  done  with 
one  hand  or  two. 

Tops  y- boo sy.  Drunk:  see 
screwed. 

Topsy-turvy.  Upside  down,  upset, 
in  confusion:  also  as  adj.,  subs.,  and 
verb,  with  derivatives  such  as  topsy- 
turvily,  topsy-turviness,  topsy-turvydom, 
topsy-turvyfication,  topsy -turvify,  and 
topsy  -  turvyism.  Variants :  Topsy- 
tervy,  Topsy  -  tyrvy,  Topsie  -  turvie, 
Topse  -  torve,  Topsy  -  turvye,  Topsie- 
turvy,  Topsi  -  turvy,  Topsy  -  turvey, 
Topsoltiria  (Scots');  Tapsalteerie 
(Scots');  Tapsie-teerie  (Scots');  Top- 
turvye,  Topsey,  Turvy -topsy,  Topsyd- 
turvey,  Topside  -  turvey,  Topside- 
turvy,  Topsyturn,  Topsitum,  Top- 
sieturn,  Topsyturny,  Topsiturnie,  Top- 
sieturn,  Topsiturn,  Topside  -  turned, 
Topset-torvie,  Topset-turvie,  Topset- 
tirvi,  Topside  the  other  way ;  topside 
totherway,  Topside  turfway,  Tossy- 
tail  (1528). 

Top-yob.     A  pot-boy. 

Torch-race  (Winchester :  obsolete). 
Formerly,  part  of  the  breaking  -  up 
ceremony  of  the  winter  half  -  year. 


4S5 


Tormentor. 


Tot. 


On  tho  last  morning  the  boys,  after 
early  chapel,  rushed  out  of  gates, 
each  bearing  a  burning  birch  broom, 
up  College  Street  and  along  the  wall 
of  the  close  up  to  the  old  White  Hart 
Inn,  where  breakfast  was  prepared 
before  the  chaises  started.  This 
subsequently  gave  way  to  a  race  of 
Seniors  in  sedan  chairs. 

Tormentor.  1.  A  long  iron  fork: 
used  by  cooks  at  sea.  2.  A  first 
groove  wing.  3.  A  back-scratcher 
(q.v.). 

Tormentor  -  of  -  catgut  A  fiddler, 
a  catgut-scraper  (Grose). 

Tormentor  -  of  -  sheepskin.  A 
drummer  (1785). 

Torn  -  down.  An  unruly,  unman- 
ageable  person:  as  adj.  (1)  rebellious; 
(2)  overpowering. 

Torpid  (or  togger)  (Oxford).  (1) 
A  second  -  class  racing  eight :  corre- 
sponding to  the  Cambridge  slogger 
(q.v.);  (2)  one  of  the  crew;  (3)  in 
pi.  the  Lent  races:  also  as  adj.  ;  (4) 
A  boy  who  has  not  been  two  years  in 
the  school  (Harrow). 

Torrac.     A  carrot. 

Torril.  A  worthless  woman,  or 
horse. 

Torturer  of  Anthems.  A  chorister ; 
a  hallelujah  howler  (q.v.)  (1809). 

Tortle.     To  shamble  away. 

Tortoise.     See  pump  and  tortoise. 

Tory.  (1)  Orig.  (Irish),  a 
marauder:  spec,  a  bandit  (16th  cent- 
ury) who,  to  cover  lawlessness,  took  up 
arms  for  the  King.  Hence  (2)  a  bully, 
a  terror ;  and  (3)  a  generic  reproach : 
e.g.  (a)  a  sympathiser  with,  dis- 
believer in,  or  supposed  abettor  of 
the  Popish  plot ;  (6)  one  who  refused 
to  concur  in  the  Exclusion  Act 
confirming  the  succession  to  the 
throne  to  Protestants,  a  measure 
which  was  directly  aimed  at  the  Duke 
of  York,  afterwards  James  II. ;  and 
(c),  collectively,  the  Court  as  distin- 
guished from  the  Country  party,  or 
Whigs  (q.v.).  Subsequently  Tory 
assumed  its  modern  meaning,  i.e.  one 
upholding  the  existing  order  of  things 
in  Church  and  State,  as  opposed  to 
Liberal,  i.e.  one  who  sought,  by 
experimental  legislation,  to  remedy 
admitted  or  supposed  disabilities. 
About  1832  Tory  began  to  be 
superseded  by  Conservative;  indeed 
the  march  of  time  has  now  (1903) 
considerably  modified  the  old  Tory 


political  ideas  (1566).  (4)  (American). 
A  loyalist:  during  the  period  of  the 
War  of  Independence.  Hence  any 
one  favouring  the  claims  of  Great 
Britain  against  the  revolted  Colonies. 

Tosh.  1.  A  bath,  a  foot- pan;  also 
as  verb,  to  splash,  to  douse,  to  throw 
water  over  a  person :  e.g.  He  toshed 
his  house  beak  by  mistake,  and  got 
three  hundred;  tosh  -  pond  (Royal 
Military  Academy),  the  bathing- 
pond.  2.  See  Tush.  3.  Nonsense; 
rot  (q.v.):  What  frightful  tosh  (Ozf. 
Mag.  26  Oct.  1892). 

Tosher  (Oxford  University).  1.  An 
unattached  student.  2.  A  small 
fishing  vessel.  3.  A  man  who  steals 
copper  from  ships'  bottoms  in  the 
Thames  (Hotten). 

Tosh-soap.     Cheese:  see  Tosh. 

Toss.  1.  Agitation,  commotion, 
anxiety  (1666).  2.  A  measure  of 
sprats.  As  verb,  to  drink  at  a 
draught,  to  gulp :  e.g.  to  toss  a  can  of 
beer:  also  to  toss  off:  cf.  Toast; 
hence  toss  -  pot,  a  drunkard :  see 
Lushington;  tossed  (or  tosticated), 
drunk:  see  Screwed  (1560).  Also 
colloquialisms  and  phrases:  To  toss 
out,  (1)  to  dress  hurriedly,  and  (2)  to 
depart  hastily;  To  toss  off,  (I)  see 
verb,  supra;  (2)  to  do,  execute,  or 
turn  out  quickly:  as  to  toss  off  a 
poem,  a  task,  or  musical  performance  ; 
(3)  to  while  away  (of  time),  to  dispose 
of  easily:  to  toss  up  (or  to  toss),  (I) 
to  decide  a  matter  by  skying  a  coin : 
also  as  subs,  (or  toss  up),  an  even 
chance,  and  to  win  the  toss,  to  be 
successful ;  to  toss  up,  (2)  to  prepare 
rough  and  readily  (of  food).  See 
Blanket 

Toss  -  plume.  A  braggart,  a 
swaggerer. 

Tossy.  Off-hand,  careless:  also 
tossUy. 

Tossy- tail.     Topsy-turvy  (q.v.). 

Tostication.  Perplexity,  commo- 
tion: whence  tosticated,  (1)  restless, 
worried;  and  (2)  intoxicated:  also 
tossicated  (1720). 

Tot  1.  Generic  for  anything 
small :  spec,  an  endearment :  e.g. 
a  wee  tot,  a  little  child :  cf.  Toddlekins ; 
also,  2.  a  measure  holding  a  gill ; 
whence  a  nip  or  dram,  a  go  (q.v.); 
as  verb,  to  drink:  see  Tote  (1725). 
3.  see  Tottery.  4.  A  bone:  spec, 
(army),  kitchen  refuse  and  (general) 
all  kinds  of  waste,  or  marine  store 


486 


Tote. 


Touch-and-go. 


stuff ;  hence  totting,  bone  -  picking, 
dust-heap  sifting ;  tot-picker  (or  raker), 
a  scavenger;  The  Old  Tots,  the  17th 
Lancers;  the  Death  or  Glory  Boys: 
in  allusion  to  the  regimental  badge  of 
a  skull  and  crossbones.  As  verb, 
(1)  to  count,  to  reckon:  also  to  tot 
up  (or  tote) ;  also  (2),  to  wager  all : 
cf.  Tote,  infra;  hence  as  subs.,  an 
exercise  in  addition;  tot-book,  a  book 
containing  examples  for  practice;  the 
tote  (or  the  whole  tote),  all,  everything ; 
to  tote  fair,  to  reckon  accurately: 
hence  (South  and  Western  American), 
to  act  honestly ;  to  play  the  game 
(q.v.)  (1766). 

Tote.  A  teetotaller:  also  (in 
sarcasm,  with  a  glance  at  tot,  to  drink 
drams),  a  hard  drinker.  see  Tot. 
As  verb,  to  carry,  to  bear  a  burden, 
to  endure;  hence  tote-load,  as  much 
as  one  can  carry ;  tote-road,  a  road  or 
track. 

Toter.  A  piper  [Oifford:  a  low 
term]  (1633). 

Tother  (Tone).  The  other,  the 
one  (The,  thet,  the  old  neuter  article) ; 
tone  and  tother,  both ;  totheremmy, 
the  others  (1200). 

T' other-day.  Spec,  the  day  before 
yesterday,  but  frequently  used  in  an 
indefinite  sense. 

T'other  School  (Winchester).  1. 
One's  former  school;  2.  any  school 
not  a  public  school.  As  adj.,  non- 
licet  (q.v.),  or  unbecoming,  because 
more  or  less  alien  to  Winchester. 
T'other-'un  (Charterhouse),  a  private 
school. 

T'other-sider  (Victoria:  now  rare). 
A  convict :  see  Sidney-sider. 

Totter.  To  hang,  to  swing  on  the 
gallows  (1630). 

Totterarse.     Seesaw. 

Tottery.  Shaky,  unsteady:  also 
tottlish  (or  totty).  Hence,  tottle,  to 
walk  unsteadily;  totty-headed,  giddy, 
hare  -  brained ;  tot,  a  simpleton 
(1383). 

Tottie.  A  high-class  harlot :  some- 
what of  an  endearment :  cf.  Tot. 

Touch.  1.  Worth,  value,  cost: 
usually  in  combination,  as  a  guinea- 
touch,  something  costing  a  guinea;  a 
penny  touch,  a  penn'orth ;  also  (Eton), 
a  present  of  money  (1720).  2.  A 
trick,  a  dodge,  a  contrivance ;  to  do  a 
touch,  to  make  shift,  to  manaj 
how  (1530).  3.  Generic 
minimum  of  effort  or  effect 


j  some- 
T  the 
a 


e.g. 


touch  (suspicion)  of  frost;  a  touch  of 
the  tar  -  brush,  slightly  coloured  (of 
mixed  white  and  black  blood) ;  a 
touch  (a  spice)  of  humour ;  a  slight 
touch,  a  gentle  reminder :  hence  to 
touch  upon,  to  dwell  lightly  on  a 
matter ;  a  touch  (a  pricking)  of  con- 
science; a  touch  (a  trace)  of  pity;  a 
touch  (a  foretaste)  of  spring ;  a  touch 
(a  twinge)  of  pain ;  to  touch  off,  to  out- 
line, draft,  or  produce  hastily  or  by 
a  few  strokes  of  pen,  pencil,  or  brush ; 
to  touch  up,  (1)  to  gently  jog  the 
memory,  (2)  to  urge,  egg  on,  or  spur 
forward,  (3)  to  improve,  mend,  or  add 
to ;  touch  up,  (1)  a  remainder,  (2)  a  spur 
to  action,  (3)  a  finishing  or  improving 
stroke  (1597).  See  Touch-and-go. 
As  verb,  ( 1 )  generic  for  getting : 
spec,  to  get  money  in  hand :  also  in 
modern  usage,  to  obtain  speciously 
or  secretly,  by  methods  that  will  not 
bear  too  close  a  scrutiny;  and  hence 
(thieves'),  to  steal:  in  Australia  to 
act  unfairly  (1726);  (2)  to  be  equal 
to,  capable  of,  or  bear  comparison 
with;  to  have  a  touch,  to  make  an 
attempt  (1713);  (3)  to  arrest  (Grose). 
Phrases  and  colloquialisms:  In  touch 
with,  (1)  in  sympathy,  and  (2)  near  at 
hand ;  out  of  touch  with,  (1 )  antagonistic, 
and  (2)  out  -  of- the  -  way,  un  -  get  -  at- 
able ;  to  touch  one,  to  affect,  concern, 
or  influence ;  to  touch  a  sore  spot  (up, 
home,  or  on  the  raws,  etc.),  to  irritate 
by  allusion  or  joke,  to  rub  up  the 
wrong  way,  to  clinch  an  argument, 
advice,  or  comment;  true  as  touch, 
absolutely  true ;  to  touch  bottom  (or 
bedrock),  (1)  to  reach  the  lowest  point, 
and  (2)  to  get  at  the  truth  of  matters ; 
to  touch  her  up  (nautical),  to  shake  a 
vessel  by  luffing;  touch  pot,  touch 
penny,  no  credit  given;  touch  bone 
and  whistle,  any  one  having  broken 
wind  backwards,  according  to  vulgar 
law,  may  be  pinched  by  any  of  the 
company  till  he  has  touched  bone  (i.e. 
his  teeth)  and  whistled  (1400).  See 
Touched. 

Touch-and-go.  1.  Uncertain, 
risky,  nothing  to  spare,  hasty,  super- 
ficial: of  persons  and  things.  As 
subs.,  (a)  a  narrow  escape,  a  close 
shave;  and  (6)  a  trifle;  also  a  near 
(or  close)  touch  (or  touch  (or  toucher) ; 
as  near  as  a  toucher,  as  near  as  may 
be,  very  nearly ;  touch  and  go,  to  drive 
close  enough  to  touch  and  escape 
injury — a  trick  of  the  old  jarveys  to 


487 


Touched. 


Town. 


show  their  skill.  2.  Applied  to 
anything  within  an  ace  of  ruin. 

Touched.  Slightly  crazy,  mentally 
impaired.  Hence,  touch,  a  kink,  a 
twist  (1704). 

Toucher.     See  Touch-and-go. 

Touch-my-nob.  A  shilling,  a  bob 
(q.v.) :  see  Rhino. 

Touch- piece.  A  luck  piece  given 
by  the  sovereign  to  those  they  touched 
for  the  cure  of  scrofula,  or  king's  evil 

Touchy.  1.  Irritable,  apt  to  take 
offence,  all  angles  and  corners  [i.e. 
tetchy].  [Johrwon:  a  low  word.] 
Hence  touchiness,  sensitiveness,  peev- 
ishness (1529).  2.  Descriptive  of  a 
style  in  which  points,  broken  lines,  or 
touches  are  employed,  as  distinguished 
from  firm  unbroken  line  work:  cf. 
touch.  3.  (Christ's  Hospital).  Bather, 
e.g.  touchy  a  lux,  rather  a  good  thing. 

Tough.  A  rough,  a  bully.  As 
adj.,  generic  for  difficult,  trying, 
severe :  e.g.  a  tough  (incredible)  yarn, 
a  long  story ;  a  tough  (difficult)  706 ; 
a  tough  (severe)  rebuke ;  a  tough 
(violent)  storm ;  a  tough  (prolonged) 
siege  ;  a  tough  (stubborn)  customer,  a 
hard  nut  to  crack ;  also  to  make  it 
tough,  ( 1 )  to  raise  difficulties,  to  make 
much  of  a  small  matter,  and  (2)  to 
take  excessive  pains ;  as  tough  as 
whitleather,  as  tough  as  may  be.  See 
Old  Toughs. 

Tour.  A  turn  or  drive :  spec,  the 
fashionable  promenade  in  Hyde  Park 
(1666).  SeeTowre.  The  Grand  Tour, 
in  18th  and  early  19th  centuries  a 
continental  tour  embracing  France, 
Switzerland,  Italy,  and  Germany :  re- 
garded as  an  essential  finish  to  the 
education  of  young  men  of  rank. 

Tousle  (or  Towsle).     To  rumple. 

Tout  The  posteriors  (1383).  As 
verb,  to  look  out  sharp,  to  be  on  one's 
guard  (B.  E.):  also  to  keep  tout:  see 
Nark.  Hence,  to  follow ;  and 
(modern),  to  canvass  for  custom  as 
do  hotel,  coach,  or  steamer  servants, 
to  solicit  employment  as  does  a  guide, 
or  (racing)  to  spy  out  special  informa- 
tion concerning  horses  in  training.  A 
strong  tout,  strict  observation,  close 
watching.  As  subs.,  (1)  a  hotel, 
coach,  or  steamer  runner;  (2)  a  spy 
for  thief  or  smuggler;  (3)  a  racing 
agent  or  horse-watcher.  Also  touting- 
ken,  a  tavern-bar  (1696). 

Tow  (Shrewsbury  School).  1.  A 
long  run  in :  at  hare  and  hounds. 


2.  Generic  for  money :  see  Rhino. 
To  tow  out,  to  decoy :  spec,  to  distract 
attention  and  thus  pave  the  way  for 
robbery  by  a  confederate.  In  tow,  in 
hand,  at  one's  apron  strings,  under 
one's  influence,  or  at  command:  of 
persons  and  things ;  spec,  of  a  woman 
who  is  said  to  have  such  and  such  an 
admirer  in  tow. 

Towards.  /  looks  (sic)  towards 
you,  a  toast. 

Towel.  1.  A  cudgel:  also  oaken 
or  (blackthorn)  towel ;  as  verb  (to  give 
a  towelling  or  to  rub  down  with  a  towel}, 
to  reprimand,  scold,  and  (spec. )  thrash 
(1771).  A  lead  (or  leaden)  towel  a 
bullet  (1812). 

Tower.  (1)  A  fashion  in  feminine 
hair-dressing,  temp.  William  III.  and 
Anne :  pasteboard,  ribbon,  and  lace 
were  built  up  in  tiers,  or  in  stiffened 
bows,  and  draped  with  a  lace  scarf  or 
veil.  Also  (2)  a  wig  or  the  natural 
hair  built  up  in  the  same  fashion ; 
and  (3)  false  hair  worn  on  the  forehead 
(1663).  As  verb,  (1)  to  watch  closely 
to  see,  observe,  understand :  as  a 
hawk  on  the  look-out  for  prey :  also 
toure,  tour,  twire,  twyre ;  to  tour  out,  to 
go  abroad  in  search  of  booty :  hence 
to  be  off,  to  decamp  (1567).  Been 
round  the  Tower,  clipped:  of  money 
(1696). 

Tower-hill-play.  A  slap  on  the 
face  and  a  kick  on  the  breech  (B.  E.). 

Tower-hill  Vinegar.  The  swords- 
man's block.  [Tower-hill  was,  for 
long,  the  place  of  execution.]  Hence 
to  preach  on  Tower  Hill,  to  be  hanged 
(1529). 

Towering.  Extreme,  violent,  out- 
rageous (1713). 

Towhead.  1.  A  flaxen  -  haired 
person;  and,  2.  a  rumple-head;  in 
contempt.  Whence  tow  -  headed, 
rough-headed,  unkempt. 

Town.  1.  London:  e.g.  I  go  to 
(or  leave)  town  to-morrow  ;  so-and-so 
is  in  town:  cf.  Lane,  House,  Alley, 
etc. :  whence  man  about  town  (see 
phrases)  (1601).  2.  University  and 
schools).  Townspeople,  as  distin- 
guished from  Gown  (q.v.),  the 
members  of  the  University.  [In 
early  days  Universities  were  subject 
to  perpetual  conflict — with  the  town, 
the  Jews,  the  Friars,  and  the  Papal 
Court.  Also  townsman,  and  (Cam- 
bridge) townee  (or  towner) ;  Ger. 
Philister.  Town -lout  (Rugby),  a 


488 


Town-bull. 


Tragedy  Jack. 


scholar  residing  in  the  town  with  his 
parents,  and  towney  (Christ's  Hospital), 
(a)  the  antithesis  of  housey,  that 
is  peculiar  to  the  Hospital :  whence 
(spec. )  tourneys,  clothes  more  in  accord- 
ance with  modern  taste  for  town  wear 
than  is  the  distinctive  blue  habit; 
also  (b)  a  comrade  from  the  same  town 
or  locality  (army):  FT.,  pays  (1846). 
Phrases :  to  come  to  town,  ( 1 )  to 
become  common,  and  (2)  to  be  born  ; 
on  the  town,  (1)  getting  a  living  by 
prostitution,  thieving,  or  the  like,  and 
(2)  in  the  swing  of  pleasure,  dissipa- 
tion, etc.,  London  being  regarded  as 
the  centre  of  national  life ;  to  go  (or 
take  a  turn)  round  the  town,  to  seek 
amusement,  spec,  at  night  and  by  a 
round  of  the  halls ;  a  man  (or  woman) 
of  the  town,  a  person  whose  living, 
occupation,  or  taste  is  more  or  less 
connected  with  the  shady  or  fast  side 
of  life ;  to  paint  the  town  red  (see  Red) ; 
in  town,  in  funds ;  out  of  town,  hard 
up,  penniless  (1593). 

Town- bull.  To  roar  like  a  town- 
bull.  To  cry,  or  bellow  aloud  (Qrose). 

Tow-pow.  In  pi.,  The  Grenadier 
Guards. 

Tow-row.     A  noise,  a  racket  (q.v.). 

Touzery  Gang  (The).  Mock 
auction  swindlers:  they  hire  sale- 
rooms, usually  in  the  suburbs,  and 
advertise  their  ventures  as  Alarming 
Sacrifices,  Important  Sales  of  Bank- 
rupt's Stock,  etc. 

Towzle  (or  Towse).  See  Tousle, 
verb. 

Toy.  Generic  for  wantonness :  as 
subs.,  a  lewd  conceit,  jest,  tale,  a  love 
poem,  amorous  sport.  As  verb,  to 
wanton,  to  dally  :  also  to  tick  and  toy. 
Toyful  (toysome,  toyish,  or  toying), 
amorous,  wanton  (1303).  Hence,  (1) 
anything  of  casual  or  trifling  interest, 
use,  amusement,  or  adornment,  of  ad- 
ventitious worth,  as  contrasted  with 
serious,  hard  use,  or  intrinsic  value : 
a  nick-nack,  e.g.  a  trinket,  an  idle 
story,  odd  conceit,  and  spec,  anything 
diminutive  (1529).  (2)  A  whim,  fancy, 
huff,  offence,  or  caprice  ;  hence  to  take 
toy,  (a)  to  be  huffish,  whimsical,  rest- 
less ;  and  (6)  to  go  at  random,  play 
tricks,  act  the  fool :  whence  toysome, 
etc. :  cf.  Hoity  -  toity,  thoughtless, 
giddy.  Toyty-headed,  feather-brained 
(1400).  (3)  A  watch :  whence  white 
toy,  a  silver  watch ;  red  toy,  a  gold 
watch ;  toy  and  tackle,  watch  and 


chain ;  toy-getter,  a  watch-snatcher. 
(4)  (Winchester).  In  pi.,  a  bureau — 
desk  and  bookcase  combined ;  whence 
toy-time,  evening  preparation  (1440). 

Tprot.  An  exclamation  of  con- 
tempt. 

Trace.  In  pi.,  authority,  work, 
guidance,  restraint ;  hence  in  the  traces, 
in  harness  (q.v.),  at  steady  work  ; 
to  kick  over  the  trac.es,  to  set  at  defiance, 
run  riot,  take  the  law  into  one's  own 
hands. 

Track.  1.  To  go:  hence  to  track 
up  the  dancers,  to  whip  upstairs  ( 1 67 1 ) ; 
also  (modern)  to  make  tracks,  to  go  (or 
run)  away ;  to  make  tracks  for,  (a)  to 
proceed  towards ;  and  (6)  to  attack,  to 
go  for  (q.v.).  2.  In  various  phrases  : 
e.g.  in  one's  tracks,  on  the  spot,  as  one 
goes,  then  and  there ;  off  the  track, 
discursive,  out  of  one's  reckoning,  at 
sea ;  inside  track,  the  truth,  bedrock 
(q.v.). 

Trade.  1.  An  exchange :  e.g.  a 
swopping  of  knives  :  also  as  verb,  to 
exchange.  2.  (Christ's  Hospital.)  In 
pi.,  the  boys  who  carry  the  candle- 
sticks, the  bread-baskets,  table-cloth, 
and  cutlery. 

Trade-mark.  1.  A  scratch  on  the 
face ;  hence  to  put  one's  trade-mark 
upon  one,  to  claw  the  face  :  spec,  of 
women.  2.  A  cap  (domestic  servants'). 

Tradesman.  A  thief  ( q.  v. ) ;  a  regular 
tradesman,  an  expert  thief:  also,  a 
compliment  applied  to  any  one  who 
thoroughly  understands  his  business 
whatever  it  may  be. 

Trades  Union  (The).  The  First 
(The  King's)  Dragoon  Guards.  [At 
one  time  most  of  the  officers  were 
sons  of  tradesmen,  which  is  still  an 
offence  in  the  Cavalry.] 

Trading.  A  veiled  form  of  political 
treachery :  a  State  Governor  is  to  be 
elected,  and  at  the  same  election,  say, 
Presidential  electors ;  the  one  party 
agree  with  their  political  enemies  that, 
in  return  for  votes  for  their  own 
candidate  for  Governor,  they  will  vote 
and  procure  votes  for  the  others' 
candidate  for  President.  The  practice 
is  susceptible  of  numerous  com- 
binations and  devices  (Walsh). 
Whence  trading  politician,  a  corrupt, 
venal  elector  or  candidate;  one  who 
is  regulated  by  interest  rather  than 
principle. 

Tragedy  Jack.  A  heavy  tragedian : 
in  contempt. 


489 


Trail, 


Trapes. 


Trail.  To  quiz,  befool,  draw  out, 
get  at  (q.v.):  also  as  subs.  To  trash 
a  trail,  to  take  to  water  in  order  to 
destroy  scent:  of  human  beings  as 
well  as  animals. 

Trail-  tongs  (or  tripes).  A  slatternly 
servant,  a  dirty  puzzle  (q.v.).  Hence 
traily.  slovenly. 

Train.  1.  To  travel  by  train, 
usually  with  'it':  cf.  'bus  it,  foot 
it,  tram  it,  etc.,  whence  to  train  up, 
to  hurry.  2.  To  romp,  carry  on, 
act  wildly:  almost  peculiar  to  the 
girls  of  New  England  (Bartlett).  3. 
To  consort  with  on  familiar  terms: 
e.g.  Training  with  such  a  crowd 
does  not  suit  me. 

Trainer.  A  militia  -  man ;  spec, 
when  called  out  for  periodical 
training. 

Traitor.  There  are  traitors  at  table, 
Of  a  loaf  turned  the  wrong  side 
upwards. 

Tram.  A  tramway  -  car :  cf.  bus, 
rail,  motor,  etc. 

Tramp.  1.  On  the  lookout  for 
employment;  walking  about  from 
place  to  place.  Cant  (Grose).  2. 
A  cargo  boat  seeking  charter  or  cargo 
when  and  where  obtainable;  also 
tramp-steamer  and  ocean  tramp. 

Tramper.     A  travelling  mechanic. 

Trampler.  A  lawyer:  see  Green- 
bag  (1619). 

Trampolin.   A  double  spring-board. 

Trampoose.  To  walk,  tramp, 
wander  about:  cf.  Vamoose.  Also 
trampous  and  trampoos  (1818). 

Traneen.  Not  worth  a  traneen, 
valueless,  not  worth  a  rush. 

Trangdillo.     see  Twangdillo. 

Trangram  (Trangam,  or  Trankum). 
A  trifle,  fallal,  ornament;  anything 
or  anybody  of  little  or  no  value  ( 1677). 

Tranklement.  In  pi.  intestines: 
entrails:  cf.  Trolly-bags. 

Transcribbler.  (1)  A  careless 
copyist:  hence  (2)  a  plagiarist  (1746). 

Transfisticated.     Pierced  (1600). 

Translate.  To  remanufacture 
selected  parts  of  old  boots  and  shoes. 
Also  (tailors')  to  turn  (or  cut  down) 
a  coat  or  other  garment.  Whence 
translator,  (1)  a  cobbler;  (2)  in  pi.,  re- 
made boots  and  shoes;  and  (3)  a 
renovating  tailor  (B.  E.). 

Transmogrify  (or  Transmigrify). 
To  transform,  change,  alter,  or  new 
vamp  (/>'.  E.).  Also  as  subs.,  trans- 
mogrification (1728). 


Transnear.  To  come  up  with  any- 
body (Grose). 

Trap.  1.  Sagacity,  craft,  contriv- 
ance, penetration ;  hence  to  understand 
trap,  to  be  knowing,  wideawake  (q.v.), 
alive  to  one's  own  interest;  to  smell 
trap,  to  suspect :  spec,  of  thieves  in 
spotting  a  'tec  ;  that  trap  is  down, 
the  trick  (or  try-on)  has  failed,  it's 
no  go  (1704).  2.  A  sheriffs  officer, 
thief-taker,  policeman,  or  detective 
(1705).  3.  A  carriage;  a  fast  name 
for  a  conveyance  of  any  kind  (Hotten). 
[Sola :  The  old  -  fashioned  gig  had, 
under  the  seat,  a  sort  of  boot  extend- 
ing a  few  inches  beyond  the  back  of 
the  seat.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
century  gigs  were  raised  upon  higher 
wheels  than  at  present.  On  this 
raised  vehicle  the  boot  was  lengthened 
behind,  holding  a  brace  of  dogs  for 
sporting  purposes.  In  these  dog-carts 
(thus  named  afterwards)  the  dogs  were 
at  first  placed  in  the  boot  at  the  front, 
and  I  dare  say  that  the  noble  sports- 
men may  occasionally  have  had  their 
heels  or  their  calves  bitten  by  dogs 
with  short  tempers,  and  with  scant 
liking  for  the  confinement  of  the  boot. 
This  led  to  a  great  improvement,  in 
in  the  shape  of  an  open  latticed  box 
which  was  attached  to  the  back  of 
the  body  of  the  conveyance,  and 
provided  with  a  trap  -  door  behind 
for  the  admission  of  the  dogs.  In 
process  of  time  the  latticed  box 
was  found  very  convenient  for  the 
carriage  of  other  things  besides  dogs, 
and  as  everything  conveyed  in  the 
cart  (chattels,  not  people)  had  to  be 
put  in  through  the  trap -door  (soon 
curtailed  into  trap :  compare  'bus  for 
omnibus,  cab  for  cabriolet),  the  con- 
veyance itself  was  eventually  termed 
trap.]  Hence  trapper,  a  horse  used 
in  a  trap  :  cf.  Vanner,  Busser,  Cabber, 
etc.,  on  the  model  of  hunter  (1854). 
4.  Belongings,  things  (q.v.),  sticks  and 
stones  (q.v.) :  usually  in  a  measure  of 
contempt,  cf.  Rattletrap  (1835),  5. 
Swag  (q.v.). 

Trapan.  '  He  that  draws  in  or 
wheedles  a  Cull,  and  Bites  him.  Tra- 
pan'd,  c.  Sharpt,  ensnar'd  ;  to  inveigle 
to  ensnare '  (Grose). 

Trapes  (or  Traipes).  1.  A  sloven, 
slattern,  draggletail:  a  generic  term 
of  contempt  for  a  woman  ;  hence,  2. 
a  going  or  gadding  about,  in  a  more 
or  less  careless,  objectless,  or  even 


490 


Trapper. 


Treating. 


lawless  fashion :  also  trapesing.  As 
verb  (or  to  trape),  to  gad  about ;  to 
wander  listlessly,  or  in  a  slovenly  or 
bedraggled  fashion :  cf.  trespass,  Fr., 
trcpasser  (1673). 

Trapper.     See  Trap. 

Trapping.   Blackmail,  Fr.,  chantage,. 

Trappy.  Tricky,  treacherous :  also 
trappiness. 

Trapstick.     In  pi.,  the  legs  (Grose). 

Trash.  1.  Generic  for  trifles  and 
worthlessness  (now  recognised) :  spec, 
a  harlot :  whence,  trashery  (or  trash- 
trie),  rubbish,  odds  and  ends ;  trashily 
(or  trashy),  worthless,  useless ;  trash- 
bag,  a  good  -  for  -  nothing  ;  tra^hmire, 
a  slattern ;  and  (American)  trash,  a 
negro  term  of  contempt :  see  White 
trash  (1602).  2.  Money:  see  Rhino 
(1590). 

Trat.  An  old  woman ;  a  witch 
(q.v.):  in  contempt:  cf.  Trot. 

Trav  (Felsted  School).  Travelling 
money. 

Travel.  To  walk :  spec,  to  go 
quickly ;  usually  with  along :  e.g. 
the  motor  travelled  along,  and  no 
mistake.  To  travel  out  of  the  record, 
to  wander  from  the  point  at  issue,  or 
the  matter  under  discussion  (1857). 
See  Bodkin  and  Traveller. 

Traveller.  1.  A  highwayman  ; 
hence  to  travel  the  road,  to  take  to 
highway  robbery  (1707).  2.  A  tramp 
(1851).  3.  A  transported  felon,  a 
convict :  also  a  traveller  at  His  (or  Her) 
Majesty's  expense.  4.  A  bond  fide 
traveller  :  i.e.  a  person  who,  under  the 
Licensing  Act,  is  entitled  to  demand 
refreshment  during  prohibited  hours. 
5.  A  thief  who  changes  his  quarry 
from  town  to  town.  6.  A  swagman 
(q.v.);  hence  traveller's  hut,  quarters 
on  a  station  set  aside  for  swagmen, 
stockmen,  and  others  not  eligible  for 
the  squatter's  house.  To  tip  the 
traveller,  to  humbug,  to  romance,  to 
tell  wonderful  stories  of  adventure  a 
la  Munchausen :  also  traveller's  tale 
and  traveller's  talent  (1760). 

Travelling  -  Piquet.  A  mode  of 
amusement,  practised  by  two  persons 
riding  in  a  carriage,  each  reckoning 
towards  his  game  the  persons  or 
animals  that  pass  by  on  the  side  next 
them,  according  to  the  following  esti- 
mation : — A  parson  riding  on  a  gray 
horse,  with  blue  furniture — game  ;  an 
old  woman  under  a  hedge — ditto ;  a 
cat  looking  out  of  a  window — 60;  a 


man,  woman,  and  child  in  a  buggy — 
40 ;  a  man  with  a  woman  behind  him 
—30 ;  a  flock  of  sheep— 20  ;  a  flock 
of  geese — 10 ;  a  postchaise — 5  ;  a  horse- 
man— 2  ;  a  man  or  woman  walking — 
1  (Grose). 

Travelling  Scholarship.  Rustica- 
tion (q.v.)  (1794). 

Travelling  Tradesman.  A  respect- 
able mechanic  in  search  of  work. 

Traverse.  See  Cart  and  Tom  Cox's 
Transverse. 

Traviata.     See  Come. 

Tray.  Three  :  spec,  three  months' 
imprisonment ;  tray  soddy  mits,  three- 
pence halfpenny.  [It.,  tre  sodli,  mezzo.] 
Before  one  can  say  treyace,  in  a 
moment. 

Tray  Trip.  An  ancient  game  like 
Scotch  hop  (or  Hopscotch),  played  on 
a  pavement,  marked  out  in  chalk  into 
different  compartments. 

Treacle.  1.  Thick  inferior  port. 
2.  Love  -  making,  spooning  (q.v.). 
Treacle-moon,  the  honeymoon. 

Treacle  Bolly.     See  Bolly. 

Treacle-sleep.     A  sluggish  torpor. 

Treacle  Town.  1.  Bristol:  the 
city  is  an  important  centre  of  the 
sugar  -  refining  industry.  Also,  2. 
Macclesfield  :  in  allusion  to  a  hogshead 
of  treacle  which  burst,  and,  for  a  time 
filled  the  gutters. 

Treacle  -  wag.    Very  small  beer. 

Tread.  To  tread  on  one's  toes,  to  vex, 
offend,  or  injure ;  to  tread  one's  shoes 
straight,  to  go  carefully,  act  discreetly, 
exercise  caution  ( 1 85 1 ).  See  Black-ox, 
Boards. 

Treader.     A  shoe. 

Treasury  (The).  The  weekly  pay- 
ment (theatrical). 

Treat.  1.  An  entertainment  or 
party ;  in  modern  usage  spec,  of 
children  and  schools :  hence  some- 
thing paid  for  by  an  elder  or  superior, 
or  given  as  a  token  of  good- will  and 
affection:  e.g.  a  drink,  a  dinner,  a 
theatre-ticket,  an  entertainment,  or 
the  like.  2.  A  turn  in  a  round  of 
drinks:  It's  my  treat.  As  verb  (or 
to  stand  treat),  to  bear  the  expense  of 
refreshments,  an  outing,  or  an  enter- 
tainment; also,  It  does  me  a  treat, 
that's  O.K.,  real  jam  and  no  error 
(1660).  3.  In  sarcasm:  a  nuisance,  a 
terror  (q.v.),  anybody  or  anything 
objectionable. 

Treating.  Bribery.  [A  candidate 
who  corruptly  gives,  causes  to  be 


491 


Treating -house. 


Tribute 


given,  or  is  accessory  to  giving,  or 
pays,  wholly  or  in  part,  expenses  for 
meat,  drink,  entertainment,  or  pro- 
vision for  any  person,  before,  during, 
or  after  an  election,  in  order  to  be 
elected,  or  for  being  elected,  or  for 
corruptly  influencing  any  person  to 
give  or  refrain  from  giving  his  vote, 
is  guilty  of  treating,  and  forfeits  £50 
to  any  informer,  with  costs.  Every 
voter  who  corruptly  accepts  meat, 
drink,  or  entertainment,  shall  be  in- 
capable of  voting  at  such  election,  and 
his  vote  shall  be  void  (Abstract  of  Act 
of  Parliament).'] 

Treating  -  house.  A  restaurant 
(1704). 

Treble  X's  (The).  The  30th  Foot, 
now  the  1st  battalion  East  Lancashire 
Regiment  Also  Triple  X's. 

Treddle.     See  Tread. 

Tree.  A  gallows:  also  substantial 
tree,  fatal  tree,  tree  that  bears  fruit  all 
the  year  round,  the  tree  with  three 
corners,  etc. ;  spec.  (Biblical  and  collo- 
quial), the  Cross.  See  Triple-tree  and 
Tyburn  -  tree  (1611).  As  verb,  to 
perplex,  to  get  at  one's  mercy,  put  in 
a  fix,  drive  to  the  end  of  one  s  re- 
sources; whence  treed  (or  up  a  tree), 
cornered,  obliged  to  surrender,  done 
for  (q.v.)  (1847).  Phrases:  At  the  top 
of  the  tree  (see  Top);  to  tree  oneself 
(American),  to  conceal  oneself,  hide; 
lame  as  a  tree,  very  lame ;  to  bark  up 
the  wrong  tree  (see  Bark) ;  put  not  the 
hand  between  the  bark  and  the  tree, 
meddle  not  in  family  matters;  also 
between  bark  and  tree  (or  wood),  a  well- 
adjusted  bargain  (1562).  As  adj., 
three :  e.g.  treewins,  threepence ;  tree- 
moon,  three  months'  imprisonment, 
etc.  (Qro*e) :  see  Tray. 

Tree  of  Knowledge  (Charter- 
house: almost  obsolete).  The  tree 
under  which  books,  etc.,  are  piled 
in  the  interval  between  morning 
school  and  dinner. 

Treer  (Durham  School :  obsolete). 
A  boy  who  avoids  organised  sports, 
but  plays  a  private  game  with  one 
or  two  friends.  [Presumably  because 
played  at  the  trees  by  the  side  of  the 
ground.] 

Trek.  To  go  away,  run  off:  of 
South  African  origin,  properly,  to 
yoke  oxen  to  a  waggon. 

Tremble.  Involuntary  shaking ; 
spec,  when  caused  by  excessive  cold, 
fear,  drinking,  etc.  Also  all  of  a 


tremble,  agitated,  excited,  shivery- 
shaky  (1849). 

Trembler.  In  pi.,  the  extreme 
Protestant  section  of  early  Reforma- 
tion days:  cf.  Quaker  (170">). 

Trencher.  1.  A  square  wooden 
platter:  in  general  use  before  plates, 
and  till  lately  at  Winchester.  Whence, 
trenchering,  eating;  trencher -buff on,  a 
droll  or  butt  whose  place  has  been 
taken  by  the  professional  diner-out ; 
trencher-chaplain,  a  domestic  chap- 
lain ;  trencher  -  fly  (friend,  man,  or 
mate),  a  hanger-on,  smell-feast,  para- 
site, or  sponger ;  whence  to  lick  the 
trencher,  to  sponge,  to  lickspittle ; 
trencher  knight  (or  knight  of  the 
trencher^,  a  serving  man,  or  waiter  at 
table:  hence  trencher -cloak,  a  cloak 
worn  by  servants  and  apprentices  ; 
trencher -man,  (1)  a  hearty  feeder,  one 
who  plays  a  good  knife  and  fork,  (2) 
a  cook,  and  (3)  see  supra;  trencher- 
law,  the  regulation  of  diet;  trencher- 
critic,  an  epicurean  law-monger ;  trim 
as  a  trencher,  as  trim  or  exact  as  may 
be,  as  clean  as  a  trencher  when  licked. 
2.  A  college  cap,  a  mortar  -  board 
(q.v.).  [In  shape  thought  to  re- 
semble an  inverted  trencher  with  a 
basin  upon  it.]  Also  trencher-cap. 

Trepan.     See  Trapan. 

Trey.     See  Tray. 

Treyning-cheat.     See  Trine. 

Trial  (Harrow).  An  examina- 
tion :  hence  trials,  the  examinations  at 
the  end  of  the  summer  and  winter 
terms. 

Triangle.  1.  In  pi.,  a  frame  of 
three  halberds  stuck  in  the  ground 
and  bound  at  the  top :  to  this  soldiers 
were  bound  to  be  flogged :  obsolete. 
2.  In  pi.,  delirium  tremens:  see 
Jim-jams. 

Triantelope.  A  comic  variation  of 
Tarantula.  [Applied  in  Australia  to 
a  perfectly  harmless  spider  (though 
popularly  supposed  to  be  poisonous), 
with  mandibles,  but  which  will  attack 
nobody  unless  itself  attacked  (1846). 

Trib.  A  prison:  see  Cage.  [That 
is,  tribulation.]  He  is  in  trib,  'he  is 
layd  by  the  Heels,  or  in  a  great  deal 
of  trouble'  (B.  £.). 

Tribe.  A  number  of  persons:  in 
contempt  (1685). 

Tribune.  (Winchester:  obsolete). 
A  large  pew  in  ante-chapel :  reserved 
for  ladies. 

Tribute.     To  demand  tribute  of  the 


492 


Trick. 


Trip. 


dead,  to  attempt  the  impossible  or 
absurd  (Ray). 

Trick.  1.  A  watch  (1798).  2.  A 
turn,  a  spell :  e.g.  a  trick  at  the  helm 
(1835).  3.  In  pi.,  wantonness:  spec, 
of  women.  4.  Belongings,  things 
(q.v.),  baggage  (q.v.).  Phrases  and 
colloquialisms  :  a  trick  worth  two  (or 
a  better  trick),  (1)  &  better  way,  a 
smarter  expedient,  and  (2)  a  slightly 
sarcastic  refusal :  e.g.  No  thanks ! 
It's  all  right,  but  I  know  a  trick 
worth  two  of  that;  to  do  the  trick, 
to  accomplish  one's  purpose;  a  trick 
with  a  hole  in  it  (American)  of  any- 
thing extraordinary;  to  trick  and  tie, 
(1)  to  be  equal  (sporting),  and  (2)  to 
have  something  in  reserve.  Also 
(proverbial  saying)  Trick  for  trick. 
and  a  stone  in  thy  foot  besides, 
quoth  one,  pulling  a  stone  out  of  his 
mare's  foot,  when  she  bit  him  on  the 
back,  etc.  See  Bag-of-tricks. 

Trick  -  and  -  a  -  half.  A  master- 
stroke of  roguery:  cf.  a-lie-and-a- 
half,  the  truth :  in  sarcasm. 

Trickett.  A  long  drink  of  beer. 
[New  South  Wales,  after  Trickett, 
the  champion  sculler.] 

Tricky.  Clever,  smart,  neat  (q.v.) : 
cf.  trick  (once  literary),  neat,  spruce, 
trim,  elegant. 

Trig.  1.  A  cockscomb,  a  dandy; 
as  adj.  (also  trick),  (I)  neat,  spruce,  in 
good  condition ;  whence  (2)  trust- 
worthy, active,  clever:  also  trig  and 
trim  (or  trig  and  true,  tight,  etc.). 
[Obsolete,  provincial,  or  colloquial  in 
all  uses.]  Hence  trigly,  trigness,  and 
other  derivatives  (1200).  2.  A  bit  of 
stick,  paper,  etc.,  placed  by  thieves  in 
the  keyhole  of,  or  elsewhere  about, 
the  door  of  a  house,  which  they 
suspect  to  be  uninhabited ;  if  the 
trig  remains  unmoved  the  following 
day,  it  is  a  proof  that  no  person 
sleeps  in  the  house,  on  which  the 
gang  enter  it  the  ensuing  night  upon 
the  screw,  and  frequently  meet  with 
a  good  booty,  such  as  beds,  carpets, 
etc.,  the  family  being  probably  out  of 
town.  This  operation  is  called  trigg- 
ing the  jigger  (Grose).  As  verb  (1) 
To  stop:  as  subs.,  an  obstacle,  prop, 
or  skid  (1630);  (2)  to  trudge  along, 
to  hasten.  To  trig  it,  to  play  truant, 
to  charley-wag  (q.v.).  To  lay  a  man 
trigging,  to  knock  down,  to  floor  (q.v.). 

Trig-hall.  Open  house,  Liberty- 
hall  (q.v.). 


Trigimate  (or  Trigrymate).  An 
idle  she-companion  (B.  E.);  an  inti- 
mate friend  (Hattiwell). 

Trike.     A  tricycle :  cf .  Bike. 

Trillibub.  (1)  Tripe;  hence  (2) 
anything  of  trifling  value  or  import- 
ance. Also  trillabub,  triUlibubbe, 
trottybag,  etc.  Tripes  and  truttibubs,  a 
fat  man  (1599). 

Trillil.  To  drink:  onomatopoeia 
(1599). 

Trim.  Dress:  spec,  state  dress 
(Grose) ;  hence  as  adj.  (and  adv.), 
spruce,  neat,  well-groomed  (q.v.); 
in  sad  trim,  dirty,  undrest  (B.  E.); 
a  trim  lad,  a  spruce,  neat,  well-trickt 
man  (B.  E.);  to  trim  up  (or  forth),  to 
dress,  make  clean  and  neat,  set  out: 
spec,  to  shave  or  clip  the  beard 
(1530).  As  verb,  (1)  to  call  to  ac- 
count, reprove,  thrash;  hence,  to 
trim  one's  jacket,  to  drub,  dress  down, 
dust  one's  coat ;  trimming,  a  beating, 
scolding,  or  jacketing;  trimmer,  (a) 
a  severe  disciplinarian,  also  of 
things,  and  (6)  see  infra.  (2)  To  cheat ; 
hence  trimming,  cheating  people  of 
their  money  (B.  E.)  cf.  Shave.  See 
Trimmer. 

Trimmer.  1.  Orig.  nautical : 
figuratively,  a  moderate  man,  one 
taking  a  middle  course  between  two 
extremes.  2.  A  waverer,  apostate, 
time-server;  to  trim,  and  trimming 
(q.v.).  [In  Eng.  politics  a  party  which 
followed  the  Marquis  of  Halifax  (1680- 
96)  in  trimming  between  the  Whigs 
and  the  Tories.  See  trim.  3.  Anything 
specially  decisive,  of  good  quality,  or 
noteworthy,  a  settler  (q.v.) :  spec, 
(cricket),  a  well-delivered  ball ;  hence 
trimming,  large,  big,  etc.  (1816). 

Trimming.  In  pi.,  accessories: 
spec,  those  accompanying  any  dish  or 
article  of  food  (1837). 

Trim-tram.  A  trifle,  an  absurdity, 
folly,  nonsense.  As  adj.  foolish  non- 
sensical, trifling.  Also  (Grose)  like 
master,  like  man  (1547). 

Trincum  (or  Trinkum).    A  trinket. 

Trine.  1.  To  hang :  see  Ladder. 
Trining-cheat,  the  gallows  (1567).  2. 
To  go  (1360). 

Trigum-trangum.  A  whim,  a  fancy 
(B.  E.). 

Trinket.  'In  pi.,  porringers,  and 
also  any  little  odd  thing,  Toies  and 
Trifles '  (B.  E.);  toys,  baubles,  or  nick- 
nacks  (Grose). 

Trip.     1.  A  short  voyage  or  journey, 


493 


Tripe. 


Trooper. 


an  excursion :  not  in  general  use  till 
18th  century:  as  verb  (modern),  or 
to  trip  it,  to  make  short  journeys :  also 
tripper  (or  trippist),  (a)  an  excur- 
sionist: often  in  the  combination 
cheap  tripper;  also  (6)  a  tram  con- 
ductor, railway  guard,  or  driver  who 
gets  paid  by  the  trip  (American) 
(1360).  2.  A  failure,  mistake,  or 
error :  spec,  the  result  of  inadvertence 
or  want  of  thought;  an  error  of  the 
tongue  or  pen,  a  stumble,  a  false  step, 
a  miscarriage,  or  a  bastard  (B.  E.) 
(1628).  3.  A  moment,  the  twinkling 
of  an  eye  (1726).  4.  A  thief  s  woman. 
5.  The  pas  de  deux  by  which  harlequin 
and  columbine  introduce  each  scene 
in  the  harlequinade.  6.  Threepence ; 
3d. :  cf.  Thrip,  Threp,  etc. 

Tripe.  In  pi.,  the  gute:  whence 
the  belly.  Also  in  contempt  both  of 
persons  and  things ;  tripe  •  visaged, 
flabby,  baggy,  expressionless;  Mr 
Double-Tripe,  a  fat  man;  also  tripes 
and  trullibubs ;  tripe-cheek,  a  fat  blowsy 
face  (1598). 

Triplet  One  of  three  at  a  birth; 
in  pi.,  three  children  at  a  birth. 

Triple-tree.  The  gallows:  see 
Nubbing  -  cheat,  Ladder,  and  Tree 
(1635). 

Triple  3Ts  (The).  The  30th  Foot, 
now  the  1st  battalion  East  Lancashire 
Regiment.  Also  Treble  X's. 

Tripoly.  To  come  from  Tripoly,  to 
vault  or  tumble,  to  perform  with 
spirit  (HaUiwell). 

Tripos  (Cambridge  Univ.)  Orig. 
the  stool  on  which  the  champion  of 
the  University  sat  at  the  disputations 
held  with  the  Father  in  the  Philo- 
sophy School  on  Ash  Wednesday,  at 
the  admission  of  Bachelors  of  Arts  to 
their  degree ;  then  it  was  transferred 
to  the  Bachelor  himself ;  still  later  to 
the  humorous,  or,  in  some  cases, 
scurrilous,  speech  with  which  Mr 
Tripos  opened  the  proceedings,  and 
to  the  verses  of  the  Bachelors  at  the 
Acts,  each  sheet  of  verses  being  called 
a  tripoe  or  tripos-paper.  The  honours- 
lists  were  printed  (about  1747-48)  on 
the  backs  of  these  verses,  and  so 
tripos  came  to  mean  an  honour-list, 
and,  last  of  all,  the  examination  itself. 
Until  the  year  1824  there  was  only 
one  tripos,  the  Mathematical ;  and  up 
to  1850  only  those  who  had  obtained 
honours  in  mathematics  were  admitted 
to  the  Classical  examination.  The 


degree  was  not  given  for  that  examina- 
tion till  a  few  years  later.  There 
are  now  nine  triposes  .  .  .  founded 
in  the  following  order:  Mathematical. 
Classical,  Moral  Sciences,  Natural 
Sciences,  Theological,  Law,  History, 
Semitic  and  Indian  Languages,  with 
a  Mediaeval  and  Modern  Languages 
tripos  from  1885. 

Tripper.     See  Trip. 

Tripping  up.     See  Carry  the  stick. 

Tristram.  Sir  Tristram's  Knot, 
a  halter;  to  tie  Sir  Tristram' »  Knot, 
to  hang :  see  Ladder. 

Triumph.  To  ride  triumph,  to  go 
helter-skelter,  rough-shod,  full  tilt 
(1759). 

Trivet  Right  as  a  trivet,  as  right, 
secure,  or  good  as  may  be.  To  suit 
to  a  trivet,  to  suit  perfectly :  nee  Right 
(1837). 

Troc.  The  Trocadero:  formerly 
Music  Hall,  now  Restaurant. 

Trojan.  A  term  of  commendation : 
(1)  a  plucky  fellow,  a  sticker  (q.v. ); 
and  (2)  a  familiar  address,  either  to 
equals  or  inferiors;  hence  trusty 
Trojan,  a  sure  friend  or  confidant: 
also  trusty  trout  (1594).  (3)  A  boon 
companion,  a  loose  fish  (q.v.);  occa- 
sionally (but  loosely)  a  thief  (1598). 

Troll.  To  loiter  and  saunter 
about  (B.  E.);  cf.  Trull;  as  subs,  (or 
trollocks)  ,  a  slattern :  see  Trull. 

Trolloll.  To  sing  in  a  jovial, 
rollicking  fashion  (B.  E.)  (1740). 

Trollop.  1.  A  lusty,  coarse  ramp 
or  tomrig  (B.  E.),  a  hedge -whore, 
also,  2.  a  generic  reproach :  of 
women ;  whence  trottoping  (trottopish 
or  trottopy),  wanton,  filthy,  draggle- 
tail;  as  verb  (or  to  trollop  about),  to 
gad  about :  also  trottopee,  a  loose 
dress  for  women :  cf.  Loose  -  bodied 
(1641). 

Trollybags.     Tripe. 

Trolly  -  lolly.  Coarse  lace  once 
much  in  fashion,  now  worn  only  by 
the  meaner  sort  (B.  E.). 

Trollywags.  Trousers,  breeches ; 
see  Kicks. 

Tronic.     A  prison :  see  Cage. 

Trooper.  A  half-crown  (B.  E.). 
Phrases:  to  swear  like  a  trooper  (a 
simile  of  hard  swearing),  to  volley 
oaths  till  the  air  is  blue;  you'll  die 
the  death  of  a  trooper's  horse  (a 
jocular  method  of  telling  any  one  he 
will  be  hanged,  i.e.  will  die  with  his 
shoes  on). 


494 


Trork. 


True  Inwardness. 


Trork.     A  quart. 

Tros.  Sort :  spec,  of  anything  bad 
or  not  to  one's  liking-  Thus  trosseno, 
a  bad  day,  coin,  etc. ;  also  dabtros. 

Trot  (or  Trat).  1.  An  old  woman: 
in  contempt:  usually  old  trot,  a 
bawd  :  a  sorry  base  old  woman  (B.  E. ) : 
a  decrepit  old  woman  (Grose)  (1512). 
2.  An  endearment :  of  a  child  learn- 
ing to  run  (1854).  3.  A  pony  (q.v.), 
crib  (q.v.)  ;  whence,  as  verb  (or 
to  trot  a  lesson),  to  use  a  translation 
or  other  adventitious  aid  to  study. 
As  ( 1 )  to  steal  in  broad  daylight ;  (2) 
generic  for  doing;  thus  to  trot  out 
(express)  an  opinion ;  to  trot  out 
(escort)  a  judy ;  to  trot  out  (sing)  a 
song ;  to  trot  out  (spend)  the  pieces, 
and  so  forth ;  to  trot  round,  to  take  a 
turn  round  the  town,  the  halls,  etc. ; 
on  the  trot,  on  the  go  (q.v.),  pegging 
away;  dog-trot,  a  gentle  pace;  to  trot 
up,  to  bid  against,  to  run  up  prices ; 
He  lies  as  fast  as  a  dog  can  trot  (of  a 
persistent  liar). 

Trot-cosy.  A  great  coat  with  cowl, 
close  buttoned  (1814). 

Trotter.  1.  [In  pi.,  the  feet :  orig. 
of  sheep :  whence  shake  (box,  or  move) 
your  trotters  !  Begone  !  troop  off ! 
To  shake  one's  trotters  at  Bilby's  Ball 
(where  the  sheriff  pays  the  fiddlers), 
to  be  put  in  the  stocks  (Grose  :  perhaps 
the  Bilboes  ball).  Trotter-cases  (or 
boxes),  boots  or  shoes  (1838).  2.  A 
tailor's  assistant:  he  goes  on  round 
for  orders ;  also  (dressmakers' s  and 
milliners'),  a  messenger:  Fr.,  trottin. 

Trouble.  (1)  Imprisonment;  (2) 
child-bed,  pregnancy  (conventional) ; 
(3)  a  to-do  (q.v.) :  e.g.  what's  the 
trouble  ?  what's  going  on  ?  Hence 
in  trouble,  (1)  arrested,  quodded 
(q.v.);  (2)  pregnant,  lumpy  (q.v.); 
to  get  into  trouble,  to  be  found 
out  and  punished  (1555).  Also  in 
combination :  trouble  -  house,  a  dis- 
turber of  family  concord ;  trouble- 
mirth,  a  wet  -  blanket,  spoil  -  sport, 
mar-all;  trouble-rest,  an  element  of 
discord,  sickness,  anything  tending  to 
unhappiness  or  discomfort ;  trouble- 
state  (or  town),  a  rebel,  an  agitator,  a 
drunk  and  disorderly.  Also  proverbial 
sayings :  that  horse  is  troubled  with 
corns  (i.e.  foundered);  troubles  never 
come  singly. 

Trounce.  To  vex,  trouble,  punish ; 
now  to  beat  severely.  Whence 
trouncing,  a  drubbing  (1551). 


Trout.  See  Nor'  Loch  trout,  and 
Peculiar  river. 

Trowel.  To  lay  on  with  a  trowel, 
(1)  to  flatter  or  exaggerate  grossly'; 
to  butter  (q.v.).  Also  (2)  to  lie  ;  and 
(3)  to  use  powder,  paint,  or  the  like, 
without  stint  (1600). 

Trub.  A  slattern,  a  short  squat 
woman  (Ainsworth).  Also  trubagully, 
a  short  dirty  ragged  fellow,  accustomed 
to  performing  the  most  menial  offices 
(Halliwell). 

Truck.  1.  Intercourse,  dealing; 
e.g.  I'll  have  no  truck  with  you. 
Orig.  (and  still  colloquial  American), 
exchange,  trading,  espec.  the  barter 
of  small  commodities ;  whence  (in 
contempt)  odds  and  ends,  rubbish, 
and  spec,  bad  food,  cagmag  (q.v.), 
mullock  (q.v.).  Also  (now  recognised) 
truck  -  system  (truck  -  shop),  etc.  the 
payment  of  wages  in  kind  instead  of 
money :  illegal  since  1870-75.  As  verb 
(originally  and  still  literary),  to  swop, 
barter,  or  exchange  (1608).  2.  In  pi., 
trousers:  see  Backs.  3.  A  hat:  see 
Golgotha. 

Truckle  -  bed.  In  saying,  To 
stumble  at  the  truckle  (or  trundle) 
bed  (Ray),  to  mistake  the  chamber- 
maid's bed  for  his  wife's.  [Formerly 
a  low  bed  on  small  wheels  or  castors 
was  trundled  under  a  standing-bed  in 
the  daytime,  and  drawn  out  at  night 
for  a  servant  to  sleep  on]  (1660). 

True.  Honest :  usually  in  contrast 
with  thievish,  or  true  man  v.  thief, 
Also  (proverbial)  true  as  true  (as  the 
gospel,  God  in  Heaven,  as  I  stand  here, 
etc.),  as  true  as  may  be  (1400). 

True-blue.  1.  Unmistakable, 
honest,  staunch,  dependable :  as  subs., 
a  thoroughly  reliable  good  fellow,  a 
stalwart:  also  Blue  (q.v.).  [Blue  is 
regarded  as  the  colour  or  emblem  of 
constancy,  but  whether  in  reference 
to  the  blue  of  sky  or  sea  (both  pro- 
verbially deceitful)  or  the  fastness  of 
some  dye  (e.g.  Coventry  blue)  is 
unknown.]  Hence  spec.  2.  the  17th 
century,  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  or 
Whigs :  the  Covenanters  had  adopted 
blue  as  against  the  Royal  red ;  in 
later  times  staunchly  Liberal  or  Tory, 
according  to  the  choice  made  of  blue 
as  a  party -colour  by  either,  but  mostly 
Conservative  (1500). 

True  Inwardness.  The  real  mean- 
ing, bottom  (q.v.)  facts,  final  result 
or  end  of  a  matter. 


495 


Truepenny. 


Tub. 


Truepenny.  A  familiar  address: 
in  commendation,  but  sometimes 
loosely  used :  also  (as  in  old  boy) 
Old  Truepenny  (1596). 

Truff.     To  steal:  see  Prig  (1768). 

Trull.  A  wanton,  a  trollop  (q.v.); 
a  soldier's,  beggar's,  or  tinker's  wife 
or  wench  (B.  EJ)  (1529). 

Truly.  See  By  my  truly,  and  Yours 
truly. 

Trump.  1 .  A  good  fellow,  a  friend  in 
need,  one  (Grose)  who  displays  courage 
on  every  suit :  the  highest  measure  of 
praise  (1774).  2.  A  Jew's  harp: 
whence  tongue  of  the  trump,  a  chief, 
an  essential :  properly  the  steel  spring 
or  reed  by  which  the  sound  is 
produced.  Phrases:  to  be  put  to 
one's  trumps,  to  be  in  difficulties, 
driven  to  the  last  shift,  or  full  exertion 
of  one's  strength ;  to  turn  up  trumps, 
to  fall  out  fortunately :  e.g.  something 
may  turn  up  trumps,  something  lucky 
may  happen :  all  his  cards  are  trumps , 
he  is  exceedingly  fortunate  (1593). 

Trumpery.  Old  Ware,  old  Stuff, 
as  old  Hats,  Boots,  Shoes,'  etc. 
(B.  E.);  goods  of  no  value,  rubbish 
(Grose) :  also  trash  and  trumpery,  and 
(proverbial),  For  want  of  good  com- 
pany, welcome  trumpery.  Whence 
(modern)  generic  for  showy  trashiness, 
and  as  adj.,  meretricious,  worthless 
(1574). 

Trumpet.  To  blow  (or  sound)  one's 
own  trumpet,  to  praise  (or  talk  about) 
oneself,  to  brag.  Hence,  his  trumpeter 
is  dead  (of  a  braggart). 

Trumpeter.  King  of  Spain's  (or 
Spanish)  trumpeter,  a  braying  ass, 
i.e.  Don  Key;  his  trumpeter  is  dead 
(see  Trumpet) ;  He  would  make  a 
good  trumpeter,  for  he  smells  strong: 
of  one  with  foetid  breath. 

Trundler.     In  pi.  peas  (B.  E.). 

Trundling-cheat  A  wheeled 
vehicle;  a  cart  or  coach:  see  Cheat 
(1630). 

Trunk.  1.  A  blockhead,  a  dunce 
(1656).  2.  In  pi.  trunk-hose:  cf. 
Smalls,  Tops,  Tights,  etc.  Also 
breeches:  see  Kicks,  and  bathing- 
drawers  (1613).  3.  A  nose  (B.  E.). 
How's  your  old  trunk  ?  a  jeer  at  a 
biff-nosed  man;  to  shove  a  trunk,  to 
poke  one's  nose  in,  to  introduce 
oneself  unasked  into  any  place  or 
company  (Grose). 

Trunk  maker -like.  More  noise  than 
work  (Grose). 


Trunk  -  work.  Underhand  (or 
secret)  dealing  :  cf.  Back  •  door  work 
(1604). 

Trusted  alone.  This  bit  of  flash  is 
made  use  of  in  speaking  of  any  knowing 
or  experienced  person,  meaning  that 
he  is  so  deep  as  to  the  tricks  of  the 
town  that  he  may  be  trusted  alone  in 
any  company  without  danger  to  him- 
self (Grose). 

Trusty.  1.  An  overcoat.  '2.  A 
convict  with  special  privileges,  such  aa 
a  ticket  of  leave.  See  Trojan. 

Trut.     An  exclamation  of  contempt. 

Truth.  Tell  the  truth  and  shame  the 
devil,  to  reveal  all  at  any  cost  (1469). 

Try.  An  attempt,  endeavour,  trial, 
experiment :  espec.  (modern)  a  try-on, 
an  attempt  at  besting  (q.v.);  hence  to 
try  it  on,  to  seek  to  outwit,  get  the 
better  of,  fleece,  cheat,  etc. :  see 
Gammon.  To  try  it  on  a  dog,  to  ex- 
periment at  another's  expense  or  risk  ; 
to  try  on,  to  live  by  thieving:  coves 
who  try  it  on,  professed  thieves  (1609). 
Phrases  and  colloquialisms:  to  try  a 
fall  with,  to  compete,  contest ;  to  try 
back,  to  revert  to,  to  retrace  one's 
steps  :  as  to  a  former  position,  stand- 
point, or  statement,  etc.,  with  a  view 
to  recover  something  missed,  or  lost : 
hence  try  back  (1857). 

Tryning.     See  Trine. 

Tub.  1.  A  pulpit  Hence  tub- 
drubber  (pounder,  preacher,  thumper, 
or  tubster),  a  ranting  divine :  spec.,  in 
reproach,  of  Dissenters  (Grose,  a 
Presbyterian  parson) :  also  tub-thump- 
ing, subs,  and  adj.  ( 1 661 ).  2.  A  bath : 
spec,  a  sponge-bath,  but  also  (loosely) 
a  dip  (q.v.).  Also  as  verb  (1610). 
3.  A  broad  -  bottomed,  slow  -  sailing 
boat ;  also  (loosely)  a  vessel  of  any 
kind ;  at  the  Universities,  a  boat  for 
rowing  practice ;  hence  tubbing,  boat- 
ing, rowing  practice ;  to  get  tubbed,  to 
be  taught  to  row  (1853).  4.  A  low- 
wheeled  and  deep-welled  gig  or  village 
cart,  a  governess-car.  5.  (Winchester). 
A  chest  in  Hall  into  which  Dispars 
(q.v. )  not  taken  by  the  boys  were  put ; 
whence  Prcefect  of  tub,  a  prefect 
whose  duty  was  to  examine  the  quality 
of  meat  sent  in  by  the  butcher,  and 
after  dinner  to  supervise  the  collec- 
tion and  distribution  of  the  remains  : 
obsolete;  whence  (also)  tub-mess,  the 
table  at  which  the  Senior  Prefects  sat 
in  Hall  (see  Farmer,  Public  School 
Word-Book).  A  tale  of  a  tub ;  any  kind 


•1% 


Tubbing. 


Tumble. 


of  nonsense,  fooling,  or  absurdity,  a 
cock-and-bull  story  (q.v.),  rot  (q.v.) 
(1538).  To  throw  a  tub  to  a  whale, 
(1)  to  bait  the  hook,  give  a  sop,  or 
make  capital ;  (2)  to  throw  dust  in 
the  eyes,  to  divert  attention,  to 
emphasise  small  matters  so  that  atten- 
tion is  distracted  from  essentials 
(1809).  A  cat  under  a  tub,  a  supposed 
cause  of  delay.  Every  tub  (vat,  etc.) 
should  stand  on  its  own  bottom,  a  simile 
of  independence  (1538).  See  Tubby. 

Tubbing.  1.  Imprisonment.  2. 
See  Tub. 

Tubman.  In  the  courts  of  ex- 
chequer, two  of  the  most  experienced 
barristers,  called  the  post- man  and 
tub-man  (from  the  places  in  which  they 
sit),  have  also  a  precedence  in  motions 
[The  old  Exchequer  Court  is  now 
merged  in  the  High  Court  of  Justice, 
but  the  appointments  are  still  made.] 

Tubby  (Christ's  Hospital).  1.  A 
male  servant  of  the  school :  his  busi- 
ness was  the  care  of  the  latrine  tubs  : 
the  name  is  still  retained  for  the 
lavatory-man.  2.  A  big-bellied  man, 
fatty  (q.v.),  forty -guts  (q.v.).  As 
adj.  (or  tubbish),  round- bellied,  swag- 
bellied  :  like  a  tub  (1796). 

Tubs.     A  butterman. 

Tuck.  1.  Generic  for  edibles ;  (2) 
an  appetite :  spec,  (schools')  pastry, 
sweet-stuff,  and  the  like ;  whence 
tuck-shop,  a  pastrycook's ;  tuck-parcel 
(Charterhouse),  a  hamper  from  home  : 
nearly  obsolete ;  also  (Australian), 
tucker,  (1)  food,  grub  (q.v.),  spec.  (2) 
barely  sufficient  on  which  to  live, 
bare  bread-and-cheese ;  as  verb  (or 
to  tuck  in),  to  eat  heartily  :  tuck-in  (or 
tuck-out),  a  square  meal.  As  verb, 
If  any  of  the  Freshmen  came  off  dull 
or  not  cleverly,  some  of  the  .  .  .  Seniors 
would  tuck  them — that  is  set  the  nail 
of  their  Thumb  to  their  chin,  just 
under  the  Lipp,  and  by  the  help  of 
their  other  fingers  under  the  Chin, 
they  would  give  him  a  mark  which 
would  sometimes  produce  blood 
(Wood).  To  tuck  up,  (1)  to  hang  :  see 
Ladder ;  hence  tucked  up,  hanged ; 
Tuck-' em-fair,  an  execution  (1696) ;  (2) 
to  perplex,  to  put  in  a  fix  or  difficulty, 
to  cramp.  To  tuck  on,  to  unduly 
increase  or  enhance :  e.g.  That  horse 
is  not  worth  half  what  you  gave  for 
him  ;  the  dealer  has  tucked  it  on  to 
you  pretty  well :  cf.  Stick  it  on.  See 
Twopenny. 


Tucker.     See  Tuck. 

Tuckered.  Tuckered  out,  tired  out 
(1840). 

Tucker -in  (or  Tucker -up).  A 
chamber-maid :  cf.  Scotch  warming- 
pan. 

Tuck-man.     A  moneyed  partner. 

Tuel  (or  Tewel).  The  fundament 
(Halliwett). 

Tuft.  1.  A  young  nobleman  : 
students  of  rank  formerly  wore  a 
gold  tuft  or  tassel  in  their  cap 
(obsolete) ;  whence  tuft  -  hunter,  a 
hanger  -  on  to  a  man  of  title,  a  syco- 
phant, toady,  lick  -  spittle  ;  tuft- 
hunting,  sponging  (q.v.)  on  men  of 
title  or  means.  2.  An  imperial,  a 
goat's  beard  (1842). 

Tug  (Eton).  A  Colleger  ;  a  scholar  ; 
on  the  foundation;  hence  tuggery 
College.  [Gt.  Public  Schools :  from  the 
toga  worn  by  Collegers  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  rest  of  the  school.]  As 
adj.  (Winchester)  stale,  ordinary, 
vapid,  common.  Whence  tugs,  stale 
news  ;  tug-clothes,  everyday  clothes  ; 
tug-jaw,  wearisome  talk.  Phrases : 
To  hold  one  tug,  to  keep  busy,  to  task- 
drive  ;  to  hold  tug,  to  stand  hard  work, 
or  severe  strain ;  tug  of  war  (see  War) 
(1667). 

Tug-mutton.     A  glutton. 

Tui  (Winchester).     Tuition. 

Tulip.  Go  it,  my  tulip,  a  character- 
istic street  phrase :  an  echo  of  the 
tulipo-mania  of  1842,  itself  a  recrudes- 
cence of  the  great  craze  of  1634. 

Tulip-sauce.     A  kiss,  kissing. 

Turn.     Stylish,  proper,  spiff,  Al. 

Tumbles.  Ablutions,  tubbing 
(q.v.)  (1853). 

Tumble.  To  dance.  [Formerly 
dance  and  tumble  were  popularly 
synonymous ;  moreover,  the  profes- 
sional dancers  of  mediaeval  times 
were  also  acrobats ;  and,  pictorially, 
Herodias'  daughter  is  often  repre- 
sented as  walking  on  her  hands. 
Hence  tumbler  (or  tumbester),  a  female 
dancer,  and  (modern)  an  acrobat ; 
as  subs.  ( 1 )  a  dance ;  and  (2)  a  Catherine 
wheel  (q.v.)  (1380).  2.  To  under- 
stand, perceive,  assent  to,  accept : 
cf.  fall  in  with,  concur,  and  Fr.,  tombre 
d'accord.  3.  (Stock  Exchange).  To 
fall  rapidly  in  value :  of  prices. 
Phrases  :  To  tumble  in,  to  go  to  bed  ; 
to  tumble  up,  (a)  to  rise  from  one's 
bed,  and  (6)  to  come,  or  move  quickly  : 
also  to  tumble  along ;  to  tumble  to, 


497 


Tumbler. 


Turk. 


to  set  to  vigorously  :  also  see  verb ; 
to  take  a  tumble  to  oneself,  to  take 
oneself  to  task  ;  to  kick  oneself  (q.v.) ; 
to  tumble  to  the  racket  (Am.  pol.),  see 
Racket ;  to  tumble  on  one1  a  feet,  to 
escape  without  injury,  to  come  out 
on  top  (q.v.). 

Tumbler.  In  various  colloquial 
or  semi-colloquial  usages  denoting  in- 
stability or  eccentric  movement. 
Thus  (1)  a  glass  rounded  or  pointed 
at  the  bottom,  so  that  it  could  not 
be  set  down  except  when  empty — a 
silent  reminder  of  no  heeltaps  !  and 
to  pass  the  bottle  :  orig.  a  low  Silver 
Cup  to  Drink  out  of  (B.  E.):  now- 
adays applied  to  any  glass  that  is 
cylindrical  in  shape,  without  a  stem  ; 

(2)  a  variety  of  pigeon :  in  flight  the 
bird  often  drops  without  wing- play ; 

(3)  a  dog  used  in  coursing  rabbits,  a 
Coney  Dog  (B.  E.):  it  tumbles  about 
in    a   careless   fashion    until,    within 
reach  of  its  prey,  it  seizes  it  with  a 
sudden  spring ;   (4)   a   porpoise ;   (5) 
a  variety  of  printing  machine :  from 
the  rocking  or  tumbling  movement  of 
the  cylinder  towards  the  impressive 
surface  ;  (6)  a  cart :  properly  tumbrel ; 
whence  to  nap  the  flog  at  (or  to  shove) 
the  tumbler,   to  be   whipped   at  the 
cart's-tail  (B.  E.)  (1721) ;  (7)  A  sharper 
employed  to  draw  in  pigeons  to  game 
(B.    E.) ;    (8)   a   worthless   horse ;    a 
screw  (q.v.) ;  (9)  a  German  Baptist  or 
Dunker :    the   sect   was   founded   by 
Alexander    Mack    about    A.D.    1708. 
Persecution  drove  them  in  1723  to  the 
United  States,  where  they  founded  a 
church  at  a  German  town  in  Penn- 
sylvania :  they  separate  the  sexes  in 
worship,    are    vegetarians,    and    are 
called  Tumblers  from  their  mode  of 
baptism,    which    is    by    putting    the 
person,  whilst  kneeling,  head  first  under 
water ;   (10)   a  street  rowdy :    early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

Tumble-down.  Dilapidated, 
ruinous,  rattletrap  (q.v.)  (1839). 

Tummy.  The  stomach :  also  turn- 
turn. 

Tump.     To  pull,  to  draw. 

Tumptsner.  A  settler:  e.g.  That'll 
be  a  tumptgner  for  the  old  gentleman. 

Turn-turn.  A  dog-cart.  See 
Tummy. 

Tun.  1.  A  tippler:  see  Lushing- 
ton.  2.  At  Pembroke  (Oxford)  a 
small  silver  cup  containing  half  a  pint ; 
sometimes  with  a  whistle  handle, 


which  cannot  bo  blown  until  the  cup 
is  empty. 

Tun -belly.  A  fat,  round-bellied 
man,  a  pot  -  belly,  a  corporation 
(q.v.) ;  hence  tun-bellied,  paunchy, 
very  corpulent,  bellied  like  a  tun  :  cf. 
tun-great,  with  a  circumference  of  the 
size  of  a  tun. 

Tund  (Winchester).  To  thrash, 
funding,  a  thrashing. 

Tune.  To  beat :  also  to  tune  up : 
e.g.  The  old  man  tuned  him  up  de- 
lightfully, He  got  a  good  thrashing : 
cf.  I'll  make  you  sing  another  tune,  a 
threat  of  corporal  punishment  (Grose). 
The  tune  the  cow  (or  old  cow)  died  of, 

(1)  a  grotesque  or  unpleasant  noise; 

(2)  a  homily  instead  of  alms.      [From 
an   old  ballad.]     Colloquialisms :    To 
the  tune  of,  to  the  sum,  amount,  or 
measure  of  [a  stated   figure,   etc.] ; 
to  change  one's  tune  (or  note),  to  alter 
one's    way    of    talking,    manner,    or 
demand  ;  to  change  from  laughter  to 
tears  ;  to  sing  another  tune  (see  Sing) ; 
to  tune  up,  to  commence  ( 1578). 

Tunker.  A  street- preacher.  [?Dun- 
ker.] 

Tunnel.     A  nostril  (1596). 

Tunnel  -  grunter.  Usually  in  pi., 
potatoes. 

Tup.     To  salute  in  drinking. 

Tuppence  (or  Tuppeny).  See 
Twopenny. 

Tup-running.  A  rural  sport  prac- 
tised at  wakes  and  fairs  in  Derbyshire  ; 
a  ram  whose  tail  is  well  soaped  and 
greased,  is  turned  out  to  the  multi- 
tude ;  any  one  that  can  take  him  by  the 
tail,  and  hold  him  fast,  is  to  have  him 
for  his  own  (Orose). 

Turf.  1.  (Winchester).  The 
pitch  :  at  cricket,  the  field  being  long 
grass.  2.  (Felsted  School).  the 
cricket  field  :  always  with  the  definite 
article.  As  verb,  (Derby  School)  (1) 
to  send  to  bed  at  bedtime  ;  (2)  (Marl- 
borough  School),  to  chastise. 

Turk.  1.  A  sword  :  cf.  Andrew, 
Fox,  Toledo  (1638).  2.  A  savage 
fellow ;  a  cruel  hard-hearted  man 
(B.  E.);  a  Tartar  (q.v.).  Also  to  turn 
Turk,  to  turn  renegade,  to  change  for 
the  worse,  to  go  off  (q.v.).  To 
Turkise,  to  play  the  Turk;  Turkish 
treatment,  barbarous  usage,  very  sharp 
or  ill  dealing  in  business  (B.  E.) ; 
Turkish  shore,  Lambeth,  Southwark, 
and  Rotherhithe  sides  of  the  Thames 
(Orose);  Turk-a-tenpence,  a  term  of 


4f«S 


Turkey. 


Turn. 


contempt :  cf.  tenpenny  infidel  (a 
term  applied  to  the  Turk  in  Dekker's 
Westward  Hoe,  1607)  and  Turk,  sense 
1,  with  an  eye  on  tenpenny  sword,  a 
poor  tool.  In  modern  usage  Turk  has 
lost  somewhat  of  its  rigorous  meaning, 
and  is  frequently  employed  as  a  half- 
jesting  endearment  to  a  mischievous, 
destructive  boy :  e.g.  You  young 
Turk  !  (1596).  3.  A  target :  a  dummy 
made  up  of  cloth  and  rags. 

Turkey.  To  have  a  turkey  on  one's 
back,  to  be  drunk :  see  Screwed.  See 
Talk. 

Turkey-merchant.  1.  A  driver  of 
Turkies  (B,  E. ) ;  a  poulterer  (Grose) ; 
a  chicken  -  thief  (tramps').  2.  A 
dealer  in  contraband  silk. 

Turk's-head.  1.  A  long  broom: 
used  for  sweeping  ceilings  and  the 
like.  See  Pope's-head.  2.  An  orna- 
mental knot  worked  on  to  a  rope  :  in 
shape  supposed  to  resemble  a  turban. 

Turn.  1.  A  trick,  stratagem, 
device  ;  hence  as  verb,  to  trick,  beguile, 
cheat,  get  at  (q.v.)  (1383).  2.  An 
execution :  formerly,  the  criminal 
stood  on  a  ladder  which,  at  a  given 
signal,  was  turned  over  (cf.  New-drop): 
also  to  turn  off,  and  to  turn  over. 
Turning-tree,  the  gallows  :  see  Nub- 
bing-cheat  (1542).  3.  A  walk:  spec. 
a  short  walk  involving  a  speedy  return 
to  the  starting-point :  as  a  promenade 
on  the  deck  of  a  vessel,  round  a 
garden,  etc.  (1601).  4.  A  spell  of  work 
or  a  job  in  rotation  with  others  :  e.g. 
(theatrical),  a  public  appearance  on 
the  stage,  preceding  or  following  others 
(1859).  5.  A  bonus  over  and  above 
the  legal  rate  of  interest :  charged  by 
bankers  on  advances  against  stock 
when  money  is  tight.  6.  A  nervous 
shock,  a  qualm,  nausea  :  as  verb,  to 
make  sick,  disgusted,  silly :  also  to 
turn  up  or  to  turn  the  stomach  :  whence 
turned  up,  queasy,  ill,  sick,  as  from 
a  shock,  sea  -  sickness,  drinking, 
smoking,  etc.  (1605).  To  turn  up, 
(I)  to  desist,  abandon  an  object, 
(pursuit  or  quest),  change  one's 
habits  or  course  of  life ;  thus  to  turn 
up  (to  forsake)  a  mistress,  to  bury  a 
moll  (q.  v. ) ;  to  turn  up  (cut)  an  acquaint- 
ance ;  to  turn  up  (cease  dealing  with)  a 
tradesman  ;  to  turn  up  (quit)  a  crowd  ; 
to  turn  up  a  flat  sweet,  to  leave  a  pigeon 
(q.v.)  in  good  humour  after  fleecing 
him,  and  so  forth  (Grose) ;  (2)  (Marl- 
borough  School),  to  chastise — with 


cane,  stick,  or  fives-bat.  A  good  (ill, 
shrewd,  etc.)  turn,  a  kind  (spiteful  or 
clever,  etc.)  act  or  deed :  also  pro- 
verbially, One  good  turn  deserves 
another  (also  ill  turn,  etc.)  (1400). 
Turn  occurs  in  a  multitude  of  phrases, 
all  more  or  less  colloquial.  Thus  to 
turn  (to  perfect  or  polish)  a  phrase, 
sentence,  etc.  ;  to  turn  over  (mentally 
consider)  a  matter  :  also  to  turn  about ; 
to  turn  the  corner,  to  begin  to  mend  in 
health,  pocket,  prospects,  etc.  ;  to 
turn  upside  down  (inside  out,  or  the 
house  out  of  windows,  etc.),  to  cause 
a  commotion,  or  disturbance,  to 
search  thoroughly ;  to  turn  over  a  new 
leaf,  to  reform,  to  make  a  fresh  start ; 
to  turn  (distract)  one's  attention ;  to 
turn  one's  head,  to  unbalance  the 
judgment,  make  crazy,  nighty,  or 
arrogant ;  to  turn  (or  be  turned  of) 
fifteen  (or  any  age),  to  pass  (or  have 
advanced  beyond)  one's  fifteenth 
birthday,  to  be  older  than ;  to  turn 
against,  to  become  unfriendly,  hostile 
to  ;  to  turn  one's  flank,  to  circumvent, 
outwit ;  to  turn  away  (or  off),  to  dis- 
miss, sack  (q.v.);  to  turn  (or  send) 
down  (University),  (1)  to  rusticate, 
and  (2)  to  snub,  suppress  (American); 
to  turn  off  (execute,  accomplish,  pro- 
dvice)  a  contract,  design,  or  book ;  to 
turn  off  (marry)  a  couple ;  to  turn 
off  (foil,  counteract,  or  ignore)  a  joke, 
slight,  etc.  ;  to  turn  one's  coat  (see 
Turncoat) ;  to  turn  one's  hand  to,  to 
apply  (or  adapt)  oneself ;  to  turn  out 
(train)  a  scholar,  soldier,  etc.  ;  to  turn 
out  (produce)  so  much  in  a  week, 
month,  etc.  ;  to  turn  out  (show)  one's 
hand  :  spec,  at  cards  ;  to  turn  out  (or 
be  turned  out)  to  dress  (or  be  clothed 
by  one's  tailor)  with  care :  whence 
well  turned  out,  well-groomed  (q.v.): 
see  Turn-out ;  to  turn  over  (transfer) 
a  business  ;  to  turn  over  (sell)  goods  ; 
to  be  turned  over  (thieves'),  (1)  to  be 
stopped  by  the  police  and  searched, 
(2)  to  be  remanded,  and  (3)  to  be 
acquitted  for  lack  of  evidence  ;  to  turn 
one's  back  on  (see  Back) ;  to  turn  cat 
in  the  pan  (see  Cat) ;  to  turn  the  cold 
shoulder  (see  Cold  Shoulder) ;  to  turn 
the  paunch,  to  vomit ;  to  turn  the 
stomach,  to  cause  nausea  ;  to  turn  the 
tables  (see  Table) ;  to  turn  an  honest 
penny  (see  Penny) ;  to  turn  rusty  (see 
Rusty) ;  to  turn  to  the  right-about,  to 
dismiss  summarily :  see  Right ;  to 
turn  turtle  (nautical),  to  capsize :  of  a 


499 


Turnabout. 


TutivMus. 


boat  or  vessel ;  to  turn  up  one's  nose,  to 
make  a  gesture  of  contempt,  to  show 
disgust ;  to  turn  up  one's  eyes,  to  make 
a  gesture  of  (1)  surprise,  and  (2)  of 
mock  sanctity ;  to  turn  upon,  (I)  to 
retort,  and  (2)  to  show  anger,  resent- 
ment, or  fight,  to  pay  back  as  good  as 
sent ;  to  turn  up  one's  toes,  to  die  :  see 
Toe  ;  to  turn  in,  to  go  to  bed  ;  to  turn 
out,  (I)  to  rise,  to  get  out  of  bed,  (2) 
to  come  abroad,  (3)  to  come  out  on 
strike  (workmen's),  and  (4)  to  result, 
end,  prove  :  to  turn  to,  to  set  to  work  ; 
to  turn  Turk  (see  Turk) ;  to  turn  up,  (I) 
to  happen,  to  occur,  (2)  to  arrest 
(thieves'),  (3)  to  acquit  (thieves') ; 
to  be  turned  over :  see  To  turn  up, 
supra  ;  not  to  turn  a  hair  to  take  things 
quietly  ;  to  turn  a  cartwheel :  see  Cart- 
wheel ;  to  take  a  turn,  to  join  in ;  to 
turn  it  (or  the  game)  up,  to  desist, 
quit,  abscond,  change  one's  tactics  ;  to 
turn  up  a  trump,  to  meet  with  good 
fortune,  to  improve  one's  chances ; 
to  a  turn,  to  a  nicety  :  as  a  roasted 
joint  cooked  to  a  turn  of  the  spit ; 
turned  round,  at  a  loss,  puzzled  :  spec, 
of  that  momentary  mental  ignorance 
of  one's  exact  whereabouts  which 
sometimes  occurs  in  a  place  that  is 
normally  perfectly  well  known  ;  turn 
and  turn  about,  in  regular  succession, 
alternate  duty,  one  resting  while  the 
other  works. 

Turnabout.  1.  An  innovator 
(1692).  2.  A  disease  in  cattle,  the 
staggers  (q.v.)  (1618).  3.  A  merry-go- 
round,  a  run-around  (1889). 

Turn-back.     A  coward. 

Turncoat.  A  renegade,  an  apos- 
tate, he  that  quits  one  and  embraces 
another  party  (B.  E.),  one  who  has 
changed  his  party  from  interested 
motives  (Orose).  Hence  to  turn  coat 
(or  a  coat),  to  change,  to  pervert  (1576). 

Turning-tree.      See  Turn. 

Turnip.  A  watch :  spec,  an  old- 
fashioned  silver  watch  which  in  size 
approached  a  turnip :  also  frying- 
pan  (see  Warming  -  pan).  Phrases  : 
To  give  turnips,  to  get  rid  of  a  person 
by  hook  or  by  crook :  to  get  turnips, 
to  be  taken  in,  jilted  :  a  play  on  turn- 
up ;  one's  head  to  a  turnip,  a  fanciful 
bet :  cf.  Lombard  Street  to  a  China 
orange,  etc.  (1694). 

Turnip  -  pated.  White  or  fair- 
haired  (B.  E.). 

Turn-out  (1)  A  parade,  also  (2)  an 
amenably :  spec,  a  number  of  people 


gathered  together  in  tin-  open  air. 
(3)  a  strike  ;  also  (4)  a  striker  (singly 
and  collectively) ;  (5)  a  shunting- 
line,  a  side-track,  a  railway  siding ; 
(6)  production,  output ;  (7)  a  carriage, 
coach,  or  any  vehicle  with  hones, 
harness,  and  other  appointments ; 
also  (latterly)  applied  to  motor-cars ; 

(8)  dress,  get-up  (q.v.) :  cf.  to  turn  out ; 

(9)  an  interval  (1861). 
Turnpike-man.     A  parson :  because 

the  clergy  collect  their  tolls  at  our 
entrance  into  and  exit  from  the  world 
(Orose). 

Turnpike-sailor.  A  beggar  posing 
as  a  distressed  sailor  (1851). 

Turn -tail.  A  coward,  renegade, 
pervert.  To  turn  tail,  (I)  to  change 
sides,  (2)  to  turn  one's  back  upon,  and 
(3)  to  run  away,  to  shirk  (1586). 

Turn-tippet  A  time-server,  turn- 
coat (q.v.);  hence  to  turn  tippet,  to 
change  right  about  (1556). 

Turn-up.  1.  A  fight  produced  from 
a  hasty  quarrel,  a  casual  boxing- 
match  (Grose),  a  shindy,  a  scrimmage. 
2.  An  unexpected  event,  or  result ;  a 
chance  encounter,  spec,  a  sudden 
piece  of  luck  :  see  Turn. 

Turpentine  State.  North  Carolina : 
its  people  are  Tarheels  (q.v.). 

T  u  r  p  i  n.  A  kettle.  [Hattiwett : 
A  cant  term.] 

Turtle.     See  Turn. 

Turtle  Dove.  In  pi.,  a  pair  of 
gloves :  also  turtles. 

Turvy-topsy.     See  Topsy-turvy. 

Tush  (or  Twish).  An  expression 
of  impatience,  contempt,  or  rebuke : 
also  as  verb,  and  tushing,  subs.  :  cf. 
Tut  (1400). 

Tusheroon.  A  crown  piece,  5s. : 
see  Rhino. 

Tussey.  A  low  drunken  fellow :  cf. 
Tosticated. 

Tussicated.  Driven  about,  tor- 
mented (Hattiwett). 

Tussle.  A  struggle,  a  contest,  a 
tousle  (q.v.).  Also  as  verb,  to  scuffle, 
to  struggle. 

Tussocker  (New  Zealand).  A 
sundowner  (q.v.). 

Tut  Tush  (q.v.),  pish  (q.v.). 
Also  tuts  I  and  as  verb.  To  make  tuts 
for,  to  make  light  of  (1500).  A  tut  for 
a  tush,  a  tit  for  tat  (q.v.) :  see  Tush. 

Tutivillus.  An  old  name  for  a 
celebrated  demon,  who  is  said  to  have 
collected  all  the  fragments  of  words 
which  the  priests  had  skipped  over  or 


600 


Tutting. 


Twiddle. 


mutiliated  in  the  performance  of  the 
service,  and  carried  them  to  hell. 

Tutting.  A  tea-drinking  for  women, 
succeeded  by  stronger  potations  in 
company  of  the  other  sex,  and  end- 
ing in  ribaldry  and  debauchery.  So 
called  only,  I  believe,  in  Lincoln  ;  in 
other  places  in  the  country  it  is 
known  as  a  bun-feast.  Now  obsolete, 
or  nearly  so  ( Hattiwell). 

Tut  tie  (or  Tuttle  Nask).  The 
Bridewell  in  Tuttle- Fields  (B.  E.): 
closed  in  1878. 

Tut-work.     Piece  work. 

T  u  z  I  (Felsted  School).  The 
same  as  Fainits  (q.v.),  Bags  I  (q.v.). 

Twaddle  (T wattle,  etc.).  1 
Gabble,  stuff  and  nonsense  (q.v.) ;  2. 
a  prosy  chatterbox,  babbler,  drivel- 
ler :  also  twaddler  (twattler,  twattle- 
basket,  or  twattle  -  brains).  As  verb, 
to  clack,  prate,  rattle  on ;  twaddling 
(or  twaddley),  (1)  silly,  loquacious, 
inane  ;  (2)  trifling,  paltry,  petty  ;  also 
reduplicated  in  twittle  •  twattle.  (3) 
Perplexity,  confusion ;  or  anything 
else :  a  fashionable  term  that  for  a 
while  succeeded  that  of  bore  (Grose) ; 
(4)  a  diminutive  person. 

Twang.  A  smack  or  ill  taste 
(B.  E.) ;  hence  (modern),  a  decided 
flavour  (1707).  To  go  off  twanging, 
to  go  well,  swimmingly :  cf.  as  good 
as  ever  twanged,  as  good  as  may  be 
(1629). 

Twangdillo  (or  Trangdillo). 
See  Twangle. 

T  wan  gey  (or  Stangey).  A 
tailor  :  north  country  (Grose). 

Twangle.  That  is  twang :  also 
twank,  twangdUlo,  twangling,  and  as 
verb. 

Twank  (Durham  School).  To 
cane  [Hattiwell :  to  give  a  smart  slap 
with  the  flat  of  the  hand,  a  stick,  etc., 
East]. 

T  w  a  n  k  i  n  g.  Big,  unwieldy  :  a 
generic  intensitive. 

Twatterlight.  See  Twitter- 
light, 

Twattle.     See  Twaddle. 

Tweague  (or  Tweak).  Passion, 
peevishness  :  also  tweaguy  ;  in  a  tweak, 
in  a  heavy  taking,  much  vext,  or  very 
angry  (B.  E.). 

Tweak.  1.  A  jerk,  twinge,  pinch  : 
as  verb,  to  twitch,  pull,  or  snatch : 
usually  in  phrases  to  tweak  one's  nose. 
Tweaker  (Felsted  School :  obsolete),  a 
catapult  (1420).  2.  A  dilemma  (1706) : 


also  as  verb,  to  perplex  (1731).  See 
Tweague. 

Tweedle.  A  Brummagem  ring  of 
good  appearance  used  for  fraudulent 
purposes.  See  Twiddle. 

Tweedledum  and  Tweedledee 
(The  difference  between). 
No  difference  at  all,  save  in  sound  ; 
a  distinction  without  a  difference. 
[Ency.  Diet.  :  The  expression  arose  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  when  there 
was  a  dispute  between  the  admirers 
of  Bononcini  and  those  of  Handel,  as 
to  the  respective  merits  of  these 
musicians.  Among  the  first  were 
the  Duke  of  Marlborough  and  most  of 
the  nobility ;  among  the  latter  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  Pope,  and  Arbuth- 
not.]  (1730). 

Tweenie.     A  between-maid. 

Twelve.  After  twelve  (Eton). 
From  noon  till  2  p.m. 

Twelve  Apostles  (Cambridge 
University).  1.  The  last  twelve 
in  the  Mathematical  Tripos  (Grose). 
2.  (Stonyhurst).  The  first  twelve 
Stonyhurst  students. 

Twelve  Godfathers.  A  jury. 
[Hotten :  they  name  the  nature  of  a 
crime ;  murder  or  manslaughter, 
felony  or  misdemeanour.]  You'll  be 
christened  by  twelve  godfathers  some 
day  (a  taunt). 

Twelvepenny.  Trifling,  of 
small  value  :  frequently  contemptuous 
(1614). 

Twelver.  A  shilling;  Is.:  see 
Rhino. 

Twenty.  1.  An  indefinite  number: 
also  twenty  and  twenty  (1593).  2. 
(Rugby).  The  Sixth  Form. 

Twenty  -  two  and  Twenty  -  two 
(Winchester).  Football :  twenty-two 
a  side. 

Twibill.  A  street  ruffian,  a  roaring- 
boy  (q.v.):  seventeenth  century. 

Twice.  At  twice,  on  a  second  trial ; 
in  two  distinct  attempts :  cf.  You've 
guessed  it  in  once  (1611). 

Twice-laid.  A  hash-up  of  fish  and 
potatoes  :  cf.  Resurrection- pie. 

Twicer.  A  printer  who  works  at 
press  as  well  as  at  case. 

Twiddle  (or  Tweedle).  1.  To 
finger  idly  and  lightly :  usually  in 
phrase,  to  twiddle  one's  fingers ;  to 
fiddle  (q.v.),  wriggle,  or  twist  about; 
to  be  busy  about  trifles  ;  to  wheedle,  to 
coax  :  e.g.  She  can  twiddle  him  round 
her  little  finger  :  cf.  Twirl  (1540). 


501 


Tvriddlepooy. 


Tioofer. 


Twiddlepoop.  An  effeminate- 
looking  fellow  (Grose). 

Twig.  I.  Style,  fashion,  method  ; 
hence  as  adj.,  stylish,  handsome  ;  I'M 
good  (or  prime)  twig,  clever,  well- 
dressed,  in  good  spirits  (Grose).  To 
put  out  of  twig,  to  alter,  disguise,  so 
to  change  as  to  make  unrecognisable 
( Faux).  2.  (Marlborough  :  obsolete). 
The  Headmaster  [in  whose  authority 
rested  the  use  of  the  birch.]  As 
verb,  (1)  to  watch,  observe,  mark. 
Also  (2)  to  understand,  see  (q.v.), 
tumble  to  (q.v.) ;  whence  (in  humor- 
ous imitation  of  FT.,  comprenez-vous) 
twiggez-vous :  see  Twug  (1763);  (3) 
to  snap  asunder,  break  off :  e.g.  twig 
the  darbies,  knock  off  the  irons.  To 
measure  a  twig,  to  act  absurdly.  See 
Hop  the  twig. 

Twilight.  A  corruption  of  toilet : 
(old)  a  dressing  -  cloth,  towel,  or 
napkin  (1684). 

Twine.     To  ring  the  changes  (q.v.). 

Twinkler.  (1)  In  pi.,  the  eyes. 
Also  (2)  a  star,  and  (3)  a  light  (thieves') 

Twinkling.     See  Bedpost. 

Twins.  To  have,  twins,  to  take 
dinner  and  tea  at  one  meal,  to  box 
Harry  (q.v.). 

Twire  (Tweer,  Tour,  and 
Towre).  1.  To  peep,  to  look  round 
cautiously,  to  peer :  ct  Tower.  [Tour 
(the  canting  form  :  see  Tower)  possibly 
originated  in  twire  being  carelessly 
written.]  Whence  2.  (old),  to  leer, 
to  make  eyes.  As  subs,  a  glance, 
leer.  Twirepipe,  a  peeping  Tom 
(1598). 

Twirl.  A  skeleton  key :  see 
Jemmy.  To  twirl  one's  thumbs,  to 
be  idle :  cf.  cool  one's  heels :  cf. 
Twiddle. 

Twish.  An  exclamation  of  con- 
tempt. 

Twiss.  A  chamber-mug,  it  (q.v.). 
[Grose :  A  Mr.  Richard  Twiss  having 
.  .  .  given  a  very  unfavourable  de- 
scription of  the  Irish  character,  some 
utensils  were  made  with  his  portrait 
at  the  bottom. 

Twist  1.  The  fourchure,  the 
crutch  (1568).  2.  A  bent,  turn,  cast : 
a  variation  from  what  is  usually 
normal  and  proper.  Thus  a  twisted 
vision,  a  wrong  or  cussed  way  of 
looking  at  things ;  a  twisted  (a  ly- 
ing) tongue  ;  whence  twister,  a  false- 
hood or  gross  exaggeration  ;  twisted 
broguish)  speech,  etc.  Also  twisty  (or 


twistical),  awkward,  crooked  (q.v.), 
funny  (q.v.);  twistable,  easily  in- 
fluenced. 3.  An  appetite ;  hence 
to  twist  it  down  (or  lustily),  to  feed  like 
a  farmer  (B.  E.),  to  eat  heartily 
(Grose).  Fr.,  crampe  au  pylore.  4. 
(a)  A  mixture  of  tea  and  coffee  (B.  E.) ; 
also  (6)  brandy,  beer,  and  eggs  (Grose) ; 
and  (c)  brandy  and  gin.  5.  (Win- 
chester). A  stick  spirally  marked  by 
a  creeper  having  grown  round  it :  also 
twister.  As  verb,  to  hang :  see 
Ladder.  Hence  twisted,  hanged  ( 1823). 
6.  A  turn  given  to  the  wrist  in  delivery 
so  that  a  ball  breaks  from  the  straight ; 
whence  twister,  a  ball  so  delivered  by 
the  bowler  (also,  at  billiards,  a  ball 
that  screws  or  spins  along  with  a 
twist) ;  hence  (figuratively,  anything 
that  puzzles  or  staggers  (1857).  A 
twist  on  the  shorts,  a  Wall  Street 
phrase,  used  where  the  shorts  (q.v.) 
have  undersold  heavily,  and  the 
market  has  been  artificially  raised, 
compelling  them  to  settle  at  ruinous 
rates.  To  twist  (or  wind)  round  one's 
finger,  to  control  or  influence  com- 
pletely, to  make  submissive :  usually 
of  women.  See  Tail 

Twit  To  hit  in  the  teeth  (B.  E.) 
to  reproach  a  person  or  remind  him 
of  favours  conferred  (Grose).  Twitty, 
cross,  ill-tempered. 

Twitch.  To  twitch  a  twelve,  to  get 
the  highest  number  of  marks. 

Twitcher.  1.  A  severe  blow.  2. 
In  pi.,  small  pincers. 

Twitchetty.  Nervous,  fidgety, 
uncertain  :  also  twitchy. 

Twitter.  All  of  a  twitter,  frightened 
nervous,  fidgety :  also  in  (or  on)  the 
twitters. 

Twitter-light  Twilight:  also 
twatterlight  (1607). 

Twittle.  To  chatter,  babble,  tattle. 
Hence  twittle  •  twat,  a  chatterbox  ; 
twittle-twattle,  gabble,  idle  talk  (1582) ; 

Twittoc.     Two  (Grose). 

Two.  Doubly :  e.g.  two  fools, 
twice  foolish ;  two  knaves,  doubly 
foolish  (1571).  Two  thieves  beating  a 
rogue,  a  man's  arms  when  beating 
his  sides  for  warmth,  beating  the 
booby  (q.v.),  cuffing  Jonas  (q.v.). 
See  Bow. 

Twoer.  1.  A  florin.  2.  A  hansom 
cab. 

Two-eyed  Steak.  A  bloater :  see 
Glasgow  Magistrate. 

Twofer.     A  wanton. 


502 


Two  Fives. 


Tyburn. 


Two  Fives  (The).  The  second 
battalion  Border  Regiment,  formerly 
the  55th  Foot. 

Two-foot  Rule.     A  fool. 

Two  Fours  (The).  The  first  bat- 
talion Essex  Regiment,  late  the  44th 
Foot. 

Two-handed.  1.  Great:  spec,  of 
a  strapping  fellow  or  wench  (Grose). 
Also,  2.  expert  with  the  dukes  (box- 
ing)- 

Two-handed  Game.  A  matter  in 
which  the  chances  of  success  are 
equal  or  nearly  so :  e.g.  I'll  dust 
your  jacket  for  you,  Well,  that's  a 
two-handed  game. 

Two-legged  Cat  (Fox,  etc.).  A 
thief :  usually  as  a  retort  to  The  cat 
had  it, — A  two-legged  cat  then  (1551). 

Two  -  legged  Tree.  The  gallows  : 
see  Nubbing-cheat. 

Two  -  legged  Tympany.  A  baby  ; 
spec,  a  bastard. 

Two-nick.  A  girl  baby :  cf.  One- 
nick. 

Twopence  (or  Tuppence).  See 
Donkey  and  Penny. 

Twopenny.  1.  Beer ;  sold  at  2d. 
a  quart:  cf.  Fourpenny,  etc.  (1771). 
2.  The  head  :  also  tuppenny.  Tuck  in 
your  tuppenny,  (1)  an  injunction  to 
make  a  back  at  leap  -  frog  ;  and  (2) 
to  desist.  3.  (London).  An  inter- 
mediary between  pawnbroker  and 
client ;  a  professional  pawner :  the 
usual  fee  being  twopence.  As  adj., 
mean,  of  little  value  :  as  only  costing 
twopence :  also  (modern)  twopenny- 
halfpenny  (1485). 

Twopenny  damn.  1.  A  variant  of 
Rap,  Straw,  Curse,  Tinker's  curse  or 
damn),  and  many  others.  Tradition 
asserts  that  Wellington  once  said  he 
did  not  care  a  twopenny  damn  what 
became  of  the  ashes  of  Napoleon 
Buonaparte.  2.  The  Twopenny  Damn. 
The  St.  James'  Gazette  :  on  account 
of  its  strong  language  concerning  Mr. 
Gladstone  and  the  latter-day  radicals. 

Twopenny-hop.  A  cheap  dance. 
(Hotten :  The  price  of  admission  was 
formerly  twopence :  the  clog  horn- 
pipe, the  pipe  dance,  flash  jigs,  and 
hornpipes  in  fetters,  d  la  Jack  Shep- 
pard,  were  the  favourite  movements, 
all  entered  into  with  great  spirit] 
(1851). 

Two  penny -rope.  A  lodging- 
house  :  one  in  which  the  charge  is  (or 
was)  twopence  :  sacking  stretched  on 


ropes  served  as  a  shakedown.  To 
have  twopenn'orth  of  rope,  to  doss  down 
in  such  a  place  :  Fr.,  coucher  a  la  corde 
(1837). 

Twopenny-ward.  Part  of  a  prison 
was  formerly  so  called  (1605). 

Two-pipe  Scattergun.  A  double- 
barrelled  rifle. 

Two  Sevens  (The).  The  second 
battalion  Duke  of  Cambridge's  Own 
Middlesex  Regiment,  late  the  77th 
Foot. 

Two-shoes.  A  little  girl :  an  en- 
dearment, usually  Little  Two-shoes  (cf. 
Goody  Two-shoes,  a  kind  of  fairy 
god-mother). 

Two -Sixes  (The).  The  second 
battalion  Princess  Charlotte  of  Wales's 
Royal  Berkshire  Regiment,  late  the 
66th  Foot. 

Two  Tens  (The).  The  Lancashire 
Fusiliers,  late  the  20th  Foot. 

Two-twos.  A  moment ;  the 
shortest  imaginable  space  of  time,  in 
a  twinkling.  The  Two  Twos,  The 
Cheshire  Regiment,  late  the  22nd 
Foot. 

Twoster.  See  Twist. 
Two-to-one  Shop.  A  pawnbroker's, 
uncle's  (q.v.).  [Grose :  alluding  to 
the  three  blue  balls,  the  sign  of  that 
trade  ;  or  perhaps  to  its  being  two  to 
one  that  the  goods  pledged  are  never 
redeemed.] 

Two  upon  ten  (or  Two  pun* 
ten).  An  expression  used  by  assist- 
ants to  each  other,  in  shops,  when  a 
customer  of  suspected  honesty  makes 
his  appearance.  The  phrase  refers 
to  two  eyes  upon  ten  fingers,  shortened 
as  a  money  term  to  two  pun'  ten. 
When  a  supposed  thief  is  present,  one 
shopman  asks  the  other  if  that  two 
pun'  (pound)  ten  matter  was  ever 
settled.  The  man  knows  at  once  what 
is  meant,  and  keeps  a  careful  watch 
upon  the  person  being  served.  If  it 
is  not  convenient  to  speak,  a  piece  of 
paper  is  handed  to  the  same  assistant, 
bearing  the,  to  him,  very  significant 
amount  of  £2,  10s.  Cf.  Sharp,  John 
Orderly. 

Twug  (Harrow).  Caught :  i.e.  the 
past  ppl.  of  twig  (q.v.). 

Twyford.  My  name  is  Twyford,  I 
know  nothing  of  the  matter. 

Tyburn.  The  place  of  execution 
for  Middlesex  to  1783  :  after  which  the 
death  penalty  was  enforced  at  New- 
gate till  the  demolition  of  the  prison 


503 


Tyburnia. 


Umpire. 


in  1903.  The  Tyburn  gallows  stood 
in  the  angle  formed  by  the  Edgwaro 
Road  and  Oxford  Street.  In  1778  this 
was  two  miles  out  of  London.  Hence 
Tyburn-blossom,  a  young  thief :  who 
in  time  will  ripen  into  fruit  borne  by 
the  deadly  never-green  (Grose) ;  Ty- 
burn -  check  (pickadiU,  tiffany,  or 
tippet),  a  rope,  a  halter :  Tyburn- 
tippet,  rather  obsolete  in  1822  (Egan) ; 
Tyburn  -  fair  (jig,  show,  or  stretch), 
a  hanging ;  Tyburn-face,  a  hangdog 
look  ;  Tyburn  -  ticket,  an  exemption 
(under  10  &  11  Will.  HI.,  c.  23,  §  2) 
to  prosecutors  who  had  secured  a 
capital  conviction  :  it  released  from 
all  manner  of  parish  and  ward  offices 
within  the  parish  wherein  such  felony 
was  committed  :  the  Act  was  repealed 
in  1818  :  Tyburn-ticketa  were  trans- 
ferable, and  often  sold  for  a  high 
price ;  Tyburn  -  tree,  the  gallows  ;  to 
preach  at  Tyburn  -  cross  (fetch  a  Ty- 
burn stretch,  dance  a  Tyburn  horn- 
pipe on  nothing,  the  Paddington-frisk, 
etc.),  to  be  hanged  ;  Tyburn-spectacles, 
the  cap  pulled  over  the  face  of  a 
criminal  before  execution ;  and  so 
forth.  See  Ladder  and  Tree. 

Tyburnia.  A  name  given,  about 
the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
to  the  district  lying  between  Edg- 
ware  Road  and  Westbourne  and  Glou- 
cester Terraces  and  Craven  Hill,  and 
bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Bays- 


water  Road,  and  subsequently  in- 
cluding (Hotten)  the  Portman  and 
Grosvenor  Square  district :  faceti- 
ously divided  by  Londoners  into 
Tyburnia  Felix,  Tyburnia  Deserta, 
and  Tyburnia  Snobbica :  it  soon  fell 
into  disuse.  [From  a  brook  called 
Tyburn  (properly  The  Eye  bourn), 
which  flowed  down  from  Hampstead 
into  the  Thames.] 

Tye  (or  Tie).  A  neckcloth :  now 
recognised,  but  slang  thirty  years  ago, 
and  as  early  as  1718. 

T  y  g.  A  three  -  handled  tyg,  a 
drinking  cup  so  handled  that  three 
different  persons,  drinking  out  of  it, 
and  each  using  a  separate  handle, 
brought  their  mouths  to  different  parts 
of  the  rim.  The  name  is  still  applied 
in  Oxford  to  an  ordinary  round  pot 
with  three  handles,  much  used  for 
cups,  etc. 

Tyke.     See  Tike. 

Tyler.     See  Adam  Tiler. 

T  y  m  p  a  n  y.  Conceit,  bombast ; 
properly  a  species  of  dropsy  in  which 
the  belly  is  stretched  tight  like  a  drum 
( 1610).  Two-legged  tympany,  a  baby  ; 
spec,  a  bastard. 

Typo.  A  compositor.  Also  type- 
lifter  (or  slinger),  an  expert  comp.  : 
sometimes  in  contempt,  a  slovenly 
workman. 

Tzing-tzing.  Excellent,  Al  (ob- 
solete). 


Ugly.  1.  An  ugly  person :  also  in 
contemptuous  address,  Hallo,  Ugly  I 
Mr.  Ugly,  etc.  (1797).  2.  A  bonnet 
shade :  worn  by  women  as  an  extra 
protection  from  the  sun  :  middle  19th 
century.  3.  In  pi.,  delirium  tremens, 
the  horrors  (q.v.).  4.  A  beatinp,  a 
round  of  abuse  (Hattiwett).  As  adj., 
generic  for  disquiet  or  unpleasantness  : 
e.g.  an  ugly  (threatening)  tone ;  an 
ugly  (dangerous)  toouna ;  an  ugly 
(unpleasant)  rumour  ;  an  ugly  (wrong) 
turn ;  ugly  (stormy)  weather ;  an 
ugly  (awkward  or  malicious)  cus- 
tomer, opponent — a  source  of  danger 
etc.  ;  an  ugly  (troublesome)  cough ; 
an  ugly  (ill-natured)  temper ;  an  ugly 
(quarrelsome)  attitude.  Hence  to 
come  the  ugly,  to  threaten  ;  to  cut  up 
(or  look)  ugly,  to  show  anger  or 


resentment ;  to  call  by  ugly  names,  to 
revile  or  abuse.  Also  ugliness  (Ameri- 
can), ill-nature,  crossness,  perversity 
(1360).  See  Plug-ugly. 

Uglyman.  In  garrotting,  the 
actual  perpetrator  of  the  outrage : 
his  operations  are  covered  in  front  by 
the  forestall  (q.v.),  and  in  the  rear 
by  the  backstall  (q.v.) :  also  Nasty- 
man  :  see  Stale. 

Uhlan.     A  tramp. 

Ullage.  In  pi,  drainings,  dregs 
of  glasses  or  casks.  [Properly  the 
wantage  in  a  cask  of  liquor.] 

Ultramarine.     Blue  (q.v.). 

Ultray.  Very :  a  corruption  of  ultra. 

Umpire.  How's  that,  umpire  ? 
What  do  you  say  to  that  ?  How's 
that  for  high  ?  What  price  ?  [An 
echo  of  football  and  cricket.] 


504 


Umtte-pie. 


Unlicked  Cub. 


Umble-pie.     See  Humble-pie. 

Un-.  See  Betty,  Dub,  Pal,  Slour, 
Thimble,  etc.  [A  negation). 

Unbaked.  Immature :  cf.  Hard- 
baked  (1598). 

Unbeknown  (or  Unbeknownst). 
Unknown  (1665). 

Unbleached  American.  A  negro  ; 
snowball  (q.v.).  [An  echo  of  mock 
Northern  sentiment  during  the  War  of 
the  Secession.] 

Uncertainty.  A  girl  baby :  cf. 
Certainty,  a  boy. 

Uncle.  1.  A  pawnbroker  (Grose) : 
Fr.,  tante  (cf.  Uncle,  a  mythical  rich 
relative).  2.  A  familar  address  :  spec, 
of  an  old  worthy  negro :  cf.  Aunt. 
[Pegge :  the  Cornish  apply  aunt  and 
uncle  to  all  elderly  persons  (p.  301)]. 
Your  uncle,  Myself  :  e.g.  Your  uncle's 
the  man  to  do  it,  i.e.  I'll  do  it  for  you. 
Phrase  :  If  my  aunt  had  been  a  man 
she'd  have  been  my  uncle,  in  derision 
of  those  who  make  ridiculous  sur- 
mises :  see  Man  (1670).  See  Dutch 
uncle. 

Uncle  Sam.  A  humorous  per- 
sonification of  the  Government  or 
people  of  the  U[nited]S[tates] :  cf. 
John  Bull.  [Usually  supposed  to  date 
back  to  the  war  of  1812.] 

Uncommon.  Very,  exceedingly : 
e.g.  uncommon  bitter,  uncommon 
cheap,  etc. 

Unconscionable.  Enormous,  vast 
very.  [Johnson  :  a  low  word.] 

Uncork.  To  expose  to  view,  to 
set  forth,  to  cause  to  flow  out :  as 
when  a  cork  is  removed  from  a  bottle  : 
e.g.  uncork  the  swag,  unlock  the  bag  ; 
uncork  your  clack,  speak  out ! 

Uncouth,  Unkissed.  A  proverbial 
allusion  to  the  custom  of  saluting 
friends  and  acquaintances  at  meeting, 
but  not  unintroduced  strangers 
(1566). 

Unction.     See  Blue-unction. 

Uncular.  Of  or  relating  to  an 
uncle :  cf.  Avuncular. 

Under.  To  go  under,  1.  To  die : 
whence  the  under-side,  the  grave. 
2.  To  become  submerged  in  difficulty 
or  debt,  to  be  ruined,  to  disappear  from 
society.  Under  a  cloud,  in  difficulties 
or  disgrace  (1520).  Under  the  belt,  in 
the  stomach  (1815).  See  Below.  Under 
the  rose,  secretly,  in  confidence 
(1546). 

Under-dubber  (or  dubsman). 
A  warder  other  than  a  chief  in  com- 


mand :    see    Dubber    and    Dubsman 
(1785). 

Underfellow.  A  mean  wretch, 
snide  (q.v.):  see  Sidney,  Arcadia,  ii. 

Undergear.     Underclothing. 

Undergrad.  1.  An  undergraduate 
2.  A  horse  in  training  for  steeple- 
chasing  or  hunting. 

Underground-railway  (American). 
An  organization  for  assisting  fugitive 
slaves  to  the  free  states  and  Canada, 
many  expedients  and  devices  for  the 
purpose  were  in  vogue  during  the 
agitation  for  the  abolition  of  slavery 
in  the  United  States  (1856). 

Undergrounder.  A  ball  bowled 
without  pitch,  a  daisy-cutter  (or 
trimmer),  sneak  (q.v.). 

Underpinner.  In  pi.,  the  legs  :  cf. 
Pins. 

Under  -  shell.  A  waistcoat :  cf. 
Upper-shell  and  Upper-stocks. 

Under-spur-leather.  An  underling, 
a  subservient  person  (1725). 

Under  -  stair.  Subordinate,  low, 
mean :  cf.  Back-door  (1655). 

Understanding.  ( 1 )  In  pi. ,  the  legs  : 
cf.  Under-pinners.  Also  (2)  boots  or 
shoes  (1602). 

Understumble.  To  understand 
also  undercomestumble  (1710). 

Undisgruntled.     See    Disgruntled. 

Unfortunate.  A  prostitute  :  spec, 
a  homeless  street- walker.  [Probably, 
in  the  first  place,  the  popular  usage 
arose  from  a  misreading  of  Hood's 
lines.] 

Unguentum-aurum.  A  bribe, 
palm-grease  (q.v.). 

Unhintables.  See  Unmention- 
ables. 

Unicorn.  1.  A  team  of  horses : 
( 1 )  two  wheelers  abreast  with  a  leader 
in  front  (Grose) ;  and  (2)  such  a  turnout 
(q.v.),  a  spike-team  (American) :  cf. 
Four-in-hand,  Manchester,  Sudden 
death,  Tandem,  etc.  ( 1803).  2.  A  gold 
coin,  value  23  shillings  Scotch :  temp. 
James  HI.,  IV.  and  V.  :  a  unicorn 
figured  on  the  obverse.  3.  Two  men 
and  a  woman  (or  vice  versa),  working 
together. 

Univ.     University  College,  Oxford. 

Universal  -  staircase.  The  tread 
mill,  wheel  of  life  (q.v.) :  also  ever- 
lasting-staircase (q.v.)  (1851). 

Unlicked  Cub  (or  Cub).  A 
raw,  unmannerly  youth ;  an  un- 
cultivated boor ;  also  an  awkward, 
sulky  girl  (Grose).  As  adj.,  ungainly, 


505 


Unload. 


Up. 


rough,  rude.  [A  popular  notion  was 
that  a  bear  gave  birth  to  shapeless 
lumps  of  flesh  which  she  licked  into 
shape.]  Also  Unlicked  bear  (1602). 

Unload.  To  sell  stocks,  shares, 
goods,  etc.,  that  have  been  hold  on 
speculation.  Also  to  empty  one's 
pockets. 

Unlock.  Unlock  the  land*  (Vic- 
torian), a  political  cry  calling  for  the 
opening  up  for  free-selection  of  lands 
held  by  squatters  on  lease. 

Unmentionable.  In  pi.,  trousers, 
breeches.  Variants,  mostly  intro- 
duced by  Dickens,  are  : — Ineffables, 
Inexpressibles,  Indescribables,  In- 
explicables,  Unhintables,  Unutter- 
ables,  Unwhisperables,  etc. 

Unpalled.  A  thief  whose  as- 
sociates are  all  apprehended,  or  taken 
from  him  by  other  means,  is  said  to 
be  unpalled,  and  he  is  then  obliged 
to  work  single-handed. 

Unparliamentary.  Abusive,  ob- 
scene, unfit  for  ordinary  conversa- 
tion. 

Unpaved.  Rough,  inflamed  :  spec, 
from  excessive  drinking. 

Unready.  To  undress :  as  adj., 
undressed,  naked  (1580). 

Unregenerate  Chicken  -  lifter.  A 
petty  thief :  see  Thief. 

Unrig.  (1)  To  strip:  e.g.  Unrig 
the  drab ;  whence  unrigged,  naked. 
Also  (2)  to  plunder ;  and  (3)  of  ships 
that  are  laid  up  (B.  E.). 

Unrove.  Unrove  his  life  line,  said 
of  a  man  who  has  died  (Clark  Russell). 

Unslour.  To  unlock,  unfasten,  or 
unbutton :  see  Slour.  [Speaking  of 
a  person  whose  coat  is  buttoned,  so  as 
to  obstruct  the  access  to  his  pockets, 
the  knucks  will  say  to  each  other,  the 
cove  is  sloured  up,  we  must  un- 
slour  him  to  get  at  his  kickseys  (Grose). 

Unspeakable.  A  general  inten- 
sive :  extremely  bad.  Thus  an  un- 
speakable (outrageous)  fool ;  an  un- 
speakable (rotten)  play  ;  the  unspeak- 
able (cruel)  Turk.  [A  Carlyleism.] 

Unsweetened.  Gin :  i.e.  un- 
sweetened gin. 

Unthimble.  To  rob,  or  otherwise 
deprive  a  man  of  his  watch.  Un- 
thimbled,  robbed  of  one's  watch. 

Unthrift.  A  prodigal,  spend- 
thrift, wastegood  (q.v.)  (1590). 

Untrimmed.     See  Trim. 

Untwisted.   Undone,  ruined  (B.  E.). 

Unwashed   (or    Great-unwashed). 


The  mob,  the  rabble :  orig.  the  artisan 
class.  [First  used  by  Burke,  popular- 
ised by  Scott.]  As  adj.,  vulgar,  filthy, 
Unwashed  bawdry,  rant,  errant,  ful- 
some, bawdry  (1596). 

Up.  1.  In  various  elliptical  and 
colloquial  senses.  As  verb,  generic 
for  action :  cf.  Down.  Thus  to  up 
with  one's  fist,  a  stick,  etc.,  to  raise 
the  hand,  etc.,  for  striking  a  blow ; 
to  up  with  the  standard,  to  bear  aloft 
the  flag  ;  Up  guards  and  at  'em,  Stand 
and  charge  the  enemy,  and  so  on. 
Adverbially  in  many  connections  :  as 

(1)  out  of  bed  ;  (2)  on  one's  legs  (ready 
to  speak) ;  in  the  saddle  ;  under  repair 
(of  streets) ;  advanced  in  rank,  posi- 
tion,  value,  etc.  ;  in  revolt,  a  com- 
motion, or  the  like ;  in  progress  or 
taking  place  (as  a  hunt) ;  adjourned,  at 
an  end  (as  a  sitting  of  the  House),  etc. 
Also  a  scoring-limit  at  billiards  (500 
or  1000  up) ;  recorded  on  the  telegraph 
at  cricket  (Grace  100  up,  a  century 
of  runs  made).     Also  in    numerous 
phrases   and    combinations :    What's 
up  ?  What's  the  matter,  or  What's 
going  on  ;  up  to  (or  in),  well-equipped, 
equal  to,  conversant  with  (the  law, 
mathematics,   tricks  of  trade,  etc.) ; 
all's  up  (or  up  with),  everything  is 
lost,    ruin   stares   one   in    the   face : 
frequently  up  is  spelt  as,  it's  all  U-P  ; 
to  go  up,   (I)  to  travel  to   London, 
Paris,  etc.  (as  the  centre  and  focus 
of  national  life) :  specifically  (Univer- 
sity) to  return  to  Oxford  or  Cam- 
bridge,   the    antithesis    in    this    case 
being  going  down  to  London,  home, 
etc.  ;  (2)  to  offer  oneself  for  examina- 
tion ;  to  have  (or  pull)  up,  (1)  to  sum- 
mons, arrest,  or  bring  before  a  magis- 
trate ;  and  (2)  to  check  a  downward 
course   (as  of  drink,   dissipation,   or 
the  like) ;  up  and  down  (see  Up-and- 
down)  ;  to  come  up  with,  to  overtake, 
catch  up ;  to  look  up,  to  improve  in 
health,  credit,  value  ;  up  to,  about  to 
do,   occur,  or  in   preparation ;   up  a 
tree  (or  treed),  (1)  done  for,  ruined, 

(2)  in   a   difficulty,    cornered    (q.v.), 
and  (3)  drunk  ;  also  up  in  one's  hat : 
see  Screwed  ;  to  up  jib  (the  sticks,  or 
the  stakes),  to  pack  up  and  go,  to  be 
off  ;  to  up  and  dust,  to  hurry  up,  move 
fast ;  up  to  snuff  (scent,  or  the  ropes), 
knowing    (q.v.),    wide-awake    (q.v.), 
cunning,    sharp    (Orose) ;    up    to    the 
knocker  (door,  nines,  a  thing  or  two, 
etc.),  good,  capital,  excellent ;  up  the 


WK5 


Up-a-daisa. 


Upsides. 


spout,  (1)  in  pawn,  (2)  imprisoned 
(Grose) ;  up  to  one's  ears  (elbows,  the 
hilt,  etc. ),  overwhelmed ;  up  to  the 
hub,  to  the  extreme  point ;  to  live 
up  to  blue  china,  to  spend  up  to,  or 
more  than,  one's  income ;  up  to 
sample,  of  good  quality,  O.K.  (q.v.) ; 
up  to  Dick,  rich,  generous,  wise,  quick, 
in  good  health,  jolly,  well-dressed : 
generic  for  the  best ;  up  to  dictionary, 
learned  ;  up  to  the  gossip  (cackle,  try- 
on,  etc.),  prepared  for  any  attempt 
at  imposition,  roguery,  or  trickery 
(Grose) ;  up  to  slum  (Grose),  proficient 
in  roguery,  good  as  a  tradesman 
(q.v.);  that's  up  against  you,  What 
do  you  say  to  that  ?  That  will  knock 
the  stuffing  out  of  you ;  up  in  the 
stirrups,  with  plenty  of  money  (Grose) 
(1340).  2.  (Harrow).  In  school; 
To  be  up  at  second  school,  to  go  to  any 
one  for  work  at  10  or  1 1  o'clock. 

Up  -  a  -  daisa  (or  Ups  -  a  -  daisy). 
Used  in  baby- jumping. 

Up  -  and  -  down.  Usually  in  pi., 
the  events  of  life,  vicissitudes  of 
fortune,  alternate  good  and  bad  luck  ; 
as  adj.,  plain,  downright,  positive ; 
as  adv.,  (1)  thorough,  completely,  in 
every  respect,  down  to  the  ground 
(q.v.);  (2)  bluntly,  brutally  (q.v.); 
and  (3)  without  favour,  justly  (1542). 
Up  and  down  place,  a  shop  where  a 
cutter-out  is  expected  to  fill  up  his 
time  sewing.  See  Ups  and  Downs. 

Uphill.  In  pi.,  dice  loaded  to  cast 
high  numbers  :  cf .  Lowmen  (B.  E. ). 
As  adj.,  difficult,  severe,  against  collar 
(q.v.)  (Grose) ;  hence  hampered  (1748). 

Upon.  See  Cross,  Say-so,  Siwy, 
Square,  Snib. 

Upper.  Down  on  one's  uppers, 
poor,  hard-up  (q.v.),  broke  (q.v.). 

Upper- ben  (or  Upper- ben- 
jamin). A  great  coat  (Grose) ;  also 
Benjy :  orig.  Joseph,  but  (Hotten) 
because  of  the  preponderance  of 
tailors  named  Benjamin,  altered  in 
deference  to  them. 

Upper-crust.  1.  The  skin.  2.  See 
Upper-ten.  3.  A  hat :  see  Golgotha. 

Upper  -  hand.  To  have  (hold,  or 
get)  the  upper  hand  (fortune,  or  whip- 
hand),  to  have  (hold  or  get)  at  one's 
command,  in  one's  power,  lead,  or 
under  control ;  to  have  the  day  as 
one's  own  ;  to  have  full  play  or  ad- 
vantage (1525). 

Upper-lip.  To  keep  a  stiff  upper- 
lip,  to  be  courageous,  self-reliant 


under  difficulties,  unflinching  in  quest 
(1833). 

Upper-shell.  A  coat:  whence  under- 
shell,  a  waistcoat :  cf.  Upperstocks. 

Upper-sixpenny  (Eton).  A  play- 
ing field :  see  Sixpenny. 

Upper-stock.  In  pi.,  trunk  hose, 
breeches  :  see  Kicks  (1546). 

Upper-storey  (loft,  works, 
etc.).  The  head,  brain  (Grose). 
Hence  unfurnished  (something  wrong, 
or  rats)  in  the  upper  storey,  crazy, 
demented,  ignorant,  off  one's  chump, 
(q.v.),  drunk  (1751). 

Upper-ten.  The  aristocracy, 
landed  gentry,  world  of  fashion : 
also  upper  ten  thousand,  upper-tendom, 
and  upper-crust.  [Usually  referred  to 
N.  P.  Willis,  and  originally  applied 
to  the  wealthy  classes  of  New  York  as 
approximating  that  number.]  (1835). 

Uppish.  1.  Proud,  arrogant, 
stuck-up  (q.v.);  rampant,  crowing, 
full  of  money  (B.  E.) ;  also  (B.  E.), 
brisk ;  whence  uppishly  and  uppish- 
ness.  [Johnson :  a  low  word.]  2. 
Tipsy  :  see  Screwed  (1726). 

Upright.  A  leg.  Go  upright, 
'  Said  by  Taylers  and  Shoemakers,  to 
their  Servants,  when  any  Money  is 
given  to  make  them  Drink,  and 
signifies,  bring  it  all  out  in  Drink,  tho' 
the  Donor  intended  less,  and  expects 
Change,  or  some  return  of  Money ' 
(B.  E.,  1696). 

Upright -man.  The  leader  of  a 
gang  of  mendicants  or  thieves  (1561) ; 
the  second  rank  of  the  canting  tribes 
(B.  E.) ;  &  thorough-paced  and  deter- 
mined thief  (Grose) :  see  Curtail  (1561). 

Uproar.  An  opera  :  cf.  Roaratorio, 
oratorio  (1762). 

Ups  and  Downs  (The).  The 
second  battalion  of  the  Welsh  Regi- 
ment, formerly  the  69th  Foot,  the 
number  being  read  in  position  or 
upside-down. 

Upsee  -  Dutch  (Upsee  -  English, 
Upsee-Freese).  Conjecturally  a  kind 
of  heady  beer  qualified  by  the  name 
of  the  brew.  Hence  upsee-freesy, 
etc.,  drunk :  see  Screwed ;  to  drink 
upsee-Dutch  (English,  etc.),  to  drink 
deeply,  or  in  true  toper  fashion  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  country 
named.  Also  Upsees  (1600). 

Upset.     See  Apple-cart. 

Upsides.  To  be  upsides  with,  to 
be  even  with,  quits  with,  a  match 
for  (1816). 


:07 


Upsitting. 


Vamper. 


Upsitting.  The  sitting  up  of  a 
woman  to  see  her  friends  after  her 
confinement :  the  feast  held  on  such 
an  occasion  (1607). 

Upskip.     An  upstart  (q.v.)  (1549). 

Upsodown.  Topsy-turvy  (q.v.), 
upside-down  :  also  upset  -  down.  Cf. 
Backsevore  (1340). 

Upstairs  (London).  A  special 
brand  of  spirits  :  a  bottle  usually  kept 
on  a  shelf:  e.g.  a  drop  of  upstairs: 
the  particular  brand  varies  with  the 
house.  To  go  upstairs  out  of  the 
world,  to  be  hanged :  see  Ladder  (1695). 

Upstart.  A  person  suddenly 
raised  from  poverty  to  wealth,  from 
a  humble  position  to  consequence, 
or  from  servitude  to  power :  now 
recognised  (1592). 

Upsyturvy.  Topsy  -  turvy  (q.v.) 
(1594). 

Uptails-all.  (1)  Confusion,  riot, 
high  jinks  ;  (2)  revellers,  good  fellows, 
boon  companions.  Hence  (3)  wanton- 
ness (1602). 

Up-to-date.  Of  the  latest  (in 
fashion,  fact,  or  philosophy),  abreast 
of  the  times. 

Upways.     Upward. 

Urchin.  1.  A  mischievous  child, 
a  half-chiding  endearment,  a  little 


sorry  fellow  (B.  E.):  also  2.  an  elf, 
fairy,  or  sprite :  popularly  supposed 
to  take  the  form  of  a  hedgehog,  the 
original  meaning.  Hence  as  adj.,  (1) 
roguish,  mischievous ;  and  (2)  trifling, 
foolish,  trumpery  (1528). 

Urinal.  1.  A  chamber-pot  or 
glass  (B.  E.).  Urinal  of  the  planets, 
Ireland  :  because  of  its  frequent  and 
great  rains,  as  Heidelberg  and  Cologne, 
in  Germany,  have  the  same  name  upon 
the  same  account  (B.  E.). 

U.S. -cove.  A  soldier.  U.S.- 
plate,  handcuffs :  cf.  Government 
securities. 

Use.  Liking.  To  use  at  (or 
round)  a  place,  to  haunt,  frequent.  To 
use  up,  to  exhaust,  wear  out,  do  for 
(q.v.) :  whence  used  up,  broken- 
hearted, bankrupt,  fatigued,  van- 
quished, killed,  etc.  (Grose). 

Usher.  Yes:  cf.  Yiddish  user,  it 
is  so. 

Usual.  The  custom.  As  per 
usual,  as  usual :  pleonastic  (1589). 

Utter.  The  extreme,  the  utmost : 
also  (modern)  quite  too  utterly  utter, 
very ;  the  blooming  utter,  the  utmost. 
As  adj.,  excellent,  Al :  a  supreme 
intensive  (1697). 

Uzzard.     The  letter  Z. 


V.  1.  A  symbol  of  cuckoldry,  the 
letter  being  occasionally  printed  in 
that  connection  ;  hence  to  make  v,  to 
make  horns  (q.v.):  the  first  and 
second  fingers  are  derisively  forked 
out  (1611).  2.  A  five-dollar  note: 
v  is  marked  prominently  to  indicate 
its  value. 

Vac.     Vacation. 

Vag.  A  vagabond.  Whence  Vag- 
act,  the  Vagabond  Act. 

Vagaries.  (B.  E.)  Wild  rambles, 
extravagant  frolics  (1696);  to  gad, 
to  range  ;  see  Vagrant.  Hence  vaga- 
rian,  a  crank  (q.v.) ;  vagarious  (or 
vagarist),  whimsical,  capricious,  ir- 
regular (1611). 

vagrant.  A  wandering  rogue,  a 
strolling  vagabond  (B.  E.):  also 
Vagant,  [sometimes  vagarant,  appar- 
ently simulating  vagary. ~\  Whence 
vagrancy  (or  vagancy),  wandering, 
strolling ;  also  adj.,  roving,  erratic, 
vagabond  (1380). 


Vain.  To  take  one's  name  in  vain, 
to  name :  a  common  dovetail  on 
hearing  one's  name  mentioned ;  e.g. 
Who's  taking  my  name  in  vain  ? 

Valley.     See  Cascade. 

Valley-tan.  A  special  manufacture 
of  whisky  sold  in  Utah. 

Vamose  (Vamos,  or  Vampoose). 
To  go,  decamp,  clear  out  (q.v.) :  also 
(Western)  to  vamose  the  ranch, 
[Spanish.]  (1840). 

Vamp.  1.  A  robbery.  Hence 
in  for  a  vamp,  quodded  (q.v.)  for 
prigging  (q.v.) ;  vamper  (q.v.),  a  thief. 
2.  In  pi,  refooted  stockings  (B.  E.) : 
see  Vamper.  As  verb,  (1)  to  impro- 
vise a  musical  accompaniment :  the 
key  and  time  being  known,  a  passable 
accompaniment  is  playable  at  sight 
by  a  system  which,  in  America,  is 
taught  in  eight  lessons  for  $10 ;  also 
as  subs.,  and  vamper  (1851).  2.  To 
pawn,  spout  (q.v.)  (B.  E.). 

Vamper.       1.   A  swindling  horae- 


508 


Vampire. 


Verb-grinder. 


dealer ;  a  faker  (q.v.)  of  unsound 
horses :  also  see  Vamp.  2.  In  pi., 
stockings  (JB.  E.). 

Vampire  (Punch  and  Judy). 
1.  The  ghost :  see  Swatchel.  2.  A 
blackmailer :  Fr.,  chanteur. 

Vampo.     The  clown  :  see  Swatchel. 

Vandemonianism.  Rowdyism : 
i.e.  pertaining  to  Van  Diemen's  Land, 
the  old  name  of  Tasmania  when  a 
convict  settlement,  with  a  glance  at 
demon  :  also  Vandemonian  (1852). 

Van  John.  A  corruption  of  Vingt- 
et-un. 

Vanner.  A  van  horse  :  cf.  Busser, 
Gabber,  Wheeler,  etc. 

Vantage.  Good  paying  work,  fat 
(q.v.):  a  spec,  colloquial  usage  of  a 
recognised  word. 

Vantage-loaf.  The  thirteenth 
loaf  in  a  baker's-dozen  (q.v.). 

Vapour.  (1)  In  pi.,  bluster,  os- 
tentatious or  windy  talk,  swagger 
(q.v.).  [The  Roaring  Boys  (q.v.)  of 
Elizabethan  times,  to  provoke  a 
quarrel,  were  wont  flatly  and  swag- 
geringly  to  contradict  everything  said, 
even  that  to  which  a  bully  had  pre- 
viously assented ;  hence  as  verb,  to 
boast,  swagger,  bully.  Also  (2)  in  the 
eighteenth  century,  a  fashionable 
term  for  airs  (q.v.),  side  (q.v.) :  spec. 
an  exaggerated  affectation  of  nerves 
or  blues  (q.v.) :  also  (3)  whims,  fancies, 
maggots  (q.v.),  and  as  verb,  to  fuss, 
fidget,  make  to  do  (q.v.)  (1552). 

Vardo.  A  waggon.  Vardo-gitt, 
a  waggoner  (Grose).  As  verb,  to 
look,  see,  observe :  e.g.  vardo  the 
carsy,  look  at  the  house. 

Vardy.  An  opinion:  e.g.  That's 
my  vardy  on  the  matter,  That's  what 
I  think.  [A  corruption  of  verdict.'] 

Varlet.  A  generic  reproach:  a 
rogue,  scoundrel,  low  fellow.  Whence 
varletry,  the  mob,  rabble,  crowd 
(B.  E.).  [Properly,  a  page,  groom,  or 
serving-man.]  (1549). 

Varmint.  1.  Anything  troublesome 
or  mischievous :  also  a  half -jocular 
endearment  to  a  child :  e.g.  You 
young  varmint  [that  is,  vermin] 
(1826).  2.  A  fox.  As  adj.,  spruce, 
natty,  good-all-round  (1823). 

Varmint-man.  A  hack  or  ghost 
(q.v.) :  one  who,  like  Jemmy  Gordon, 
wrote  themes  for  idle  undergrads : 
see  Varmint. 

Varnisher.  One  who  utters  base 
money,  a  snide-pitcher  (q.v.). 


V  a  r  s  a  1.  Universal :  frequently 
as  an  intensive  (1710). 

Varsity.  University ;  and  spec. 
University  College,  Oxford :  the  re- 
duction is  also  affected  by  American 
students  (1864). 

Varsity-tit.  A  student  of  Durham 
University :  in  contempt. 

Varying  (Winchester).  A  vulgus 
(q.v.)  when  done  up  to  books  (q.v.). 

Vaseline  (Royal  Military  Academy). 
Butter,  cart-grease  (q.v.). 

Vaughan  (The).  The  Harrow 
School  Library:  named  after  Dr. 
Vaughan. 

Veal.  A  calf :  cf.  Mutton,  Beef :  in 
English  these  terms  are  now  restricted 
to  the  dead  carcase  and  not  applied  to 
the  living  animal,  as  in  French  and 
other  languages  (1612).  Phrases  : 
Veal  will  be  cheap,  calves  fall  (a  jeer 
at  those  with  spindly  legs) ;  In  a 
shoulder  of  veal  there  are  twenty  and 
two  good  bits  (Ray  :  a  piece  of  country 
wit — there  are  twenty  [others  say 
forty]  bits  in  a  shoulder  of  veal,  and 
but  two  good  ones). 

Vealy.  Immature,  calfish,  green 
(q.v.). 

Veck.    An  old  woman  (1360). 

Vegetable-breakfast.  A 
hanging,  execution :  i.e.  an  artichoke 
(hearty  choke)  and  caper  sauce :  see 
Ladder. 

Vein-openers.  The  first  battalion 
of  the  Worcestershire  Regiment,  late 
the  29th  Foot. 

Velvet.  The  tongue  (B.  E.): 
especially  the  tongue  of  a  magsman 
(Hotten).  To  stand  on  velvet,  to 
arrange  one's  bets  so  that  loss  is 
impossible.  To  play  on  velvet,  to 
gamble  with  winnings. 

Velvet-cap.  A  physician  :  a  velvet- 
cap  formed  a  distinctive  part  of  a 
doctor's  garb  (1606). 

Velveteen.      In  pi.,  a  gamekeeper. 

Velvet- jacket.  A  steward  in  a 
nobleman's  family,  a  man  in  the 
King's  service,  the  mayor  of  a  city 
(1600). 

Velvet-pee.  A  velvet  pea-jacket 
(1607). 

Ventilator.  A  play,  player,  or 
management  that  empties  a  house. 

Venture.  As  in  the  proverbial 
saying,  I'll  venture  it  as  Johnson  did 
his  wife,  and  she  did  well  (Ray). 

Venturer.     A  harlot. 

Verb-    (or   Gerund-)  grinder. 


509 


Verdant. 


Virtue. 


A  schoolmaster  or  tutor :  spec,  a 
pedantic  pedagogue  (1785).  Also 
gerund-grinding,  the  study  of  grammar 
(17.V.)). 

Verdant.  Simple,  inexperienced, 
easily  taken  in  (q.v.),  green  (q.v.). 
Whence  verdancy,  rawness,  inex- 
perience (1853). 

Verge.     A  gold  watch. 

Verites  (Charterhouse).  A  board- 
ing-house. [A  corruption  of  Oliver- 
ites,  after  Dr.  Oliver  Walford, 
1838-55.] 

Vert.  A  pet-vert  or  con-vert :  spec, 
one  leaving  the  Church  of  England 
for  the  Roman  Communion,  or  vice- 
versa.  Also  as  verb  (1864). 

Vertical-caregrinder.  The 
tread-mill,  horizontal-staircase  (q.v.), 
wheel  of  life  (q.v.). 

Vessel  (Winchester  College).  The 
half-quarter  of  a  sheet  of  foolscap. 
[Foe.  East  Anglia :  vessel  was  used 
for  theme-papers  formerly  at  Bury 
School.]  The  weaker  vessel,  a  woman  : 
see  1  Peter  iii.  7(1600). 

Vest.  Pull  down  your  vest,  a  street 
catch-phrase  of  no  special  meaning. 
To  lose  one's  vest,  to  get  angry,  lose 
one's  temper :  cf.  Keep  your  hair  on  ! 

Vesta.  In  pi,  Railway  Invest- 
ment Company  Deferred  Stock. 

Vet.  1.  A  veterinary  surgeon.  2. 
A  veteran  (q.v.). 

Veteran.  A  soldier  listing  for  a 
second  term  of  service :  also  vet. 
Whence  veteran  (or  veteranize),  to  re- 
enlist. 

Vex  (Christ's  Hospital).  So  much 
the  worse  for :  e.g.  Vex  for  you :  cf. 
Chaff. 

Vic  (Felsted  School).  1.  A  warn- 
ing of  a  master's  approach ;  Cave  ! 
hence  to  keep  vie,  to  be  on  the  look-out. 
2.  The  Victoria  Theatre. 

Victual.  In  one's  victuals,  in 
favour,  petted,  cosseted  :  spec,  of  a 
mother  and  child. 

Victualler.  A  pander :  the  legi- 
timate trade  of  a  tavern-keeper  was 
frequently  but  a  cloak  for  intrigue  and 
bawdry  ;  hence  many  equivocal  allus- 
ions. Also  victualling  house,  a  house 
of  accommodation  ( 1598). 

Victualling  -  department  (or 
office).  The  stomach,  the  bread- 
basket (q.v.),  the  dumpling-depot 
(q.v.):  FT.,  panier  au  pain;  Ital., 
fagiana  (bean-box). 

Viewpoint.     A  point  of  view. 


Viewy.  1.  Visionary,  kinky  (q.v.), 
funny  (q.v.)  (1848).  2.  Showy,  calcu- 
lated to  catch  the  eye  (1851). 

Vigilance  -  committee.  Orig. 
Californian :  a  self-constituted  body 
of  men  ostensibly  for  the  purpose  of 
administering  justice  or  protecting 
the  public  interests  in  places  where 
the  regular  authorities  were  either 
unable  or  unwilling  to  execute  the 
laws :  cf.  Lynch  law.  Hence  vigilant,  a 
a  member  of  such  a  committee  (1858). 

Vile.  A  town:  cf.  Fr.,ville.  Hence 
Romevile,  London  (see  Rum) :  deuce- 
a-vile,  the  country :  also  deauseaville 
and  daisyville  (1567). 

V  i  1 1  (Felsted  School).  Felsted 
village. 

Villadom.  The  world  of  suburban 
residents  ;  spec,  the  middle  classes. 

Village  (The).  London  :  also  the 
hardware  village,  Birmingham. 

Village-bustler.  An  active  petty 
thief :  a  picker  up  of  trifles,  uncon- 
sidered  or  the  reverse. 

Villain.  A  jocular  self  -  reproach : 
e.g.  I'm  a  bit  of  a  villain  myself,  but 

;  or  I'm  as  mild  a  villain  as  ever 

scuttled  a  ship.     Also  as  an  endear- 
ment (1604). 

Vim,  Spirit,  activity,  energy : 
orig.  University  slang  [Latin].  (1869). 

Vincent  's-law.     Cheating  at  cards. 

Vinegar.  A  cloak  (B.  E.).  Also 
see  Pepper. 

Violet  (or  Garden  -  violet).  1. 
An  onion :  spec,  in  pi.,  spring  onions 
used  as  a  salad.  Also,  2.,  in  pL,  sage- 
and-onion  stuffing. 

Violent o.  A  violent  man :  cf. 
Furioso,  Glorioso,  etc.  (1662). 

Virago.  A  masculine  woman,  or 
a  great  two-handed  female  (B.  E.). 

Virgin  (Stock  Exchange).  In 
pL,  Virginia  New  Funded  Stock. 

Virginhead.     Virginity  (1605). 

Virginia-fence.  A  zig-zag  rail  fence 
a  worm  -  fence  (q.v.).  To  walk  a 
Virginia  fence,  to  reel :  of  drunken 
men. 

Virgin-knot  The  virginity,  chas- 
tity. [In  allusion  to  the  girdle  worn 
by  Greek  and  Roman  maidens  when 
of  marriageable  age.]  (1609). 

Virgin  Mary's  Body-guard. 
The  7th  Dragoon  Guards.  [They 
served  under  Maria  Theresa  of  Austria, 
temp.  George  II.] 

Virtue.  Smoking,  drinking,  dis- 
sipation in  general.  When  a  man 


510 


VisJi. 


Wag-halter. 


confesses  to  abstention  from  to- 
bacco and  intoxicating  liquors  he  is 
perversely  said  to  have  no  virtues. 

Vish  (Christ's  Hospital).  Cross, 
vicious  :  formerly  passy  (q.v.). 

Visor-mask.     A  harlot  (1682). 

Vixen  (or  Fixen).  An  ill-natured, 
snarling  man  or  woman,  a  termagant, 
a  scold.  Also  vixenish  (or  vixenly) 
ill  -  tempered,  snappish,  snarling, 
turbulent  (1563). 

V  o  c  a  b  (Charterhouse).  A  dic- 
tionary, uoca&ulary. 

Vocalier.     A  singer  (1876). 

Vol  (Harrow  School).  Voluntary  : 
e.g.  Vd-gym. 

Volant.  A  Jack-of-both-sides,  a 
trimmer.  As  adj.,  giddy,  flighty 
(1740). 


Voluntary  (Winchester).  A  copy 
of  verses  written  occasionally  by  some 
in  Sixth  Book  and  Senior  Part  ex 
proprio  motu  (Mansfield,  c.  1840). 

Voucher.  A  man  or  woman  that 
passes  off  false  money  for  sham 
coiners  (B.  E.),  a  snide-pitcher  (q.v.) 
(1680). 

Vowel.  To  give  an  I.O.U. :  e.g.  to 
vowel  a  debt. 

Vowel-  mauler.  An  indistinct 
speaker. 

V  u  1  g  u  s  (Winchester :  obsolete). 
A  Latin  epigram :  four  or  six  lines 
long.  Hence  vvlgus  -  book,  a  crib 
(q.v.).  [See  Farmer,  Public  School 
Word-book.]  (1856). 

V  u  m.  /  vum,  a  mild  expletive 
or  oath,  I  vow :  of.  Swan  (1856). 


Wabash.  To  cheat,  swindle,  vic- 
timise. 

Wabble  (or  Wobble).  (1)  To  rock 
from  side  to  side,  move  unsteadily, 
sway  unevenly.  Hence  (2)  to  vacil- 
late, play  fast  and  loose,  blow  hot  and 
cold.  Whence  as  subs.,  unsteady 
movement,  fickleness,  vacillation ; 
wabbly,  unsteady,  shaky,  rocky  (q.v.)] 
wobbler,  a  waverer,  shuffler,  trimmer ; 
also  wibble-wabble  (a  reduplication). 
[  Johnson :  a  low  barbarous  word. 
(3)  To  make  free  use  of  one's  tongue,  to 
be  ready  of  lip  (q.v.).  Hence  wob- 
bler, a  fluent  speaker,  a  chattering  fool. 

Wabbler.  1.  A  boiled  leg  of 
mutton.  2.  See  Wabble. 

Wack.     See  Whack. 

Wad.  A  roll  of  bank  -  notes  ; 
hence  generic  for  monev  :  see  Rhino. 

Waddle.  To  go  like  a  duck  (B.  E.), 
to  toddle,  shamble,  slouch.  Hence, 
as  subs,  (or  waddling),  an  ungainly 
walk,  a  wabbling  (q.v.)  gait.  Also 
derivatives :  waddler,  waddly,  wadd- 
lingly,  etc.  (1595).  To  waddle  out 
of  the  Alley ,  to  make  default  on  the 
Stock  Exchange :  cf.  Lame  Duck 
(1771). 

Waddler.     A  duck. 

W  a  d  d  y.  A  walking  -  stick :  pro- 
perly a  war-club  (1874). 

Wade.  (1)  A  ford  :  and  (2)  the  act 
of  wading.  Also  waders,  long  water- 
proof boots :  used  by  sportsmen  for 
wading  through  water. 


Wafer  -  woman.  A  bawd,  pro- 
curess, go-between.  Also  waferer,  a 
pander  (1607). 

W  a  ffl  e.  To  talk  incessantly, 
clack  (q.v.),  jaw  (q.v.) :  at  Durham 
School,  to  talk  nonsense.  [Cf.  prov. 
Eng.,  waffle,  to  bark,  to  yelp.] 

Waffles.  A  loafer,  an  idle  saunter- 
ing person. 

Wafrican.  In  pi.,  generic  for  West 
African  stocks  and  shares  :  cf.  West- 
ralian. 

Wag.  1.  A  buffoon,  droll,  practical 
joker.  [Probably  wag-halter  (q.v.). 
a  rogue  (q.v.) :  cf.  mad  wag,  mad  wag- 
halter,  etc.]  Also  2.  as  a  half -jocular, 
half -affectionate  slur.  As  adj.,  Arch, 
Gamesome,  Pleasant  (B.  E.).  As 
verb  (or  waggle),  generic  for  (1)  play- 
ful or  sportive  ;  (2)  mocking,  scornful, 
or  derisive  motion ;  hence  waggery, 
waggishness,  waggish,  etc.  (1550);  (3) 
to  stir,  move,  make  way,  progress 
(1546);  (4)  to  go,  be  off,  depart, 
begone  (1589).  The  wag,  truancy: 
as  verb  (or  to  play,  or  hop,  the  wag),  to 
be  truant :  also  charley-wag  (q.v.). 
See  Afraid. 

Wag-feather.     A  silly  swaggerer. 

Wagged- out.     Tired,  worn  out. 

Waggoner.  A  book  of  sea- 
charts  :  cf.  Liddel  and  Scott,  a  diction- 
ary ;  Cruden,  a  concordance.  [From 
Baron  von  Waegenaar's  Speculum 
Nauticum,  etc.]  (1580). 

Wag-halter.      A    rogue,    gallows- 


511 


Wagon. 


Walker. 


bird.:  i.e.  one  likely  or  deserving  to 
wag  in  a  halter ;  cf.  Crack-rope,  Hal- 
ter-sack, etc.  (1594). 

Wagon.     A  bicycle. 

Wag  -  pastie.  A  rogue,  urchin, 
rascal  (all  of  which  see) ;  an  endear- 
ment (1534). 

Wagtail.  A  term  of  familiarity  or 
contempt:  spec,  a  harlot  (B.  E.). 
Hence,  to  wag  the  tail  (of  women),  to 
wanton  (1005). 

Wag  -  wit.  A  wag  :  in  contempt 
(1712). 

Waistcoat.  Foetid  waistcoat,  a 
waistcoat  of  a  flaunting  and  vulgar 
pattern. 

Waistcoateer.  A  harlot.  [The 
waistcoat  was  formerly  in  use  by  both 
sexes  :  when  worn  by  women  without 
a  gown  or  upper -dress  it  was  considered 
the  mark  of  a  mad,  low,  or  profligate 
woman.]  (1602). 

Waister.  A  seaman  or  boy  of 
little  use,  a  green  (q.v.)  hand:  if 
inexperienced  or  broken  down,  such  as 
these  were  placed  in  the  waist  of  a 
man-of-war  for  duties  not  requiring 
much  exertion  or  seamanship.  Also 
(modern),  a  new  whaling  hand. 

Wait.  To  wait  for  dead  men's 
shoes,  to  look  forward  to  an  inherit- 
ance (1660).  To  wait  on  one,  to  seek 
a  chance  of  retaliation,  revenge,  or 
spite  ;  to  try  and  get  one's  own  back. 

Waiter.  Minority-waiter,  a  waiter 
out  of  employment :  i.e.  as  one  out  of 
(political)  office  (1778). 

Wake.  To  wake  snakes,  (1)  to 
rouse  oneself,  to  be  up  and  doing ; 
and  (2)  to  get  into  trouble  (1848). 
To  wake  up  the  wrong  passenger,  to 
make  a  mistake,  get  the  wrong  sow 
by  the  ear :  see  Wrong  passenger. 

Waler.  Orig.  a  cavalry  horse  im- 
ported into  India  from  New  South 
Wales ;  now  applied  to  all  cattle 
brought  from  Australia  (1863). 

Walk.  A  special  haunt,  place  of 
resort,  or  round  (q.v.) :  an  extension 
of  the  ordinary  usage.  Thus  a  milk- 
man's (cat's-meat-man's,  postman's, 
etc. )  walk,  the  district  habitually  served 
by  a  salesman  (postman,  etc.);  a 
bank-walk,  the  round  of  a  banker's 
collecting  clerk;  The  Walk  (Royal 
Exchange),  that  portion  of  the  pro- 
menade frequented  by  some  particular 
clique  or  set  of  merchants  (1851). 
Cock  (or  Hen)  of  the  walk,  a  man  (or 
woman)  of  parts,  a  worthy,  a  leader 


(1711).  Ladies'  (or  Gentlemen's)  walk, 
a  W.C.  :  a  euphemism  (hotel-pro- 
prietors'). To  walk  the  streets,  to  fre- 
quent the  streets  for  the  purpose 
of  prostitution ;  to  make  public 
quest  for  men.  To  walk  into,  (1)  to 
attack,  assault,  drub :  also  to  walk 
into  the  affections ;  (2),  to  scold,  rag 
(q.v.),  slang  (q.v.) ;  (3)  to  demolish, 
overcome,  get  the  best  of ;  and  (4) 
to  eat  heartily,  to  wolf  (q.v.)  (1840). 
To  walk  the  chalk,  (1)  to  walk  along  a 
chalk  line  as  a  test  of  sobriety  ;  hence 
(2)  to  go  straight  in  conduct,  manners, 
or  morals,  to  keep  up  to  the  mark 
(1840).  To  walk  onefs  chalks  (or  to 
walk),  to  decamp,  move  on,  go  about 
one's  business  :  see  Chalk  for  suggested 
origin.  The  ghost  walks  (or  doesn't 
walk),  there  is  (or  is  not)  money  in  the 
treasury  (1853).  To  walk  the  plank, 
to  walk  overboard,  to  die :  formerly 
an  old  method  of  execution  or  ven- 
geance, the  victim  being  forced  to 
walk  blindfolded  along  a  plank  over 
the  ship's  side.  To  walk  into  one's 
affections,  (I)  to  walk  into  (q.v.  supra), 
and  (2)  to  get  into  debt  To  walk 
over,  to  win  a  race  without  opposition  ; 
hence  to  win  easily  :  walk-over,  an  un- 
opposed success,  complete  triumph 
(spec,  of  a  horse,  coming  alone,  of  all 
the  entries,  to  the  scratch ;  it  has 
consequently  but  to  walk  over  the 
course  at  leisure  to  be  entitled  to  the 
stake)  (1859).  Walk,  knave,  walk,  a 
rude  phrase  which  parrots  were 
taught  to  use  (Fairholt)  (1592).  Also 
in  various  phrases :  Thus  to  walk 
alone,  to  be  an  outcast,  forsaken, 
shunned ;  to  walk  the  hospitals,  to 
attend  the  medical  and  surgical  prac- 
tice of  hospitals  as  a  student  under  one 
of  the  qualified  staff  ;  to  walk  Spanish, 
to  be  seized  by  the  scruff  and  the  seat 
and  thus  forced  along,  to  act  under 
compulsion  ;  to  walk  about  (military), 
an  occasional  instruction  from  officers 
to  sentinels  for  the  purpose  of  waiving 
the  ceremony  of  the  salute ;  to  walk 
the  pegs  (gaming),  to  sharp  one's  pegs 
forward  or  those  of  one's  antagonist 
backward  (cribbage);  to  walk  (or 
jump)  down  one's  throat,  to  rate,  scold, 
abuse ;  to  walk  up  Ladder-lane  and 
down  Hemp-street,  to  be  hanged  at 
the  yardarm :  see  Ladder ;  to  walk 
round  one,  to  get  an  advantage,  or  the 
bulge  over. 

Walker.     1.    A    prowler,  moucher 


512 


Walking-mart. 


Wanton. 


(q.v.) :  spec,  one  questing  for  op- 
portunities of  theft  or  harlotry :  also 
(later)  night-walker  and  street-walker 
(1380).  2.  In  pi.,  the  feet  (1603).  3. 
A  postman  [Hotten :  from  an  old  song 
called  Walker,  the  twopenny  post- 
man.] Hookey  Walker  (or  Walker), 
(1)  an  ironical  expression  of  incredul- 
ity, bender  (q.v.),  gammon  (q.v.), 
also  (2)  Be  of?  !  Clear  out ! 

Walking- mort.  A  tramp  or  gipsy's 
woman :  see  Mort. 

Walking-papers  (or  ticket). 
Dismissal.  Thus,  to  get  one's  walking- 
papers,  to  get  the  sack  (q.v.),  to  be 
sent  about  one's  business,  with  (spec.) 
a  flea  in  one's  ear  (1840). 

Wall  (Eton).  Two  football 
games  are  played  at  Eton — one  at  the 
wall,  the  other  in  the  field.  The  first 
is  only  played  by  a  very  limited 
number  of  boys,  for  there  is  but  one 
wall ;  the  game  is  of  an  intricate 
nature,  and  the  uninitiated  specta- 
tor cannot,  as  a  rule,  even  see  how  a 
Joint,  called  a  Shy,  is  obtained.  In- 
eed,  were  it  not  for  the  time-honoured 
match  between  Collegers  and  Op- 
pidans on  St.  Andrew's  Day  the 
game  would  probably  become  obsolete. 
The  Eton  field  game  has  many  merits 
as  a  game  for  boys  superior  to  those 
of  any  other  kind  of  football.  In  it 
speed,  and  skilful  dribbling,  and 
accurate  kicking  have  their  due  suc- 
cess, but  strength  and  dogged  per- 
severance are  not  left  out  in  the  cold 
(Great  Public  Schools).  As  verb,  to 
confine  to  College  bounds  :  cf .  Gate. 
Go-by-the-watt,  strong  ale.  Phrases : 
At  (or  to)  the  watt,  in  difficulties :  to 
go  to  the  wall,  to  be  slighted,  ousted, 
put  on  one  side,  to  succumb  to  force  of 
circumstances,  to  go  under  (q.v.) ;  laid 
by  the  wall,  dead,  but  unburied  ;  to 
drive  to  the  wall,  to  force  to  give  way,  to 
crush  ;  to  take  the  wall,  to  walk  nearest 
the  wall  in  passing ;  hence  to  get  the 
better  of  (or  the  advantage) :  cf.  to  get 
to  windward  (q.v.) :  the  wall  (the 
right  of  choice  of  way),  was  in  olden 
times  the  safest  and  cleanest ;  to  hang 
by  the  wall,  to  be  neglected,  remain 
disused  ;  to  see  as  far  into  a  brick  watt 
(mittstone  or  milestone)  as  ...  to  be  as 
able  (or  as  cute)  as  .  .  . ;  Look  on  the 
watt,  and  it  will  not  bite  you  (a  jeer 
to  one  whose  tongue  has  been  bitten 
by  mustard) ;  Watts  have  ears,  Be  care- 
ful, some  one  may  be  listening  (1530). 


Wallaby.  On  the  wallaby  (or 
wallaby-track),  tramping  the  country 
on  foot  looking  for  work.  [Morris : 
Wallaby,  a  small  kangaroo  ;  often  in 
the  bush  the  only  perceptible  tracks, 
and  sometimes  the  only  tracks  by 
which  the  scrub  can  be  penetrated, 
are  the  tracks  worn  down  by  the 
wallaby,  as  a  hare  tramples  its  form. 
These  tracks  may  lead  to  water  or 
they  may  be  aimless  and  rambling. 
Thus  the  man  on  the  wallaby,  may  be 
looking  for  food  or  for  work,  or  aim- 
lessly wandering  by  day  and  getting 
food  and  shelter  as  a  sundowner  (q.v.) 
at  night.] 

Wallah.     See  Competition  wallah. 

Wall-eyed.  1.  Having  eyes  with 
an  undue  proportion  of  white ;  all 
white  like  a  plastered  wall  (Grose), 
hence,  2.  glaring,  fierce,  threatening. 
Any  work  irregularly  or  ill  done  is 
called  a  watt-eyed  job.  It  is  applied 
also  to  any  very  irregular  action  (1580). 

Wallflower.  1.  Orig.  a  lady  un- 
able to  obtain  a  partner  in  a  dance ; 
now  applied  to  any  one  of  either  sex 
who  goes  to  a  ball  but  does  not  dance, 
whether  from  inability,  choice,  or 
neglect ;  as  adj.,  neglected,  passJ 
(1830).  2.  In  pi.,  second-hand  gar- 
ments exposed  for  sale :  cf.  Hand- 
me-downs,  Reach-me-downs,  etc. 

Wallop.  1.  To  beat,  flog,  thrash ; 
also  as  subs.,  a  severe  blow ;  wallop- 
ing, a  good  trouncing ;  also  walloper 
(1838).  2.  Generic  for  great  effort  or 
agitation  :  e.g.  (a)  to  boil  and  bubble  : 
see  Pot-walloper ;  (b)  move  or  gallop 
quickly  ;  (c)  to  tumble  about ;  also  as 
subs.,  with  the  usual  derivatives 
(1360). 

Walloping.  Great,  bouncing.  Also 
wattoper,  anything  superlative :  see 
Whopper. 

Wallyford.  The  usual  run  on  a 
wet  whole  schoolday  :  about  3£  miles. 

Waltham  '  s-calf.  As  wise  as 
Waltham's  calf,  very  foolish  (1529). 

Waltz.  To  waltz  about  (or  round), 
to  move  in  a  sprightly  fashion,  to  buzz 
round  ;  also  to  fuss  about,  make  one- 
self a  nuisance. 

Wamble-cropped.  Wretched- 
humiliated  :  also  womble-cropped. 

Wanger.     See  Whanger. 

Wanion.  Misfortune,  calamity, 
mischief,  a  curse.  Thus  with  (or  in) 
a  wanion,  (1)  Mischief  take  you, 
Blast  you  ;  with  a  vengeance  ;  and 


513 


Wanker. 


Wnsh. 


hence  (2)  summarily,  emphatically : 
also  W  onions  on  you  I 

Wanker  (Felsted  School).  A 
bloater.  [A  master  supplies :  From 
stinker — st  wanker — wanker.  ] 

Wanky.  Spuriou',  bad,  wrong:  e.g.  a 
wanhi  tanner,  a  snide  (q.v.)  sixpence. 

Want.     See  Know. 

Wa'n't.  Was  not :  also  wamt(  1699). 

Wantage.    A  deficiency,  a  shortage. 

Wanted.  Wanted  by  the  police 
(Orose). 

Wanter.  1.  A  person  in  need  of 
anything :  cf.  Haves  and  Have-nots. 
Also  2.  spec.,  an  unmarried  person 
one  in  want  of  a  mate  (1611). 

Want-grace.  1.  A  reprobate  (1603). 
2.  See  Whop. 

Wapper.     See  Whopper. 

Wapper-eyed.  That  has  sore  or 
running  eyes  (B.  E.). 

Waps.     A  wasp. 

War.  Tug  of  war,  a  severe  and 
laborious  contest  (1671).  See  Before 
the  war. 

Wardrobe.     A  privy  (1383). 

Warehouse.  To  pawn.  Hence  as 
subs.,  a  fashionable  uncle  (q.v.). 

War-hat.      See  War-pot. 

War-horse.  A  veteran  :  soldier  or 
politician. 

W  a  r  1  i  n  g.  Apparently  slave, 
drudge  :  only  occurring  in  proverbial 
saying,  It  is  better  to  be  an  old  man's 
derling,  than  an  old  man's  werling 
(Heywood,  1542). 

Warm.  Generic  for  exfra-ordinary : 
e.g.  a  warm  (intimate)  friend ;  warm 
(sincere)  thanks ;  a  warm  (hearty) 
wdcome  ;  a  warm  (fresh)  traU  :  cf.  hot, 
warm,  and  cold  in  children's  play  of 
guessing  or  hide-and-seek ;  warm 
(easy)  circumstances :  whence  to  cut 
up  warm,  to  leave  a  good  estate,  to  die 
rich  ;  a  warm  (rich)  man :  well-lined 
or  flush  in  the  pocket  (B.  E.) ;  warm 
(in  one's  position,  duty,  etc. ),  at  home, 
conversant  with,  well  adapted  to : 
hence  to  keep  a  place,  etc.,  warm,  to 
occupy  it ;  a  warm  (unpleasant) 
position  :  e.g.  He's  in  a  warm  corner  ; 
a  warm  (zealous)  opinion ;  a  warm 
(brisk)  engagement ;  a  warm  (en- 
thusiastic) partisan ;  warm  (quick) 
work ;  a  warm  (hasty)  temper :  espec. 
when  contradicted ;  warm  (wanton) 
desire ;  a  warm  (lecherous)  member 
(or  warm-'un) :  a  harlot  or  whore- 
monger :  cf.  Hot-'un,  Scorcher  (q.v.) ; 
also  (2)  warm-member,  an  energetic, 


pushful,  self  -  advertising  person  ; 
warm  (strong)  language ;  a  warm 
(hostile)  reception ;  hence  the  place 
gets  too  warm  (unpleasant)  because 
of  unpopularity  or  antagonism  to 
authority,  and  so  forth  (1377). 
Phrases :  To  warm  a  house,  to  cele- 
brate incoming  by  a  feast :  hence 
house-warming;  to  warm  to  (a  thing, 
one's  work,  etc.),  to  become  enthusi- 
astic, to  do  vigorously  ;  warm  with, 
warm  with  sugar :  cf.  Cold  without ; 
Out  of  God's  blessing  into  the  warm 
sun,  from  better  to  worse.  Also  see 
Warming  (1581). 

Warming.  A  beating,  flogging, 
thrashing.  Hence  to  warm  (or  warm 
one's  jacket,  q.v.),  (1)  to  beat,  drub, 
tan  (q.v.) ;  and  (2)  to  rate,  abuse 
roundly,  call  over  the  coals.  To  warm 
the  wax  of  one's  ears,  to  box  the  ears. 

Warming-pan.  1.  A  substitute  ; 
a  locum  tenens ;  a  person  occupying 
another's  office,  situation,  or  post 
during  absence  or  while  qualifying  for 
it ;  also  W.  P.  :  spec,  a  clergyman 
holding  a  living  under  a  bond  of 
resignation;  also  as  adj.,  e.g.  a  warm- 
ing-pan rector :  see  Warm.  2.  A  large, 
old-fashioned  gold  watch :  cf.  Frying- 
pan  (q.v.)  or  Turnip  (q.v.),  a  large 
silver  watch  (B.  E.).  3.  A  female  bed- 
fellow ;  also  Scotch  warming-pan,  a 
chambermaid  (1672). 

Warm-sided.  Said  of  a  fort  or 
ship  mounting  heavy  batteries. 

War-paint.  Official  costume, 
evening-dress,  or  (theatrical)  make- 
up (q.v.). 

Warpath.  On  the  warpath,  in 
hostile  mood  or  attitude,  making  fur 
and  feathers  fly,  angry. 

War-pot  (or  War-hat).  A  spiked 
helmet. 

Warren.  He  that  is  security  for 
goods  taken  up  on  credit  by  extra- 
vagant young  gentlemen  (B.  E.). 

Warwickshire  Lads  (The).  The 
Royal  Warwickshire  Regiment,  late 
the  6th  Foot. 

Wash.  1.  A  fictitious  bargain  or 
sale :  a  broker  gets  instructions  from 
one  client  to  buy,  and  from  another 
to  sell,  a  particular  stock ;  instead 
of  making  separate  transactions  of 
the  two  commissions  to  the  best 
advantage  of  each  principal,  he  merely 
transfers  from  one  to  the  other,  putting 
the  difference  in  his  own  pocket :  the 
practice  is  against  the  rules ;  hence 


514 


Washical. 


Water. 


washed,  as  applied  to  stock  sold  or 
bought  in  this  way  ;  also  a  bogus  deal 
made  for  the  sake  of  a  fictitious 
quotation  :  one  broker  arranges  with 
another  to  buy  a  certain  stock  when 
he  offers  it  for  sale,  the  effect,  when 
not  detected,  being  to  keep  it  quoted, 
and,  if  the  plotters  buy  and  sell  the 
stock  to  a  high  figure,  to  afford  a 
basis  for  bona  fide  sales.  2.  Paint 
for  faces  (B.  E.).  3.  Very  weak  lap 
(q.v.)  spec.  (Durham  School),  school 
tea  or  coffee  :  see  Rock.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  bear  investigation,  stand  testing, 
prove  genuine,  reliable,  or  trustworthy, 
as  good  fabrics  and  fast  dyes  stand 
the  operation  of  washing  (1857).  (2) 
To  signify  doubt  of  an  assertion,  or 
disapproval  of  conduct  by  language 
or  action  more  forcible  than  pleasant : 
e.g.  printers  bang  and  knock  on  the 
cases  ;  tailors  indulge  in  strong  lan- 
guage, etc.  See  Jerry  and  Whack  ! 
To  wash  one's  head,  to  insult,  to  put 
indignity  on  one  ;  hence  washing-blow, 
a  box  on  the  ears,  a  blow  on  the  head  ; 
and  to  give  one's  head  for  washing,  to 
submit  to  overbearing  insult.  To 
wash  (or  sluice)  the  ivories,  to  drink: 
Fr.,  se  rincer  la  dent ;  also  to  wash  one's 
neck  (1823).  To  wash  one's  sheep 
with  scalding  water,  to  do  the  absurd  : 
a  simile  of  folly  (Ray) ;  also  to  wash 
the  crow  (the  Ethiopian,  a  blackamore, 
etc.),  white. 

Washical.  What  -  d'  -  ye  -  call  -  it 
(q.v.)  (1551). 

Washing.  To  give  one's  head  for 
a  washing  :  see  Wash. 

Washman.  A  beggar  faked  out 
with  sores ;  '  a  washman  is  called  a 
Palliard  (q.v.),  but  not  of  the  right 
making.  He  vseth  to  lye  in  the  hye 
way  with  lame  or  sore  legs  or  armes  to 
beg.  These  men  ye  right  Palliards 
wil  often  times  spoile,  but  they  dare 
not  complayn.  They  be  bitten  with 
spickworts,  and  sometimes  with  rats 
bane  '  (Awdeley,  '  Frat.  Vacabondes,' 
1561). 

Wash-pot.  A  hat,  a  Moab  (q.v.) : 
see  Golgotha. 

Wasp.  As  quiet  as  a  wasp  in  one's 
nose,  very  much  alive. 

Waspish.     Peevish  (B.  E.). 

Waste-butt.  An  eating-house, 
grubbing-ken  (q.v.),  mungarly-casa 
(q.v.). 

Waster.  1.  A  prodigal,  a  spend- 
thrift ;  also  wastrel,  waste-good,  waste- 


thrift.  2.  A  generic  form  of  contempt, 
a  ne'er-do-well,  bad-egg  (q.v.),  rotter 
(q.v.),  a  useless,  clumsy,  or  ill-made 
person  (Hotten) ;  wastrel  (q.v.),  a 
neglected  child,  street-arab  (1383). 

3.  A  lawless  thieving  vagabond  (1342). 

4.  An  imperfection  in  the  wick  of  a 
candle,  causing  it  to  gutter  or  waste  : 
also  thief  (q.v.).     5.  A  cudgel:  spec, 
a   wooden   sword   used   for   practice 
(1593).     6.  A  damaged  manufactured 
article:  also  Wastrel  (1863).     7.    See 
Waister. 

Waste-time.  Idle,  useless,  or 
trivial  employment :  a  play  on  pastime 
(1662). 

Wat.  1.  A  hare:  cf.  Philip, 
sparrow ;  Tom,  cat ;  Ned,  donkey ;  etc. 
(1470).  2.  A  fellow,  a  wily  cautious 
man  (HaUiwell)  (1400). 

Watch.  1.  Self:  the  ancient 
equivalent  of  nibs  (q.v.).  Thus  his 
watch,  the  person  referred  to ;  my 
watch,  myself ;  your  watch,  yourself ; 
our  watch,  ourselves,  us,  etc.  (1530). 
2.  (Westminster).  A  junior  who  has 
to  remain  in  College  during  play- 
hours  to  answer  inquiries,  receive 
messages,  and  so  forth,  performing,  in 
fact,  the  duties  of  a  servant.  To 
watch  out  (Winchester,  cricket),  to 
field.  Paddy's  watch :  see  Paddy- 
whack. 

Watch-and-seals.  A  sheep's  head 
and  pluck. 

Watch-birth.     A  midwife  (1605). 

Watchmaker.  A  thief  whose 
speciality  is  stealing  watches :  also 
watchmaker  in  a  crowd  (Hotten). 

Water  (Westminter  School).  Boat- 
ing, aquatics,  the  Eton  wet-bobbing 
(q.v.).  As  verb,  (1)  to  drink:  see 
Lush  (1598);  (2)  to  increase  nominal 
capital  by  the  issue  of  shares  for 
which,  though  they  rank  for  interest, 
no  additional  increase  in  the  actual 
capital  has  been  provided  :  the  prac- 
tice, it  is  urged,  is  justified  by  profits 
already  earned,  or  by  a  supposed 
enhancement  of  the  value  of  the 
property,  franchises,  etc. ;  but  watering 
is  usually  only  resorted  to  by  com- 
panies on  the  down  grade  ;  hence  as 
subs.,  additional  shares  created  in 
this  way.  Canterbury  water,  the  blood 
of  Thomas  a  Becket  diluted  with 
water :  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
murdered  in  1 170,  canonised  as  a  saint 
and  martyr.  Phrases:  A bove  water,  un- 
embarrassed, untroubled,  in  (or  of) 


515 


Water-bewitched. 


Water -pusher . 


easy  circumstance*,  mind,  or  the  like  : 
whence  to  keep  one's  head  above  water, 
to  struggle  through  (or  overcome), 
financial  difficulties ;  between  wind 
and  water  (see  Wind) ;  in  deep  water, 
(I)  in  trial,  trouble,  distress ;  (2) 
impecunious,  reduced  in  circum- 
stances :  hence  deep  waters,  tribulation 
of  sort*  ;  of  the  first  water,  the  highest, 
Al  :  properly  of  a  diamond  free  from 
blemish,  flaw,  colour,  or  any  imper- 
fection ;  to  make  a  hole  in  the  water, 
to  fall  in  it :  spec,  to  commit  suicide 
by  drowning :  cf.  to  make  a  hole  in 
the  silence,  to  speak ;  oil  on  troubled 
waters,  anything  to  allay,  assuage  :  the 
practice  is  ancient,  being  known  to  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,  and  its  efficacy 
is  frequently  tested  by  modern  sea- 
men ;  to  be  in  hot  water,  to  be  in  trouble, 
difficulties,  or  disgrace  ;  to  show  water, 
to  bribe,  to  produce  a  fee  :  to  east  one's 
water  (see  verb) ;  to  east  water  into  the 
Thames,  to  do  the  unnecessary  or 
useless  (see  Thames) :  to  hold  water,  to 
prove  serviceable  or  adequate  ;  to  take 
water,  to  back  out  (or  down),  to 
weaken  (q.v.) :  as  a  boat  when  allowed 
to  fall  in  the  wake  of  another  in  a 
race ;  to  draw  water  with  a  sieve,  to 
act  absurdly  ;  to  throw  cold  water  on, 
to  discourage,  damp  one's  ardour, 
interest,  or  chances ;  water  in  one's 
shoes,  a  cause  of  annoyance  or  dis- 
comfort ;  to  water  one's  plants,  to  shed 
tears.  Also  proverbially  :  My  mouth 
waters,  a  simile  of  strong  appetite  or 
longing  desire  :  also  said  of  the  teeth  ; 
That's  where  the  water  sticks,  That's 
the  point  in  dispute  ;  All  water  runs  to 
his  mill,  Fortune  smiles  on  him, 
Everything  goes  his  way ;  No  safe 
wading  in  an  unknown  water ;  Often 
to  the  water,  often  to  the  tatter  ;  Foul 
water  will  quench  fire ;  Where  the 
water  is  shallow  no  vessel  will  ride ; 
Water  breeds  frogs  in  the  belly,  and 
wine  cures  the  worms  ;  I'll  make  him 
water  his  horse  at  Highgate  (i.e.  I'll 
sue  him  and  make  him  take  a  journey 
up  to  London) — (Ray) ;  The  malt's 
above  the  water,  He's  drunk  (see 
Screwed)  (1530). 

Water-bewitched.  Weak  lap  (q.v.) 
of  any  kind  :  spec,  (modern)  tea  very 
much  watered  down,  but  orig.  (1672) 
very  thin  beer :  also  water-damaged : 
cf.  Husband's-tea. 

Water-butt  (or  barrel).  The 
stomach  :  spec,  a  corporation  (q.v.). 


Water  -  can.  In  saying  Jupiter 
Pluvius  has  got  out  (or  put  on)  his 
water-can,  It  is  raining :  spec,  of  a 
heavy  shower. 

water-colour.  See  Wife  in  Water- 
colours. 

Water-doctor.     1.  A  hydropathist. 

2.  A  water-caster  (q.v.). 
Water-dog.     1.  A  sailor  :  spec,  an 

old  salt  (q.v.).    2.  Anyone  completely 
at  home  in,  or  on,  the  water  (1835). 

3.  A  Norfolk  dumpling. 
Water-drop.     A  tear ;   also   water- 
works,   the    eyes,    the    tear  -  pump : 
whence  to  turn  on  the  waterworks,  to 
cry  (1605). 

Waterfall.  1.  A  neckcloth,  scarf, 
or  tie  with  long  pendant  ends.  Also, 
2.  a  chignon  :  spec,  a  fringe  of  hair 
falling  down  the  neck  under  the 
chignon  (1824). 

Water-funk.  A  boy  shy  of  water : 
either  in  the  way  of  personal  cleanli- 
ness or  aquatics. 

Water-gunners  (The).  The  Royal 
Marines. 

Wateries  (The).  The  Naval  Ex- 
hibition at  South  Kensington :  cf. 
Fisheries,  Colinderies,  etc. 

Waterings.  St.  Thomas  b  Water- 
ings, a  place  of  execution  (for  Surrey, 
as  Tyburn  (q.v.),  for  Middlesex) 
situated  at  the  second  milestone  on  the 
road  from  London  to  Canterbury. 
Like  Beggar's-bush,  Weeping-cross, 
Clapham,  etc.,  the  place-name  was  the 
basis  of  many  a  quibbling  allusion 
and  much  conventional  wit.  [At  this 
point  is  a  brook,  probably  a  place  for 
watering  horses,  whence  its  name ; 
dedicated,  of  course,  to  St.  Thomas  a 
Becket,  being  the  first  place  of  any 
note  in  the  pilgrimage  to  his  shrine 
(1383). 

Water  -  language.  Jocose  abuse, 
chaff  (q.v.). 

Waterloo -day.  Pay-day:  cf. 
Balaclava-day. 

Waterman.  A  blue  silk  handker- 
chief :  cf.  Fogle.  [Botten  :  The  friends 
of  the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  boats' 
crews  always  wear  these— light  blue 
for  Cambridge,  and  a  darker  shade  for 
Oxford.]  Also  watersman. 

Waterologer.     See  Water. 

Water -pad  (or  rat).  A  thief 
working  on  the  water  :  spec,  one  that 
robs  ships  in  the  Thames  (B.  E.). 

Water-pusher  (or  treader). 
A  ship :  sail  or  steam  (1614). 


516 


Water-sneak. 


Weather-breeder. 


Water-sneak  (The).  Robbing 
ships  or  vessels  on  a  navigable  river  or 
canal,  by  getting  on  board  unperceived, 
generally  in  the  night.  The  water- 
sneak  is  lately  made  a  capital  offence 
(Grose). 

Waterworks.  See  Water- 
drop. 

Watlynge-strete.  The  Milky 
Way  (1373). 

Wattle.  In  pi.,  ears  ;  also  Sheep- 
folds  (£.  E.). 

Wave.  To  wave  a  flag  of  defiance, 
to  be  drunk :  see  Screwed.  To 
number  the  waves,  to  do  the  unneedful, 
act  foolishly  (1670). 

Wavy.  Wavy  in  the  syls,  imperfect 
in  one's  lines. 

Wavy  -  rule.  To  make  wavy  rule, 
to  be  staggering  drunk,  [w-w^vvw] 

Wax.  A  rage,  a  passion,  a  tear 
(q.v.);  also  waxiness,  vexation,  and 
waxy,  angry :  cf.  Lowland  Scotch 
wex,  vex  (1490).  As  verb,  to  over- 
come, surmount  a  difficulty,  get  the 
better  of :  by  stratagem  or  nous 
(q.v.).  A  lad  (or  man)  of  wax,  a 
smart  lad,  a  clever  man  (1595). 
Close  as  wax,  as  miserly,  niggardly,  or 
secretive  as  may  be.  Neat  as  wax  :  see 
Neat. 

Waxed.  Well-known:  e.g.  So- 
and-so  has  been  well  waxed,  i.e.  We 
know  all  about  him. 

Way.  Health,  condition,  state, 
calling ;  e.g.  in  a  bad  way,  shaky  in 
health,  pocket,  or  manner ;  only  his 
way,  characteristic :  cf.  pretty  Fanny's 
way.  Also  in  phrases  :  To  look  both 
(or  nine)  ways  for  Sundays,  to  squint ; 
There  are  no  two  ways  about  it,  the 
fact  is  as  stated,  there's  no  mistake  ; 
out  of  the  way.  a  thief  who  knows  that 
he  is  sought  after  by  the  traps  on  some 
information  and  consequently  goes 
out  of  town,  or  otherwise  conceals 
himself,  is  said  by  his  pals  to  be  out 
of  the  way  for  so  and  so,  naming  the 
particular  offence  he  stands  charged 
with;  to  note  the  way  the  cat  jumps, 
to  watch  the  course  of  events ;  to  go  the 
way  of  nature  (or  all  flesh),  (1)  to  be 
fond  of  belly  cheer,  and  (2)  to  die  :  see 
Hop  the  twig  ;  to  know  one's  way 
about,  to  be  well  informed,  experi- 
enced :  see  Know ;  way  to  St.  James' 
(or  Walsingham  way),  the  Milky  Way 
(1670);  the  longest  way  round  is  the 
shortest  way  there,  a  warning  to  the 
unwary  or  ignorant  that  short  cuts  are 


proverbial    pitfalls :     cf.     Better    go 
about  than  fall  into  the  ditch. 

Way -bit  (Weabit,  or  Webit). 
A  considerable  though  indefinite 
addition  to  a  mile  ;  a  bittock  (q.v.) 
(1611). 

Way  -  goose.  An  entertainment 
given  by  an  apprentice  to  his  fellow- 
workmen  :  spec,  (printers')  an  annual 
dinner  ;  cf.  beanfeast  (q.v.).  [A  cor- 
ruption of  wayz-goose,  stubble  goose, 
a  favourite  dish  at  such  festivals :  now- 
adays, among  printers,  the  funds 
are  collected  by  stewards  appointed 
by  the  chapel  (q.v.)]  (1677). 

Weak-brother  (or  sister). 
An  unreliable  man  (or  woman).  Cf. 
also  (colloquial)  weakling  (a  diminu- 
tive), which,  as  adj.,  puny,  weak ; 
weak  •  kneed,  uncertain,  vacillating, 
purposeless  (1595). 

Weaker  -  sex.  Womankind :  also 
(in  singular)  the  weaker  vessel  [See 
1  Peter  iii.  7]  (1600). 

Weanie.     See  Weenie. 

Wear.  To  wear  it  upon  a  person 
(meaning  to  wear  a  nose  or  a  conk)  is 
synonymous  with  nosing,  conking, 
splitting,  or  coming  it,  and  is  merely 
one  of  those  fanciful  variations  so 
much  admired  by  flash  people  (Grose). 
Phrases:  To  wear  the  heart  upon  the 
sleeve  (see  Sleeve) ;  to  wear  the  breeches 
(see  Breeches) ;  to  wear  the  willow 
(see  Willow) ;  to  wear  yellow  stockings 
or  hose  (see  Yellow) ;  to  wear  the 
collar,  to  be  subject  to  control,  or 
under  the  direction  of  another  (chiefly 
political) ;  to  wear  the  bands  (see  Band). 
to  wear  ill  (or  wett),  to  look  older  (or 
younger)  than  one's  years.  Also 
proverbial,  Let  every  cuckold  wear 
his  own  horns ;  to  wear  Pannier-alley 
on  one's  back  (see  Pannier-man). 

Weary.     Drunk:   see  Screwed. 

Weasel.  A  mean,  greedy,  or 
sneaking  fellow.  Also  as  adj.  (1599). 
See  Whistle. 

Weather.  Phrases:  To  make  fair 
weather,  to  flatter,  coax,  conciliate, 
make  the  best  of  things ;  to  keep  the 
weather  eye  open,  to  be  on  one's  guard, 
alert,  watchful :  see  Keep  one's  eyes 
skinned ;  under  the  weather,  seedy, 
ill,  indisposed ;  the  clerk  of  the  weather, 
the  imaginary  controller  of  tempera- 
ture, rainfall,  etc. 

Weather  -  breeder.  A  hot  day 
which  often  precedes  and  prepares  a 
storm. 


517 


Weathercock. 


Weathercock.  A  fickle,  inconstant 
vacillating  person  (1590). 

Weatherdog.  A  rainbow,  frag- 
mentary and  only  partly  visible :  re- 
garded as  a  presage  instead  of  a  con- 
comitant of  rain. 

Weathergage.  Advantage,  the 
upper  hand  :  cf.  Windward.  Whence 
to  get  the  weathergage,  to  command, 
control,  have  the  best  of  (1813). 

Weather  -  headed.  See  Wether- 
headed. 

Weather-scupper.  It  is  an  old  joke 
at  sea  to  advise  a  greenhorn  to  get  a 
handspike  and  hold  it  down  hard  in 
the  weather-scuppers  to  steady  the 
ship's  wild  motions  (Clark  Russell). 

Weather-spy.  A  weather-prophet : 
spec,  an  astrologer  (1631). 

Weave.  1.  When  a  knowing 
blade  is  asked  what  he  has  been  doing 
lately,  and  does  not  choose  to  tell, 
he  replies,  Weaving  leather  aprons 
(Hotten) :  from  the  reports  of  a  cele- 
brated trial  for  gold  robbery  on  the 
South  -  Western  Railway  ;  similar 
replies  are,  Making  a  trundle  for  a 
goose's  eye,  or  a  whim  -  wham  to 
bridle  a  goose ;  sometimes  a  man 
will  describe  himself  as  a  doll's-eye 
weaver.  As  verb,  to  roll  the  neck 
and  body  from  side  to  side  :  of  horses  ; 
also  (American),  to  walk  unsteadily, 
to  make  snakes  (q.v.) :  as  a  shuttle  in 
a  loom  :  spec,  of  drunken  men  :  usually 
with  along,  about,  etc. 

Weaving.  A  card-sharping  trick  : 
cards  are  kept  on  the  knee,  or  between 
the  knee  and  the  under  side  of  the 
table,  and  used  when  required  by 
changing  them  for  cards  held  in  the 
hand  (Hotten). 

Web-foot  State.     Oregon. 

Wedding.  Cesspool  emptying : 
because  always  done  in  the  night 
(Grose). 

Wedge.  1.  Generic  for  money :  spec, 
silver,  money  or  plate :  see  Rhino 
(1785);  hence  wedge-feeder,  a  silver- 
spoon  ;  wedge-lobb,  a  silver  snuff-box  ; 
wedge-yack,  a  silver  watch ;  wedge- 
hunter,  a  thief,  spec,  one  devoting 
attention  to  silver  plate,  watches,  etc.  ; 
to  flash  the  wedge,  to  fence  (q.v.)  the 
swag  (q.v)  (1832).  2.  (Cambridge 
University).  The  last  in  the  classical 
tripos  (q.v.)  list :  also  wooden  wedge  : 
in  1824,  on  the  publication  of  the 
first  list,  the  position  was  occupied 
by  a  T.  H.  Wedgewood.  To  knock 


out  the  wedges,  to  desert,  leave  in  the 
lurch  (q.v.),  abandon  one  in  a  diffi- 
culty. The  thin  (or  a  mall)  end  of 
the  wedge,  a  first  move  (or  a  begin- 
ning), seemingly  trivial,  but  calcu- 
lated to  lead  to  important  results,  a 
finger  in  the  pie,  a  manoeuvre,  shift, 
artifice. 

Wedlock.     A  wife  (1601). 

Wee.  Small,  little,  tiny :  also 
weeny  (which  also  see)  (1596). 

Weed.  1.  A  cigar,  a  New-town 
pippin  (q.v.) :  also  the  weed,  tobacco  : 
cf.  Cabbage  (1844).  2.  Generic  for 
sorryness  or  worthlessness :  spec,  a 
horse,  unfit  for  stock,  a  screw  (q.v.) : 
i.e.  (racing)  an  animal  lacking  the 
points  of  a  thorough-bred  ;  whence 
weedy,  adj.,  worthless,  unfit  for  stock 
purposes  (1859).  3.  In  pi.,  generic  for 
clothes  :  spec,  an  outer  garment :  now 
only  in  phrase  widow's  weeds,  mourn- 
ing; whence  weedy,  clad  in  mourning 
garments  ( 1320).  As  verb,  To  pilfer  or 
purloin  a  small  portion  from  a  large 
quantity  of  anything ;  often  done  by 
young  or  timid  depredators,  in  the 
hope  of  escaping  detection,  as,  an 
apprentice  or  shopman  will  weed  his 
master's  lob,  that  is,  take  small  sums 
out  of  the  till  when  opportunity 
offers,  which  sort  of  peculation  may 
be  carried  on  with  impunity  for  a 
length  of  time ;  but  experienced 
thieves  sometimes  think  it  good  judg- 
ment to  weed  a  place,  in  order  that 
it  may  be  good  again,  perhaps  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time,  as  in  the 
instance  of  a  warehouse,  or  other  depot, 
for  goods,  to  which  they  may  possess 
the  means  of  access  by  means  of  a 
false  key  :  in  this  case,  by  taking  too 
great  a  swag  at  first,  the  proprietors 
would  discover  the  deficiency,  and 
take  measures  to  prevent  future 
depredation.  To  weed  the  swag,  is  to 
embezzle  part  of  the  booty,  unknown 
to  your  pals,  before  a  division  takes 
place,  a  temptation  against  which 
very  few  of  the  family  are  proof,  if 
they  can  find  an  opportunity.  A 
flash-cove,  on  discovering  a  deficiency 
in  his  purse  or  property,  which  he 
cannot  account  for,  will  declare  that 
he  (or  it,  naming  the  article)  has  been 
wedded  to  the  ruffian  (Grose).  Hence 
weeding-dues :  in  speaking  of  any 
person,  place,  or  property  that  has 
been  weeded,  it  is  said  weeding  dues 
have  been  concerned. 


518 


Wee-jee. 


Welsh-ambassador. 


Wee-jee.  1.  A  chimney  -  pot. 
Hence,  2.  a  hat :  see  Golgotha.  3. 
Anything  superlatively  good  of  its 
kind  :  spec,  a  clever .  invention  :  e.g. 
That's  a  regular  wee-jee. 

Week.  Phrases,  etc. :  A  week  of 
Sundays,  an .3  indefinite  time:  spec, 
seven  Sundays,  hence  seven  weeks  : 
also  month  of  Sundays  ;  the  inside  of  a 
week,  from  Monday  till  Saturday ; 
a  parson's  week,  from  Saturday  to 
Monday ;  to  knock  one  into  the  middle 
of  next  week,  to  punish  severely, 
knock  out  of  time,  do  for  (q.v.); 
an  attack  of  the  week's  (or  month's) 
end,  impecuniosity,  hard-uppishness ; 
when  two  Sundays  come  in  a  week, 
never:  a  left-handed  assent  (1800). 

Weekender.     A  week-end  holiday. 

Weenie.  A  warning  that  an  in- 
spector is  coming. 

Weeper.  A  conventional  badge 
of  mourning :  e.g.  a  white  border  of 
linen  or  muslin  worn  at  the  end  of  a 
sleeve,  a  long  crape  hatband  as  worn 
by  men  at  a  funeral,  or  the  long  veil 
of  widow's-weeds  (q.v.)  (1759).  To 
weep  Irish,  to  lament  prodigally,  to 
wail :  spec,  without  sincerity,  to  shed 
crocodile's  tears  (1650). 

Weeping  -  cross.  To  return  by 
Weeping-cross,  (1)  to  fail,  suffer 
defeat,  meet  with  repulse  ;  hence  (2) 
to  repent,  to  lament :  cf.  Lothbury. 
[Nares  :  Of  the  three  places  now  re- 
taining the  name,  one  is  between 
Oxford  and  Banbury ;  another  very 
near  Stafford,  where  the  road  turns  off 
to  Walsall ;  the  third  being  Shrews- 
bury :  these  crosses  being,  doubtless, 
places  where  penitents  particularly 
offered  their  devotions  ]  (1580). 

Wegotism.  The  incessant  use  of 
we  in  journalism  :  cf.  Weism. 

Weight.  1.  The  end  of  one's 
tether :  it  is  often  customary  with 
the  traps  (q.v.)  to  wink  at  depreda- 
tions of  a  petty  nature,  and  for  which 
no  reward  would  attach,  and  to  let 
a  thief  go  unmolested  till  he  commits 
a  capital  crime ;  they  then  grab  him 
and  share  a  reward  of  £40,  or  up- 
wards :  therefore  those  gentry  will 
say,  Let  him  alone  .  .  .  till  he  weighs 
his  weight  (Grose).  2.  Lust,  wanton- 
ness, heat  (q.v.)  (1772). 

W e i r  d  S i  s t e r  s.  (The).  The 
Fates  :  also  Three  Weird  Sisters  (1512). 

Weism.  The  excessive  use  of  we  in 
journalism:  cf.  Wegotisia. 


Well.  An  elh'ptical  use  of  well 
is  peculiar  to  American  speech, 
especially  at J  the  beginning  of  sen- 
tences, as  .  a  ,  mere  expletive  or  in 
answer  to  questions.  [Lowell,  '  Big- 
low  Papers,'  Int. :  Put  before  such  a 
phrase  as  How  d'e  do  ?  it  is  commonly 
short,  and  has  the  sound  of  wul ;  but, 
in  reply,  it  is  deliberative,  and  the 
various  shades  of  meaning  which  can 
be  conveyed  by  difference  of  intona- 
tion, and  by  prolonging  or  abbrevi- 
ating, I  should  vainly  attempt  to 
describe.  I  have  heard  ooa  -  ahl, 
wahl,  ahl,  wcil,  and  something 
nearly  approaching  the  sound  of  le 
in  able.  Sometimes  before  I  it 
dwindles  to  a  mere  I ;  as,  '  1,  /  dunno.' 
A  friend  told  me  that  he  once  heard 
five  wells,  like  pioneers,  precede  the 
answer  to  an  inquiry  about  the  price 
of  land.  The  first  was  the  ordinary 
wul,  in  deference  to  custom ;  the 
second,  the  long,  perpending  ooahl, 
with  a  falling  inflection  of  the  voice  ; 
the  third,  the  same,  but  with  the 
voice  rising,  as  if  in  despair  of  a 
conclusion,  into  a  plaintive,  nasal 
whine  ;  the  fourth,  wulh,  ending  in 
the  aspirate  of  a  sigh ;  and  then, 
fifth,  came  a  short,  sharp  wal,  show- 
ing that  a  conclusion  had  been 
reached.]  To  dig  a  wett  at  a  river, 
to  act  the  fool,  do  the  unnecessary 
(Ray).  To  put  one  in  a  well  (in  the 
garden,  or  in  a  hole),  (I)  to  defraud 
an  accomplice  of  his  share  of  booty  : 
also  to  well  one  (1785) ;  (2)  to  incon- 
venience, nonplus,  or  get  the  better 
of. 

W  e  1 1  -  i  n.  Well-off,  well-to-do, 
wealthy. 

Wellington.  In  pi.,  (1)  long- 
legged  boots  largely  worn  in  the 
early  part  of  the  last  century :  they 
came  well  up  the  leg,  high  enough  in 
front  to  cover  the  knee  and  to  the 
bend  of  the  knee  behind.  Also  (2) 
shorter  boots  of  similar  pattern 
covering  the  calf  of  the  leg,  and  worn 
(usually)  under  the  trousers :  cf. 
Blucher,  Albert,  Gladstone,  etc.  [A 
favourite  campaigning  foot-gear  of  the 
Duke  of  Wellington.] 

Welsh.  To  cheat :  spec,  to  run 
away  without  settling.  Hence  wel- 
sher,  an  absconding  bookmaker,  a 
common  cheat :  also  welcher  (1869). 

Welsh-ambassador.  The  cuckoo 
(1608). 


519 


Welsh-cricket. 


W.F.'s. 


Welsh-cricket  (1)  A  louse:  and 
(2),  a  tailor :  cf.  Prick-louse  (1592). 

Welsh-fiddle.  The  itch  (B.  E.): 
cf.  Scotch-fiddle. 

Welshman  's-hose.  To  turn  a 
thing  to  a  Welshman' s-hose,  to  suit  to 
one's  purpose  (1529). 

Welsh-rabbit  A  dish  of  toasted 
cheese.  [Smyth- Palmer :  One  of  a 
numerous  class  of  slang  expressions — 
the  mock-heroic  of  the  eating-house — 
in  which  some  common  dish  or  pro- 
duct for  which  any  place  or  people  has 
a  special  reputation  is  called  by  the 
name  of  some  more  dainty  article  of 
food  which  it  is  supposed  humorously 
to  supersede  or  equal.]  Cf.  German- 
duck,  Cobbler's  -  lobster,  Norfolk- 
capon,  Billingsgate  -  pheasant,  and 
many  others  (Grose)  (1772). 

Welsh-wig.     A  worsted  cap. 

Welsh-parsley.  Hemp :  hence  a 
hangman's  rope. 

Welt  To  beat  severely.  Hence 
welter,  a  stinging  blow ;  and  welting, 
a  sound  thrashing. 

Wench.  Orig.  a  child  of  either 
sex ;  subsequently  a  young  woman 
without  any  idea  of  bold  familiarity 
or  wantonness  long  afterwards  and 
still  frequently  associated  with  the 
term.  Wench,  a  wanton,  mistress,  or 
harlot  early  came  into  vogue :  nowa- 
days a  working  girl  or  woman  of 
humble  station  in  life  is  usually  im- 
plied, while  in  America  the  word 
(save  in  vulgar  use)  is  confined  to 
coloured  women,  especially  those  in 
service  (1280). 

West-central.  A  water-closet :  i.c. 
W.C. 

Westminster-wedding.  A  whore 
and  a  rogue  married  together  ( B.  E. ). 

Westphalia.  The  backside,  the 
bum  (q.v.):  an  allusion  to  West- 
phalia hams. 

West-pointer.  A  student,  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  U.S.  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point. 

Westralia.  Western  Australia. 
[Morris  :  The  word  was  coined  to  meet 
the  necessities  of  the  submarine  cable 
regulations,  which  confine  messages 
to  words  containing  not  more  than  ten 
letters.] 

Westy-head.  Dizzy,  giddy  (Hall, 
'Satires'). 

Wet  Generic  for  drink,  booze 
(q.v.) :  spec,  drink  demanded  or 
expected  of  any  one  wearing  new 


clothes  (Grose).  Whence  to  wet  a  coat 
(bargain,  deal,  etc.),  to  treat  (q.v.), 
to  ratify  by  drinking  success.  As 
verb,  to  drink,  lush  (q.v.) :  also  to 
wet  one's  whistle  (clay,  swallow,  the 
red  lane,  etc.):  Fr.,  se  mouilltr:  see 
Whistle  and  Whistle-drunk;  to  wet 
the  other  eye,  to  take  one  drink  after 
another.  As  adj.,  (or  wet-handed) 
(1)  addicted  to  drinking,  (2)  drunk: 
see  Screwed ;  and  (3)  (American),  anti- 
prohibition  ;  e.g.  a  wet-town,  a  town 
opposed  to  prohibition  in  the  sale  of 
intoxicants :  cf.  dry :  whence  a  wet, 
one  opposed  to  prohibition.  Also 
heavy-wet,  porter ;  twopenny-wet  (see 
Twopenny) ;  a  wet-hand  (wetter,  or 
wet-'un),  a  toper :  see  Lushington ; 
wet-bargain  (see  Bargain) ;  wet-night, 
an  evening  carousal ;  wet-goods,  drink  : 
cf.  dry -goods;  wet  -  Quaker,  (I)  a 
secret  drinker,  and  spec.  (2)  a  drunkard 
of  that  sect  (B.  E.);  to  wet  the  sickle, 
to  drink  out  earnest-money  at  harvest- 
time  ;  wetting  the  block,  a  custom  among 
shoemakers  on  the  first  Monday  in 
March,  when  they  cease  from  working 
by  candlelight,  and  have  a  supper 
so  called  (HaUiwdl). 

Wet-blanket     See  Blanket 

Wet  Boat  A  boat  that  is  crank 
and  ships  water  readily  ( 1859). 

Wet-bob.     See  Bob. 

Wet-finger.  With  a  wet  finger, 
easily,  readily :  as  easy  as  turning 
over  the  leaf  of  a  book,  or  rubbing 
out  writing  on  a  slate  (1561).  Also 
in  proverbial  wheeze  (amongst  chil- 
dren), See  my  finger  wet  (licking  the 
finger),  see  my  finger  dry  (wiping  it 
dry),  I'll  cut  my  throat  (drawing 
finger  across  throat)  before  I  tell  a  lie 
(a  strong  assurance  of  veracity). 

Wet-goose.     A  poor  simple  fellow. 

Wetherall.  General  WetheralTs 
in  command,  used  when  a  parade 
is  abandoned  through  inclement 
weather. 

W  e  t  h  e  r-headed.  Silly,  super- 
stitious, a  bit  off:  also  Weather  - 
headed.  As  subs.,  a  dolt,  simpleton, 
fool :  cf.  Mutton-head  (1695). 

Wet-nursed.  Coddled,  shep- 
herded (q.v.),  backed  (q.v.):  see 
Nurse. 

Wet-un.  1.  A  diseased  beast:  cf. 
Staggering-bob.  2.  See  Wet 

We-uns.  We,  us  :  i.e.  we  ones : 
cf.  You-uns. 

W.F.  's.     Wild  cattle. 


520 


Whack. 


Wheaton. 


Whack  (or  Wack).  1.  A  heavy, 
smart,  sounding  blow :  as  verb,  to 
beat,  thwack ;  also  a  heavy  fall,  and 
as  verb,  to  fall  (1837).  2.  A  share; 
piece  ;  spec,  an  equal  portion  (Grose) : 
also  whacking  ;  as  verb  (or  go  whacks), 
(1)  to  divide,  to  share:  and  (2)  to 
settle,  pay  up :  e.g.  Whack  the  blunt, 
share  the  money ;  Give  me  my  whack, 
Hand  me  my  due.  Also  to  whack 
up.  3.  An  attempt,  a  trial,  a  stroke. 
4.  Appetite,  twist  (q.v.).  Whack! 
An  emphatic  expression  of  doubt ; 
a  polite  way  of  giving  the  lie 
direct. 

Whacker.  Anything  very  large 
a  big  thing,  a  whopper  (q.v.) ;  whence : 
whacking,  very  large. 

Whacky.  A  term  applied  to  any- 
one doing  anything  ridiculous  or 
fooling  about  (q.v.). 

Whale  (Cheltenham  College).  1. 
Codfish.  2.  (Royal  Military  Aca- 
demy). A  sardine.  3.  In  pi.,  an- 
chovies on  toast.  As  verb,  (1)  to 
beat,  thrash,  lash  vigorously ;  hence 
whaling,  a  trouncing,  walloping  (q.v.) 
(1847).  (2)  To  talk  vehemently, 
harangue,  spout  (q.v.):  also  to  whale 
away.  To  fish  for  herring  and  catch 
a  whale  (or  sprat),  (1)  to  get  a  result 
other  than  that  expected  ;  hence  (2) 
to  catch  a  tartar  (q.v.),  fail  miserably. 
It's  very  like  a  whale,  Ironical  assent 
to  a  preposterous  assertion  (1596). 
To  go  ahead  like  a  whale,  to  forge  ahead, 
to  act,  speak,  or  write  vigorously. 
See  Tub,  and  Whaler. 

Whalebone.  As  white  as  whale- 
bone, a  common  simile  for  whiteness. 
[Halliwell :  Some  writers  imagined 
ivory,  formerly  made  from  the  teeth 
of  the  walrus,  to  be  formed  from  the 
bones  of  the  whale]  (1430). 

Whaler.  1.  Anything  extra- 
ordinary of  its  kind,  also  whale  (q.v.) 
a  regular  whale  :  see  Whopper.  Hence 
whaling,  overwhelming.  2.  A  sun- 
downer (q.v.) :  i.e.  one  who  cruises 
about. 

Whang.  1.  A  blow,  a  whack  ;  a 
beating,  a  banging :  as  verb,  to  flog, 
thrash  ;  also,  2.  a  banging  noise,  and 
as  verb,  to  clatter,  throw  with  violence. 
3.  A  slice,  chunk,  dollop  (q.v.);  also 
as  verb,  to  cut  in  large  strips,  slices, 
or  chunks  (1678).  4.  Formerly,  in 
Maine  and  some  other  parts  of  New 
England,  a  house-cleaning  party :  a 
gathering  of  neighbours  to  aid  one 


of  their  number  in  cleaning  a  house 
(Century).  See  Whanger. 

Whangby.  Very  hard  cheese 
made  of  old  or  skimmed  milk  (Hatti- 
well). 

Whangam  (Whangdoodle,  etc.). 
An  imaginary  animal:  its  precise 
nature,  form,  and  attributes  are 
seemingly  left  to  individual  fancy 
(1759). 

Whanger  (or  Whang).  Any- 
thing big  or  unusual  of  its  kind.  As 
adj.  (or  whanging),  large,  strapping. 

Whap.     See  Whop. 

Wharf  -  rat.  A  thief  prowling 
about  wharves  ;  cf.  Water-rat. 

Wharl.  To  be  unable  to  pronounce 
the  letter  B.  Also  as  subs. 

What.  1.  That  or  that  which: 
still  a  vulgarism  :  e.g.  I  had  a  donkey 
what  wouldn't  go  (1570).  2.  How 
much  (1867).  As  indef.  pro.,  (a)  A 
something,  anything :  e.g.  I'll  tell 
you  what  (it  is) ;  also  a  bit,  portion,  a 
thing :  e.g.  It's  a  whangam  (q.v.) ; 
It's  what  ?  (1373).  What's-his-name, 
( 1 )  a  locution  in  speaking  of  what  one 
has  either  forgotten,  thinks  so  trivial, 
or  does  not  wish  to  mention ;  also 
What  -  d'ye  -  call  -  it,  What  -  d'ye  -  caU  • 
'em,  Lord  knows  what,  Washical,  etc. 
cf.  Thingumy  (1600).  What  not, 
elliptical  for  What  may  I  not  say  ; 
also  as  subs.,  no  matter  what,  what 
you  please,  et  cetera  (1592).  To  give 
what  for,  to  reprimand,  call  over  the 
coals,  castigate,  punish  (q.v.).  The  Lord 
knows  what,  (1)  heaps,  plenty  more, 
all  sorts  of  things.  (2)  See  What's-his- 
name.  What  ho  1  A  summons  or 
call :  once  the  recognised  formula : 
long  disused  save  in  melodrama  and 
burlesque,  but  latterly  recrudescent 
in  vulgar  salutation  and  expletive 

( 1598).  What  price ?  How's  that  ? 

What  do  you  think  ?  How  much  ? 
What  odds  ?  What  (Who,  When, 
Where,  or  How)  the  Devil,  an  expletive 
of  wonder,  vexation,  etc.  (1360). 

Whatabouts.  A  matter  in  hand, 
something  under  consideration. 

Whatlike.     Of  what  kind. 

What  -  nosed.  Drunk,  hot-nosed 
from  drinking  :  see  Screwed. 

Whatsomever  Whatsoever :  also 
whatsomdever  (1300). 

Whay-worm  (or  Whey  -  worm), 
A  whim,  crotchet,  maggot  (q.v.). 

Wheat.     See  Clean  wheat. 

Wheaton.     To  wheaton  it,  to  play 


521 


Wheedle. 


Wftnr. 


sick.  [Bartlett :  The  term  i»  derived 
from  the  name  of  old  Dr.  Wheaton 
U.S.A.,  long^stationed  at^West  Point 
College]. 

Wheedle.  To  coax,  cajole,  fawn 
on,  take  in  (q.v.).  As  subs.,  (1) 
cajolery,  a  hoax ;  (2)  a  flatterer, 
cajoler ;  and  (3)  a  sharper  (q.v.) : 
wheedler,  wheedlesome,  wheedling,  and 
other  derivatives  follow  as  a  matter  of 
course  (1664). 

Wheel.  ;1.  A  five-shilling  piece; 
5s.  :  see  Cart-wheel  (Grose) ;  also 
(Tufts),  a  dollar.  2.  A  bicycle,  or 
tricycle ;  as  verb,  to  ride  a  bicycle  or 
tricycle  ;  hence  wheelman  (or  woman), 
a  cyclist :  also  knight  of  the  wheel ; 
wheeling,  cycling :  also  the  wheeling 
world  (generic  for  cycledom).  To 
break  a  fly  (or  butterfly)  on  a  wheel,  to 
punish  unduly,  without  regard  to  the 
gravity  of  the  crime,  or  the  standing  of 
the  offender ;  whence  to  use  means 
altogether  out  of  proportion  to  the 
end  in  view ;  to  crack  a  nut  with  a 
Nasmyth  hammer  (1734).  To  grease 
the  wheels,  to  furnish  money  for  a 
specific  object :  see  Grease  (1809).  To 
go  (or  run)  on  wheels,  (1)  to  do  with 
ease,  expedition,  without  exertion ; 
(2)  said  of  one  suffering  from  the  after- 
effects of  drunkenness  (1772).  To 
put  one's  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  to  put 
one's  heart  into  a  matter,  to  buckle 
to,  to  do  with  spirit,  resolution, 
or  courage.  Wheels  within  wheels, 
complication,  intricacies,  something 
other  than  that  which  is  apparent 
at  first  sight  (1730).  To  steer  a  trick 
at  the  wheel :  see  Trick.  To  put  a 
spoke  in  one's  wheel  (or  cart),  to  do  an 
ill  turn :  occasionally  (by  an  un- 
warrantable inversion),  to  assist 
(1661).  Wheel  -  hand  in  the  nick, 
Regular  Drinking  over  the  left  Thumb 
(B.  E.). 

Wheelbarrow.  As  drunk  as  a 
wheelbarrow  (or  as  the  drum  of  a 
wheelbarrow),  very  drunk  indeed  :  see 
Screwed  (1675).  To  go  to  heaven  in 
a  wheelbarrow,  to  go  to  hell.  [In  the 
painted  glass  at  Fairford,  Gloucester- 
shire, the  devil  is  represented  as 
wheeling  off  a  scolding  wife  in  a 
barrow.l(1655). 

Wheeler.  A  horse  driven  in  shafts 
or  next  to  the  wheels :  cf.  Leader. 
Also  off-wheeler,  a  horse  driven  on 
the  right  -  hand  side,  i.e.  the  side 
on  which  a  postilion  never  rides ; 


near-wheeler,  the  horse  on  the  left- 
hand  side. 

Wheel-horse.  An  intimate  friend, 
one's  right-hand  man,  a  leading  man 
(Bartlett). 

Wheel-of-life.  The  treadmill,  the 
everlasting-staircase  (q.v.). 

Wheeze.  Generic  for  a  gag  (q.v.) 
of  any  description  :  e.g.  interpolated 
lines  (usually  comic)  in  a  play,  a  bit 
of  business  (q.v.),  a  sidesman's  patter 
(q.v.),  a  bon-mot,  joke,  and  so  forth  ; 
to  crack  a  wheeze,  to  originate  (or 
adapt)  a  smart  saying  at  a  psycho- 
logical moment.  As  verb,  to  say,  in- 
form, peach  (q.v.). 

Wheezy.  The  first  month  of  the 
French  Re  publican  year :  a  free  transla- 
tion of  VindJmiare. 

Whelk.  1.  A  blow  (also  whelker), 
fall,  blister,  mark,  or  stripe.  2.  A 
large  number,  a  quantity :  whence 
whelking,  very  large,  big,  numerous. 

Whelp.  1.  A  youth,  unlicked  cub 
(q.v.) ;  puppy  (q.v.) :  in  contempt ;  as 
verb,  to  be  brought  to  bed.  2.  A  ship 
of  some  kind  (1630). 

When.  Soy  when  I  That  is,  Say 
when  I  shall  stop :  the  dovetail  reply 
is  Bob! 

Where.    See  You. 

Wherefore.     See  Why. 

Wherewith  (or  Wherewithal). 
The  necessary,  requisites :  spec, 
money  (generic) :  see  Rhino  (1390). 

Wherret     See  Whirrit 

Wherry-go-nimble.  A  looseness 
of  the  bowels,  a  back-door  trot  (q.v.) : 
cf.  Jerry-go-nimble. 

Whetstone.  To  give  (deserve,  win, 
lie  for,  etc.)  the  whetstone,  to  give  (get, 
or  compete  for)  the  prize  for  lying :  a 
whetstone,  Le.  a  wit-sharpener,  re- 
garded as  a  satirical  premium  for 
what  nowadays  would  be  called  naked 
(or  monumental)  lying.  [Nares : 
There  were,  in  some  places,  jocular 
games,  in  which  the  prize  given  for  the 
greatest  lie  was  a  whetstone.  ]  [Halli- 
well :  The  liar  was  sometimes  publicly 
exhibited  with  the  whetstone  fastened 
to  him.  1  (1570). 

Whetstone-park.  '  A  Lane  betwixt 
Holborn  and  Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 
fam'd  for  a  Nest  of  Wenches,  now 
(B.  E.,  c.  1696)  de-park'd.'  Whence 
many  allusions  in  the  old  dramatists. 

Whetter.     See  Wet 

Whew.  Influen/A,  the  flue  (q.v.) : 
it  is  well  known  that  the  influenza  is 


GgS 


Wheyworm. 


Whip. 


not  an  exclusively  modern  complaint, 
but  I  am  not  sure  whether  a  curi- 
ous reference  to  it  by  Bower,  the  con- 
tinuator  of  Fordun's  chronicle,  has 
been  noted.  Writing  of  the  year  1420 
he  says  that  among  those  who  died  in 
Scotland  were  Sir  Henry  St.  Glair, 
Earl  of  Orkney,  Sir  James  Douglas  of 
Dalkeith,  Sir  William  de  Abernethy,  Sir 
William  de  St.  Clair,  Sir  William 
Cockburn,  and  many  others,  all  by 
that  infirmity  whereby  not  only  great 
men,  but  innumerable  quantity  of  the 
commonalty  perished,  which  was  vul- 
garly termed  le  Quhew.  Now  quh 
in  Scottish  texts  usually  represents 
the  sound  of  wh  (properly  aspirated) ; 
therefore  it  seems  that  in  the  fifteenth 
century,  the  influenza  was  known  as 
the  Whew,  just  as  it  is  known  in  the 
twentieth  century  as  the  Flue.  There 
seems  little  doubt  that  the  disease  was 
identical  with  that  with  which  we  are 
so  grievously  familiar  (Notes  and 
Queries). 

Wheyworm.     See  Whayworm. 

Whiblin.  1.  An  eunuch.  2.  A  sword 
(1653). 

Whid.  (1)  A  word  (1567):  in  pi., 
patter,  talk,  jocular  speech.  Also 
(2)  (Scotch),  a  lie,  fib  ;  (3)  (provincial), 
a  dispute  or  quarrel.  As  verb  (Scots), 
to  lie.  Also  to  cut  whids,  to  talk,  to 
speak ;  to  cut  bien  whids,  to  talk 
fairly,  softly,  kindly ;  to  cut  queer 
whids,  to  abuse,  swear,  bullyrag  (q.v.) ; 
also  whiddle,  to  talk,  tell,  or  discover 
(B.  E.  and  Grose) ;  spec,  to  reveal  secrets, 
or  give  the  game  away :  hence  whiddler, 
an  informer. 

Whiddle.     See  Whid  and  Oliver. 

Whiff.  1.  A  smell ;  as  verb,  to 
smell :  e.g.  How  it  whiffs.  2.  A  draught, 
a  drink,  a  go  (q.v.) :  as  verb,  to  drink  : 
also  whiffle  ( 1653). 

Whiffet.  Anything  or  anybody 
worthless  or  insignificant,  a  whipper- 
snapper  (q.v.). 

Whiffle.  1.  Generic  for  trifling : 
to  hesitate,  talk  idly,  prevaricate, 
waver ;  hence  whiffler,  a  trifler,  a 
fickle  or  unsteady  person ;  whifflery 
(whiffling,  or  whiffle-whaffle),  levity, 
nonsense;  whiffling,  uncertain  (1607). 
2.  To  drink. 

Whig.  1.  Orig.  (middle  17th 
century)  a  Presbyterian  zealot,  a 
conventicler :  in  contempt.  Whence, 
2.  the  Country  party  (the  successors  of 
the  Roundheads  of  the  Civil  War)  as 


opposed  to  the'^Court  party  or  Tories 
(q.v.),  of g- the  Restoration.  Both 
Whig  and'Tory  were  first  applied,  about 
1680,  in  contempt,  and  both  were 
ultimately  assumed  with  pride. 
The  Whigs  favoured  the  Revolution 
of  1688-89,  and  were  in  power  during 
a  large  portion  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  The  Whigs  may  be  regarded 
as  the  party  of  experimental  progress. 
The  curious  similarity  in  the  historical 
development  of  both  Whig  and  Tory  is 
further  accentuated  by  the  fact  that 
at  the  same  time  (Reform  Bill,  1832) 
as  the  term  Tory  began  to  be  super- 
seded by  Conservative,  so  likewise  the 
Whigs  began  to  be  called  Liberals. 
Also  Whigland,  Scotland  (B.  E.) ;  the 
Whig  College,  the  Reform  Club ; 
Whiggish,  and  the  usual  derivatives 
and  combinations.  3.  During  the 
war  of  the  American  Revolution, 
the  terms  Whig  and  Tory  were  ap- 
plied,— the  former  to  those  who  sup- 
ported the  Revolutionary  movement, 
the  latter  to  the  royalists,  or  those  who 
adhered  to  the  British  government 
(Bartlett). 

Whim.  1.  A  maggot  (B.  E.). 
Hence  Whimsical,  maggotish :  see 
Bee  in  bonnet,  and  Maggot.  2.  See 
Jiggumbob. 

Whimling.  A  person  childish, 
weak,  or  full  of  whims,  a  crotcheteer. 
Whimmy,  whimsical  (1610). 

Whimper.  On  the  whimper, 
peevish,  whining,  crying:  also  Whimper 
a  low  or  small  cry.  What  a  Whimper- 
ing you  keep  (B.  E.). 

Whim-wham.  1.  A  trinket,  trifle, 
fal-lal.  Hence,  2.  generic  for  rubbish, 
nonsense  (1500). 

Whindle.  A  low  or  feigned  crying 
(B.  E.). 

Whine.  To  cry  squeakingly,  as  at 
Conventicles  (B.  E.). 

Whiner.  A  word  ;  in  pi.,  speech, 
talk,  gab  (q.v.) ;  spec,  (thieves') 
prayers.  To  chop  the  whiners,  to  talk, 
to  say  prayers. 

Whip.  1.  A  driver,  a  coachman: 
also  knight  of  the  whip  (1778).  2.  A 
member  who  (unofficially)  looks  after 
the  interests  of  his  party  ;  prob.  from 
whipper  -  in.  [Bryce :  The  whip's 
duties  are  (a)  to  inform  every  member 
belonging  to  the  party  when  an  im- 
portant division  may  be  expected,  and 
if  he  sees  the  member  in  or  about  the 
House,  to  keep  him  there  until  the 


523 


Whip-belly. 


Whirligig. 


division  is  called  ;  (6)  to  direct  the 
members  of  his  own  party  how  to  vote  ; 
(c)  to  obtain  pain  for  them  if  they 
cannot  be  present  to  vote  ;  (d )  to  tell, 
i.e.  count  the  members  in  every  party 
division  :  (e)  to  keep  touch  of  opinion 
within  the  party,  and  convey  to  the 
leader  a  faithful  impression  of  that 
opinion,  from  which  the  latter  may 
judge  how  far  he  may  count  on  the 
support  of  his  whole  party  in  any 
course  he  proposes  to  take.]  Also 
(3)  the  call  made  for  attendance  at  a 
division,  etc. ;  and  as  verb  (or  to 
whip  in,  or  up)  ( 1 836).  4.  A  compositor 
quick  in  setting  type ;  a  type-slinger 
(which  also  see).  As  verb,  (1)  to 
surpass,  beat,  defeat,  overcome ; 
hence  whipping,  defeat :  e.g.  to  whip 
the  enemy  (or  give  them  a  whipping) 
to  whip  creation,  etc.  (1859);  (2)  to 
swindle;  (3)  generic  for  quick,  smart 
action :  e.g.  to  whip  on  (up,  off,  out, 
etc.):  frequently  with  an  idea  of 
stealth ;  also  whip,  quickly,  instanter 
(1360).  To  drink  (or  lick)  on  the  whip, 
to  get  a  thrashing,  to  taste  the  whip 
(1401).  To  whip  the  cat,  (I)  to  pinch,  to 
be  parsimonious,  mean,  stingy  ;  (2)  to 
go  from  house  to  house  to  work : 
chiefly  tailors',  but  the  practice  was 
more  or  less  common  to  all  trades ; 
hence  whip-cat,  a  tailor ;  (3)  to  idle  on 
Monday,  to  keep  St.  Monday ;  4. 
(a)  To  get  tipsy  :  see  Screwed  :  also  to 
whip  (jerk,  or  shoot  the  cat,  or  to  rat)  ; 
also  (b)  to  vomit ;  hence  whipcat, 
drunken  ;  Whipcan,  a  toper  ;  (5)  to  in- 
dulge in  practical  jokes  :  spec,  a  trick 
often  practised  on  ignorant  country 
fellows,  vain  of  their  strength ;  by 
laying  a  wager  with  them,  that  they 
may  be  pulled  through  a  pond  by  a  cat ; 
the  bet  being  made,  a  rope  is  fixed 
round  the  waist  of  the  party  to  be 
catted,  and  the  end  thrown  across  the 
pond,  to  which  the  cat  is  also  fastened 
by  a  pack-thread,  and  three  or  four 
sturdy  fellows  are  appointed  to  lead 
and  whip  the  cat ;  these,  on  a  signal 
given,  seize  the  end  of  the  cord,  and 
pretending  to  whip  the  cat,  haul  the 
astonished  booby  through  the  water 
(B.  E.).  To  whip  the  devU  round  the 
stump,  to  make  false  excuses  to  one's 
self  and  others  for  doing  what  one 
likes;  to  equivocate,  to  say,  pretend, 
or  do  one  thing,  and  mean,  or  act 
differently. 

Whip-belly.      Thin   weak   liquor: 


spec,  bad  beer,  swipes  (q.v.):  also 
whip-belly  -  vengeance  :  cf.  Rot  •  gut 
(1709). 

Whip-broth.  A  beating  :  cf. 
Hazel-oil,  Thimble-pie,  etc.  (1630). 

Whipcan.  A  toper,  tippler,  boon- 
companion  :  in  orig.  fesse-pinte  (1653). 

Whip -hand.  To  hare  the  whip- 
hand  (or  whip-handle),  to  have  an  ad- 
vantage, to  be  in  a  position  to  com- 
mand, to  have  the  best  of  a  matter 
(1697). 

Whip-her- jenny.  A  term  of  con- 
tempt. 

Whip- jack.  A  beggar  shamming 
shipwreck ;  hence  a  generic  term  of 
contempt  (1530). 

Whip-king.  One  who  controls  or 
compels  a  king  ;  a  king-maker  (1610). 

Whipmaster.  A  flagellator  :  the 
actual  word  in  the  orig.,  which  has 
long  been  recognised  as  standard 
English  :  see  Whipper  (1725). 

W  h  i  p  p  e  r.  1.  Anything  super- 
excellent  (1530).  2.  A  flagellant :  see 
whipmaster  (1656). 

Whipper-in.     See  Whip. 

Whipper-snapper.  A  very  small 
but  sprightly  boy  (B.  E.),  spec,  a 
precocious  callow  youth,  or  pert  girl : 
always  more  or  less  in  contempt.  As 
adj.,  diminutive,  insignificant :  also, 
Wh  ipping '-snapping. 

Whipping-boy.  1.  A  boy,  com- 
panion to  a  prince,  educated  with 
him,  and  punished  in  his  stead.  2. 
A  horse  finishing  last. 

Whipping-cheer.  Flogging,  flagel- 
lation, punishment :  cf.  Belly-cheer 
(1598). 

Whippy.  A  pert  girl,  forward 
young  woman. 

Whip-round.  A  subscription  got 
up  for  any  purpose  :  see  Whip. 

Whipsaw.  At  faro  to  win  at  one 
turn,  to  beat  in  two  ways  at  once ; 
hence  to  win  hands  down,  to  beat  an 
opponent  willy-nilly. 

Whipshire.     Yorkshire  (1696). 

Whipster.  A  sharp  or  subtil 
fellow  (B.  E.) ;  a  sharper  (Bailey) ;  a 
sly,  cunning  blade  (q.v.):  also  (old) 
whipstroke  (like  whipster),  a  term  of 
abuse  (1530). 

Whip-sticks.  The  Dunaberg  and 
Witepsk  Railway  shares. 

Whirligig.  1.  A  whim,  caprice, 
maggot  (q.v.),  bee  (q.v.)  (1635).  2. 
Change,  the  turn  of  the  wheel,  the 
lapse  of  time,  Time  or  the  World  in  the 


524 


WJiirrit. 


White. 


abstract  (1602).  3.  A  carriage:  also 
Whirlicote  (1633).  4.  Applied  to 
various  toys  or  the  like  :  e.g.  (a)  a  top 
or  top-like  toy,  (6)  a  tee-totum,  (c)  a 
round-about  or  merry-go-round  :  also 
whirler  and  whirl-about ;  and  (d)  a 
turnstile  (1530).  5.  An  instrument 
for  punishing  petty  offenders  :  a  kind 
of  wooden  cage,  turning  on  a  pivot, 
in  which  the  culprit  was  whirled  round 
with  great  velocity. 

Whirrit  (Wherret,  or  Whirrick). 
A  blow,  slap,  box  on  the  ear.  As 
verb,  to  box  the  ears  (1577). 

Whishler.     A  ringmaster. 

Whisk.  1.  A  servant :  in  con- 
tempt (1653).  2.  An  impertinent 
fellow,  saucebox  (q.v.),  bouncer 
(q.v.). 

Whisker-bed.     The  face  (1853). 

Whiskers  (or  Whiskerando). 
A  whiskered  person :  a  jocular 
salutation,  Hallo,  Whiskers !  Also 
Whiskery  and  Whiskerandoed.  [From 
Don  Ferolo  Whiskerandos  in  Sheri- 
dan's '  Critic,'  1779]. 

Whiskey  (Tim-whiskey  or  Timmy- 
whiskey).  A  light  one-horse  chaise 
without  a  hood  (1772). 

Whiskey-bloat.  A  person  bloated 
from  drinking  whisky  (Bartlett). 

Whiskeyfied  (or  Whiskified). 
Drunk,  bemused  with  whisky :  see 
Screwed  (1857). 

Whiskey-mill.  A  grog-shop,  a 
grocery  with  a  license  (1870). 

Whisking.  Large,  great,  whopping 
(q.v.)  (1731). 

Whisk-telt.     Whorish. 

Whisky-frisky.  Flighty,  maggoty 
(q.v.)  (1782). 

Whisper.  A  secret  tip  (q.v.) :  spec, 
information  passed  from  mouth  to 
mouth  on  the  pretence  of  secrecy. 
Hence  to  give  the  whisper,  (1)  to  blaze 
abroad  a  supposed  secret,  and  (2)  to 
give  a  quick  tip  (Hotten) ;  a  whisper 
at  the  post,  an  owner's  final  instruc- 
tions to  a  jockey.  As  verb,  to  borrow: 
spec,  small  sums.  Hence  whisperer,  a 
petty  borrower.  Angel's  whisper,  the 
call  to  defaulters'  drill :  usually  extra 
fatigue  duty.  Pig's-whisper,  (1)  a 
grunt :  (2)  a  very  short  space  of  time  : 
that  is,  as  brief  as  a  grunt :  also 
(American)  Pig's-whistle. 

Whispering  syl.-slinger.  A 
prompter  [that  is,  syllablte-slinger]. 

Whister-clister  (Whister  -  snefet, 
Whister-snivet,  Whister-twister,  or 


Whister-poop).  A  thumping  blow: 
spec,  a  back-handed  blow  (1542). 

Whistle.  1.  The  throat,  red-lane 
(q.v.) ;  hence  to  wet  (or  whet)  one's 
whistle,  to  drink  (see  Wet) :  Fr., 
s'afftiter  le  sifflct  (1383).  2.  A  whim, 
fancy,  caprice  ;  whence  to  pay  for  one's 
whistle,  to  pay  high  (or  deadly).  [The 
allusion  is  to  a  story  told  (1779)  by 
Dr.  Franklin  (Works  [1836],  ii.  182) 
of  his  nephew,  who  set  his  mind  on  a 
common  whistle,  which  he  bought  of 
a  boy  for  four  times  its  value.]  As  verb, 
to  inform  (181 5).  Phrases :  To  whistle 
and  ride,  to  work  and  talk.  To  go 
whistle,  to  go  to  the  deuce,  to  be  dis- 
comfited or  disappointed ;  to  whistle 
for  a  wind,  (1)  old  salts  of  a  super- 
stitious turn  of  mind  will  whistle  for 
a  breeze  during  a  calm :  during  a 
storm  they  would  not  dream  of  so 
doing :  hence  to  whistle  for,  to  stand 
small  chance  of  getting ;  (2)  a  jocular 
offer  of  aid  to  one  long  in  commencing 
to  urinate  ;  at  one's  whistle,  at  call ; 
worth  the  whistle,  worth  notice,  at- 
tention, or  a  call ;  to  whistle  down  the 
wind,  to  talk  for  talking' s  sake,  to  talk 
idly,  or  to  no  purpose  ;  as  clean  as  a 
whistle,  neat  (q.v.),  slick  (q.v.)  (1547). 

Whistle  -  belly  -  vengeance.  Bad 
beer,  swipes  (q.v.) ;  hence  indifferent 
lap  (q.v.)  of  any  kind :  of.  Whip- 
belly-vengeance. 

Whistle-cup.  A  drinking  cup  with 
a  whistle  attached :  the  last  toper 
capable  of  using  the  whistle  received 
the  cup  as  a  prize.  Also  a  tankard 
fitted  with  a  whistle,  so  arranged  as  to 
sound  when  the  vessel  was  emptied, 
thus  warning  the  drawer  that  more 
liquor  was  required. 

Whistle-drunk.  Very  drunk  in- 
deed (1749).  j 

Whistle- jacket.     Small  beer. 

Whistler.  1.  A  broken- winded  horse, 
a  roarer  (q.v.).  2.  An  unlicensed 
vendor  of  spirits.  Hence  whistling- 
shop,  an  illicit  dram-shop  (1837). 

Whistling-  (or  Puffing-)  billy.  A 
locomotive. 

Whistling-breeches.  Corduroy 
trousers. 

Whit.  A  prison  :  see  Cage :  spec. 
Newgate  (1676). 

White.  1.  In  pL,  leucorrhcBa.  2. 
In  pi.,  white  clothes,  vestments,  or 
goods  (1644).  3.  (a)  The  centre  of  a 
target :  Fr.,  blanc :  formerly  painted 
white :  cf.  Bull's-eye ;  whence  (6)  the 


525 


White-apron. 


object  in  view,  a  mark ;  to  hit  the 
white,  to  be  right  (1580).  4.  In  pi., 
the  white  of  the  eyes  (1662).  As  adj., 
( 1 )  thus  white  (fair  or  specious)  words  ; 
white,  (lucky)  day  :  cf.  Red-letter  day  ; 
white  (excusable)  lie  (Qrose) ;  white 
(venial)  crime  ;  white  (friendly)  witch  ; 
white  (honourable)  man,  formerly, 
fair,  handsome ;  white  (guiltless)  way  ; 
white  (auspicious)  hour ;  white  (bene- 
ficially levied)  mail  (1300).  2.  See 
Whiteboy.  3.  See  White  -  lot.  As 
verb,  to  gloss  over,  to  rehabili- 
tate :  also  (modern)  whitewash,  which 
spec,  to  clear  of  debt  by  process  of 
the  Bankruptcy  Court.  Hence  white- 
wash, a  veneer  of  respectability ; 
with  whitewasher  and  whitewashing  as 
derivatives.  Also  to  use  one  white, 
(1)  to  deal  fairly  and  justly,  and  (2) 
to  act  on  the  square  (q.v.)  (1616).  To 
spit  white,  to  expectorate  from  a  dry 
but  healthy  mouth  :  also  to  spit  white 
broth  (or  sixpences);  Fr.,  cracher  des 
pieces  de  dix  sous  (1594). 

White-apron.     A  harlot  (1599). 

White-ash  Breeze.  The  breeze 
caused  by  rowing :  oars  are  generally 
made  of  white  ash. 

Whiteboy.  1.  A  generic  endear- 
ment :  also  (of  a  favourite  son)  white 
son:  see  White  (1554).  2.  (Irish 
political).  A  member  of  a  secret 
political  society,  agrarian  in  character 
(c.  1759  -  60).  [Lecky  :  Their  object 
was  to  do  justice  to  the  poor  by 
restoring  the  ancient  commons  and 
redressing  other  grievances.  This 
they  sought  to  accomplish  by  throwing 
down  fences,  levelling  enclosures,  and 
generally  destroying  the  property  of 
any  one — landlords,  agents,  Protest- 
ant clergy,  tax  or  tithe  collectors — 
who  had  made  themselves  obnoxious  to 
the  association.  They  styled  them- 
selves Whiteboys,  because  during  their 
nocturnal  excursions  they  covered 
their  usual  attire  with  white  shirts. 
This  disguise  was  used  principally  to 
enable  them,  while  scouring  through 
the  darkness,  to  recognise  each  other. 
3.  London  rioters  (1768). 

Whitechapel.  1.  A  light  two- 
wheeled  cart,  a  coster's  barrow,  a 
shoful  (q.v.):  also  Whitechapel -cart, 
Whitechapel-brougham,  and  Chapel- 
cart.  2.  Tossing  two  out  of  three  :  cf. 
Sudden  death.  3.  See  Whitechapel- 
play. 

Whitechapel-play    (Whitechapel). 


Anything  mean,  paltry,  or  unsports- 
manlike :  cf.  Bungay-play. 

Whitechape  1-portion.  A  clean 
apron  and  an  umbrella ;  also  a  clean 
gown  and  a  pair  of  pattens  (Hottrn). 

Whitechapel  -  shave.  Whitening 
applied  to  the  jaws  with  the  palm  of 
the  hand. 

White-choker.  (1)  A  white  tie: 
hence  (2)  a  parson. 

White-crow.  A  rarity ;  hence 
an  apparent  contradiction  in  terms 
which  is  none  the  less  a  fact.  [Albino 
crows  are  occasionally  met  with.] 

White-eye.    Maize  whisky. 

White-feather.     See  Feather. 

Whitefriars.     See  Alsatia. 

Whit  e-h  o  r  s  e.  A  white-crested, 
dancing  wave  (1849).  To  be  white- 
horsed  in,  to  obtain  a  berth  through 
influence. 

White-house.  The  official  resid- 
ence of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  Washington  :  from  its  colour. 
Its  official  designation  is  Executive 
Mansion  (Century). 

White-livered.  Cowardly,  mean. 
[An  old  notion  was  that  cowards  had 
bloodless  livers]  (1548). 

White-lot  A  silver  watch  and 
chain  :  or  (old)  white-stuff  (or  wedge) ; 
cf.  Bed.  White-dock  (or  white-' un),  a 
silver  watch  ;  white  jenny,  a  foreign- 
made  silver  watch  (H often).  White- 
money,  silver ;  the  white  and  the  red, 
silver  and  gold.  Smooth  white,  a 
shilling:  see  Rhino  (1369). 

White  Man's  Hansom  Woman. 
A  brown  or  yellow  mistress. 

White-Moor.     A  Genoese  (1642). 

Whiteness.  (1)  Chastity :  also 
white  (or  cold)  sheets  ;  (2)  nakedness. 

White  -  poodle.  A  rough  woolly 
cloth. 

White-prop.  A  diamond  scarf-pin : 
also  sparkle-  (or  spark-)  prop. 

Whiter  (Harrow  School).  A  white 
waistcoat :  permissible  after  three 
years  at  the  school :  cf.  -er. 

White-satin  (lace,  tape,  wine, 
or  ribbon).  Gin:  see  Drinks  (1820). 

White-sergeant.  A  breeches-wear- 
ing wife:  the  general  (q.v.),  the 
grey- mare  (q.v.). 

White  -  trash.  A  poor  white ; 
Southern  states:  also  poor  white  folk 
(1856). 

Whitewash.  1.  See  White.  2. 
A  glass  of  sherry  as  a  finish,  after 
drinking  port  or  claret  (H often). 


526 


WMtewasJiers. 


Wild-cat. 


Whitewashers.  The  second  bat- 
talion Gloucestershire  Regiment,  late 
the  6 1st  Foot. 

Whither-go-thee.     A  wife    (1696). 
Whiting.  To  let  leap  a  whiting,  to 
miss  an  opportunity. 

Whiting-mop.  (1)  A  young  and 
pretty  girl ;  hence  (2)  an  endearment : 
also  whiting  (1525). 

Whiting  's-eye.  An  amorous  glance, 
sheep's-eye  (q.v.)  (1673). 

Whitsun-ale.  See  Ale. 
Hence  Whitsun  -  lord,  the  master  of 
ceremonies  at  a  Whitsun  merry- 
making (1633). 

Whittle.  1.  To  confess  at  the 
gallows.  Also  (thieves')  to  dose 
(q.v.),  to  peach  (q.v.)  (1727).  2.  See 
Whittled. 

Whittled.  Drunk,  cut  (q.v.) :  see 
Screwed.  Hence  whittle,  to  make 
tipsy,  and  as  subs.,  a  merry-making, 
drinking-bout,  etc.  (1586). 

Whizzer.  A  falsehood  (Halli- 
well). 

Whoball  (John).  He  is  none  of 
John  Whoball's  chUdren,  He  will  be 
abused  at  no  man's  hands  if  he  may 
( W  ithals). 

Whole.  See  Boiling,  Team,  and 
all  nouns  in  the  various  combina- 
tions. 

Whop  (Wap,  Woppe,  Whap). 
A  blow.  As  verb,  to  beat  (1360).  As 
intj.,  Whack  !  (q.v.),  Whip !  (q.v.), 
Bang  !  (q.v.). 

Whopper  (Whapper).  Any- 
thing very  large,  fine,  good  :  a  generic 
intensive  (Orose) :  also  whopping, 
extremely  fine,  very  large,  Al  (q.v.) 
(1520). 

Whop-straw  (or  Johnny  Whop- 
straw),  A  countryman,  rustic,  clod- 
hopper (q.v.). 

Why  and  Wherefore  (The).  The 
reason,  cause  (1593). 

Why-not.  To  have  (or  be)  at  a 
why-noi,  to  have,  stand,  or  be  in  a 
dilemma ;  to  pull  up  suddenly,  to 
meet  with  a  sudden  check  or  reverse 
(1612). 

Wibble.  Weak  lap  (q.v.);  any 
thin,  weak  beverage. 

Wibble-wobble.     Unsteadily. 

Wibling's- witch.  The  four  of 
clubs. 

Wicked.  ( 1 )  Roguish,  mischievous  ; 
and  (2)  amorous,  wanton,  e.g.  a 
wicked  twinkle  in  the  eye,  to  look 
wicked,  etc.  (1600). 


Wicket.  The  mouth,  gutter- alley 
(q.v.)  (1557). 

Widdy.  1.  A  widow.  2.  See 
Widow. 

Widdle.     See  Oliver. 

Widdy  -  waddy.  Trifling,  insig- 
nificant. 

Wide.  1.  Well-informed,  knowing 
(q.v.),  keen,  alert,  up  to  snuff  (q.v.) : 
also  wide-awake  and  wido  :  cf.  Narrow 
(1834).  2.  Indifferent,  wide  of  the 
mark,  out  of  the  running,  adrift : 
hence  generic  for  bad  (1612). 

Wide-awake.  A  soft  felt  hat  with 
a  broad  brim.  So  called  (Orose) 
because  it  never  had  a  nap  and  never 
wants  one.  See  Wide. 

Widgeon.  A  simpleton :  see 
Buffle. 

Widow.  The  gallows:  see  Nub- 
bing-cheat.  Also  (Scots)  the  widdy, 
and  Fr.,  veuve  (formerly  the  gallows, 
now  applied  to  the  guillotine) 
(1796). 

Wido  w-bewitched.  A  woman 
separated  from  her  husband :  cf. 
grass-widow  (1725). 

Widow's-man.  An  imaginary 
sailor  borne  on  the  books,  and  re- 
ceiving pay  and  prize  money,  which  is 
appropriated  to  Greenwich  Hospital 
(Marry  at). 

Widow's- weeds.  1.  An  unmarried 
mother  (B.  E.).  2.  See  Weed. 

Wife.  A  leg-shackle.  As  much 
need  of  a  wife  as  a  dog  of  a  side-pocket, 
said  of  a  weak,  old,  debilitated  man 
(Orose).  Wife  in  water-colours,  (1) 
a  morganatic  wife ;  and  (2)  a  mistress 
or  concubine:  cf.  Fr.,  cottage  &  la  de- 
trempe. 

Wifey.     A  wife,  an  endearment. 

Wiffle-woffle.  In  pi.,  the  stomach- 
ache, sorrow,  the  dumps  (q.v.) ; 
generic. 

Wig.  1.  To  move  off,  go  away. 
2.  To  rate,  scold,  carpet :  spec,  to  call 
over  the  coals  publicly.  Whence 
wigging,  a  public  rebuke  or  reprimand : 
ear-wigging,  a  more  or  less  private 
calling  over  the  coals  (1837). 

Wig-block.     The  head. 

Wigsby.  A  jocular  appellation  for 
a  man  wearing  a  wig :  cf.  Rudesby, 
Four-eyes,  Barnacles,  etc.  (Orose). 

Wild.  A  village,  the  country  :  cf. 
Weald. 

Wild  -  brain.  A  harebrain,  silly, 
soft  (q.v.)  fellow. 

Wild  -  cat.      Reckless,    hazardous, 


527 


Wild-goose. 


Winding-sheet. 


unsound:  orig.  applied  to  banking 
enterprises  of  doubtful  (if  of  no  worse) 
character :  cf.  Blue-pup,  Red-dog, 
etc.  [Bartlett :  A  bank  in  Michigan 
had  a  large  vignette  on  its  notes  re- 
presenting a  panther,  familiarly  called 
a  wild-cat.  This  bank  failed,  a  large 
amount  of  it*  notes  were  in  circulation, 
which  were  denominated  wild  -  cat 
money,  and  the  bank  issuing  them  the 
wild-cat  bank.  Other  banks  stopped 
payment  soon  after,  and  the  term 
became  general  in  Michigan,  to  denote 
banking  institutions  of  an  unsound 
character.]  Hence  wild-cat  currency, 
schema,  etc.  (1842). 

Wild  -  goose.  A  recruit  for  the 
Irish  Brigade  in  the  service  of  France 
in  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth 
centuries. 

Wild-goose  Chase.  The  pursuit  of 
anything  unprofitable  or  absurd ;  a 
bund  hunt.  [Dyce :  Orig.  a  kindof  horse- 
race, in  which  two  horses  were  started 
together,  and  whichever  rider  could 
get  the  lead,  the  other  was  obliged  to 
follow  him  over  whatever  ground  he 
chose  to  go]  (1595). 

Wild  Indians  (The).  The  Prince  of 
Wales'  Leinster  Regiment  (Royal 
Canadians).  Both  battalions  trace 
some  sort  of  connection  with  the 
Indians  of  N.  America  and  the  Indians 
of  the  East :  the  first  battalion  having 
formerly  been  the  100th  Foot,  an 
expression  of  Canadian  loyalty  at  the 
time  of  the  Mutiny,  and  the  2nd 
battalion,  the  109th  (Bombay  In- 
fantry) Regiment,  originally  raised  by 
the  Hon.  East  India  Company. 

Wild  Irishman  (The).  The 
evening  mail  train  between  Euston 
and  Holyhead  :  cf.  Flying  Dutchman, 
etc. 

Wild-mare.  The  nightmare.  To 
ride  the  wild  mare,  to  play  at  see-saw 
(1580). 

Wild-oats.  (1)  Youthful  pranks 
or  folly  ;  hence  (2)  a  rake  or  debauchee. 
To  sow  one1*  wild-  oats,  to  indulge  in 
folly  or  dissipation,  and  (by  implica- 
tion) to  grow  steady  (1570). 

Wild-rogue.  A  thorough-paced 
thief ;  a  rogue  brought  up  to  stealing 
from  infancy. 

Wild  Train.  A  train  not  on  the 
time-tables  of  the  road,  and  therefore 
irregular,  and  not  entitled  to  the  track, 
as  the  railread  phrase  is,  as  against  a 
regular  train. 


William.  An  acceptance.  To 
meet  sweet  William,  to  meet  a  bill  on 
presentation. 

Willow.  1 .  A  bat.  2.  Mourning. 
Henoe  to  wear  the  willow,  to  lament 
the  dead  (1595). 

Willy-nilly  (Will  I,  Nil  I,  etc.). 
Willing  or  unwilling,  nolens  volens, 
Whether  I  will  or  not  As  adj., 
vacillating  :  see  Nilly- willy  and  Shilly- 
shally (1563). 

Wilt.     To  run  away. 

Win  (Wyn,  or  Wing).  A  penny; 
Id.  :  see  Rhino  (1608). 

Winchester-goose.  ( 1 )  A  bubo ;  (2) 
a  person  thus  infected  ;  and  (3)  gener- 
ally in  contempt.  [The  stews  (q.v.) 
in  South  wark  were,  in  the  16th  century, 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester.]  Also  Winchester -pigeon 
(1585). 

Wind.  1.  Breath,  lung- power; 
and  2.  (pugilists')  the  stomach :  i.e. 
below  the  belt,  a  forbidden  point  of 
attack  in  legitimate  boxing.  Henoe 
winder,  anything  that  deprives  one 
of  the  power  of  breathing ;  to  nap  a 
winder,  (1)  to  be  hung,  and  (2)  to  get 
a  settler  (q.v.)  (1362).  Phrases:  To 
take  wind,  to  be  known,  to  transpire ; 
to  sail  near  (or  close  to)  the  wind,  (1) 
to  take  every  risk,  and  (2)  to  border 
on  malpractice ;  to  raise  the  wind,  to 
borrow  (or  procure)  money :  usually 
by  shift,  flying  a  kite  (q.v.),  or  bills 
of  accommodation ;  to  go  down  the 
wind,  to  decay  ;  to  slip  one's  wind,  to 
die ;  to  take  the  wind,  to  gain  an  ad- 
vantage ;  to  have  one  in  the  wind,  to 
understand  a  person  ;  Is  the  wind  in 
that  door  T  Is  that  so  ?  ;  wiiid  enough 
to  last  a  Dutchman  a  week,  enough  and 
to  spare  ;  between  wind  and  water,  in  a 
vulnerable  spot;  down  the  wind,  verging 
towards  ruin  or  decay ;  the  way  the 
windblows,ihe  position  of  a  matter,  the 
state  of  affairs ;  three  (more  or  less) 
sheets  in  the  wind  (see  Sheets) ;  in  the 
wind,  (1)  astir,  afoot ;  and  (2)  a  matter 
of  surmise  or  suspicion  ;  to  carry  the 
wind,  to  be  high-spirited  or  mettle- 
some: properly  of  horses  tossing  the 
nose  as  high  as  the  ears  ;  to  hare  the 
wind  of,  to  keep  strict  watch  ;  too  near 
the  wind,  mean,  stingy  (nautical) 
(1546).  To  wind  one's  cotton,  to  give 
trouble. 

Wind-bag.      An   incessant  frothy 
talker :  also  Gas-bag. 

Winding-sheet     Grease  (or  wax) 


528 


Wind-jammer. 


Wolf. 


drippings  guttering  down  the  side  of  a 
candle :  deemed  an  omen  of  death  by 
the  superstitious  (Orose) :  cf.  Thief 
(1859). 

Wind-jammer.  1.  A  sailing  vessel : 
cf.  Smoke-stack.  2.  A  player  on  a 
wind  instrument. 

Windmill,  J.P.  Formerly  used  in 
New  South  Wales  for  any  J.P.  who 
was  ill-educated  and  supposed  to  sign 
his  name  with  a  cross  (x). 

Window.  1.  In  pi.,  the  eyes,  the 
peepers  (q.v.).  2.  A  blank  space  in 
a  writing  ( 1 556).  Gdasmit h's-window, 
a  rich  working  in  which  the  gold  shows 
freely.  See  Turn. 

Window  -  bar.  In  pi.,  Lattice- 
work on  a  woman's  stomacher,  or 
modesty- piece  (q.v.)  (1609). 

Window  -  dressing.  Manipulation 
of  figures  and  accounts  to  show  ficti- 
tious or  exaggerated  value :  brought 
into  prominence  during  the  trial  of 
Whitaker  Wright  for  fraud  in  connec- 
tion with  the  balance-sheets  of  the 
London  and  Globe  Corporation  (1904). 

Window-fishing.  Entering  a  house 
by  means  of  a  window. 

Wind-pudding.  Air.  To  live  on 
wind-pudding,  to  go  hungry. 

Windstopper.     A  garotter. 

Windsucker.  1.  A  querulous 
fault-finder,  grizzle-guts  (q.v.) ;  one 
ready  to  catch  another  tripping  or  to 
pick  holes  ;  one  on  the  lookout  for  a 
blemish  or  weak  spot  (1603). 

Windward.  To  get  to  the  windward 
(or  windward  side)  of  one,  to  get  an 
advantage,  the  better  of  one,  or  the 
best  position.  ^ 

Windy.  Talkative,  boastful,  vain. 
Windy-wallets,  a  noisy  prater,  vain 
boaster,  romancing  yarnster. 

Wine.  A  wine-drinking  party 
(1847). 

Wine-bag.  A  drunkard  who  makes 
wine  his  special  tipple  (q.v.). 

Winey.     Drunk  :  see  Screwed. 

Wing.  A  quid  or  thereabouts  of 
tobacco.  As  verb,  (1)  to  wound 
slightly :  orig.  to  shoot  in  the  arm 
or  shoulder  ;  (2)  to  undertake  a  part 
at  short  notice  and  study  it  in  the 
wings. 

Wink.     See  Eye,  Forty,  Tip. 

Winker.    ( 1 )  The  eye ;  and  (2)  in  pi., 


Winking.     Like  winking,   very 
quickly  (1837). 
Winks.     Periwinkles. 


Winter-cricket     A  tailor. 

Winter-hedge.     A  clothes-horse. 

Wipe.  1.  A$ handkerchief :  orig. 
wiper,  a  hand  towel.  2.  A ;  blow ; 
literally  or  figuratively.  As  verb,  to 
strike  :  e.g.  a  wipe  (a  rap)  over  the 
knuckles  ( 1577).  Phrases :  To  wipe  one 
down,  ( 1 )  to  flatter,  (2)  to  pacify ;  to 
wipe  off  a  score,  to  pay  one's  debts; 
to  wipe  a  person's  eye,  ( 1 )  to  shoot  game 
which  another  has  missed,  (2)  to  gain 
an  advantage  through  skilful  manipu- 
lation ;  to  wipe  tJie  other  eye,  to  take 
another  drink ;  to  wipe  out,  to  kill,  to 
exterminate ;  to  wipe  one's  nose,  to 
cheat ;  to  wipe  up  the  floor  with  one,  to 
completely  demolish  an  adversary ; 
to  wipe  a  person's  nose  (see  Nose). 

Wire.  LA  telegram.  Also  as 
verb.  2.  An  expert  pickpocket :  see 
Thief  (1851).  To  wire  in  (or  away),  to 
set  to  with  a  will,  to  apply  oneself 
perseveringly  and  zealously. 

Wired-up.     Irritated,  provoked. 

Wire-puller  (or  worker).  A 
manipulator  of  party  and  other  in- 
terests, working  by  means  more  or  less 
secret;  a  political  intriguer.  Hence 
to  pull  the  wires,  to  exercise  a  com- 
manding secret  political  influence. 
Also  wire-pulling  (1848). 

Wishy-washy.  Weak,  insipid, 
rotten  (q.v.)  (1748). 

Wisker.     A  lie  (1694). 

Wisp.  To  give  (wear,  or  show)  a 
wisp,  a  wisp  or  small  twist,  of  straw 
or  hay,  was  often  applied  as  a  mark  of 
opprobrium  to  an  immodest  woman, 
a  scold,  or  similar  offenders ;  even 
the  showing  it  to  a  woman  was, 
therefore,  considered  as  a  grievous 
affront.  It  was  the  badge  of  the 
scolding  woman,  in  the  ceremony  of 
skimmington  (q.v.)  (1567). 

Wittol.  A  husband  who  knows  of, 
and  endures  his  wife's  unfaithfulness  ; 
a  contented  cuckold.  As  verb,  to 
make  a  wittol.  [Skeat :  From  wood- 
wale,  a  bird  whose  nest  is  often  in- 
vaded by  the  cuckoo,  and  so  has  the 
offspring  of  another  palmed  off  on  it 
for  its  own ;  like  Cuckold,  from 
Cuckoo.]  (1513). 

Wiwi.  A  Frenchman.  [That  is, 
Oui,  Oui  !} 

Wobble.     See  Wabble. 

Wobbler.     An  infantryman. 

Wobble-shop.  A  shop  where  in- 
toxicants are  sold  without  a  license. 

Wolf.     To    devour    ravenously : 


529 


Wolfe's  Own. 


Wrong. 


hence  wolfer,  a  greedy  feeder  or 
guzzling  tosspot:  also  a  tool/  in  the 
stomach,  famished ;  to  keep  the  wolf 
from  the  door,  to  keep  hunger  and 
want  at  bay  (1513).  Phrases:  Dark 
as  a  wolfs  mouth  (or  throat),  pitch 
dark ;  to  cry  wolf,  to  raise  a  false 
alarm ;  to  have  a  wolf  by  the  ears,  to 
know  not  what  to  say  or  do  ;  to  see  a 
wolf,  (1)  to  lose  one's  voice,  and  (2) 
to  be  seduced  (Fr.,  avoir  vu  le  loup). 

Wolfe's  Own.  The  first  battalion 
of  The  Loyal  North  Lancashire  Regi- 
ment, late  the  47th  Foot;  the  black 
worm  in  the  gold  lace  is  in  memory  of 
the  Hero  of  Quebec. 

Wolverine  State  (The), 
Michigan :  its  inhabitants  are  Wol- 
verines. 

Wollop.     See  Wallop. 

Woman.  A  term  of  abuse ;  spec, 
a  harlot.  Whence  to  woman  (or 
womanize),  (1)  to  scold  or  abuse,  and 
(2)  to  wanton ;  to  make  an  honest 
woman  (see  Honest). 

Wonner.     See  One-er. 

Woodcock.  1.  A  simpleton  (1593). 
2.  A  tailor. 

Woodcock 's-cross.  Penitence  for 
folly:  cf.  Weeping-cross,  etc.  (1630). 

Woodcock  "s-head.  A  pipe.  [Early 
pipes  were  frequently  so  fashioned] 
(1599). 

Wooden-fit.     A  swoon. 

Wooden-legged  mare.  The 
gallows :  see  Nubbing-cheat. 

Wooden  -  nutmeg  State  (The). 
Cincinnati. 

Wooden  -  overcoat  (or  surtout). 
A  coffin. 

Wooden-ruff.     The  pillory. 

Wooden-spoon  (Cambridge).  The 
student  last  on  the  list  of  mathematical 
honours.  See  Tripos,  Gulf,  Twelve 
Apostles,  Wrangler,  etc. 

Wooden-sword.  To  wear  the 
wooden  -  sword,  to  overstand  the 
market. 

Woodman.  A  carpenter,  chips 
(q.v.). 

Wool.  Hair  :  cf.  the  wheezes,  He 
has  no  wool  on  the  top  of  his  head 
in  the  place  where  the  wool  ought  to 
grow ;  and  Keep  your  wool  on,  don't 
get  angry,  keep  quiet.  As  verb,  to 
rumple  or  towsle  the  hair.  Phrases  : 
More  squeak  than  wool,  more  noise 
than  substance ;  great  cry  and  little 
wool,  Much  ado  about  nothing:  see 
CSder ;  To  putt  the  wool  over  one'g  eyes, 


to  impose  upon,  deceive,  delude,  or 
use  the  pepper-box  (q.v.);  to  go  wool 
gathering,  to  indulge  in  idle  fancies, 
act  stupidly  (1475). 

Wool-bird.     A  sheep. 

Woolfist.  A  term  of  reproach 
(1606). 

Wool  -  hole.  A  workhouse :  see 
Large  House. 

Wooston  (Christ's  Hospital).  Very : 
that  is  whoreson :  e.g.  a  wooston 
jolly  fellow,  I'm  woonton  chaffy. 

Word.  A  word  and  a  blow,  im- 
mediate action :  as  adj.,  instantly 
(1710). 

Work.  To  steal.  Phrases:  To 
make  work,  to  cause  (or  make)  a  dis- 
turbance, kick  up  a  shindy  (q.v.) ;  to 
work  the  orade,  to  manoeuvre,  to 
victimise. 

World.  AH  the  world  and  his  wife, 
every  one  (1709). 

Worm.     A  policeman. 

Worm-crusher.  A  foot  sodier:  cf. 
Mudcrusher. 

Worm-fence.  A  zig-zag  rail-fence ; 
a  Virginia-fence  (q.v.)  (1839). 

Worricrow.     A  scarecrow. 

Worth.  See  Bean,  Candle,  Cent, 
Cracker,  Curse,  Fig,  Fly,  Game, 
Louse,  Nutshell,  Pear,  Rap,  Straw. 

W.  P.     See  Warming-pan. 

Wrap -rascal.  A  cloak  or  coat 
(1753). 

Wren.  A  prostitute  frequenting 
the  Curragh  Camp. 

Wretch.  Poor  wretch,  a  term  of 
endearment. 

Wretchcock  (or  Wrechock). 
A  puny,  insignificant  person,  a  poor 
wretch. 

Wright  (Mr.).  A  warder  acting 
as  go-between  for  a  prisoner  and  his 
friends. 

Wringle-gut  A  nervous,  fidgety 
man. 

Wrinkle.  A  new  idea,  useful  hint, 
cunning  trick,  smart  dodge  (1555). 

Writerling.  An  author  of  the 
baser  sort,  a  petty  journalist 
(1802). 

Writings.  To  burn  the  writings,  to 
quarrel. 

Wrokin.     A  Dutch  woman. 

Wrong.  In  various  combinations 
and  phrases :  e.g.  Wrong  in  the  upper 
storey,  crazy;  »n  the  wrong  box,  mis- 
taken, embarrassed,  in  jeopardy : 
the  wrong  end  of  the  stick,  the  worst  of 
a  position,  the  false  of  a  story;  to 


530 


Wrong-'un. 


Yannam. 


wake  up  the  wrong  passenger,  to  make  a 
mistake  in  the  individual,  to  get  the 
wrong  sow  by  the  ear  ;  to  la'ugh  on  the 
wrong  side  of  the  mouth,  to  cry ;  to 
get  out  of  (or  rise  out  of)  the  wrong 
(or  right)  side  of  the  bed  (or  right  side), 
a  happy  augury  (or  the  reverse) 
(1554). 

Wrong-'un.    Generic  for  anything 
bad  :  e.g.  a  spurious  note,  base  coin, 


welsher,  a  horse  intended  to  be  pulled 
(q.v.),  and  so  forth. 

Wrought  -  shirt.  See  Historical 
Shirt. 

Wry-not.  To  shead  wry-not,  to 
out-do  the  devil. 

W  u  g  g  i  n  s  (Oxford  University). 
Worcester  College  ;  Botany-bay  (q.v.). 

Wusser.     A  canal  boat. 

Wuzzle.     To  jumble,  muddle,  mix. 


X.  To  take  one  X  (or  letter  X),  to 
secure  a  violent  prisoner :  two  con- 
stables firmly  grasp  the  collar  with  one 
hand,  the  captive's  arm  being  drawn 
down  and  the  hand  forced  backwards 
over  the  holding  arms ;  in  this  posi- 


tion the  prisoner's  arm  is  more  easily 
broken  than  extricated. 

X-leg.     In  pi.,  knock  knees. 

X  m  a  s.  Christmas  :  frequently 
pronounced  eksmas.  See  Christmas. 


-  Y.  (Manchester  Grammar 
School).  Hathy,  mathematics ; 
chemmy,  chemistry ;  gymmy,  gym- 
nastics, etc. 

Yack.  A  watch.  To  church  (or 
christen)  a  yack,  to  change  the  case, 
or  substitute  a  fictitious  inscription, 
in  order  to  prevent  identification. 

Y  a  ff .  To  talk  pertly  :  also  yaffle. 
[Properly  yaff,  to  bark  or  yelp.] 

Yaffle.  An  armful.  As  verb,  (1) 
to  eat  (Halliwell) ;  (2)  to  snatch,  to 
pilfer,  to  take  illicitly  ;  (3)  see  Yaff. 

Yahoo.  A  generic  reproach  :  spec. 
a  rough,  brutal,  uncouth  character. 
In  America,  a  back-country  lout,  a 
greenhorn  (Barttett).  [A  name  given 
by  Swift  in  his  Gulliver's  Travels  (1726) 
to  a  race  of  brutes,  described  as  having 
human  forms  and  vicious  and  de- 
graded propensities.  They  were  sub- 
ject to  the  Houyhnhnms,  or  horses 
endowed  with  human  reason.]  As 
adj.,  boorish,  loutish,  uncouth. 

Yallow.     See  Yellow. 

Yam.  Food;  grub  (q.v.).  As 
verb,  to  eat. 

Yank.  1.  A  Yankee  (q.v.) :  an 
abbreviation  universally  applied  by 
the  Confederates  to  the  soldiers  of 
the  Union  armies  (Bartlett).  2.  In 
pi.,  leggings.  As  verb,  (1)  generic  for 
quick,  sharp,  or  jerking  motion ;  to 
bustle,  twitch,  snatch,  move  quickly, 


work  smartly ;  usually  with  along, 
over,  out,  etc.  ;  as  subs,  (or  yanker),  a 
smart  stroke,  jerk,  or  twitch  ;  yanking, 
active,  pushing,  thorough-going ;  to 
yank  the  bun,  to  take  the  cake  (q.v.) 
(1818) ;  (2)  to  chatter,  scold,  nag  ;  to 
talk  fast  and  incessantly.  Henco 
yankie,  a  chatterbox,  one  who  talks 
nineteen  to  the  dozen. 

Yankee  (Yankey,  Yanky).  1.  A 
citizen  of  New  England ;  2.  A  native  of 
the  United  States  :  also  Yankee-doodle 
Also  as  adj.,  with  derivatives  such  as 
Yankeedom,  Yankeefied,  Yankeeism, 
etc.  [Of  dubious  and  much-discussed 
derivation:  see  adj.  sense.]  Yankee- 
nation,  the  United  States.  [Century  : 
The  word  acquired  wide  currency 
during  the  war  of  the  rebellion  as  a 
nickname  or  contemptuous  epithet 
among  the  Confederates  for  the  Union 
soldier,  the  confederates  themselves 
being  in  like  spirit  dubbed  Johnnies  or 
Rebs  by  the  Union  soldiers  :  see  Yank] 
(1765).  3.  A  glass  of  whisky  sweet- 
ened with  molasses.  As  adj.  and 
adv.,  a  generic  intensive :  spanking, 
excellent^  1713). 

Yanker.  1.  A  great  falsehood  :  see 
Whopper  (1822).  2.  See  Yank. 

Yankie.  1.  A  sharp,  forward, 
clever  woman.  2.  See  Yank. 

Yannam.  See  Pannam  (of  which 
yannam  is  probably  a  misprint). 


631 


Yap. 


Yellow-fancy. 


Yap.  1.  A  yelp.  2.  A  cur,  a 
tyke  (q.v.).  3.  A  countryman.  Also 
as  verb,  (1)  to  back,  yelp  ;  yapster,  a 
dog  (1798) ;  (2)  (back  slang),  to  pay  ; 
whence  yappy,  over-generous,  soft 
(q.v.),  foolish :  i.e.  paying  mad. 

Yard.  (1)  Scotland  Yard,  head- 
quarters of  the  London  police,  now 
located  at  New  Scotland  Yard  ;  (2) 
(Durham  School).  In  pi.,  the  list  of 
members  originally  of  the  First  Game, 
but  now  of  the  Second  Game — at  foot- 
ball or  cricket :  formerly  in  the  cricket 
season  only  a  patch  of  ground  thirty 
yards  square  was  mowed ;  those  who 
had  the  privilege  of  playing  on  this 
were  said  to  be  on  the  yards.  Under 
one1 8  yard,  in  one's  power,  subject  to 
authority  (1383).  To  get  yards,  to  get 
a  catch  at  football  and  be  allowed 
a  free  kick,  not  running  more  than 
can  be  covered  in  three  running 
strides ;  hence  to  give  yards,  to  give 
such  a  catch ;  to  step  yards,  to  cover 
the  distance  in  kicking  off  yards  in 
three  strides ;  to  knock  down  yards, 
to  prevent  another  from  taking  yards. 
[Orig.  three  yards.]  See  Knight. 

Yarder  (Harrow).  Cricket  played 
in  the  school-yard :  in  the  summer 
term. 

Yard-of-clay.  A  long  clay  pipe  ;  a 
churchwarden  (q.v.)  (1859). 

Yard-of-pumpwater.  A  tall  thin 
man  (or  woman) ;  cf.  Rasher-of-wind. 

Yark  (Durham  School).     To  cane. 

Yarmouth-capon  (or  bee).  A 
herring :  see  Glasgow  magistrate 
(B.  E.). 

Yarmouth-coach.  A  sorry,  low 
cart  to  ride  on,  drawn  by  one  horse 
(B.  E.). 

Yarmouth-mittens.  Bruised  hands. 

Yarn.  A  story,  a  tale :  spec,  an 
incredible,  long,  or  marvellous  narra- 
tion spun  out  by  a  sailor.  Hence  as 
verb  (or  to  spin  yarns),  to  romance, 
draw  the  long  bow  ;  a  sailor's  yarn,  a 
traveller's  story  (q.v.) ;  yam-chopper 
(or  slinger),  ( 1 )  a  long  prosy  talker ; 
and  (2)  a  fictional  journalist. 

Yarum.  Milk.  Poplars  of  yarum, 
milk  porridpe  (1567). 

Yawney  (or  Yawnups).  A  stupid 
fellow :  cf.  Sawney.  Also  yawney- 
bor,  a  donkey  :  see  Neddy. 

Yaw-sighted.     Squinting. 

Yaw  •  yaw.  A  Dutchman  :  any 
man  who  says  Taw-yaw  for  Yes 
(Clark  Russell). 


Yea  -  and  -  nay.  Insipid,  watery  ; 
e.g.  a  poor  y ay -nay  sort  of  a  person,  a 
stupid,  doltish  block :  one  who  can 
say  but  Yea  or  Nay  to  a  question  : 
see  next  entry  (1780). 

Yea -and -nay  Man.  A  Quaker 
(B.  E.). 

Yeack.  An  imitative  word  to 
express  the  sound  with  which  coach- 
men encourage  their  horses  (?),  un- 
less it  is  another  form  of  yerk  (Davics) 
(1606). 

Year's-mind  (or  Year-mind).  A 
memorial,  a  mass,  an  anniversary : 
cf.  Month's-mind. 

Yellow.  1.  Generic  for  jealousy, 
envy,  melancholy :  also  yellows  and 
yellowness :  cf.  Blue,  Brown,  Red, 
White,  etc.  (B.  E.).  Also  in  frequent 
proverbial  phrase  :  e.g.  to  wear  yellow 
hose  (breeches,  or  stockings),  to  be 
jealous ;  to  anger  the  yellow  hose,  to 
provoke  jealousy ;  to  wear  yellow 
stockings,  to  be  cuckolded :  hence 
yellow-hammer  (or  gloak),  (1)  a  cuck- 
old, and  (2)  a  jealous  man  or  husband. 
[Yellow  stockings  (q.v.)  were  once,  for 
a  long  period  prior  to  the  civil  wars, 
a  fashionable  article  of  dress :  the 
fashion  is  still  preserved  amongst 
Blues  (q.v.)  at  Christ's  Hospital]  2. 
See  Yellowstockings. 

Yellow-Admiral.     See  Admiral. 

Yellow  -  banded  Robbers  (The). 
The  Prince  Albert's  Somersetshire 
Light  Infantry,  late  the  13th  Foot. 

Yellow-belly.  1.  A  Lincolnshire  fen- 
man.  2.  A  half-caste :  also  yellow- 
boy  (q.v.)  or  yellow-girl.  3.  A  Dutch- 
man. 

Yellow-boy.  A  gold  coin :  spec, 
a  sovereign,  20s.  :  formerly  a  guinea : 
FT.,  jaunet:  see  Rhino  (1633).  Also 
yellow  -  hammer,  yellow  -  mould,  and 
yellow  -  stuff  (generic) ;  yellow  -  fever, 
gold-fever:  cf.  Scarlet-fever  (1633). 
2.  A  mulatto,  or  dark  quadroon  :  also 
yellow-girl. 

Yellow-cover.  A  notice  of  dis- 
missal from  government  employ- 
ment :  pron.  yatter  kiver.  [From 
being  usually  enclosed  in  a  yellow 
envelope.] 

Yellow  -  covered.  Cheap,  sensa- 
tional, trashy.  Also  yellow-backs,  a 
generic  term  for  cheap  board-bound 
railway  novels. 

Yellow  -  dog.  A  strong  term  of 
contempt. 

Y  e  1 1  o  w-fancy.      A    yellow    silk 


532 


Yellow-lever. 
^ndkercaie.     .potted     white:      of 


a.  Drunkenness -.see  Scre^a^g 

^w^f-^^-  s 

f     a  yellow  coat.j        _      ^T-u^«r  and     w 
fYellow-hammer. 


itto. 


.  or  tight    i 

i 

^ "?  .-77^ii.r»laster. 


v-stuff.    See 

:0cking.      ^.^-"alBO 
.    (q.v.)    coat    boy. 

p>     A    penny:     Id.: 


it^b%8^mC5onr/also!,ou 
positive  o    a         bottom  dollar,  « 


Bob,     See  Sirrah 


and\ 
spol 
cor 

Yoi 
lout 


3oy 

i     COUUHJ"! — • 

ontempt.     Hence 


Impt.     Hence  as  auj.,  wai8tcoat9,  patrc 

"A^e  box,  chest,  coffer^  l-ft&W 

..AScLster  CollegeV      A  ^,r  . -Hisraeh  has 
post.ch>V    rv-""-  was  a  fa 


Y  o  l 


post-cha\    \Yeuow  wcvo 
colour  foVese  vehicles.] 


Sollege).      * 
,  a  favourite 


er.  ft 

expressive 
sound:  one 


•  Dia 

A-M.  '  •   •        j 

ways  and  u»»— - 
I  literary  school 
— ,  •__  rWi.Ti.wl. 


Louis 


7o«H0  Germany, 
/d  by  Heinnch 


topicea 
York.     -4.  Mte  <"  Yorfc 

Button,  as  dirimilar  M  may 


ball 


ItnZy    cer 
i 


than,   as  in  modern  fhrase, 


Young  Buffs. 


Zu-zu. 


chief  object  was  to  diffuse  republican 
principles  (Brewer). 

Young  Buffs  (The).  The  first 
battalion  East  Surrey  Regiment,  late 
the  3 1  st  Foot,  f  At  Dettingen,  George 
II.,  through  the  similarity  of  the 
facings,  mistook  it  for  the  3rd  Foot 
or  (Old)  Buffs.] 

Young  Eyes  (The).  The  Seventh 
(The  Queen's  Own)  Hussars. 

Young  Hopeful.  A  half  jocular, 
half  affectionate  address. 

Young  Man.  A  sweetheart,  lover 
(1585). 

Youngster  (Younker, Younker - 
kin,  etc).  1.  A  lad,  a  young  person  : 
always  more  or  less  familiar,  con- 
temptuous, or  colloquial.  Also,  2. 


a  novice,  an  inexperienced  youth, 
and  (nautical)  a  raw  hand ;  in  modern 
naval  usage,  a  junior  officer.  Hence 
to  make  a  younker  of  one,  to  gift 
cheat,  deceive  (for  an  innocejH 
(1502). 

Young  Thing.  An  immature  am 
in  mild  contempt  or  pity  :  e.g.  She's 
but  a  young  thing  (1360). 

Your  Nibs.     See  Nibs  and  Wat**. 

Yours  Truly.  A  jocular  mode  »f 
reference  to  oneself :  cf.  Nibs  aid 
Watch, 

You-'uns.     You  :  cf.  Wee-'uns. 

Yoxter.  A  convict  returned  from 
transportation  before  his  time  wa- 
up. 

Yum-yum.     First-rate,  excellent 


Zany.  (1)  Orig.  a  buffoon's  foil: 
his  office  consisted  in  making  awkward 
and  ludicrous  attempts  to  mimic  the 
professional  jester  or  clown.  Hence  (2) 
a  mimic  ;  and  (3)  an  attendant.  As 
verb,  to  play  the  fool,  to  mimic,  to 
dance  attendance  (B.  E.) ;  whence  also 
such  derivatives  as  Zanyism :  cf. 
Sawney  (1567). 

Zebra.  A  prison  dress :  because 
striped. 

Zedland.  The  western  counties  of 
England :  where,  dialeeticaUy,  S  is 


pronounced  as  Z.  Also  Izzardlind, 
and  (literary)  the  Unnecessana  r», 
Western  folk. 

Zemmies-haw.  An  exclamttioaof 
surprise. 

Z  i  ft        A 
Thief. 

Zoo.  The  Zoological  Cantos. 
London  :  cf.  Pops,  Hops,  etc. 

Zoty.     A  fool. 

Zu-zu.  In  pi.,  the  Zouave  contin- 
gent in  the  Union  Army  during  the 
Civil  War,  1860-65. 


young     thief :    pee 


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